Stone Cold by Joel Goldman Page B

other crimes is tantamount to imposing bail based on those offenses and not the one for which he is charged.”
    “Your Honor,” Bradshaw interjected. “Ms. Stone has offered no evidence regarding her unfounded allegations about Detective Rossi, and—”
    “Neither have you offered any evidence regarding the defendant’s possible involvement in these recent murders. First you said that Detective Rossi wanted to question Mr. Reed about the murders and then you said he wanted to arrest him. Make up your mind. If you have sufficient evidence to arrest the defendant for murder, I’ll consider it.”
    “As I said, Jameer Henderson testified against—”
    “Evidence, Counsel. You know, like fingerprints, DNA, eyewitnesses. That sort of thing.”
    “It’s still early in the investigation, Your Honor. The police are—”
    “I take it that your answer is no. You have no evidence.”
    Bradshaw stiffened, almost choking on his answer. “Not at this time.”
    “Very well. The defendant is released on his own recognizance. Next case.”

Chapter Seventeen
    BRADSHAW HURRIED FROM THE COURTROOM. He was waiting for Alex when she emerged in the hallway. He cupped her elbow and led her into a vacant witness room. Closing the door, he unloaded.
    “That son of a bitch!” Bradshaw said. “That no good fucking son of a bitch!”
    “Upton?”
    “Of course Upton, for Christ’s sake. Who the hell else? Don’t worry, Mr. Bradshaw. I’ll be impartial toward your office, Mr. Bradshaw. Impartial my ass! Can you believe this bullshit?”
    “The better question is, why are you yelling at me? Aren’t you supposed to wait until you get back to your office so you can yell at your secretary?”
    “Because,” he said, “you’re as much to blame as the fucking judge.”
    “Me? What did you want me to do? Not ask for my client to be released on his own recognizance? I was protecting the record, like asking for a dismissal after the prosecution rests even though I know there’s no chance the judge will grant the motion. Who knew Upton would actually release him?”
    “That’s why you shouldn’t have asked. Not in this case. Not for Dwayne fucking Reed.”
    “He’s got the same rights as every other defendant.”
    Bradshaw closed in on her. “Forget which side we’re on, Alex. We’ve known each other long enough to do that just this once. Look me in the eye and tell me that Dwayne Reed is not a stone-cold killer, that you really believe he didn’t kill Wilfred Donaire, Kyrie Chapman, Jameer Henderson, his wife, and two kids. And then tell me that at least some of this isn’t your fault. And tell me that the next murder he commits won’t be your fault either.”
    Bradshaw’s accusations echoed her growing doubts and nagging guilt, leaving her stunned and weak-kneed, though her combative instincts wouldn’t let her give in.
    “You know better than that, or do you need a remedial course in constitutional law?”
    Bradshaw backed off, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “Okay, okay. That’s not fair. You’re no more responsible for Dwayne being on the street than I am or the judge and jury are.”
    Alex appreciated what he said, though it didn’t soothe her, because she was increasingly afraid that his indictment was fair, though she wasn’t about to tell him that.
    “Apology accepted.”
    “I get that sometimes the system sucks, but try telling that to the Hendersons or, better yet, try convincing Bonnie.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Oh, come on, Alex. Bonnie called and told me what Dwayne said to her in the ER, how he threatened her.”
    “She called you? Why?”
    “Because she thought I could use that information to keep Dwayne in jail. She’s scared shitless.”
    Alex took a deep breath, folded her arms over her chest, and paced around the small room. It was furnished with a rectangular wooden table and two molded-plastic chairs. She slid into one of the chairs, looking up at