AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Donna took a deep breath. “She deserves to know her rights and to be protected under our constitution.”
“She was read her rights!”
Garrett held up his hand. “As the girl’s attorney—”
“Alexandra,” Donna said, cutting her husband off. “As Alexandra’s attorney.”
“As Alexandra’s attorney, I’m asking that this interview be stopped immediately.” Garrett looked at his watch. “It’s four-twenty in the morning, and this is now the second time I’m asking, Lieutenant. If you’re not keeping track, believe me, I am.”
Technically, Garrett knew, only his client could request the interview to be stopped. Which was why he had to get in there immediately.
“We need to find out what’s going on,” Grey said in a calmer voice. “The only way to do that is to speak with the shooter.”
Garrett walked past Lieutenant Grey and opened the interview room door, then stepped inside. The detective looked over his shoulder, confusion on his face.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes. My name is Garrett Lancaster, Alexandra’s attorney. The first thing you can do to help is stop asking my client questions and leave us alone. Please.”
“Your client?” the detective said, standing from his chair.
“I understand parental consent to interview Alexandra was not obtained.”
“It was not possible,” the detective shot back.
“Did you go through the proper channels to find my client’s next of kin, who could in emergency situations be considered her legal guardian?” Garrett waved his hand. “I’m sure you did. But then, of course, if you were unable to find any family, you would need to go through the state’s department of Child Protective Services to obtain consent for a formal interview. I’m sure you did that, too, Detective, but I’m just confirming. If you did all those things before you started the interview with my client, who is under the age of eighteen, and therefore considered a minor in the state of Virginia, then you and your department are in good standing and I’ll just need a moment alone with my client. But in the unlikely event that you conducted an interview on a minor without parental, guardian, or other legal consent, then you’re likely in a shit-ton of trouble and have a lot more to worry about than me ending this interview.”
Garrett stared at the detective. He watched as the man’s eyes, which had a moment earlier been focused like laser beams on Garrett’s, wandered off to the interview room’s one-way window searching for his lieutenant but only seeing his own reflection.
“Give me a minute with my client?” Garrett asked in the same polite voice that he had presented the entire time.
After a second, the detective headed for the door.
“Detective,” Garrett said. “Please ask your lieutenant to turn off the camera and microphone while I have a word with Alexandra. I’m pretty certain you’ve already conducted an illegal interrogation of my client. Recording my conversation with her would put you in a world of trouble that so far you’ve just flirted with.”
Garrett offered a quick smile.
“Thanks.”
CHAPTER 5
District Courthouse Friday, September 27, 2013 9:12 a.m.
EVEN AS HER LEGS DID THEIR PART TO TRANSPORT ALEXANDRA TO the stand on Friday morning, Garrett noticed them trembling. It was her body’s way of protesting her presence in the courtroom. She likely wanted to be a million places other than sitting in a packed courtroom with television cameras aimed at her and the nation’s attention hanging on her every word. But Alexandra had no choice. To win her case against the state of Virginia, her testimony was paramount. Without it, a win was unlikely. With it, Garrett believed, it was inevitable.
When Alexandra sat in the witness stand, she reached for the glass of water and trembled it to her mouth. She had turned eighteen since the night her family was killed, but the formal transition to a legal adult did nothing to stop her from looking like a scared child this morning. Garrett at once felt sorrow and confidence. He didn’t want to put Alexandra through this but knew it was the only way to achieve even a sliver of justice for what had happened to her. Looking like a scared adolescent girl made his job easier and the opposing counsel’s job nearly impossible.
After Alexandra was sworn in, Garrett smiled at her.
“Good morning,” he said.
Alexandra nodded and adjusted her glasses, which were thick and heavy. “Hi.”
“Can you please state your name for the court?”
“Alexandra Quinlan.”
“Alexandra, we’re going to cover some tough topics this morning. Things that will be difficult for you to talk about, and things that will be difficult for the court to hear. You and I have discussed these topics over the last few weeks, and you have indicated to me that you are prepared to offer your testimony this morning. Do you still feel that way?”
