An Insignificant Case

Chapter Fifty-One

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

By the time Charlie and Bridget walked back to their office, Alexis was back in the jail and there were no reporters around, so Charlie didn’t have to put on a happy face.

“Fucking Grant,” Charlie swore.

“His cross was very good,” Bridget said.

“Do you think it was good enough to tip the jury in his favor?”

“I don’t know.”

“Any ideas?” Charlie asked.

“I do have one. I’ve been watching the jurors. I think a lot of them understand how much Alexis has suffered, and they’ve got to be horrified after seeing the snuff film. I thought Alexis made a pretty good self-defense argument that could create a reasonable doubt in the murder and assault charges, and she may have gotten enough sympathy to give us a hung jury, even if the jury doesn’t acquit on the crimes of violence. But Grant has Alexis cold on the kidnapping.”

“You want to propose a plea deal,” Charlie said.

Bridget nodded.

“Let’s call Tom.”

Thomas Grant was sitting behind his desk. He did not look happy when Bridget and Charlie walked into his office, and he did not stand up. Mary Choi was sitting on a sofa that was against the wall and across from her boss. Charlie smiled at her, but she didn’t return the smile and showed no expression.

“On the phone, you said that you wanted to discuss a deal,” Grant said as the defense team sat opposite him on the other side of his desk.

“Alexis Chandler is a patriot, a decorated soldier,” Charlie started.

“I respect that, but serving your country doesn’t give you a free pass if you murder someone.”

“Agreed, but Alexis told the jury that she acted in self-defense.”

Grant smirked. “And you believe her?”

“What I believe doesn’t matter,” Charlie said. “It’s what the jury believes. Did you get a good look at the jurors when we played the film that showed Annie Chandler being raped and murdered? Did you see their reactions while Alexis was testifying? Several of the jurors were crying.”

“That gut reaction to a horrifying experience may change when they have time to calm down and think about the evidence.”

“And it may not. I’d say that, right now, you have jurors that want to believe Alexis, and that adds up to an acquittal or a hung jury.”

“What do you propose, Charlie?”

“We think Alexis is going to get a lot of sympathy from the jurors on the homicides and the wounding of Golden. We also think that her self-defense explanation for what happened raises a substantial reasonable doubt. But there’s the kidnapping count. You have a strong case. Let Alexis plead to that charge, and drop the rest. Then decide on a reasonable sentence. What do you say?”

“Let me think about it, and let’s talk in the morning.”

The next morning, Judge Steinbock told the guards to let Alexis and her lawyers meet in the jury room in the courtroom next to his.

“What’s up?” Alexis asked when she saw how serious her attorneys looked.

“We have a way to end your trial, but we need you to agree with what we propose.”

“Okay.”

“We met with Grant after court yesterday. He recognizes that your self-defense claims and the sympathy you’re getting from the jury could end up with acquittals or a hung jury in the charges involving Golden, Hall, Makarov, and Atkins. But we all agree that he has you cold on the kidnapping charge.

“Grant is willing to entertain a plea to the kidnapping charge. If you agree, he’ll dismiss the other charges.”

“How much time will I have to do?”

“Five years. With good behavior, you could be out in a lot less.”

“I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“It’s a really great offer,” Bridget said.

Alexis was quiet for a few minutes, and her lawyers let her think.

“Okay,” she said. “Let’s get this over with.”