Read Online Incriminating Evidence by Rachel Dylan - Free Book Online Page B

courtroom. The judge was in her mid-fifties and had a reputation for being tough on crime. But presiding over the trial of a member of the Hernandez family was another matter.
    “You may be seated,” Judge Walker said.
    Zach looked over at the defense table. Simon Hernandez wore a dark designer suit that had probably cost a small fortune. His attorney, Mateo Tyson, was also similarly dressed and wore an ostentatious gold watch on his left wrist that couldn’t be missed. Defending guys like Hernandez was a lucrative enterprise.
    “Before we get started today, I want to set some ground rules,” Judge Walker said. She took off her glasses, and her blue eyes were serious as she looked at the courtroom. “I realize that this is a case that is garnering a lot of attention from the community and the news media. We have a packed courtroom today, and I suspect it will be this way through the duration of the trial. But I want to make myself abundantly clear at the outset. I will absolutely not have any disruptions in my courtroom. I have a zero-tolerance policy. One misstep and you will be thrown out of court and held in contempt.” She paused. “Hopefully, I have made myself clear. Counselors, are there any issues we need to take up before we start jury selection?”
    Jessica stood up. “No, Your Honor. Nothing from the state.”
    “Or defense,” Mateo said.
    “Let’s proceed, then,” Judge Walker said.
    Zach watched on closely for the next two hours as they went through the voir dire process and picked a jury. He knew that the next step was opening statements, and that’s when the real action would begin.
    “Is the state ready to go?” Judge Walker asked.
    “Yes, Your Honor.” Jessica stood up and started to walk to the podium.
    He found himself waiting in anticipation for Jessica to speak. As he looked to the row behind him to his left, something caught his eye. A flash of metal from one of the female members of the media sitting in the front row of their designated section.
    Acting purely on instinct, he yelled out, “Gun!”
    He leaped over the small partition separating the counsel’s area from the public and tackled Jessica to the ground, protecting her with his own body. He looked up as he continued to shield Jessica from any threats.
    One of the bailiffs started running toward the woman.
    Shrieks filled the courtroom, but the FBI agents were swarming around and had the situation under control as most people were sitting confused as to what had just happened. “Are you okay?” he asked Jessica.
    Her breathing was heavy as she looked up at him with wide eyes. “I think so.”
    He looked back and saw that the woman was in custody, surrounded by police and FBI agents. She had her hands up in the air, and there was no gun in sight. Where was the gun? He knew he’d seen it.
    “What just happened?” Jessica asked.
    “She had a gun. I reacted based upon that.” He paused and started to second-guess himself. “Or I thought I saw a gun.”
    “What was it, then?” she asked.
    “I’m not sure. It looks like she’s talking to them now.” He really thought he had seen the weapon. He’d been certain of it. If there was no gun, then he had just made a huge mistake. One that a seasoned FBI agent wouldn’t have made. This was going to be bad.
    He pulled Jessica up off the ground and looked over at Simon Hernandez, who just stood there and gave him a smile. There was no doubt in Zach’s mind that the Hernandez family would be gloating over his likely misstep.
    The reporter yelled out. “I don’t have a gun. It was just my compact.” She held up her metal compact, showing it to the FBI agent right beside her and showing it off for the entire courtroom to see. A loud gasp sounded throughout the room. Just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse. Had he really mistaken that metallic-looking makeup compact for a gun? Talk about amateur hour.
    The judge banged the gavel loudly. “There will be order in