Read Online State's Evidence: A Beverly Mendoza Legal Thriller by R. Barri Flowers - Free Book Online

released last month. The
bastard vowed revenge against Sheldon when he was sentenced and
apparently made good on his threat.”
    Beverly contemplated that. It would have to
be proven in a court of law, no matter how guilty the suspect
appeared to be. But she assumed that was what this meeting was
about.
    “What evidence do they have?”
    Dean considered this. “Maxine Crawford picked
him out of a photo lineup,” he said, as if this cinched the
deal.
    “Anything else?” Beverly had seen more than
her fair share of cases where victims picked the wrong person from
mug shots in which practically every arrestee looked the same. She
presumed there was corroborating evidence to back up the victim’s
identification of the suspect.
    Dean looked at her as if resenting the
question. “Detectives are putting together the necessary evidence,
circumstantial and otherwise, to tie Santiago to the crime.” He
removed his glasses. “I want you to prosecute this one,
Beverly.”
    “I’ll be glad to,” she said, knowing that the
Suzanne Landon verdict had given her a leg up on this one. Though
Grant could very well have said the same thing. So how did she get
so lucky?
    “And there will be no plea bargains!”
insisted Dean. “We have to send a message to all the Santiagos out
there that you don’t go around killing judges and raping their
wives and expect to get off with a slap on the wrist. This is a
death penalty case all the way if there ever was one.” He took a
breath and peered. “Think you can handle it?”
    She needed no time to think about it. “Yes,”
she said emphatically, in spite of the intense media scrutiny this
trial was sure to generate.
    He flashed a satisfied half smile. “That’s
what I wanted to hear. Feel free to choose anyone on staff as your
co-counsel. I’ll move people around if I have to.”
    Beverly could think of only one person she
wanted as second chair during the trial. Grant Nunez. They worked
well together in and out of court. There had never been a problem
with egos between them, though he had been at it longer than her.
Furthermore, it was Grant who was the first one at the hospital to
get the jump on investigating Judge Crawford’s murder. It could
come in handy.
    “Thanks,” she said appreciatively to her
boss.
    “First off,” he told her, “you’ll need to get
down to Police Headquarters this afternoon. After they pick up
Santiago, he’ll be placed in a lineup for Maxine to positively
I.D.”
    “I’ll be there,” Beverly assured him.
    “Good.” Dean put his glasses back on and
stood, seemingly indicating the meeting was over.
    Beverly got to her feet. She wanted to say a
few more words, but decided they could wait for another time. She
headed for the door.
    She stopped in her tracks when Dean called
out her name. She faced him.
    He removed his glasses again theatrically. “I
thought you might be interested in knowing that I’ve recommended to
the governor that Grant replace Judge Crawford on the bench.”
    Beverly was stunned, if only because of the
suddenness of the news and the circumstances that had brought it
about. She had always known that Grant was headed in that direction
and was very happy for him. Did he know he was being considered for
the appointment? Had he known when he asked her to meet him at the
hospital?
    “That’s wonderful news!” Beverly said with a
smile.
    “Yes, it is.” Dean smiled back, and then
frowned. “I just wish it could have been under more favorable
conditions. Of course, Grant has yet to be offered the judgeship.
Until he does, let’s keep this under wraps, okay?”
    “I understand,” she said, while thinking, Do I?
    * * *
    Beverly stood before her secretary’s desk.
Jean Arness was nearly sixty and had been with the D.A.’s office
for twenty-five years. Beverly cringed at the thought of being in
any one place that long. But then again, if it was something you
loved, why not?
    Jean, shaped like a Christmas tree with a
gray