Chapter 3
"A.J.,, this way we find out who Martin is using to get information." Rick told his brother on the way to their office. His brother shook his head. "I don't know, Rick, I don't like Laurie talking you into her going to the courthouse with us today. She's only been out of the hospital a couple of days."
"She'll be safe, we're going to let it slip she's waiting in the prosecutor's office, then Ron will stake it out and bam! We catch our mole." A.J. saw the determinined look on his face. "All the time she'll be in the judge's chambers. I already cleared it with Mason. I told him we might have to move her for safety's sake to his room and he agreed, that way if somebody in his staff is involved, they won't know either!"
A.J. was silent for a moment, then reluctantly agreed. "You've got something there, only promise me you go right to Laurie if anything hits the fan. I don't want anything to happen to her." "Funny, little brother, she made me promise the same thing for you." Rick said thoughtfully.
His brother shook his head. "It's scary, Rick, she's such a part of our life now, it's hard to remember when I didn't have my "big sister" around. Linda says the same thing, of course she's known Laurie almost as long." "I forgot about that, thanks to Oscar and Rudy both of them at least had a family of sorts, until..." Rick smiled at the thought of his wife "Until Laurie found us." A.J. finished, grinning as he saw the look on Rick's face.
Pulling into their office parking lot, the two brothers got out of Rick's truck as Captain Ron's unmarked cruiser pulled up. A.J. got in and took the shotgun position as Rick climbed in the back. As they drove off, he heard an "Ouch", next to him, and he leaned over to the blanket on the seat beside him. "Sorry, darlin'!" he said, lifting up the blanket and kissing his wife. "It's ok, not like I'll be carsick or anything!" she giggled, then drew his face to her and kissed him back. "Okay, behave back there!" A.J. ragged his brother, who feigned innocence. "Who me, nobody back here but me!" Shaking with laughter, Laurie stuck her hand out and tickled Rick, then yelped when he returned the favor. "Almost to the courthouse." Captain Ron said, then heard Rick say quietly, "I have to cover you back up, Laurie." "Okay." she sighed, then stayed very still.
After they pulled through the parking structure and parked next to the elevator bank, Captain Ron checked the area then said "All clear." Immediately Rick helped Laurie out as she put her special protective glasses on, and hustled her into one elevator, as the captain and A.J. entered the other one. As they rode the express elevator to the third floor, Rick held on to her hand. "Remember, sweetheart, you stay put until Oscar or Ron come for you, then I'll see you in the Judge's chambers." he reminded her. "Yes, Rick, now please be careful, I'll leave my transmitter on, just in case you need me." Laurie replied, squeezing his hand.
As they got off the elevator, Oscar met them and they went into the Prosecutor's office, where Jacobsen waited for them. "As soon as we go to court, I'll lock Mrs. Simon in, only she will be able to open the door, Mr. Goldman. Once the Judge is in session, you can take her to his chambers, then we'll set the bait for our mole." Rick nodded, "Thank you for help, Paul, this should not only finish Martin, but I think the others will be willing to turn state's evidence against him."
As the prosecutor finished his notes, Captain Ron and A.J. appeared. "Everything set, Rick?" A.J. asked, putting an arm around Laurie. His brother nodded, then tensed as a knock sounded on the door. Jacobsen went to the door, and found a bailiff with an unsigned note in his hand. "This was found on your table in the courtroom just now, sir." As the prosecutor examined the paper, Rick caught a funny look on the bailiff's face. After he was dismissed, Jacobsen waited until the officer had left the room before showing the note to A.J. and Rick. "Appear in court and Mrs. Simon is dead."
"That tears it, I was watching that bailiff's face, I bet you he's our link to Martin, isn't he the same one who helped take Lopez and James out?" Rick burst out, then A.J. nodded. "I'd like to pull him in now, but let's see if we can hook him for good." As the men left the office for the courtroom, Rick and Oscar were the last ones to leave. "Honey, you stay right here, I'm going to make sure our stoolie gets his information, then I'll come back to take you to the Judge's chambers." Oscar said, then kissed his niece. "Please be careful, Oscar, make sure they don't try anything with Rick and A.J., okay?" she asked, then hugged him back. As the brothers left the room, Laurie caught Rick's arm and gave him one more kiss. "I love you, Mrs. Simon." Rick whispered, "I'll see you in a few minutes." He embraced his wife then followed Oscar out of the room.
As Rick walked in, the judge was finishing the final paperwork on the Peabody case and was just about to call court back in session. As Rick took a seat next to A.J. he casually said, "Laurie's going to meet us in the prosecutor's office, it's safe and we can use the private elevator once everything's wrapped. "That's a good idea, she can be comfortable while she waits for us." A.J. replied, trying to be casual.
Suddenly he saw the judge's bailiff slipping out of the courtroom, and he realized they hadn't considered another possible source of danger. "Rick, the judge's bailiff just left, what if our leak is in his office?" A look of surprise crossed his brother's face, "Never thought of it, call Ron and let him know." Just then the judge entered the room and Rick "told" Laurie it was safe for Oscar to come and get her. As the proceedings started, Jacobsen stood up and gave his final recommendations, including the death penalty for both Lopez and James. At that point, Husen stood up and announced "my clients want to change their plea." Abruptly Ron came in and signaled to them, then the prosecutor addressed the judge. "The people will allow a change in plea to guilty, but we also request a delay of sentencing, so we may review any mitigating circumstances." Raising an eyebrow, the judge grated "Based on what evidence, may I ask?" "Your Honor, on the very strong evidence that the murder of Hamilton Peabody was masterminded by Van Martin."
As the jury muttered amongst themselves, the judge rapped for order, then ordered the jury to be escorted out. After they were gone, the jurist requested both defendants to stand.
As they did, James, the taller one panicked. "Judge, you've got to protect us, Martin will have us killed after we talk!" Making as if to flee, the swindler tripped and fell, then a shot was heard.
Instantly Rick and A.J. hit the floor, then glancing toward the front of the courtroom, saw Captain Ron holding his weapon on the judge's bailiff, who was holding his wrist. Getting up, they signaled to Ron that they were okay, then Judge Mason came off the bench to cuff the two defendants and summon one of the backup officers to take them away. Heaving a sigh, A.J. grinned at his brother. "You were right, Rick, we caught more than our mole, we got a murderer. Now we just have to find Laurie's other attacker and we're back home!"
Suddenly Rick noticed the prosecutor wasn't in the room, then he heard Laurie call, frightened. "Rick, it's Jacobsen, he's the one who threw the explosive at me! He's in here and Oscar's hurt, hurry!" "A.J., Laurie says Jacobsen's in the judge's chambers and that he's the one who threw the flash bang at her, we've got to get in there!" Rick exclaimed then rushed the bench, followed immediately by his brother.