Chapter Four
Wednesday
9:45 AM Court House
ADA Ron Carver exits the elevator expecting to see Detectives Goren and Eames waiting outside the courtroom. He paces the floor for two to three minutes and the elevator door opens.
Bobby walks out into the hallway, away from Carver's direction, Alex is behind him looking very upset.
Carver walks over to Alex, "Is there a problem?"
"Maybe you should ask him," pointing at Bobby.
Carver walks up to Bobby. As soon as he gets close, he realizes what is upsetting Alex.
"Have you been drinking Detective?"
"A little."
"A little," trying not to raise his voice, "What is the matter with you, I have know you for over five years now and though you may do some outrageous things, never have I known you to do something this stupid, shit!"
He turns his back on Bobby, puts his hands on his hips and turns back around. In a whisper he says, "I'm going to forget this ever happened, because I want this bitch in prison as much as you do." Making sure, he has eye contact. "Are you going to be able to do this?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
Bobby nods his head.
"Alright listen to me, don't look at her, just look at me and just answer my questions, don't embellish. Do you understand?"
"Yeah."
Carver turns away, and as he passes Alex, he whispers to her, "You better keep you eye on him."
Alex walks over to her partner, "Don't you ever put me through anything like that again."
"I'm sorry."
The bailiff calls him into the courtroom an hour later. Looking confident, on the outside, but inside his stomach is turning.
He takes the stand and Carver begins his questioning. Bobby never takes his eyes off Carver, focusing on him alone. He is able to make it through the questioning. He never looks at her but he can feel her eyes on him, Nicole smiles throughout the entire testimony, looking sweet and innocent.
While Bobby is testifying, Captain Deakins arrives at the courthouse.
"Alex."
"Captain."
"How long has he been in there?"
"About five minutes."
Deakins sits down next to her.
"Are things getting back to the way they' re supposed to be?"
"Kind of, he has a little trouble concentrating, his mind wanders, and I don't think it has anything to do with the case we're on."
"If he's not carrying his weight Alex, I want to know."
'No, it's not like that, I haven't lost any confidence in him."
If I do, he'll fall apart.
"It's just taking him a little longer to put things together, he's not as sharp as he usually is, he dreaded doing this today. Maybe now that it's over he can get back on track."
Bobby walks out of the courtroom and without looking at anyone he sits down on a bench. He speaks aloud to no one.
"She's going to fool them, she'll fool them all. They didn't see what I saw."
His feels lightheaded and dizzy and he starts to shake. He gets up quickly and heads for the men's room.
Panic attack.
He goes into a stall and sits down. He puts his head down and tries to breath evenly. He slowly starts to feel better. Bobby exits the stall and splashes water on his face.
He walks back into the hallway and sits down on a bench outside the courtroom. He does not look or speak to anyone.
Logan and Barek have shown up while he was in the bathroom. They both look over at him and then at Alex.
Carolyn sits down. "Is he ok."
Alex nods her head. "I think so."
I hope so.
They all keep their distance from him. They leave him alone he acts as if they are not even there.
Within the next hour Eames, Logan and Barek will testify.
An hour later, the grand jury has made their decision and Mister Carver returns to the courtroom. As he walks out of the courtroom, he is smiling.
"The grand jury has decided to indict Nicole Wallace for kidnapping."
They all look over at Bobby and are surprised. They all expected more of a response from him. However, he stays quite.
Carver walks over to him and Bobby stands up, "Good job detective."
Lowering his voice, "But if you ever do anything like that again, I won't be so nice."
Carver turns and leaves, wishes the others a good day and gets on the elevator.
"Bobby, I'm going back to the station, I have a shit load of paperwork to do, why don't you go home and get some rest, you don't look well."
I'm alright besides I thought you wanted to talk to Mrs. Yardley today."
"We can do that tomorrow."
"Sure, whatever."
Deakins to Bobby, "That's a good idea, go on, go home."
One Police Plaza
Captain Deakins arrives at the station before Alex. He goes into his office and takes a phone call. Ten minutes pass before she walks into the squad room. He walks over to her and touches her arm.
"Alex I want to talk to you."
"Sure, what about?"
"No, not here, in my office."
She nods and follows him. "Ok."
"Please sit down."
"What's up?"
"Goren, I didn't like what I saw before at the courthouse."
"He was just nervous."
"Nervous, Bobby Goren nervous."
"There's a first for everything."
He gets up from behind his desk and pours himself a cup of coffee."Alex would you like cup of coffee?"
"Yes, thank you." He hands her the cup and sits down on the front of his desk.
"Years ago my wife was mugged. She seemed to be handling it well but then she started having these attacks. Anxiety or panic attacks, whatever you want to call them. Bobby had all the signs of having one. Has he had one of these attacks before? Be honest with me Alex."
"No, not that I know of."
He leans forward and catches her eye. "Alright, I trust you and I trust your judgment, now get back to work."
She sighs as she leaves the office.
TBC