Nate, no matter how serious, enjoyed irony. The Judge presiding over the arriagnment of the case that involved someone dying from flight from window just had to have the last name of Fell. Nate couldn't stop smirking.
"Mr. Humphrey, you are charged with one count of murder in the first degree. How do you plead?" Judge Fell asked.
Dan rose from his seat at the defense table, the reporters, photographers and cameramen in the Courtroom gallery followed on pins and needles. "Not guilty." He said against the thunder of camera shutters and scribbling pens.
"How does the prosecution feel about bail?" Judge Fell asked, turning his attention to Assistant District Attorney Bennett.
"We want the defendant remanded and held without bail." She answered. Nate was on his feet in a flash.
"Your Honor, my client has ties to two different communites and has a spotless, literally spotless record. The man he's alleged to have killed had a longer criminal record than my client." Nate said, earning laughter from the gallery.
"He's also a best selling author. He has deep pockets and frequently travels abroad. Remand is the best option." Bonnie answered, glowering at Nate. This, however, played smashingly perfectly into Nate's hands. He, rather dramatically, removed a book from his briefcase and held it up for the cameras.
"Judge, my client has in fact written six best selling novels," Nate began, flipping the book over. "There's also a very large picture of him on the back of each. Where could he hide when most of the English speaking world knows the face of Daniel Humphrey?"
This earned roaring laughter from most of the Courtroom. Nate smirked wide. "As Your Honor can see, even if my client was a flight risk, where could he possibly fly to?" Nate said, voice just the right tone of serious argument and sarcasm. From his seat at the defense table, Dan reminded himself to write another book about Nate.
"Your Honor!" Bonnie said, annoyed. "Mr. Archibald is turning this into a circus. The Defendant is accused of throwing a man out of a window."
"Accused," Nate repeated. "Innocent until proven guilty. That even applies to writers, I'd hope."
"Not so much for Oscar Wilde." Judge Fell sighed before turning his attention to Dan. "Mr. Humphrey, I have some questions for you. Would you mind humoring me?"
"No, not at all." Dan answered.
"Do you have any book tours or family members other than in the State of New York?"
"No and no, Your Honor." Dan nodded.
"Okay, then. Bail is set a $350,000. Cash." Judge Fell ruled, banging his gavel. "And the defendant will surrender his passport."
No sooner then had the ruling come down, then Dan had his checkbook out and was busy making out a check. Nate was moderately impressed. He also spotted a chance to humanize Dan in comparison to the always-angry prosecutor. Nate dropped into the chair next to Dan and slung an arm around his shoulder. Both could see the cameras and reporters immediately shoot their attention to the pair.
"How'd I do?" Nate asked in a whisper.
"Great," Dan grinned. "Did you learn all that lawyer brilliance at Stanford?"
"There and that play we did back in high school," Nate smiled. "This'll look great in the papers. You'll seem sympathetic and relieved."
"And you'll look caring and concerned in your $5,000 suit," Dan laughed. "Am I right?"
"Very good," Nate winked. "Get that check to the clerk's office and you'll be out of here in ten minutes. I'll go deal with the press." He said, flashing that million-watt Archibald/Vanderbilt smile as he rose and made for the elaborate Courtroom entranceway. As soon as he exited, the crush of press that had been around Bonnie was soon around him. Nate merely smiled, taking all of it in and loving every minute of it. Questions were hollered out a fevered pace.
"What is your defense strategy?" Was the loudest of the inquiries.
"We contend this was a suicide. That's usually the answer when someone goes out a window," Nate quipped. "And if you want a funny story about crime, go read one of my client's books. Or, go back and talk to the prosecution. I hear she's great at making things up."
Nate's was, in legal parlance, a Cowboy. His sharp legal mind was kept off-kilter by his desire to always do things slightly dangerously. Often times, this made him a tabloid star. He knew he could win with the press any day. He just worried more about the actual in Court aspects. He finally pushed his way over to Bonnie, his face a bragging smile. "Murder One and you couldn't even get remand. Chalk that up as another win in my column. Of course, all the wins have been in my column..."
"Shut up," Bonnie growled. "Judge Fell is an idiot."
"Uh-huh," Nate rolled his eyes. "Remember, you may be good. But I am magic." He said, spinning on his heels and making for the elevator. He was amused to see the two rookie Assistant District Attorney's who had been seated at the proseution table. "You two should quit and work for me. I'll triple your salaries."
"We like criminals behind bars." One of them said.
"You haven't been in the game that long. Get back to me after five years." Nate said, laughing a little. "And tell your witch of a boss that I won't be taking a plea." He said.
"So, what is your salary for this case?" One of the two ADA's asked.
"I didn't know we were that friendly." Nate laughed.
"Tyler Lockwood. And that's Jeremy Gilbert." Tyler said as they both extended their hands. Nate shook them both. He admired politeness.
"My fee for this case?" Nate asked aloud. "I believe it's nothing."
Jeremy and Tyler stared blankly. "Murder One in and on a celebrity case?" Jeremy asked. "And you're taking the case for free?"
"Dan's my friend," Nate shrugged. "And he's innocent."
"Innocent?" Jeremy and Tyler repeated in unison. Nate laughed a little and looked back and forth between the two, amused.
"Yeah, guys," Nate said as the elevator arrived at the first floor lobby. "I get it, you two are still proud of your University of Virginia and Yale law degrees, but this isn't law school. It's real out here." Nate said, exiting the elevator with a ghost of a smirk. Jeremy and Tyler followed after as they made their way back to their offices.
"Am I the only one impressed he knew both of our law schools?" Jeremy asked.
"You don't get it, Jer," Tyler laughed. "In this part of the City, that guy is Royalty."
"And he drives Bonnie crazy." Jeremy laughs.
"She's 0-6 against him. All pretty big cases," Tyler explained. "But the big reason is a lot juicier."
"Gossip, Tyler?" Jeremy balked. "Really?"
"Okay, so Bonnie and Nate Archibald were both in law school together at Stanford. He was about 20th or so in their class. Now that's damn good, but Bonnie was first literally."
"What happened?" Jeremy asked?
"None of the big name law firms would hire her."
"...Was it a race thing?"
"No, no," Tyler laughed. "Archibald is right. She's a bitch. That's why no one hired her besides the Manhattan District Attorney. Nate got a job at Covington & Burling. She still hates him."
"Damn," Jeremy muttered. "So, how good is he?"
"Maybe the best." Tyler answered.