"You're going to be late to work if you sleep in again." Adjusting the towel wrapped around her hair, Hinata gave another knock on Sakura's door before going to the kitchen. An audible swear, rustled sheets, and heavy footsteps came from behind the closed door as Hinata moved away from the door and made sure Sakura's path to the bathroom was clear. Making her way to her vanity set, Hinata took off the towel and began styling her hair for the day. After dressing, she cut up a grapefruit and heated up two cinnamon rolls in the microwave oven. Sakura came out of the shower with hair still damp and began eating in a rush.
"For how late Dr. Sasori keeps you working, I'm surprised that he expects you to come in early so regularly." Hinata smiled at her friend and finished her fruit before eying her sweet roll.
"And for being an Assistant District Attorney, I'm surprised Mr. A gives you cases of your own." Dabbing a napkin to her mouth, Sakura cleaned her plate in the sink before realizing she was still only half-dressed.
"You do realize how big Konoha-Dade County is. The only way to get everything done is to divide up all the work. Especially in this line of work, even people with 'Assistant' in their title have their own staff working for them." Of course the unspoken reality was that her own assistant was a sickly, spectacled intern named Udon.
"Well you're the lucky one then. Down at the Coroner's Officer, I get the impression that I'm the only one working sometimes. But Dr. Sasori always checks the time sheets, and," looking up at the clock as she zipped up her skirt, "I'm late."
"Hold it." Stopping Sakura before she ran out, Hinata grabbed the nametag she forgot on the counter, took hold of Sakura by her coat and clipped it in place. "You going to be in for dinner tonight?"
"I'll give you a call." With a wink, Sakura turned to leave before turning around to grab her keys as the last thing she missed.
"Still flustered from your mystery date last night." Hinata quipped to the closed door before she went to get her bag together. Getting into her Porsche 911 she dialed up her office to check her messages as she drove to court. The streets were clear for nine in the morning on a Monday, as clear as the skies. Tears For Fears "Everybody wants to rule the world" was on the radio as her call was connected and the dial tone started ringing.
"You've reached the office of ADA Hinata Hyuuga, she's not in right now, can I take a message?" Udon was improving at his ability to take a message, not nearly as awkward as when he started.
"You sound well today Udon, stuffy nose cleared up?"
"Ah, Ms. Hinata. Yes, thank you."
"Any messages today?"
"Mr. A's office called to say he's going to be busy with a case down in Palmetto Bay. There was also a message from Mr. Asuma Sarutobi wanting your legal opinion on property he's planning on buying. And the last message is from the Board of Governors wanting to talk to you after the arraignment today."
"Call back his office and set up a time for this afternoon. See if we can meet in Mr. A's office at the court house, if not have it back at the record's office. Is that all Udon?"
"Umm… well there was one more call from Officer Inuzuka…"
"Hana Inuzuka or Kiba Inuzuka?" Hinata was expecting calls from both, so she felt the need to ask for clarification.
"Kiba. He gave an odd message saying you have his permission to kick Mr. Akado in the shin if he gets on your nerves."
"Give me a call at the office at 10:30 after you schedule that Udon. Bye." Hanging up the phone, Hinata finished her drive to the court house. Kiba and Shino had made the collar and arrested Akado two days ago. First arraignments were always rough because they had to be done within 48 hours of the arrest.
In her office, Hinata reviewed the file again. It was going to be a hard case. Three counts of first degree murder, and one attempted murder against Akado. Two witnesses; one a drug dealer, the other a girl in a coma. Distribution of controlled substances; cocaine and heroin. Initial crime scenes did not turn up much in the way of evidence. But there was going to be quite a bit of time between now and whenever the trial would be set, enough time for discovery to find something solid.
Going in to the court room, Hinata felt outnumbered. For a first arraignment there should not have been this many people. Setting up her files and sitting down, she finally got a good look at all the faces over on the defendant's side. There were a few she recognized from a conference as being attorney's from the University ofKonoha, they were standing around two men sitting down. One was Akado, the other had dark hair too wild to belong in any court, and a suit as black as his eyes. Sasuke Uchiha, junior partner of Uchiha, Kapner, and Uchiha, though Kapner hadn't done much in the past few years.
Before any unpleasantries could be exchanged the Bailiff announced the arrival of Judge Tsunade Senju. The court clerk then handed the case document to Judge Senju, who began the procedure immediately. "Case number 0087-099-A, State of Florida v. Manabu Akado. Will counsel please note their appearance for the record."
"Good morning, Hinata Hyuuga representing State of Florida, your honor."
"Uchiha Sasuke representing Manabu Akado, with Mr. Green and Mr. Dan representing the interests of the University of Konoha, Mr. Akado's employer." Sasuke got glares from introducing the other two, apparently they each wanted their turn in the court but he silenced them with his eyes. Always doing his best to be imposing, that one.
"Very well." Judge Senju looked over the papers, dropped them on her desk, and sat back in her chair. "Seeing as how Mr. Akado is being represented by three attorneys, it is clear he is informed of his rights, but to make sure we don't overlook any formality, can we say that he is aware of his right to counsel in this matter?" It was clear she was in one of her cheeky moods today.
"Yes, your Honor." Mr. Green was too happy to finally get a word in.
"Good and is he aware of the charges against him? Four counts of First-Degree Murder, with another charge of distribution of controlled substances."
"He is aware, your Honor."
"All right. Now as this is the first arraignment, he doesn't have to enter a plea. We have finished the formalities, so now we can begin the real part of this hearing, which is to decide on the request for bail."
Hinata and Sasuke stood up in unison, but Sasuke sat back down. "Your honor, given the nature of the crimes the defendant is charged with, I would ask that you deny the request for bail made by the defense."
"And what does the defense have to say?"
Staying in his seat, Sasuke waved to Mr. Dan. "Your honor, we make no statement regarding the charges made against our client at this time, but the interests of the University are pressing at this time. You understand we are a medical research school, and we are informed that Dr Akado was in the middle of a very important experiment. We ask that he be released on bail, with special exemption that he be allowed to complete his work."
"Any objections to that, Ms. Hyuuga?"
"Yes, as police are still conducting an investigation at the lab they claim they want Mr. Akado to return to."
"Materials can be moved from the lab as needed after inspected by the police." Sasuke said before whispering something into Akado's ear.
"Placing undue burden on police in the middle of an investigation." Hinata countered.
"Agreed." Tsunade nodded, "However, the University has made known the nature of his study to me." Lifting a document, she handed it to the clerk, who passed it to Hinata. "A burden for a burden then. Bail is granted for $1.5 million." Halfway through scanning the document and Hinata got the impression this was less about medical research and more about political pressure. Liver toxicity studies did not seem like the most pressing medical emergency, and combined with the fact that liver samples were somehow connected to the three deceased victims made her uneasy.
"Your honor, we request an expedited discovery process for this case," Sasuke's smooth tone seemed to put the two senior attorneys working with him on edge, "We understand that there is a second suspect in custody in relation to these crimes and initial findings show that my client has only peripheral connection to this case. We'd rather not waste the court's time by drawing this out."
It was a bold play and not one usually requested at that. Capital crimes like murder often have very long and costly discovery processes. Tsunade might have agreed to the bail, but there was no chance she'd agree to a short discovery for this. Sure enough, she was shaking her head. "Request denied. We'll reconvene for the second arraignment in fourteen days." Tsunade banged her gavel on the desk, and that was that.
Hinata picked up her folders and got up to go to her office. Sasuke was at her side and held open the bar door to let her pass. Giving him a questioning look, she stood back and teased him, "Now Sasuke, I'm not the one in a hurry. Not to leave and not with this trial. So why are you?"
Doing his best to look cool, Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair and messed up the gel he had keeping his wild locks in place. "I just like getting to the action. All this waiting and sitting around makes me bored."
"So you like to skip to the action? Shame, I find a slow buildup in anticipation gives the most satisfying experience." Raising her eyebrow at him, she walked out of the courtroom and went to her office upstairs. Thankfully the timing was just right and the phone started ringing as she got in.
"Ms. Hyuuga, Board of Governors asked if you could meet with them at the College instead of them meeting you at the court house." That sort of news made Hinata curl her mouth. They wanted to meet her at the seat of their power, not in hers.
"Fair enough. Anything else? Any news on the investigation?"
"Yes, Officer Aburame asked when a good time to meet with you would be."
"Shino… tell him I'm working late at the office. We'll meet at the usual spot at eight." Letting down her hair, Hinata hung up the phone and stretched out. She had to start scheduling depositions, evidence from the crime scene, check on Moegi's condition, interview Shigure and the public defender assigned to him, not to mention go down to the college to meet with a group of administrators who cared more about reputation than integrity, let alone education. And that was all just related to one case of three she had to deal with today.
Sitting down at her desk, she picked up the picture frame of her parents and smiled. Placing it back down, she opened a drawer where she kept a radio hidden away and turned it on. Drums and a killer bass-line got her gently nodding her head side to side as she gently started singing along, "Oh, my little pretty one, pretty one. When you gonna give me some time Sharona." Flipping a pen in her hand, she opened a folder and got to work.