One to Go by Mike Pace

today.”
    â€œThanks, Judge.”
    â€œYou’re welcome. Take care of yourself.”
    She smiled at the judge as she was led away. “Next case,” said the judge.
    â€œUnited States versus Reece Mackey,” said the clerk.
    The marshal escorted a tall, gaunt black man forward. Mid-thirties, stringy, dirty hair, rough beard, heavy lids over dull eyes. Dressed in street clothes, his jeans were halfway down his ass, exposing blue boxers. He wore a Washington Redskins t-shirt that may have been washed several months ago. His body odor made Tom’s eyes water.
    â€œMr. Mackey’s charged with simple assault, Your Honor,” said Lutz. “Bar fight.”
    Tom had read the file. Mackey originally had been charged with ADW—assault with a deadly weapon—for cutting the victim with a hawk-bill knife, then punching him in the face. The AUSA in charge of intake had no-papered the felony and reduced the charge to misdemeanor assault. Both the defendant and the victim were drunk. The victim only received a superficial cut on his arm, and wasn’t exactly citizen-of-the-year material.
    â€œDefendant has a long record, Your Honor,” said Lutz. “The government requests ten thousand dollars cash bond.”
    Squeaky turned to Tom. “Mr. Booker?”
    â€œMr. Mackey has a long record of arrests, Your Honor, not convictions. There’s no evidence that Mr. Mackey ever failed to appear.” Tom was parroting a line he’d heard Eva offer on several occasions during the afternoon. “This is a bar fight, and I’m sure the evidence will show Mr. Mackey was as much a victim as the complainant. We believe he should be released on his personal recognizance.”
    â€œOne of those arrests led to Mr. Mackey being tried for first-degree murder,” said Lutz. “He was acquitted when a key witness failed to appear.”
    Eva looked at Tom, expectantly. What did she want him to say?
    Eva sprang to her feet. “Your Honor, Ms. Lutz’s comments are outrageous. She’s hinting that somehow Mr. Mackey was responsible for the witness’ failure to appear. If that were the case, her office would’ve prosecuted him for witness tampering.”
    Right on right on
, thought Tom.
    â€œMs. Stoddard has a point,” said the judge. “Okay, Mr. Mackey, I’m releasing you on your own recognizance. You will report toJudge Hecht’s chambers three weeks from today at 9:00 a.m. for a status hearing. If you fail to appear, I’ll issue a bench warrant for your arrest. Do you understand?”
    â€œYes, sir,” said Mackey.
    â€œBetween now and then, consult with your attorney, Mr. Booker here.”
    Mackey pointed to Eva. “I want her.”
    Tom didn’t blame him.
    â€œNot your choice,” said the judge. “Mr. Booker comes from one of the most prestigious firms in the city. You’re in good hands. All right, think that does it, unless there’s anything else, court’s adjourned until tomorrow at 9:00.”
    All stood while the judge exited the courtroom. Tom approached Mackey and offered his hand. Mackey shook it warily.
    â€œSo, how can I get in touch with you?” asked Tom.
    Mackey gestured to a big-breasted black woman wearing a pink halter top who’d been sitting near the back of the courtroom. She came forward.
    â€œPhone,” said Mackey.
    She retrieved a cell phone from her purse and handed it to him. He punched a few keys and displayed the screen to Tom. The phone’s number appeared. Tom quickly entered the digits into his own phone. Without another word, Mackey and his girl departed the room, arm-in-arm.
    As they reached the door, the woman turned back and grinned.
    For an instant his vision flickered, and it was Brit smiling at him. He blinked and she disappeared.

CHAPTER 18
    Tom sat with Eva and other PDS attorneys around a long wooden table in the back of Jack’s, a deli only