The Long Stitch Good Night: An Embroidery Mystery by Amanda Lee Page B
Authors: Amanda Lee
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judge thumbed through a file before asking Alicia Landers to provide the specifics of the case.
District Attorney Landers stood and stepped in front of her table. “Your Honor, on Friday evening, March 17, the two defendants werefound standing over the body of Graham Stott, who was deceased upon deputies’ arrival. Police found a gun at the scene, and it is currently being tested to determine whether or not it was used to shoot the victim, who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Upon refusing to answer investigators’ questions about how the shooting occurred, Mr. Calloway and Mr. MacKenzie were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.”
“Gentlemen, how do you plead?” Judge Street asked.
“My client, Todd Calloway, pleads not guilty,” Mr. Whitting said.
“My client, Blake MacKenzie, also pleads not guilty,” Mr. McQuiston said.
“Very well. D.A. Landers, what do you propose in the way of bail?” Judge Street asked.
“Based on the seriousness of the charges against them, I request bail be denied,” she said.
“Mr. Whitting?” Judge Street prompted.
Mr. Whitting stood. “My client has no criminal record and is a respected businessman in this community. Denial of bail might cause him and his employees great financial hardship. Based on his longtime social and economic position in Tallulah Falls, I request that a reasonable bail amount be set.”
After Mr. Whitting was seated, the judge nodded to Mr. McQuiston.
Mr. McQuiston stood, cleared his throat, and said, “I request the same of my client, please.” He sat back down.
I nearly groaned aloud. I didn’t know what Sadie was paying this guy, but the best he could do was basically “What he said”? The judge’s expression told me he felt the same way.
Judge Street looked at the file again. “A preliminary hearing in this matter will take place on Monday, April 4, at ten thirty a.m. Bail for each defendant is set in the amount of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
My jaw dropped, and I slowly turned to look at Sadie.
“It’s all right,” she said softly. “Mr. Whitting and Mr. McQuiston had already warned that bail would be set high, if at all. We’re using a property bond against our house and MacKenzies’ Mochas.”
Chapter Nine
A fter the arraignment, I hurried home to get Angus. He and I made it back to the Seven-Year Stitch with only five minutes to spare. I didn’t like cutting it that close with regard to opening the shop, but with the busy evening I had scheduled, I knew that if I didn’t bring Angus into the shop, he’d be alone all day and most of the night.
I was putting my jacket and purse in my office when I heard the bell over the door jingle. “Be right there!” I called.
When I turned, I was startled to see Todd standing in the office doorway. He’d apparently sprinted from the front door. He bridged the distance between us and pulled me to him in a bear hug. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come visit you in jail again after Saturday morning,” I said.
“Hush and just let me hold you for a minute.”
I realized he was slightly trembling. “Are you okay?”
“Not really. I’ve got a lot on the line right now.” He tilted my chin up with his index finger. “Thank you for everything you’ve done…everything you’re doing.”
“It’s nothing. I know you and Blake are innocent, and I intend to help you prove it,” I said. “Tell me what happened on Friday night.”
Todd released me and stepped out of the office. I followed him to the sit-and-stitch square.
“I’m not sure what happened,” he said, sitting on the edge of the sofa facing the window.
I perched on the red chair closest to him. “What do you mean, you’re not sure?”
“Exactly what I said. And I don’t want to talk about it until Blake and I can discuss it alone.” Angus came to sit on the floor in front of Todd, and Todd patted his head. “Hey, buddy. How’re you
District Attorney Landers stood and stepped in front of her table. “Your Honor, on Friday evening, March 17, the two defendants werefound standing over the body of Graham Stott, who was deceased upon deputies’ arrival. Police found a gun at the scene, and it is currently being tested to determine whether or not it was used to shoot the victim, who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Upon refusing to answer investigators’ questions about how the shooting occurred, Mr. Calloway and Mr. MacKenzie were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.”
“Gentlemen, how do you plead?” Judge Street asked.
“My client, Todd Calloway, pleads not guilty,” Mr. Whitting said.
“My client, Blake MacKenzie, also pleads not guilty,” Mr. McQuiston said.
“Very well. D.A. Landers, what do you propose in the way of bail?” Judge Street asked.
“Based on the seriousness of the charges against them, I request bail be denied,” she said.
“Mr. Whitting?” Judge Street prompted.
Mr. Whitting stood. “My client has no criminal record and is a respected businessman in this community. Denial of bail might cause him and his employees great financial hardship. Based on his longtime social and economic position in Tallulah Falls, I request that a reasonable bail amount be set.”
After Mr. Whitting was seated, the judge nodded to Mr. McQuiston.
Mr. McQuiston stood, cleared his throat, and said, “I request the same of my client, please.” He sat back down.
I nearly groaned aloud. I didn’t know what Sadie was paying this guy, but the best he could do was basically “What he said”? The judge’s expression told me he felt the same way.
Judge Street looked at the file again. “A preliminary hearing in this matter will take place on Monday, April 4, at ten thirty a.m. Bail for each defendant is set in the amount of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
My jaw dropped, and I slowly turned to look at Sadie.
“It’s all right,” she said softly. “Mr. Whitting and Mr. McQuiston had already warned that bail would be set high, if at all. We’re using a property bond against our house and MacKenzies’ Mochas.”
Chapter Nine
A fter the arraignment, I hurried home to get Angus. He and I made it back to the Seven-Year Stitch with only five minutes to spare. I didn’t like cutting it that close with regard to opening the shop, but with the busy evening I had scheduled, I knew that if I didn’t bring Angus into the shop, he’d be alone all day and most of the night.
I was putting my jacket and purse in my office when I heard the bell over the door jingle. “Be right there!” I called.
When I turned, I was startled to see Todd standing in the office doorway. He’d apparently sprinted from the front door. He bridged the distance between us and pulled me to him in a bear hug. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come visit you in jail again after Saturday morning,” I said.
“Hush and just let me hold you for a minute.”
I realized he was slightly trembling. “Are you okay?”
“Not really. I’ve got a lot on the line right now.” He tilted my chin up with his index finger. “Thank you for everything you’ve done…everything you’re doing.”
“It’s nothing. I know you and Blake are innocent, and I intend to help you prove it,” I said. “Tell me what happened on Friday night.”
Todd released me and stepped out of the office. I followed him to the sit-and-stitch square.
“I’m not sure what happened,” he said, sitting on the edge of the sofa facing the window.
I perched on the red chair closest to him. “What do you mean, you’re not sure?”
“Exactly what I said. And I don’t want to talk about it until Blake and I can discuss it alone.” Angus came to sit on the floor in front of Todd, and Todd patted his head. “Hey, buddy. How’re you
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