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When Cassadines Fall
Hearing
"I'll see you later, Mei!" Rita hollers over her shoulder as she is pulled away by the flood of students leaving Queen of Angels. She gets out of the flow and crosses the street to the other sidewalk. Adjusting her backpack, she gets ready for the trek to the courthouse. It is so much easier on her bike... but bikes and snow just don't mix.
Ricky sees her coming and pops out of his car. "Hey munchkin, wanna go shoot some hoop over at the B&G club? I know you have tryouts tomorrow."
"That sounds great but I'm meeting my dad. He's going to take me to a movie. He says I'm overanalyzing this whole tryout thing and need to just relax." Ricky grins. "Don't you start!" Rita reads his expression. "I don't overanalyze."
"Right." Ricky agrees with his tongue in his cheek. "I'll give you a lift. Where are you meeting your dad?"
"At the courthouse."
Ricky gets serious. "I don't think that is a good idea. Dara Jensen has court today. The bad guy is in the building. You need to stay as far away as possible. If Jensen's mouthpiece finally uses that info I gave her investigator it's all going to hit the fan."
Rita rolls her eyes and starts talking really slow like she is the adult and Ricky the kid. "Daddy is just doing preliminary hearings today. They are nothing!" She puts on a stuckup tone. "Is this your true name in the corner correctly spelled... blah blah blah." Her voice returns to normal as she explains. "The state enters the police reports. Maybe calls one witness to verify they are true reports. The defense puts in a motion for discovery. The clerk assigns the next court date. It's an assembly line. Daddy always gets out in time to catch a matinee."
Ricky still doesn't like it. "Look I'll drive you to the courthouse. We'll tell your Dad that you'll meet him at Kelly's or the mall or something."
"You are a worrywart." But Rita lets him walk her to his car.
"You are the only one that thinks so." Ricky retorts. He starts the engine and looking around pulls out onto the residental street.
"So... Are you doing my sister?" Rita turns in her seatbelt so she can watch Ricky's face as he tries to answer that one.
Dara looks in the mirror and takes a deep breath. She pushes back a lock of hair that always falls forward and then clenches her fist when she sees her hands are trembling. So this is what it was like to be a defendant.
"This is just a prelim. Nothing will probably happen. We won't get to put on our case." Alexis tells her from the sink next to her using the mirror to make eye contact.
"I KNOW. I'm not one of your idiot clients. I'm a lawyer remember?"
"Sorry. It's kind of automatic." Alexis apologizes. "I think we got lucky drawing Porter."
"Just keep your remarks short... he hates longwinded. The last attorney who tried to fillibuster him ended up in the tank with huge fine for contempt."
"Now who is treating whom like an idiot?" Alexis quips. "I only go longwinded on Taggart and you. It's fun to watch your eyes glaze over. Is Taggart going to be here?"
"I told him not to." Dara looks at Alexis in the mirror and starts shaking her head and can't help but breaking out into a small grin.
"Which means he is out pacing the hall as we speak."
"Probably. I saw the docket. We're last up on the prelims." Dara worries.
"That works for me." Alexis reassures. "If we were first up we wouldn't have a shot in hell of blowing this out of the water today. Porter not having a case after us mean we might have some latitude."
There is a pounding on the door. "Did you guys fall in?!" Taggart demands from outside.
"It's a good thing we didn't bet." Dara reaches over and grabs a papertowel drying off her hands. "I'm ready to do this... you?"
"Looking forward to it." Alexis takes a last look in the mirror and straightens her jacket. "Larkin better have brought his toothbrush 'cause he isn't leaving here today unless it's in cuffs."
Dara opens the door to the ladies room. Taggart is there ready to pound on it again. He looks at Dara and then at Alexis. Both of them have their game faces on. He grins at Dara almost scenting the blood-- fibbie blood. "You two are ready." Taggart tells them confidently.
"Yes, we are which means you can go back to work." Dara directs. "We're the last ones up. You don't have to hold my hand."
"Is Maddy going to be here?" Taggart doesn't give an answer to Dara's directive.
"No. I told her it was preliminary but that Larkin might be here. She put up a little fuss. I won't be able to talk her out of coming if it goes to a trial." Dara looks back to Alexis. "Another reason I want this over with today. Every day Larkin is on the street is one where he could finally corner Maddy."
"And that dog she is taking care of would rip him a new one." Taggart quips then curses when his pager goes off. "Damn it!"
"Go Marcus, I'm fine."
"I'll be back." Marcus pulls her close and presses a kiss to her temple. "Before the case is even called."
JD calls his bailiff back into chambers. "I don't want any guns in the courtroom today. We have a case that could get heated."
"I didn't see Carly Quartermaine on the docket." The bailiff teases. It was starting to make the courthouse grapevine that Judge Porter was socializing with Carly and AJ Quartermaine. It had spread fast with Carly's rep for shooting people in open court being rehashed.
"I want you to hear me on this one. No guns. Not on the clients, the attorneys or the cops. I want you to confiscate Margie's gun too."
The bailiff laughs. "Your clerk?!"
"Middle drawer of her desk." JD says flatly. "They either agree to lock them up or they don't get in."
"What about me?" The bailiff asks offended.
JD shakes his head remembering that Carly hadn't brought a gun to the courtroom that day but had instead used Taggarts service weapon. "Fine, keep yours. But yours is the only one."
There is a knock on the door. "Daddy?"
"Hey pumpkin. Take care of that for me."
"I'm on it." The bailiff replies as is leaving. He bumps into Ricky on the way out. "Excuse me."
"No problem man." Ricky replies.
"Mr Robideau." JD flags Ricky in.
"Ricky gave me a ride from school to here."
"I know you're planning on a movie with Rita, sir; but I think it would be better if she met you at the mall or Kelly's or something."
JD studies Ricky carefully. "Do you have any specific knowledge of any plan or scheme to cause problems here in the courthouse?"
Ricky practically growls. "No."
"Then trust I have put precautions in place."
Rita looks from one to the other. "I'll be sitting out in the jury box, Dad, working on my English assignment. You two figure this one out." Rita leaves the room. "Hey Margie!"
"Rita! How did you get by my desk?"
"You must have had to go down to docketing or something."
"Your dad taking you to the movies?"
"Yep, and then we're meeting Cookie for ribs at Eli's." The voices in the outside offices fade as Margie and Rita go into the courtroom.
"This is a mistake." Ricky warns.
"I wouldn't put my daughter in danger." JD says coolly.
"Damn! I never said you would. I just have a bad feeling on this."
"I don't know you well enough to trust your feelings. I need proof. I am taking precautions based on your feelings, on what you told me on Thanksgiving. And I appreciate the heads up."
"You won't mind if I stick around then..."
"Actually I do. I'm skating on thin ice thanks to the info you gave me at Thanksgiving. IF Larkin were to see you... he does know your face doesn't he?"
"Damn." Ricky looks down at himself. And wouldn't you know it he was dressed in the style that Larkin would recognize. If he'd been in his janitor gear nobody would be the wiser. "I'll be around." Ricky leaves.
"Alexis!" Nikolas calls from down the hall. Alexis turns as does Dara.
"Nikolas. This is a surprise." Alexis kisses her nephew first one cheek and then the other.
Nikolas sidesteps closer to Dara after returning his Aunt's greeting. "Maddy said you'd talked her into not coming today. I wanted to let you know you have our full support and a reminder... Maddy is on her cell and wants to know what happens the minute this is settled."
"I'm surprised she didn't come herself." Alexis shakes her head.
"Me too." Nik agrees with a frown. "Despite what she said. Something must have come up secondary to the hearing. She wants me to meet her at Kelly's to talk about something that can't be discussed at the house. And she was very tight lipped about that." Nik is distracted by a commotion behind them near Judge Porter's courtroom.
"Look I was already cleared through the metal detector on the first floor." Larkin protests.
"Cleared by your badge." The bailiff says flatly as he runs a wand down Larkin. It hits metal at Larkins side and then again at his ankle. "When Judge Porter says no guns he means no guns. You can check your weapons over at the jail. There is a gun locker for just that purpose. See the sheriff."
"I've been subpoened to testify!"
"Well then you better get on it or the judge will cite you for contempt for not being here ready to testify." The bailiff stonewalls.
"Come on, John." Ford remarks calmly. "I guess I have a little something to lock up as well."
"What is this bull? Anybody tell this guy we're the good guys?!"
Justus is already opening up his briefcase for the bailiff. "Guess you guys didn't hear about the gal who grabbed one of the good guy's service weapons and opened fire in the courtroom? Changed the security procedures around here big time. And nobody tells Judge Porter how to run his courtroom or let me say... tries more than once." Justus passes by the bailiff into the courtroom.
Nik turns to his aunt. "Was that who I think it was?"
"The young one with the problem is Larkin, the older one is Ford." Dara answers for Alexis. "You know I really get sick of them using that case as an example."
"You do? I do." Alexis says grimly. Tony Jones' kidnapping/custodial interference case hadn't been either of their finest hours. Helena had caught her when she was feeling alone and vulnerable. And Dara had been sidetracked by Justus which had screwed her whole case. "We should get inside."
"Yeah," Dara agrees. "Get an idea of the judge's temper."
"I'll talk to you both later." Nik gives Alexis' hand a squeeze.
Maddy with Cinnamon at her side makes her way into the warehouse. There is a bustle of activity. She flags down one of the guys who is hauling a pallet of filled burlap bags marked Costa Rica. "Is Jason Morgan around?"
The guy nods in the direction of the offices. "Up there."
"Thanks." Maddy climbs the stairs with the dog at her heels. She knocks on the door and waits for the come in.
"Madeliene Reynolds." Jason recognizes her off the bat. He looks over at the calender. "I wasn't expecting your december pickup for a couple of days yet."
"Yeah, well I thought I'd do two birds at a time. Can I ask you something?" Maddy looks around to make sure they are a alone in the office.
Jason straightens and his eyes narrow. "Sure." This girl had too many connections. This could be a mess of epic proportions. With his thoughts going to Sonny's other business he is blindsided by Maddy's question.
"What do you know about Tony Jones? I need to know everything about him as a doctor. I'm not being nosy. Well I am but I have a good reason. Right now he is Laura Spencer's doctor here in Port Charles and I'm getting that feeling that isn't such a good idea."
"I wouldn't let Tony Jones work on your dog." Jason refers to Cinnamon.
Margie passes a file to JD for his signature on the orders for the next court date. JD waits until the courtroom clears and then orders the next case. The Bailiff calls it. "State of New York Vs. Dara Jensen."
Alexis and Dara come before the bar standing at the defense table. Justus is on his feet. Doing the blah blah blah's that had gone with all the prelims before. Rita is still sitting in the jury box. She has her eyes down on her assignment but she is mouthing by rote all the things that Justus is saying her head tilting from side to side. So much of this is form just form.
"You can stop there, Mr Ward." JD interrupts. Rita sits up with a wrinkle on her forehead. Daddy is changing the script. "Before we go any further... there is something that needs to be cleared up by all parties."
"Sir?"
"Your honor?"
"I know all of you. You've all been before me in this court. Dara, Ms Jensen, I've served on committees with you. Before we waste anymore time I want it on the record if any of you have a problem with me hearing this case." There is a chorus of No problems from the attorneys. Larkin moves forward so that he is sitting right behind Justus in the gallery section. "Then continue, Mr Ward."
"I call John Larkin to enter the police reports. Unless defense would care to stipulate?" Justus looks over at Alexis who is scribbling on her notepad.
Alexis half rises. "No stipulation."
The Bailiff calls up Larkin and swears him in. The bailiff takes up a stance between Larkin and the jury box. Justus starts setting down the building blocks of his case, identifying Larkin, his profession, his reports, that are entered into evidence.
Periodically Alexis is snorting and rolling her eyes. Finally JD gets fed up.
"Ms Davis, if you have an objection to make then Make it."
"I can wait for the cross examination."
"Do that." JD retorts giving Alexis what she wants. Larkin's eyes narrow. He is an attorney too. He knows how often a cross examination happens in a prelim. Justus finishes up his questions.
Alexis rises to her feet setting down her glasses. "Agent Larkin, how much money do you make a year?"
"Objection, your honor, relevance!" Justus pops up.
JD waves him down. "Counselor. Ms Davis?"
"My client is before you today because she is frugal and lives within her income evidently it's a sign of corruption as indicated in this... fiction. So... rather than making the same error, I'd like to know what is normal."
"I didn't hear a question in there, Counselor." JD says testily.
"I'll rephrase, your honor, Agent Larkin as an agent of the FBI with 10 years in the service you are a GS-" Alexis calls off his rating and then gives his annual salary to the court. "So here's my question. Why do you have 3.2 million dollars in a numbered offshore Caymen island bank account?"
"Excuse me?" Larkin's eyes go wide.
"Maybe you're one of those guys who is more comfortable with something visual." Alexis approaches the bench with a leaflet of papers. "Entered to impeach, your honor. Mr Larkin's signature card, records of his deposits with corresponding cases that where closed to insufficient evidence."
"How in the hell did you get that?" Larkin snarls.
"I'll ask the question." JD rebukes. "How did you get this, Ms Davis?"
"He used my family's bank. And the thing about Caymen accounts the rules are different down there."
"John, What is she saying! What have you done? Let me see those." Ford rises to his feet and approaches the bar. Justus is also on his feet.
JD starts pounding his gavel. "ORDER!"
Rita sees the move first. "Oh ****." She mutters instinctively grabbing her pendent and squeezing hard. Larkin comes out of the chair and behind the elderly bailiff. He knocks the man to the floor and grabs the bailiff's gun. JD is on his feet. Everyone is on their feet.
"John, what are you doing?!" Ford protests.
"I'm leaving and nobody is going to get in my way." Larkin moves closer to the bench. "All of you-- move over there... in the jury box where I can see you. No sudden moves, no heroics." Margie helps the bailiff to his feet. JD moves so that he is front of Rita in the jury box. Alexis and Dara move over toward the jury box keeping an eye on Larkin the whole time. The guy is supposed to go down not pull a gun on them! Justus doesn't move either does Ford. "Both of you! Move! Now!" Slowly keeping an eye open for an opportunity they cross to the jury box. Larkin starts back toward the main doors. He eases one open and then swears slamming it shut and locking it. Looking around the courtroom he sees what he didn't before. Closed Circuit Cameras. Gun shots echo in the courtroom as Larkin takes out the cameras.