“Okay. The lawyers will be here in a few minutes. I want you to take your seat over there and stay out of the way. Not a peep, okay?”
“Sure, but would a real law clerk have to hide in the corner?”
“So you want a seat at the table?”
“Sure.”
“Sorry. Just consider yourself lucky to be here.”
“Yes, sir. And thanks, Judge.”
Chapter 25
The air was heavy with tension as the lawyers filed into the room. Several glanced at Theo in the corner but no one seemed to care. There were far more important matters at the moment. They packed around the long table, opened their briefcases, pulled out papers and notepads, and settled into place. Judge Gantry took his seat at one end and the court reporter situated herself next to him. On one side was Jack Hogan and his gang of prosecutors. On the other was Clifford Nance and his defense team. Pete Duffy was not present.
Judge Gantry said, “Let’s go on the record,” and the court reporter began pressing keys.
“Mr. Nance, the offer on the table has not changed since midnight. Has Mr. Duffy made a decision?”
Clifford Nance looked as though he hadn’t slept in a week. He wore expensive suits and always looked the part of a successful trial lawyer, but now his tie was crooked, his shirt wrinkled. He said, “Your Honor, I met with my client at midnight, and again this morning at six a.m. He has finally agreed to plead guilty and take the deal.”
“Mr. Hogan, do you have the Plea Agreement?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” One of Hogan’s assistants produced a neat stack of papers and everyone got a copy. Hogan said, “It’s fairly straightforward, Your Honor.”
Theo had heard this before. In fact, his father claimed that when a lawyer says something is “fairly straightforward,” then you’d better look out. It’s actually pretty complicated.
The lawyers slowly read the agreement. It was only two pages long, and, in fact, fairly straightforward.
Judge Gantry said, “The defendant pleads guilty to one count of murder and gets a sentence of life without parole. He also pleads guilty to one count of escape and gets a sentence of two years, which will run concurrently with his life sentence.”
“That’s right, Your Honor,” Hogan said.
“I have decided to approve this Plea Agreement. Bring in the defendant.”
A deputy prosecutor stepped to the door, opened it, and nodded at someone in the reception area. A uniformed officer walked in, followed by Pete Duffy, who was followed by another officer. There were no handcuffs and no leg chains. Duffy was wearing his standard dark suit. Oddly, he seemed relaxed and managed to smile at Judge Gantry. As he was about to sit next to Clifford Nance, he glanced around the room and saw Theo. His smile vanished. His spine stiffened. He took a few steps toward the corner.
Theo knew Duffy wouldn’t hurt him, not at this point anyway, but his heart froze for a second. Duffy glared at him and said, “You found me, didn’t you? At the airport in Washington. It was you, wasn’t it?”
Theo wasn’t about to answer, but he returned the glare and didn’t blink.
“That’s enough,” Judge Gantry growled as an officer grabbed Duffy’s elbow. He led him back to the table where he sat next to Clifford Nance. Theo took a deep breath.
Judge Gantry said, “Mr. Duffy, I have here a two-page Plea Agreement that I want you to read carefully.”
Duffy didn’t reach for the document. Instead, he said, “I know what’s in it, Judge. I don’t need to read it. Mr. Nance has explained everything.”
“And you wish to plead guilty?”
“Yes, sir.”
“All right. In order to accept your guilty plea, I have to ask you a series of questions.”
Reading from a well-used manual, Judge Gantry began the questioning. First, he made sure Duffy knew what he was doing. Had he discussed all the issues with his lawyer? Yes. Was he satisfied with his lawyer’s advice? Yes. Did he have any complaints about his lawyer and the job he’d done? No. Did he understand that he would spend the rest of his life in prison? Yes. That by pleading guilty, he was giving up all rights to an appeal? Yes, he understood. That he could never change his mind after he signed the Plea Agreement? Yes. Judge Gantry inquired about his mental state. Was he taking medications? No. Anything that might cloud his judgment? No. Anything that might prevent him from making such an important decision? No.
This began to drag a bit, and Theo had a great idea. He slowly pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, and hiding it behind a leg while staring at the back of the judge’s head, sent a text to Ike: With Gantry now. Duffy pleading guilty!!
The reply came seconds later: I knew it.
Typical Ike. He thought he knew everything regardless of how much he really knew.
Theo was suddenly hit with the horrible thought that he had violated the trust Judge Gantry had placed in him. The judge would certainly want this little meeting to be kept quiet. This was a matter of the most serious nature.
Theo hurriedly sent another text: Keep it quiet, big mouth.
Ike replied: I’m in the courtroom. Everybody knows it.
That made Theo feel somewhat better. Secrets were hard to keep around the courthouse, anyway, and it was safe to assume the gossip was spreading like wildfire. He wisely decided to stick the phone back in his pocket.
When Judge Gantry finished his thorough questioning, he said, “Very well. I am satisfied that the defendant, Pete Duffy, is fully aware of what he is doing, has been properly advised by counsel, and is not being coerced in any way. Mr. Duffy, I hereby find you guilty of the murder of Myra Duffy, and I find you guilty of escape and evasion. All parties will now sign the Plea Agreement.”
As the judge spoke, Duffy sat back in his chair and glanced at Theo. Slowly, Duffy shook his head.
When the paperwork was finished, Judge Gantry stood and said, “Gentlemen, take your places in the courtroom, and I will address the jury.”
Mr. and Mrs. Boone were seated with Ike in the crowd, waiting. Everyone seemed to be talking at once, and the large, stately room buzzed in anticipation. When the lawyers appeared from the back, people took their seats. All eyes were on Pete Duffy as he walked to his chair, offering a fake smile along the way, as if things were just swell.