“What happened at the Imperial?” Jeff prodded.
“It wasn’t a big deal. When Bobby disappeared, he owed me two thousand dollars in back pay. When I found out he wasn’t dead, I went to the theater for my money. He tried to talk me out of it. When I wouldn’t budge, he got upset and threatened me. So I gave him a piece of my mind and stormed out. But if you think I was mad enough to kill him, think again. Bobby was an asshole, but I got over him about a week after he took off, and I’m not going to murder someone over a few thousand dollars.”
“When you were watching the performance, did you see anything that might help us figure out who killed Mr. Chesterfield?”
“No, and that’s why I left the theater so quickly. I knew I couldn’t help the police, and I didn’t want to stay at the theater all night.”
“I can’t think of anything else to ask you. Thanks for the help.”
Ross raised her latte. “Thanks for the drink.”
Jeff smiled as he handed Ross his card. “If you think of anything that might help Mr. Turner, give me a call.”
“What if I want to get together and it has nothing to do with David Turner?”
“I’m flattered, but I’m in a serious relationship.”
Ross grinned. “Oh well. You can’t blame a girl for trying.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
David Turner’s bail hearing was held in the courtroom of the Honorable LaVerne Washington on the fifth floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse. There were trucks with the logos of local television stations at the curb, and Robin had several microphones thrust in her face as soon as the reporters spotted her. With Jeff blocking, Robin managed to fight her way into the elevator without incurring a major injury.
Claire Madison was waiting for Robin in the hallway on the fourth floor, just below Judge Washington’s courtroom, so they could avoid the reporters and thrill seekers who were lurking outside the courtroom.
“When we get upstairs, the mob will descend on you. So keep your head down, don’t answer any questions, and keeping moving until we are safely inside the courtroom,” Robin said.
“Don’t worry about me,” Claire assured her. “I’m used to the paparazzi. Don’t forget, I was television’s flavor of the week for a while.”
Robin smiled. “I did forget. Shall we?”
“Let’s rock and roll.”
“So,” Claire asked as they headed down the hall, “will David get out today?”
“I’m going to be brutally frank with you. Getting bail in a murder case is a long shot if the State has any kind of case. I’m going to try my best, but I’ve read the police reports, and the DA has a very good chance of convincing the judge to hold David without bail.”
“Thanks for your honesty.”
Robin led Claire up a back stairway so they would come toward the courtroom from an unexpected direction. They almost made it to the courtroom door before someone spotted them and the mob descended. Robin repeated, “No comment,” until she had hustled Claire into the courtroom.
“This is a circus,” Madison said.
“Welcome to my world,” Robin answered as she led Claire to a seat in the front row of the spectator section that the judge’s bailiff had reserved for her. When Claire was seated, Robin pushed through the low gate that separated the spectators from the area where the judge, jury, and lawyers worked.
Peter Ragland was already at his counsel table. He flashed a confident smile at Robin just as the guards led David Turner out of the holding area.
“Am I going to get out?” Turner asked nervously when Robin took the seat next to him at the counsel table.
“To hold you without bail, the State has to convince Judge Washington that the proof is evident or the presumption is strong that you killed Chesterfield. That’s not like proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the standard in a criminal trial. It’s a lot lower.”
“Can they meet the burden?” Turner asked.
“Probably. I’ve gone through the discovery, and Ragland has a good circumstantial case.”
“Won’t you be able to cross-examine the witnesses to cast doubt on the State’s case?”
“When the case is tried in front of a jury, Ragland has to callwitnesses I can cross-examine, but he doesn’t have to call his witnesses at a bail hearing. Instead, he’s allowed to have a detective summarize the State’s case.”