Free Presumption of Innocence: David Brunelle Legal Thriller #1 by Stephen Penner

Judge Quinn calmly. Then, turning back to Brunelle, "Why did you tell me that she would testify against Mr. Karpati?"
    "Because I honestly thought that she would," Brunelle answered. "In fact we had a plea hearing set yesterday and everyone, including her lawyer, expected her to accept the State's offer. However, at the last moment, she refused to plead guilty."
    Judge Quinn nodded. "Do you know why she changed her mind?"
    Brunelle surrendered a sardonic smile. "Not yet, Your Honor." He glanced at Karpati. "But we're looking into it."
    Welles jumped out of his chair. "This is outrageous, Your Honor! First, Mr. Brunelle intentionally lied to the court. Now, he casts aspersions against my client and myself! I have never—"
    "You can stop now, Mr. Welles," Judge Quinn interrupted. "He told me he had a good faith belief the girl would testify. I don't think Mr. Brunelle was lying. He ended up being mistaken, but that happens a lot in this line of work."
    She turned back to Brunelle. "So should we just strike this hearing then, since you won't be able to show clear evidence of the crime to justify a no bail hold?"
    "No, Your Honor," Yamata answered. "The hearing should go forward."
    Judge Quinn looked back at Brunelle's junior partner. "And why is that, Miss…?"
    "Yamata," she said with only a hint of irritation at having to say it again so soon. "And the reason why is that Mr. Welles' legal argument to the court was mistaken at best, misleading at worse, and in any event incorrect."
    Welles turned red in the face. Brunelle—and Judge Quinn— suppressed a smile. Yamata kept her poker face, staring straight at the judge.
    "I have filed a brief explaining all that, Your Honor," Yamata continued. "We did not receive any response brief from Mr. Welles."
    Brunelle looked over and saw Karpati's eyebrows knit together as his mouth curled into a scowl. He could see why Holly might be afraid of him. He smacked Welles' arm and the defense attorney leaned down for Karpati to whisper something in his ear. The two exchanged heated whispers for a few moments. Then Welles stood up straight again. "My client has instructed me to file a response brief. I did not think it necessary given the misdeeds of the prosecution."
    "Our brief was served on them in a timely fashion," Yamata protested. "We're ready to argue this today."
    Judge Quinn raised her hand. "Counsel, counsel. Let's all step back from the precipice."
    She turned to Welles. "How much time do you need, counsel?"
    "One week, Your Honor. No more."
    "Ms Yamata, will the State be ready to argue the motion in one week?"
    "We're ready to argue it now."
    Judge Quinn smiled, but Brunelle could see her patience was wearing thin. "So we'll be ready in a week as well, Your Honor," he interjected.
    Judge Quinn smiled. "All right then. Here is what we're going to do. We will reschedule the bail hearing for one week from today. We will also schedule a pre-trial conference to discuss any other matters that might need to be discussed."
    "May I suggest a continuance motion as well, Your Honor?" Brunelle spoke up. "I can speak with counsel in the meantime about possible dates for trial. I'm thinking probably the spring, Mr. Welles?"
    Welles didn't look back at Brunelle. "We will object to any continuance. We demand a speedy trial."
    The speedy trial rule in Washington required the trial to start within ninety days of the arraignment, unless the defendant was in custody, in which case it had to start within sixty days. They'd already lost seven days on the bail issue. Murder cases were always continued out past the sixty-day deadline upon agreement of the parties. Hell, joy riding cases were routinely continued out past the sixty-day rule.
    Judge Quinn raised an eyebrow. "You're going to be ready to start a capital murder case in fifty-three days, Mr. Welles?"
    "I will Your Honor."
    Brunelle was getting tired of Welles' bravado.
    "At least I will be more prepared than the State," Welles went on. "I see