Free Judge & Jury by James Patterson, Andrew Gross Page B

in an olive raincoat over a brown sports jacket, with a deep-blue shirt and a tie. Her mind flashed to how she must look—in a bright-pink DKNY sweatshirt, with a towel draped over her shoulder. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
    “We’re sorry to bust in on you like this. I’m Nicholas Pellisante. I’m a special agent in charge of the FBI’s Organized Crime Unit. I’m heading up the Cavello investigation.”
    “I’ve seen you in court,” Andie said. Then, warily, “Isn’t there some kind of rule that we’re not supposed to be talking to each other?”
    “Under normal circumstances, yes.” The FBI guy nodded.
    “Normal circumstances? I’m not following you. What’s happening?”
    “The trial procedures are being changed. As a matter of safety, the judge feels—and I agree—it may be prudent for the members of the jury to be removed from their daily lives.”
    “Our daily lives?” Andie blinked. What did that mean? She ran a hand through her messy hair.
    “The judge would like the jury sequestered. I don’t want you to be alarmed. There’s no specific threat. It’s just for your protection.”
    “My protection? ”
    “Yours and your son’s,” the agent said.
    Now Andie was alarmed. “You’re saying there have been threats?” Her mind flashed to the windshield of her car. “This is about what happened the other night.”
    “I’m not saying that,” the agent said. “There’s an officer outside who can assist you.”
    “Assist us with what, Agent Pellisante?” A tremor galloped down her spine. “I have a nine-year-old in here. What do I do with him while I’m being protected? Pack him off to boarding school?”
    “Look, I know how this sounds, and I know how short notice it is. We’ll make provisions that you get to see your son regularly, for the balance of the trial.”
    “The balance of the trial!” Suddenly the magnitude of this smacked Andie face-on. “We’re only in the first week. This isn’t exactly what I signed up for, Agent Pellisante.”
    The FBI guy looked sympathetic, but also helpless to do anything. “I’m afraid it’s not a matter of choice.”
    Her blood was pulsing. She could have gotten off this trial just the other day. “When?” Andie looked up at him. Then she realized what he had meant by the officer waiting outside.
    “I’m afraid, right now. What I have to ask you to do now is to go pack some things.”
    “You’re kidding!” Andie stared at him, glassy-eyed. “My son’s in bed in the other room. What am I supposed to do with him? This is crazy.”
    “Is there someone who can take him for tonight? Somebody nearby?”
    “I have a sister in Queens. It’s after ten o’clock. What do you want me to do, put him in a cab?”
    “You can bring him along,” the FBI guy finally said. “Just for this evening, though. You’ll have to make provisions for him tomorrow.”
    “Bring him along.” Andie smirked sardonically. “Where?”
    “I can’t tell you that, Ms. DeGrasse. Not far. And you will be able to see him from time to time. I promise you that.”
    “You’re serious.” Andie ran a hand through her hair again.
    At that moment, she saw Jarrod standing in the hall in his pj’s. “What’s goin’ on, Mom?”
    Andie went to him and put an arm around his shoulders. “This man is from the trial. He’s with the FBI. He’s telling me we have to leave. We have to go someplace. Now. Tonight.”
    “Why?” Jarrod asked, not understanding. “Tonight? Where?”
    The FBI guy kneeled down. “We have to do this in order to let your mom do a brave thing. You’d want her to do that, wouldn’t you? You’d do something brave, wouldn’t you, to protect your mom?”
    “Yeah.” Jarrod nodded. “Sure I would.”
    “Good.” He squeezed the boy’s shoulder. “I’m Nick. What’s your name?”
    “Jarrod.”
    “It won’t be so bad.” He smiled. He winked back at Andie. “You ever ridden in a police car, Jarrod?”

Chapter 27
    WHEN I