Free 1 A Small Case of Murder by Lauren Carr Page A

matriarch, Bridgette patted her father’s arm while looking annoyed.
    The judge set bail at fifty thousand dollars and scheduled the trial date for September 9.
    This was the point when things changed from business as usual.
    Vicki exploded. “What do you mean the trial date is set for September 9?”
    When Mannings tried to hush her, Vicki wouldn’t be silenced. She jumped out of her seat and turned to the gallery behind her.
    “So you think you can lock me up and all your troubles will disappear! Nah! That’s not the way it works,” she appeared to say to her father.
    Shaking off the guard trying to lead her out, she directed her curses to each family member in turn. “I’m taking you all going down with me.”
    The bailiff joined the guard in wrestling Vicki towards the door to go downstairs to the jail on the second floor. After breaking away, she lunged at Reverend Rawlings. “You can lock me up, but you can’t shut me up.”
    Her struggle with the guards got her to the other side of the gallery. “The word is mightier than the sword. My words are downright deadly!”
    Joshua followed her eyes and saw that it seemed her last remark had been aimed at Tad. Or was it Beth?
    Clasping her arms around Tad’s neck, Beth screamed into his chest. Her blood drained from her face.
    The guards picked Vicki Rawlings up and carried her through the side door, which closed shut with a loud clang.
    With a shake of his head, the judge adjourned the court.
    With Vicki gone Orville Rawlings covered up his face and his shoulders shook. Joshua leaned forward to take a look at Wallace for his reaction. His face had turned as white as a sheet.
    “Judging from that performance,” Jan told Joshua when everyone stood to leave, “it isn’t going to be much of a stretch for Mannings to convince a jury that Vicki Rawlings is crazy.”
    Joshua saw Marjorie Greene conferring with Clarence Manning. He imagined she was warning the defense lawyer not to make Vicki’s emotional state the issue during the trial.
    A cry rose from across the courtroom. They craned their necks to see through the crowd gathered in the aisle.
    Beth Davis had collapsed at Tad’s feet.
    While the doctor ordered the spectators to stand back to give her air, Joshua fought to get to his side. After Tad ordered her to call an ambulance, Jan disappeared into the crowd.
    “Would you mind doing this someplace else?” an impatient voice demanded.
    Joshua looked up at Wallace and Orville Rawlings. “Can’t you see that she’s unconscious?”
    “She can’t be moved until the ambulance gets here.” Tad continued tending to the woman. “There’s another door right behind the jury box.”
    “We have to go out the main exit.” Reverend Rawlings clasped Hal Poole’s wrist to stop him when he started to follow the suggestion. “The media will think we’re ducking out the back way if we go out the other door.”
    Tess Bauer and Leo Walker lingered nearby while they tried to force their way over Beth’s unconscious body.
    Joshua blocked the reverend’s path. “I’m afraid you have no choice, Mr. Rawlings.”
    “It’s the Reverend Rawlings!” he barked. “I am the Reverend Rawlings and don’t you ever forget it.” He waved his arms at the crowd around him. “Get away from me!”
    Joshua noticed the gloves he had previously seen the reverend slapping in his hands were now gone.
    “I’m sorry if I said anything to offend you.” Joshua’s children were disappointed to hear him apologize. “But I won’t let you endanger this woman in the name of taking advantage of a good photo op.” He put his face into Wallace’s chubby face.
    Wallace regarded Joshua and his equally tall sons flanking him. “Father, let’s go out the side door. We can go around and meet the press out front.” He gestured for the family to turn around.
    Before following his son’s suggestion, Reverend Rawlings hesitated to give Joshua a glare that warned his son’s childhood rival