Free Alex Ames - Calendar Moonstone 02 - Brilliant Actors by Alex Ames Page A

sheepish smile. “Your honor, I hoped that we could find a solution to my dilemma. If you decide that we cannot leave an unresolved dagger hanging over Mrs. Moonstone, I am willing to go forward and charge her for Monday’s theft with the risk of compromising my other investigation. On the other hand, if you should give us some time in the investigation of the whole series of thefts and enable us to hold back Mrs. Moonstone’s indictment, I would leave this courtroom much happier.”
    Judge Lawrence looked at Palmeri for a second as if he planned to have him for dinner that night. He looked at Terrence and me. “What does the defendant have to say about that matter?”
    Terrence held up one hand. “Could I have a minute with my client, your honor?”
    “A minute you get, Mr. Peters.”
    Terrence turned to me. “I don’t know what to make of this,” he whispered.
    “I have no clue what all of this means. Is it always that … unstructured?” I asked, feeling totally lost at the exchange.
    “Did you know about the other series of thefts?”
    I shook my head. “Not a word. And to answer your next question beforehand: I didn’t had anything to do with them, either.”
    Terrence gave me the look and sighed. “This is totally out of order. If you want my opinion, we should ask for a speedy trial toward a clear and defined indictment. The evidence is pretty weak, and because of the other thefts, there is a strong element doubt involved.”
    “But in that case, it would be a public affair. Everyone would know that Mrs. Moonstone from Redondo is an alleged thief, and because of the prominent victims, I would be tabloid fodder for weeks.”
    “That is right, but I don’t see the alternative,” sighed Terrence, glancing over to Judge Lawrence, who was beginning to grow restless behind his desk. “If Palmeri gets more time, he could build an even better case against you and maybe, with the help of that British gentleman, even find some more good solid evidence pointing to you. Hell, you don’t even know if you have alibis for the other break-ins.”
    “Mr. Peters?” Judge Lawrence ended our powwow.  
    Terrence got up. “As we stand by our ‘not guilty’ plea, we ask the judge for a dismissal of the People’s case. As Mr. Palmeri has concluded quite rightfully, it is very likely that another serial thief has conducted the other crimes and simply had slipped the McAllister necklace into the purse of my client in order to confuse the authorities. Sounds to me like the most likely explanation.” Terrence sat down.
    “Mr. Palmeri?”
    “Out of the question, your honor. We cannot drop the charges. The expert says that Mrs. Moonstone is suspected in several more cases of jewelry theft outside our jurisdiction. We found the necklace in her possession. She tried to get away unnoticed. No way will I let her go without a trial. I will burn my other investigation for an indictment of Mrs. Moonshine.”
    Judge Lawrence growled at both parties for a minute, mumbling to himself. Then he played with his gavel.  
    “Sometimes there are cases that remind me of a scene from the Bible where a fair and honest judge has to find an elegant, humane, Solomonic judgment for a complex situation of just and unjust. But, as you may know, I am not such a judge. I believe in proceedings and rulings and the process of trial that our forefathers established in our country. That’s why I have no inclination to help anyone out of the mess you got yourselves into.”
    Palmeri and Terrence stared at the judge. Fowler, Graves, and I had no idea what he was talking about, but we stared nonetheless.  
    “Mrs. Moonstone, you are accused of a serious crime; I have to support Mr. Palmeri there. Motion to dismiss is denied, Mr. Peters.” Terrence started to rise to object or to do whatever lawyers do but again was waved down by a stern look on Judge Lawrence’s face. “Listen, everyone, here come my wise two cents: in about four weeks, we will