Sitting in the courtroom sandwich between the half dozen lawyers representing him; Daniel Parker felt smug. Glancing behind him, Daniel could see his father but no bodyguard in sight. Wondering where the scary man from Odessa could be, his train of though was broken when a state trooper entered the courthouse along with another man. Both a roughly the same height and build; Daniel recognized the trooper from last night. Seeing his name tag as Talbot, Daniel has a pallor of dread come over him; wondering if he shot a cop’s son, Daniel thinks he is now truly in for it.
Sitting in the back row of the courtroom; Leon and Eugene get a good look at Daniel Parker. Leon doing his best to keep his lion in check; fighting the urge to shift into his fursona and jump to the defendant’s table to rip the throat out of the perp. With his nephew sitting next to him, Leon has to make do with a low growl and a nasty stare.
“Do you know who is presiding over the proceedings to day,” Leon speaking quietly.
“I think it’s Flagg,” Eugene answering; “unless of course he’s retired.”
“Brian Flagg will never retire,” Leon responding; “that bear of a man will never give up those robes. He likes them too much.”
“It looks like its Jack Johnson’s assistant for the prosecution today,” Eugene looking at the prosecutor’s table; “wonder why?”
“We’ll find out soon,” Leon looking as the bailiff enters.
“All rise,” A bailiff announces; “for the honorable Judge Brian Flagg.”
A large imposing man enters the court room from the judge’s chambers. Sporting a full beard and wild hair; Daniel Parker looks at the man and snorts.
‘This guy is over seeing all this,’ Daniel thinking to himself; ‘this guy looks like a homeless man.’
Judge Flagg sitting down and staring at the defense table just as everyone sat back down; seeing the six lawyers present and each opening their briefcases to pull out briefs and motions. Flagg glares as he knows they are going to try and bamboozle him with an old mob lawyer trick.
“Before we begin,” Judge Flagg speaking to the defense table; “I’m going to give you a few minutes amongst yourself to decide who is going to be lead council. Once you have decided,” the judge starting to boom; only he and the defendant may speak. If I hear a syllable from anyone else, I’ll hold you in contempt of court. Is that clear?”
The defense table looks stunned as the judge was not some simpleton they were led to believe. A few looking back at Freddie Parker who was sitting behind the defense table just stares on emotionless, but silently fuming at losing to the first opening move. Before Freddie could respond; one of the lawyer’s spoke up.
“I will act as lead council your honor,” Freddie looking at the lawyer who was sitting at the end and seeing him as the youngest among the group.
“Your name then,” Judge Flagg glaring.
“P. Mason,” the young lawyer speaking.
“Well Mr. Mason,” Judge Flagg looking at the nervous lawyer; “you client is being charged with one count of grand theft auto, one count of aggravated assault, one count of attempted aggravated murder and one count of eluding police. How does the defendant plead?”
“Not Guilty,” Daniel Parker seething.
“People on bail,” Judge Flagg looking at the prosecution desk.
“We request remand,” the female prosecutor speaking up; “the defendant is wanted for charges out in San-Francisco over running an illegal gambling business at the behest of his mob boss father.” A man,” the prosecutor turning to look behind the defense table; “who is here in the court today. The defendant is also wanted for bail jumping and I have it on good authority that the U.S Marshall’s and the FBI are on their way to take him back to face possible RICO charges.”
“These charges have yet to be proven in court,” P. Mason shouting; “they have no bearing on the matter before us.”
“A warrant for your client’s arrest,” Judge Flagg glaring; “renders your argument moot. The defendant is remanded pending an extradition hearing. Oh and councilor,” Judge Flagg looking at the lawyer; “remind your client and his father behind you that I will tolerate zero courtroom shenanigans. The next time I see your client, you and you alone will be seated next to him. The rest of your dream team can fly back to whatever law firm they crawled out of.”
Judge Flagg bangs his gavel signaling the end of the proceedings; with court officers taking Daniel Parker back into custody. Freddie looking at his son as he is escorted away as the grizzled mob boss gets up. His assistant wasn’t wrong when the lawyer complained about all the security in place. The mob boss has been in and out of many court rooms, but never a court house with more security than a super max prison.
Turning around, Freddie sees two large men staring back at him; one being a state trooper and the other, Freddie could only assume was the father of the son Daniel shot last night. Seeing the man seething in anger, Freddie could relate if he was walking in the man’s shoes.
“Sir,” the assistant whispering; “we should go. Best not to make a scene.”
“In a moment,” Freddie answering as he approaches the man; “look I know it’s not much, but from one father to another-“
“Save it,” Leon glaring; “my son nearly died last night. Your son is going to pay for that,” Leon growling; “one way or another.”
“You are emotionally raw,” Freddie taking note of the state trooper beside Leon; “so I’ll let that threat pass. But I will fight make sure my son doesn’t stay here any longer than necessary,” Freddie continuing; “so when you have calmed down some, let us have a sit down and hash things out. A war is never good for business.”
“I have nothing to discuss with you,” Leon seething; “Eugene lets head back to the hospital to check up on my son.”
“Alright,” Eugene pausing; as he had to avoid using the word king, “Uncle.”
Freddie looks on as the Talbot patriarch leaves the court room. Displaying a poker face that would stymie even the most professional players; Freddie makes a simple text to an anonymous number.
‘Get the crew to Moon Lake now.’
Hitting send, Freddie motions for his assistant to follow him as he heads out the court house.
“We need to find a good place to conduct a few meetings,” Freddie looking at his assistance; “make the arraignments.”
“Are you going to visit Daniel,” The assistant sighing; “what do you intend to do with Leon Talbot?”
“I already have a plan,” Freddie answering; “we just need to wait for the crew who are waiting in Seattle to get here.”