“We’d like to get her out of here tomorrow. We’ve been informed by New Mexico that they can’t send a deputy until at least Tuesday of next week.”
“Is that a particular problem?”
“It’s a potential problem. Today is what?…Thursday. That means she’ll be in our custody five days and nights. I know I don’t have to remind Your Honor about potential problems with young female prisoners. We don’t want another Bender case on our hands.”
“Is there a special reason to think we might have such an incident?”
“I understand this prisoner has a history of suicide attempts.”
“Is that true, Miss Rigby?”
“I wouldn’t call it a history…I cut my wrist once.”
“Your Honor—”
“I understand, Mr. Wallace. Nobody wants a replay of Bender. What do you suggest?”
“We have a man here to take her back.”
“It’s New Mexico’s responsibility. Will Washington be reimbursed for the costs of such a trip?”
“It won’t cost us anything.”
“Tell me about it…gently, please.”
“Shortly after the arrest of the prisoner and her transfer here from East King County, our office was contacted by a Mr. Cliff Janeway of Denver, Colorado, who was sent here to arrest the suspect and escort her back.”
“Sent by whom?”
“An agent of the bail bondsman.”
The judge closed her eyes. “Mr. Wallace, are you seriously asking me to release this young woman in the care of a bounty hunter?”
“He’s not a bounty hunter, Your Honor.”
“Please, then…what is he?”
“He’s a rare-book dealer in Denver. More to the point, he’s a former officer of the Denver Police Department with more than fifteen years experience.”
“Is Mr. Janeway in this court?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She motioned with her hand. “Come.”
I walked down into the arena.
“You are Mr. Cliff Janeway?”
“Yes, I am.”
“And you were engaged, as Mr. Wallace said, to arrest the defendant and return her to New Mexico.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have papers?…Let me see them, please.”
“We’ve checked him out thoroughly, Your Honor. We’ve talked with a Detective Hennessey at the Denver Police, who was his partner for several years, and to a Mr. Steed, who is chief of detectives. Both gentlemen spoke uncompromisingly of his dedication and character.”
“All right, Mr. Wallace, I get the picture. Be quiet a minute and let me read this stuff, will you?”
Silence.
The judge cleared her throat. “Mr. Janeway?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You were hired by a Mr. Slater of Denver, who was representing the Martin Bailbondsmen of Taos, is that correct?”
“Yes, it is.”
She blinked and looked at me through her glasses. “I can’t help wondering, sir, how a police detective becomes a dealer in rare books.”
“He gets very lucky, Your Honor.”
She smiled. “Have you ever done any bounty-hunter work?”
“No, ma’am.”
“This is not something you do for a living?”
