She walked out front, thinking she’d get one more cup of caffeine under her belt.
“Wow, you clean up nice,” Mario said as he reached the salon.
“Are you flirting, Officer?”
Mario blushed. “Is it wrong to admire a beautiful woman?”
“Not at all.”
“I’m about to get a cup of coffee. I can bring you one if you’d like?”
She gave him a smile. “Thank you. I’m happy to know there are still gentlemen in this world.”
Mario headed to the coffee shop. She waited curbside and watched him go. If she were the marrying kind, he’d be just the kind of man she’d want. Thoughtful, respectful, and caring.
Seconds later, a dark sedan pulled up to the corner with a red flashing light on the dashboard. The car stopped abruptly, and the driver said Zack had sent him to pick her up. She got in the back seat.
“What’s your name?” Lucy asked.
He turned to the back seat and smiled. “Just call me Officer Bob.”
When she saw his fake smile, Lucy knew she’d made a mistake. The smile on the man in the passenger seat looked even creepier than the driver’s. She reached for the door handle. There was none. It was a genuine cop car driven by a fake cop.
“Just settle down, honey,” Bob said. “This will be over soon enough.” Then he put the car in drive. That’s when a gun was jammed through the open window and into the side of his head.
“Let her out!” Mario said, his finger on the trigger.
“Hold on, cowboy. I’m a cop,” Bob said.
“Let’s see a badge,” Mario said. “And keep in mind I’ve got an itchy trigger finger.”
“Okay!” Bob said, then a click sounded and the rear door popped open.
Lucy got out quickly. Mario reached for her hand. That slight movement took the pressure off the gun barrel against the driver’s head.
The car peeled out, turning right at Canal Street and disappearing. Mario shouted over his radio and described the vehicle as a dark late model Ford, last four of the license plate 9324.
Dispatch responded, “Copy. All available units.”
Two cops on motorcycles answered the call by rushing up Royal Street in pursuit. Right behind them, Zack and Johnny pulled up for Lucy’s ride to the DA’s office.
Still shaking, Lucy got into the back of Zack’s car and gave her version of what had just happened. Zack followed up with dispatch, but it was unlikely the two guys and the car would ever be found.
On the way to Orleans Parish Criminal Court, Lucy put the ordeal behind her and focused on her testimony. Not knowing what questions Felipe’s hotshot attorney would throw at her, she had little to go on. All she knew was that it wasn’t going to be easy. Zack prepped her a bit. She already knew the drill: short yes or no answers, and don’t complicate the responses by elaborating.
The courthouse was an intimidating building, and the click of Lucy’s stilettos reverberated every time her heels hit the marble floor.
Outside the courtroom, Zack stopped her. “You’re absolutely sure you want to do this?”
She took a deep breath. “I am. I want Felipe Cruz off the street.”
Shortly after they entered the courtroom, the bailiff entered, announcing the judge’s name, and everyone stood. The court was called to order. Across the room, Felipe Cruz sat dressed in a suit and tie next to his high-profile attorney, Albert Esterman. Felipe had done his best to look respectable. Lucy gave him a stare, then looked away. It would take more than a three-hundred-dollar suit to clean up that pig.
Once the hearing started, Kevin Cooper, the DA, walked the floor, painting a detailed picture of Felipe Cruz killing Vivien Bluff. He presented facts, then asked the judge for a brief break. During the break, Cooper coached Lucy on the questions he planned to ask.
“Get to the point. Give me short, believable answers,” Cooper said.
Lucy wanted to tell him that was course 101 back in Tupelo at what her family called the “gypsy farm.” Instead she said simply, “I understand.”
The break was over, and the bailiff called out, “Please rise.” The judge returned to his bench and said, “Mr. Cooper, please call your witness.”
Lucy swore to tell the truth and took her seat in the witness chair. She gave every answer correctly and to the point. Starting with the first time she’d ever seen Felipe, up to seeing him run from Vivien’s bedroom, her giving chase, his jumping the fence, and his red shirt.
The defendant’s attorney, Albert Esterman, took the floor. “Your Honor, I believe Mr. Cooper has wasted this court’s time with a bunch of frivolous details.” He walked the floor, shouting like a jury was present, putting on a big show for the judge. “This wild story that Ms. Jones first met Mr. Cruz while he was extorting money from French Quarter merchants is utterly absurd and has nothing to do with the criminal charges. Does it, Ms. Jones?”
“Objection, Your Honor. He’s badgering the witness,” Cooper shouted. “It has everything to do with the case. That’s why he killed Ms. Bluff.”
“Overruled,” the judge said. “Mr. Cooper, I will not allow outbursts in my court. Mr. Esterman, continue.”
“Your Honor, this woman said she stopped at Ms. Bluff’s side before running after the man.” Albert stopped talking and stood in the middle of the floor. Stood still for the longest time not saying a word. “Did I stop for five seconds or twenty seconds?” Then he smiled and walked to the bench. “We don’t know how long Ms. Lucinda Jones stood by Vivien Bluff’s side.” He looked Cooper’s way. “Now do we, Counselor?”
Cooper flipped through some papers, then closed the folder. “Your Honor, may I approach the bench?”
“Yes,” the judge said. The two attorneys approached.
“Your Honor, we have an eyewitness who saw Felipe Cruz run from the crime in a
