by Lola Drake
“Then you should call me Michael.” He reached across the table to place a soothing hand on top of hers. Jake wanted to leap across the table and throttle him. He even found himself studying Wetherby, wondering if he might be Juliet’s type. He certainly seemed a lot more like that Brad guy she’d dated than he himself did.
Hearing something about Martinez, Jake forced himself to focus on the conversation.
“You really caught him?” Juliet asked.
“Wait, you caught Martinez?” Jake demanded. Everyone gave him funny looks. Obviously they’d just been discussing all the details of his arrest. Harris smirked at him, glancing from Wetherby’s hand beside Juliet’s to Jake’s tense face. He apparently decided to take pity on Jake, however, and repeat himself. Jake only hoped Juliet hadn’t caught the flash of jealousy that Harris evidently noticed.
“We nabbed him late last night after the fire,” Harris explained. “We hoped the guys who’d torched Juliet’s place might return to one of their usual hangouts to report to Martinez, so we sent out several teams to raid all the potential spots at once. Sure enough, we found Martinez with one of his lieutenants. He was arraigned this morning.”
“Is he going to take a plea?”
Wetherby shook his head. “He and his lawyer might change their minds after the preliminary hearing, but right now they intend to move forward.”
“How long will that take?” Juliet’s voice shook. She clenched her hands together so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Wetherby moved as if to take Juliet’s hand again, so Jake snatched it up first. But when Juliet gave him one of those knight-in-shining-armor looks, he could have kicked himself. He had to put a stop to this before it got completely out of hand.
“It truly depends on which motions get filed and how long Martinez’s lawyer can manage to delay. Longer delays almost always benefit the defense more than the prosecution, and, especially in a capital case like this, they’re going to try for any advantage they can get.”
“Are you really going to ask for the death penalty?”
“Absolutely. The gangs have run rampant in this city for too long. They need to learn what kind of punishment awaits them if they continue unchecked.”
Juliet bit her lip, worrying it between her teeth. Jake wondered if Wetherby realized how much the death penalty seemed to bother her, and if it would keep her from testifying. Then something else Wetherby said registered with him.
“Wait, did you say preliminary hearing? Why not a grand jury?”
“It’s a bit complicated…” Wetherby started to say, but Juliet quickly interrupted him.
“I don’t understand. I thought the arraignment and preliminary hearing were the same thing?”
Jake shook his head. “No, the arraignment is simply where they plead guilty or not guilty and the judge sets bail. The next step is either a preliminary hearing or a grand jury to determine whether or not the prosecution has enough evidence to continue on to trial.”
“What’s the difference? Why do you want Mr. Wetherby to use a grand jury?”
“All the proceedings in a grand jury are completely secret by law. Neither Martinez nor his lawyer can be in the room when you testify, so they wouldn’t hear what you have to say. A preliminary hearing is more like a mini-trial, meaning both of them would be there. And it’s in an open courtroom, so other members of his gang could attend too, if they wanted. It’d be much safer for you to testify in front of a grand jury.”
Jake turned his attention back towards Wetherby. “She doesn’t have to let that bastard hear how strong a witness she is. If he wasn’t motivated to kill her already that could definitely trigger more action.”
“I know you’re used to federal courts, Agent Parker, but here in California we rarely use grand juries.”
“So what? Make an exception.”
Wetherby shifted in his seat, not quite meeting Jake’s eyes. “Well, you see, technically in this state, grand jury testimony is admissible at trial if the witness dies by anything other than natural causes. But defense attorneys almost always get that overruled by citing the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to confront all witnesses against him. Since in a preliminary hearing the defendant is present his attorney has the opportunity to cross-examine Juliet. That means all preliminary testimony is admissible if a witness isn’t available to testify.”
Jake grew quiet, his eyes narrowing at Wetherby. “Let me get this straight. Instead of going for a confidential indictment and protecting Juliet, you want to make sure that if they do succeed in killing her your fucking case can still go forward?”
“You know that’s not the case.”
“It damn well better not be.”
Juliet put a hand on Jake’s arm, but he shook it off.
“I’m calling the office this instant to get this kicked up to a federal case. You’re too fucking incompetent to handle it.” Jake whipped out his cell phone.
“Agent Parker, I understand your frustration, but please hear me out. Defense attorneys all know that preliminary hearing testimony can be admitted at trial. There’d be no point for Martinez to try to kill her after she’s spoken on the record.”
“Yeah, like a fucking gang banger is going to be up-to-date on current evidentiary laws. And you and I both know a good defense lawyer can still make a case to get testimony thrown out when a witness isn’t around.”
“Do you really think Martinez can afford a defense attorney of that caliber?”
“Are you really willing to take that chance? Her life is in serious danger. Just look what happened last night, for Christ’s sake.”
The two men glared at each other. Wetherby broke eye contact first, turning away from Jake towards a visibly terrified Juliet.
“Juliet, please don’t misunderstand me,” Wetherby assured her. “I have every intention of keeping you safe and secure for as long as necessary. California has one of the most extensive witness protection programs in the country.”
“But I don’t want to go into witness protection. I have a life here.”
“This isn’t like a mob case where you’d have to go into hiding for the rest of your life. Going after a witness is a serious crime. After the trial, it’s not worth it for them to risk incarceration for sheer retaliation after you’ve given your testimony. You’re also an uncommon witness, which helps tremendously.”
“How so?”
“To be frank, most gang-related violence witnesses come from poor areas heavily dominated by those same gangs they’re testifying against. You live in a fringe area. You happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but Venice and Palms aren’t controlled by gangs like some inner-city neighborhoods. You had probably never crossed paths with this gang before that night on the beach. That makes it highly unlikely any gang members would pursue you after the trial.”
Jake watched her reaction. She had begun picking at her nail polish again. He had no idea what to say to her. Part of him wanted to scoop her up into his arms and take her away from all this. Another part knew she could be the key in dismantling a dangerous gang. And still another part wanted to run far away from her until he knew her thoughts about last night.
Fuck… Since when had he started analyzing women? Shutting off his brain, he put a hand over hers. He could sort all this out when her life stopped being in danger.
****
Juliet intertwined her fingers with his. As she breathed a sigh of relief, she wanted to smack herself. How could she even think about Jake’s indeterminate emotions with her life at stake? Annoyed with herself, she turned back towards Wetherby.
“But a trial could still take several months, right?”
“Yes, it can. Depending on the defense council, the trial could even be delayed a year.”
“A year?”
Juliet slumped back in her chair. She knew she should go into witness protection for her own safety. After all, she valued her life far more than her job. She just hated the idea of running away.
She wished she could grab a gun like Jake and the cops and stand up for herself if attacked again. Instead, she knew she’d take their advice and go hide somewhere safe.
Who was she kidding? She’d never even touched a real gun. To stay alive, she needed protection.
“Hey, think of it this way.” Jake squeezed her hand again. “You can’t live in your house right now anyway because of the fire. This way you get to stay somewhere safe at the state’s expense while the repairs get done.”
“Now why didn’t I think of it that way?” Juliet rolled her eyes, making Jake laugh. “What exactly would witness protection involve?”
“We’d move you somewhere safe, take care of the rent on your temporary home, and cover your basic living expenses. If you’d like, we can also give you armed protection before, during, or after legal proceedings. You shouldn’t need a new identity, but you will need to cut off ties to everyone while you’re in the program. We can also find you a job for the duration, but it shouldn’t be in your current field since that would make it easier for someone to find you.”
Juliet glanced over at Jake, hoping to get a sense of his reaction. His face remained impassive.
“So, what happens now?”
“If you feel safe, you can stay at this hotel for the time being until we arrange for your temporary housing. A member of Gang Victims’ Services can also contact you if you’d like to further discuss what happens from now through the trial, or to arrange counseling for your trauma.”
“Um…sure, yeah, that’d be great.” Juliet’s eyes slid toward Jake once more but he still hadn’t looked at her. “Is it safe for me to go to my house? Check out the damage?”
The three men all seemed to have a silent conversation in exchanged glances before Detective Harris at last replied, “Sure, if Parker here will go with you as a bodyguard. We’ll have a patrol car meet you there and stay out front to discourage unwanted guests.”
Wetherby concurred, “In broad daylight you should be reasonably safe.”
Juliet thanked all of them, getting to her feet and looking expectantly at Jake. Without meeting her eyes, he nodded at the others and rose to his feet, moving protectively in front of Juliet as they left the restaurant. His started to take her hand once more, then jerked away as if the touch had scorched his hand. Juliet glanced up at him, but he continued scanning the restaurant without looking in her direction.
She knew his reputation from Aaron’s stories. Women came and went like a revolving door. But this morning before they’d been interrupted he’d been so sweet and romantic, she’d begun to think maybe he felt something for her. She’d gone into last night with her eyes open, but if she stopped lying to herself she could admit she’d hoped making love would, well, make him fall in love. Apparently, that hadn’t happened. At all.
Chapter Four
The Trouble with Love
Jake remained silent throughout the drive to Juliet’s house. She waited, dreading what would come out of his mouth when he finally deigned to speak to her again. Picking at her nail polish, the little she still had left, she darted occasional glances at him trying to determine his mood. Should she go ahead and say something? Or would he resent that?
When they pulled up to the curb, all thoughts of Jake vanished. Her house looked like a war zone, or at least what she imagined a war zone might look like. Just like dealing with gang members and getting shot, she’d never imagined sifting through the wreckage of a burnt home. Luckily, Jake had had the presence of mind to arrange for emergency services to secure the property against looters once the fire fighters had finished.
Stepping closer, Juliet took in the charred remains of her couch and a pile of ash that used to be her beautifully carved coffee table. The windows that hadn’t been shot were now solid black. Her comfy chair appeared to have withstood the flames somehow, but the fire fighters had destroyed it with their water and foam. Soot stained the walls. The smell of smoke permeated the air. Following the scorch marks, she glanced into the kitchen. The room had become a gray and black wasteland. Her appliances still stood, except for the microwave, but several of the cabinet doors had burned or broken. The heat had caused her refrigerator door to melt into waves. Ash and foam residue encrusted the walls.
“You’ll need to get a crew in to check for structural damage.”
Juliet nodded, trying not to cry. “I guess there’s no point in getting anything from my closet. All my clothes would smell.”
“Even more importantly, you shouldn’t use those stairs until they’ve been checked out.”
“Jake, what should I do? Not just about the house, but…” She waved her arm as if to encompass everything.
Jake opened his arms to hug her. The moment he did, she buried her face against his shirt and held on as though her life depended on it.
“It’ll be all right.” He rubbed her back and held her tighter. “You’re going to get through this.”
Juliet could feel him rest his cheek on her head as he gently rocked her. She pulled back just enough to look up into his face. “What about witness protection? I’d have to leave… everyone.”
He stroked her cheek, wiping away a tear.
“You’ll be back in a year. Maybe less.”
Without thinking, she turned her head to kiss his palm. He sucked in a sharp breath, his fingers tightening in her hair for a second before he released her.
“You’re in the FBI, though. You could contact me, at least, couldn’t you?”
Jake shook his head, looking inexplicably guilty. “I’m not supposed to. It would be safer for you if you cut all ties.”
“But what about for the next week, until the preliminary hearing? That’s only a temporary house. So you’ll stay with me for that, won’t you?”
Juliet hated how needy she sounded, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from pleading. Last night had been the most memorable night of her life. For as long as she could remember, she had compared other men to the fantasy image she had of Jake Parker. Brad had never measured up. And last night when fantasy had finally become reality, she’d felt as though they could become something special. At the very least, she wanted the chance to find out if they could.
This clinginess would be the most surefire way to send Jake running for the hills, but damn it, after everything she’d been through the last few days, she had a right to want someone strong to lean on.
“Look, Juliet…”
She shook her head, stepping out of his arms. Disappointment overwhelmed her, and she felt incredibly naïve. She should have expected this. He didn’t do relationships. She had been stupid to think she could be the one to change him.
“Please don’t say it.”
Whether Jake would have answered, Juliet would never know. At that moment they heard the revving of a car engine. It grew to a roar as it peeled out from the corner. She tripped as she started to back away from the sound, landing hard on her tailbone. Jake whipped out his gun and sprinted to the street.
“Jake, don’t.” Juliet bit her lip as he took aim at the car speeding towards them. She could see a gun emerge from the passenger side window, one that looked a whole lot bigger than Jake’s.
The cop in the patrol car flipped on his lights and sirens, causing the other car to screech on his breaks and steer into a fast U-turn. Jake fired at the tires but missed as the car sped off. He waved his arm at the patrol car. Nothing else was needed—the cop lifted his radio as he went into pursuit.
Jake helped Juliet to her feet and hustled her into his car before running around to the driver’s side.
“They’re really determined to shut me up, aren’t they?”
“You’re a unique witness, Jules. You’re squeaky clean, credible, the first strong eyewitness against Martinez. He’s been a major player in the narcotics trade around here for a long time and isn’t going to go down easily.”
“If he’s in jail, why don’t they just let him rot and move someone else into his place? You’d think another g
ang member would want to nab the power position.”
“I told you, gangs transcend prison walls. Hell, some of the most powerful gangs originated inside those prison walls. They need to suck up to anyone with connections like his. If someone eliminates you, Martinez would owe them huge.”
Jake’s eyes never stopped moving as he raced away from the house. Juliet glanced back, wondering if she’d ever see her home again. Once they hit the freeway, he seemed to relax slightly.
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll call Wetherby to see where he wants me to take you for transport to the safe house.”
“So, you won’t be taking me there yourself.”
“I can’t, Jules. In hiding you’ll have constant police protection to keep you safe, which means I really should get back to work. You understand, don’t you?”
Juliet balked at the question but had no idea what she could possibly say. Of course, she logically understood. After all, she had her own job that she wished she could simply get back to. But after this latest incident, they both knew her life remained in serious danger. Jake had told her he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She could understand him not contacting her in witness protection, sort of, but in this last week before the preliminary hearing? How could he abandon her now?
She tried to keep her voice light and teasing, but failed miserably. “I thought you promised Aaron, and me, that you’d look out for me.”
“I was. I am. I just have prior commitments, you know? Work and stuff.”
“And stuff.”
“Hey, duty calls, right?” His laugh sounded forced, and he wouldn’t quite meet Juliet’s eyes.
Juliet remained silent. First Brad and now Jake. Boy, did she know how to pick them.
****
Her silence unnerved him. If she’d shouted or cried or done something he could have responded, but the lack of reaction was almost eerie. Not knowing what else to do, he called Wetherby.
With speeding, he made good time driving to the lawyer’s office. Juliet practically had her door open before he’d come to a complete stop.