Some Other Child

by Buchbinder, Sharon

  The State’s Attorney sat down.

  Sarah felt as if she’d been hit with a baseball bat. She stared at Judge Stein. He had a thin face and dark brown hair with a receding hairline. His eyes bored into her. She wanted to scream, “I’m innocent.”

  “Do you have anything to say, Mr. Rutler?” Judge Stein said.

  “Your Honor, with all due respect to Ms. Baker, this is not a preliminary hearing. We’re here to determine conditions for bail and we all know a person is of greater value when they are out and able to participate in their own defense. She’s innocent until proven guilty.”

  Sarah wanted to stand up and applaud for Will Rutler, but her hands were still manacled.

  “Mr. Rutler, while I agree the evidence is circumstantial, it is overwhelming. Having a finger and a wedding band in a freezer, along with a bloody handkerchief from the victim in one’s home is more than enough.” Judge Stein began to scribble something on a piece of paper.

  She wanted to scream, “I didn’t do it!” But she kept quiet as instructed.

  Others had not followed directions, however. Behind her, loud whispers ebbed and flowed. The Judge looked at the Bailiff, who walked over in Sarah’s direction and spoke to someone standing behind her.

  “If you don’t keep quiet, you will be removed from the courtroom, do you understand?”

  “Yes,” a man’s voice said. The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. She didn’t want to turn and look for fear of being reprimanded by the intimidating judge.

  The Bailiff walked back to stand guard by the Judge’s bench and stared at the offender.

  A sheaf of papers was handed to Mr. Rutler from behind. He opened them, nodded, then closed them.

  “Your Honor, I’d like to request bail be set for my client.”

  “Bail? This is a first degree murder case and you’re asking for bail?” Judge Stein said.

  “Yes, your Honor. The evidence is circumstantial, no one has identified her, and there are no forensics to place her at the scene. Nothing but conjecture says she’s the one who committed the crime.”

  The defense lawyer frowned at the State’s Attorney.

  “My client is not a flight risk, nor is she a risk to herself or the community. Her ten-year-old car barely gets her back and forth to work. She doesn’t even have a current passport. She has a clean record, not even a traffic ticket. She is a productive citizen employed at a prestigious medical institution.”

  He paused and looked around the courtroom.

  “Most importantly, she has an elderly mother who’s in a Pikesville nursing home in a coma. My client is the sole support for her mother and has been granted guardianship of her mother’s body and property.” He waved the sheaf of papers. “Dr. Wright is not leaving town. Your Honor, we want the least restrictive measures to assure her appearance at trial.”

  She was granted guardianship of her mother? When did that happen?

  “The State of Maryland disagrees, your Honor.” The State’s Attorney shot out of her. “We have reason to believe Dr. Wright has motive and means to disappear if she’s granted bail.”

  What was she now, Houdini?

  “Your honor, I repeat, my client has no previous record. She’s a hard-working citizen who has devoted her life to caring for people. She’s a pediatric nurse and her research helps children. She’s not a flight risk.”

  “What about her inheritance?” Ms. Baker said.

  “Counselor, you know as well as I do she doesn’t have access to that money,” Rutler said.

  What inheritance? What money? What the hell were they talking about?

  Judge Stein watched the two attorneys as if it were a tennis match.

  “I’ve heard enough. Bail is granted at one million dollars!”

  “One million dollars! Where am I going to get one million dollars?”

  The judge and Rutler glared at Sarah.

  She closed her mouth.

  Judge Stein said, “You don’t need the entire amount. You only need ten percent or one-hundred thousand dollars in cash for a Bail Bondsman to post a corporate surety. If you don’t have the cash, then you go to jail.”

  “We have the money, Your Honor,” a man said from behind Sarah.

  Who has that kind of cash? She turned to see who was speaking. Josh Weinstein. Standing next to him, holding a large leather briefcase was his father, Sol. Standing next to Sol—was Dan.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Could someone explain what’s going on?” Sarah asked as she clutched Dan’s hand.

  Josh led the way to a counter outside the courtroom. “Yes. You need to sign some papers, then you can leave.”

  “No, not just that. What happened in there? Where’d this money come from? Oh, and here’s a good one—what’s this nonsense about an inheritance?”

  Rutler looked at Sol. “You’d better tell her before she finds out from the press.”

  “Not here. Too many big ears,” Sol yelled.

  “Let’s go to lunch at Squid Pro Quo—we can talk there. Are we all squared away yet?” Rutler asked.

  “Just some papers to sign, then we can go,” Josh said.

  Sarah signed a mountain of papers, and Josh spent a few moments with the Clerk of the Court. While she waited for Josh to tell her what to do, Beverly walked through the metal detector, still in the leather biker outfit. Beverly smiled and waved at her as if they were old friends. Sarah smiled and waved back. A chubby, woman with a bleached blonde beehive followed Beverly through the metal detector. She scowled at Sarah, grabbed Beverly’s hand, and dragged her into a courtroom.

  “Who’s that?” Dan asked.

  “Long story. Best told over a large drink,” Sarah said.

  As they walked the few short blocks from the Circuit Court house to San Sushi, Two, Josh told Sarah and Dan its nickname was Squid Pro Quo because of all the lawyers and judges who ate there. The owner was walking around the restaurant greeting customers. Paintings of fish and geisha girls covered the walls.

  “Hey, Vandi, what’s good today?” Mr. Rutler asked.

  “We got some great white tuna, beautiful ahi, spicy tuna roll. You name it, we make it.”

  “Give us a round of miso soup and then we’ll order some sushi and sashimi after that. We need to talk. Can you put us in a quiet corner?”

  “Take the big booth in the front of Thai One On.”

  After ordering a drink, Sarah went to the ladies room, grateful for a porcelain toilet that wasn’t out in the open for all to see. She washed her hands and splashed some cold water on her face. Her black eyes matched her cervical collar. She gave up and returned to the table where the soup was waiting.

  She slid in next to Dan, and he gave her knee a squeeze, then left his hand resting on her leg. Shudders of pleasure ran up her thigh, and she practically groaned with the effort to restrain herself from grabbing his hand and sliding it under her skirt. She took a big sip of hot tea and pushed away the erotic fantasy. Later, after a long hot shower and a lot of rest.

  “Okay, gentlemen, some explanations, please,” she said in a squeaky voice.

  Dan gave her an odd look and smirked.

  She felt his hand sliding along her thigh. She was going to have to have a few words with him when they got alone. She put her hand on top of his and interlaced her fingers with his.

  “First, is it true I was made my mother’s guardian?” Sarah asked, attempting to stay focused.

  “Yes,” Sol yelled.

  “Dad,” Josh said. “Lower your voice. We’re not deaf.”

  “Okay,” Sol said in normal indoor voice. “I was able to get your petition pushed through quickly because I called in a favor. Will and I spoke yesterday, and he thought it would strengthen your case for making bail.”

  “It worked, didn’t it?” Will said.

  “They don’t call you the ‘Pit Bull’ without good reason, Will,” Sol said.

  “Mr. Rutler, how did you know I didn’t have a current passpo
rt and that my car was over ten years old? I don’t recall telling you any of that this morning.”

  “Sarah, before I take a high profile case like this, I like to know something about the client. Sol and Josh were key referrals. I would have taken you on their say-so alone, but that doesn’t mean I don’t do my homework. I have a private investigator on retainer.”

  She nodded. That made sense. “Okay, fair enough. Now, what’s all this about an inheritance, and why didn’t you want to talk about it at the courthouse?”

  “There’s no need for the media to get this information from us,” Sol said. “It’ll come out soon enough at the trial. Sarah, you know Ida had no surviving family. Her husband died and they had no offspring. She always thought of you and your mother as her family.”

  “Yes, I love her, too.”

  “Ida was a wealthy woman.”

  “I know she was comfortable. She had a new Cadillac every other year and a second home in Florida. Her husband left her a nice nest egg.”

  He gave her a patient smile, as if speaking to a child. “Sarah, Ida wasn’t just ‘comfortable’. She was a multimillionaire. She left everything to you and your mother.”

  The rest of lunch was a blur. Mom and me sole heirs? Sarah thought. How could that be? The figures were incomprehensible. Now she understood why Mr. Rutler hadn’t been worried about being paid.

  Dan whispered in her ear, sending frissons of pleasure up her neck. “Think you can loan me a few bucks? I’m a little tapped out.”

  She looked up at him and fell into those chocolate brown eyes. God, it was nice to have him back in her life, even if she was indicted for murder. As soon as she could get him alone, she was going to show him how much she’d missed him.

  Sol was talking to her, but all she could hear was “Blah, blah, blah, money. Blah, blah, blah, Sarah.” She needed to get some sleep, so she could think straight.

  “What do I do now?”

  Rutler answered. “Get some rest. Then you need to make appointments with Sol and me to go over our legal strategies.”

  The meeting was over and Dan led her to the door.

  When they walked out of the restaurant, Dan explained the latest obstacles in her life. “Your house and Ida’s are crime scenes,” he said. “And, they’ve impounded your car. The police allowed me to take the cats and Winston after I argued with them that it wasn’t fair to send them off with Animal Control.”

  “They were going to send them to the pound?” Sarah was aghast.

  He nodded. “If it hadn’t been for that one guy—Mike?—I don’t think they would have let me take them.”

  Dan put the key in the car door and a large, gray dog’s head popped up.

  “Winston! I can’t believe you brought him with you,” she said and laughed. The dog danced and jumped as Sarah pushed him into the backseat of the car.

  “He looked sad and lonely, so I brought him with me for the day.”

  “It’s nice to see you boys are bonding,” she said. “What about the cats. Are they okay?”

  Winston poked his head between the two front seats and licked Sarah’s face.

  “I got you a room at the Extended Stay Inn in Cockeysville. They allow pets. The cats are there already and settled in.”

  Sarah’s cell phone chirped. There were four hang-ups and three messages in her voicemail.

  “Sarah, this is Marian Kirby. Call me. It’s urgent!”

  “Sarah, this is Peter. Call me, it’s urgent!”

  “Vot is wrong with you? Don’t you ever answer your phone? It’s Gert. Call me!”

  Sarah turned to Dan. “Your mother called.”

  He grimaced. “I didn’t tell her anything, honest. I haven’t even told her I’m in town.”

  The last message was just the sound of someone crying.

  She punched in her work number.

  “General Pediatrics, this is Jazmin. How may I help you?”

  “Jazmin! It’s Sarah! I’ve gotten urgent messages from Marian and Peter. What’s going on?”

  “Dear Lord, it’s been one terrible week. First Arlene’s mother passes on, now you’ve been arrested. It’s on every channel. Is that for real, girl? I don’t like the sound of that. Dr. Kirby and Dr. Peter, are furiously upset.”

  “This is all a big mistake. I swear I didn’t kill my aunt.”

  “I’m no fan of the police. My brother was arrested on account of being black. You’re a good person, Dr. Wright. But, you know how folks talk. They’re saying you shouldn’t be allowed to come in here anymore.”

  “Did Dr. Kirby say that?” Sarah was stunned.

  Jazmin’s silence spoke volumes.

  “Is she around? I need to speak with her,” Sarah said.

  Marian answered on the first ring. “Sarah, whatever you do, do not come to work today!”

  She gulped and her throat closed up. “What’s going on?”

  The whole hospital is in an uproar about your arrest and the murder charges. Parents are flipping out.”

  Of all the people, she never expected Marian to turn on her like this. “I’m not a murderer.”

  Marian sighed. “Sarah, if you come here during clinic hours, we can’t guarantee your safety. Your face has been on every television in the hospital, not to mention on the front cover of the newspapers. One caption said ‘Butcher Cuts Up Aunt!’ Stay home.”

  “Marian, let me work. My mother’s in a coma, my aunt is missing, I’ve been run over, hit on the head, nearly drowned, and locked up for a crime I didn’t commit. Don’t take everything away from me, please, I’m begging you.”

  There was a long pause. “I’ll have Jazmin leave a laptop in your office for you to pick up tonight after all the outpatient departments are closed. Peter can come to your house to work on the project. Try not to be seen. We can’t afford this kind of publicity.”

  “I’m innocent until proven guilty, Marian. Marian?”

  The connection was broken.

  She called Peter next. He wasn’t in, so she left a voicemail message.

  “I’m calling your mother. Do you want to speak with her?”

  “Do I have to? I have no idea of what to say.”

  She tried Gert’s number.

  “Hello? Who’s this?” Loud music from Oklahoma blared in the background. “Hold on a minute. Where is the fercockta remote controller for this thing? Here we go. Who is this?”

  “Mrs. Rosen, it’s Sarah Wright. You called me?”

  “Yes. Vot’s the story with your aunt?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean did you find the fershtinkina car?”

  “Oh, yes, I did. Thank you. It was in an impound lot in Towson.”

  “Nu, so any word from Ida?”

  Sarah was momentarily speechless. “Have you been watching television, Mrs. Rosen?”

  “Yes, I’ve been watching TV all day. Why?”

  “Have you seen the news?”

  “Ach, no, it’s too depressing. I only watch musicals on cable.”

  “Are you sitting down?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “The police think my aunt has been murdered.”

  “Vot? No, that can’t be. That’s horrible. Do they know who did it?”

  “ They think I did it. I was arrested yesterday and just got out on bail today.” She stopped, unable to say another word. Her mouth wouldn’t work.

  Dan reached over and held her hand. Tears dripped off her nose.

  Gert’s voice grew gentle. “So did you do it?”

  She choked back a sob. “No, I swear I didn’t kill Aunt Ida. I love her.”

  “Sarah, Jews have been accused of terrible crimes throughout history. Russians soldiers started pogroms by telling ignorant peasants Jews used the blood of Christian children in their matzah for Passover. Accusations don’t make it so.”

  “You’re going to hear some terrible stories about me in the next few weeks. Please don’t believe them, I would never hurt anyone on purpose, much
less my Aunt.”

  “Oy! Anyone tries to tell me lies about you and I’ll kick them in the tukhis!”

  “Thank you.” She gave Dan a watery smile. He gave her a questioning look.

  “I got a few more questions. One, do you have a good lawyer?”

  “Yes. His name is Will Rutler. They call him the ‘Pit Bull’.”

  “Good.” She coughed. “Two, when will you have the service for Ida, and will you be sitting shiva?”

  “I don’t know. It depends on when they release her remains, I guess. What’s shiva?”

  “Jewish mourning. Tell you what, I’ll give the rabbi a call and see what I can arrange. How about a memorial service? You don’t need any remains with that. We Jews don’t do viewings; we have short services and shorter funerals.” Gert took a drag on her cigarette. “We sit shiva on hard stools or benches for a week in a shiva house where we cover all the mirrors. We wear slippers instead of shoes, we don’t cut our hair, we tear our clothing and we don’t work. People come and pay their respects.”

  “I can do that. Yes, I’d like you to call the rabbi. Please give him my telephone number. And, thank you. Thank you for having faith in me.”

  “You can’t fool an alter cocker like me. I know you’re telling the truth.”

  Sarah teared up. “I wish you could talk to the police.”

  “Nu, so who says I can’t?”

  Dan pointed at the phone and nodded.

  “Someone wants to talk to you, Mrs. Rosen.” She handed Dan the phone.

  “Hi, Mom!” Dan said and pulled the phone away from his ear. Sarah could hear his mother shouting, “Vot are you doing in town?”

  “It’s a long story,” he said. “How about if I tell you when I see you? I’ll call you when I know what I’m doing. Maybe we can get a bite to eat at a nice deli. I think you’ll like it. It’s called the Essen Deli.”

  A short time later, Dan opened the door to the hotel room. “After you.”

  The cats stared at Sarah from the couch, eyes glinting in the low light. A galley kitchen to the right was set up with cat and dog bowls and a vase of flowers sat on the end of the counter.