Adrian could almost hear it.
He removed the robe.
Folded it carefully.
Then headed to court.
At 8:41 a.m., Sergeant Grady Wells walked through courthouse security with Officer Nolan Pike.
Wells was irritated.
He hated federal court.
Federal judges asked too many questions.
Federal defense lawyers asked worse ones.
The Daniels suppression hearing should have been easy.
They had stopped a rented SUV.
Driver appeared nervous.
Consent obtained.
Thirty-two kilograms of cocaine found beneath the rear cargo compartment.
Open and shut.
Wells had testified at dozens of hearings.
Pike had not.
“Don’t overthink it,” Wells told him in the elevator.
Pike stared at the floor numbers.
“Just answer what they ask.”
“I know.”
“And don’t volunteer.”
“I know.”
Wells looked at him.
“You look sick.”
“Didn’t sleep much.”
“First federal hearing?”
Pike nodded.
Wells laughed.
“These judges love acting important.”
The elevator opened.
They walked toward Courtroom Three.
The hallway was crowded.
Defense attorneys.
Prosecutors.
Defendants.
Marshals.
Families.
Wells checked the door.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
HONORABLE ADRIAN ROSS
His body stopped.
Pike almost walked into him.
“What?”
Wells stared at the brass plate.
Adrian Ross.
Pike looked.
His face drained.
“No.”
Wells whispered, “Could be another one.”
Pike did not answer.
The courtroom doors opened.
They entered.
People were taking seats.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Chen arranged files at the prosecution table.
Defense counsel Marcus Bell stood beside his client.
Wells leaned toward Chen.
“Who’s the judge?”
She looked surprised.
“Judge Ross.”
“New guy?”
“Yes.”
Wells’s mouth went dry.
“What does he look like?”
Chen frowned.
“You’ll see.”
The courtroom deputy entered.
“All rise.”
Everyone stood.
The side door opened.
Adrian Ross stepped into the courtroom wearing his black robe.
Pike made a sound.
Not a word.
Just breath leaving his body.
Wells stared.
The cut on Adrian’s cheek was visible beneath the courtroom lights.
Adrian walked toward the bench.
He saw Wells.
Then Pike.
His expression did not change.
For one terrible second, Wells expected satisfaction.
Anger.
Recognition.
Something.
Adrian gave him nothing.
He sat.
“Please be seated.”
Everyone sat.
Wells remained standing for half a second too long.
Pike grabbed his sleeve.
They sat.
Adrian opened the file.
Then closed it.
“Before the court addresses United States v. Daniels, I need to place something on the record.”
Chen looked up.
Bell stopped writing.
Adrian continued.
“Last night, while traveling to this district, I had an encounter with Sergeant Grady Wells and Officer Nolan Pike.”
Wells felt every person in the courtroom turn toward him.