“Arguments.”
The prosecutor spoke up. “High bail. She is a flight risk. She lives in another state, although her Mother resides here. The investigation is ongoing and considering the amount of drugs, others may be involved, your Honor.”
The judge turned to her attorney, who was looking out the windows, and the judge hearing no objection, shook his head again. He obviously disapproved of her attorney’s lackadaisical behavior, but did not comment on it. His disgusted measured glances spoke volumes even though her attorney appeared not to notice.
He cleared his throat. “The eighth amendment requires bail be set in most cases in which there is no risk to the public. I think drug dealers are a public risk.” He enunciated drug dealer, punctuating each syllable. Her jaw, which dropped at her own attorney’s inattentiveness, just snapped closed, and she focused on the judge’s words. She nodded, showing her understanding. Hell, she even agreed. She remained mute, knowing that judges didn’t appreciate being interrupted, and that defendants should only speak when asked directly. The judge nodded at her. “But, the eighth amendment also clearly states that bail needs to be granted in order for the accused to be able to help in their own defense, and it also states it shall be set in accordance with the financial situation of the accused, it must not be set so out of reach, that you do not have the opportunity to work with your attorneys to gather the information you need to defend yourself which is difficult to do while in prison.”
She nodded. This sounded good. Hopeful. But his next words dashed that hope. Squashing the reprieve he had set her up for.
“But I also agree with the prosecution, and think you pose a flight risk. You live in another state and may have friends and family there who will harbor you. And, you brought drugs into my State. The amount of drugs you have been accused of bringing into the country could have posed a serious risk to the public at large if they had been put out on the street. With that in mind, bail is set at 250,000.”
The courtroom gasped. Cameras began to snap to capture her reaction. The judge rapped his gavel once and the crowd began to quiet. Ronnie felt like she was going to throw up. A quarter of a million dollars. There was no way her mom could come up with that much money. Impossible. She nearly fell, and swayed, and she felt Jay’s hands grip her from behind, and hold her up. She regained her step, her balance, as a guard approached Jay, and he removed his hands quickly knowing she could stand on her own. She heard Ana say, “Don’t worry baby girl, we’ve got this.”
“Yes,” Monica chimed in.
The tears were filling her eyes. They were going to help as well. She had a chance. But a quarter of a million dollars? She felt faint. Her attorney was speaking, saying something about her having to go with the guard until bail was made. Her mind was on her mother’s friends and the fact she didn’t know how they were going to raise that much money. She owed them all so much. She turned to smile at them to show her appreciation. She didn’t know how she would pay them back, but she would.
The peril of the situation she was in was not lost on Ronnie. Her mind was doing the math. Despite the quarter of a million dollar bond the judge ordered, she knew that between her mom, Ana, and Monica they would be able to come up with the money, but it wasn’t going to be easy by any means. Ana was a Ph.D., and although she worked for the state, she made a good salary and had a lovely home she put a lot of money into. Monica too, was a high school teacher, but lived modestly, and between her husband and herself they did well. Her mom, on the other hand, didn’t have much, but she had a house, and Jay was an airplane mechanic.
But still, knowing the sacrifices they would all have to make for her, it humbled her. Tears were beginning to form again. She would prove her innocence and the bond would be returned. She would ensure that. She would have her day in court, and somehow, everything would all work out, she prayed.
She forced her mind to focus. The judge was speaking again, explaining how to pay the bond, and explaining the terms of her release if the bond could be raised.
Whispering behind her distracted her. It was Monica. “How much will you need?”
The voice that answered turned Ronnie’s blood to ice. “My brothers and I agreed, we would take 10%, so 25,000 thousand dollars. We would also need the title to Lou’s house.”
Ronnie’s head, of its own volition, turned to the sound of the husky voice she recognized. Nikko! Oh my God! She hadn’t even noticed him sitting next to Monica. His eyes met hers and the blue glittered hard. The smile he gave her was just as dazzling as she remembered, but it was forced. The dimples in evidence. She swiveled back to the judge, as he called forcefully to her to give her his attention.