16th Seduction (Women's Murder Club 16)

Antonelli spoke up. “Your Honor, we ask that the charges against Connor Grant be dismissed. He had nothing whatsoever to do with bombing Sci-Tron and, therefore, nothing to do with these tragic deaths.”

Yuki said, “Your Honor, Mr. Grant confessed at the scene to Sergeant Lindsay Boxer of the SFPD, Homicide Division, and her husband, Joseph Molinari, who was injured in the secondary blast. We have bomb-making materials taken into evidence by Crime Scene Investigation from Mr. Grant’s premises. These materials, plus written materials in the defendant’s handwriting, go to show that Mr. Grant, a science teacher, is quite knowledgeable in the making of explosives. He also had the means and the opportunity to set off this blast.”

Rabinowitz said, “Let’s talk about bail. Ms. Castellano.”

“We request that bail be denied and that Mr. Grant be remanded to the maximum security jail in the Hall of Justice.”

The judge said, “Ms. Antonelli?”

“Mr. Grant is a law-abiding citizen with strong ties to the community, Your Honor. He is gainfully employed by Saint Brendan High School. He has no prior charges, nothing so much as a littering ticket in his life, and the evidence against him is completely based in police mistakes and hysteria. Furthermore, Mr. Grant has no passport and is not a flight risk.”

Judge Rabinowitz glanced at Yuki, then at Antonelli. Last, he gave Connor Grant a good long look.

“Bail denied,” said Rabinowitz. “Defendant is remanded to the custody of the court.”

Bam.

It was clear to me what the judge had been thinking when he denied bail. A suspected terrorist was in custody, a man who had possibly killed twenty-five people, and if he was released and then disappeared, this one decision would be the only act Judge Rabinowitz would be known for. It would be paragraph two in his obituary. It would probably be chiseled on his headstone.

As his gavel slammed down, two court officers came forward and escorted Connor Grant out of the courtroom through the side exit that led into the back stairs, which were restricted to courthouse personnel.

As they reached the door, there was a struggle. Conklin and I were on our feet, hands to our guns.

But Grant wasn’t trying to make a break for freedom. He turned to face the judge and shouted, “I’m being framed. I have a life and I want it back. I demand a speedy trial. That is my right. Short date, Your Honor.”

The judge said to the court officers, “Please remove the defendant from the courtroom.”

We waited for Yuki out in the hallway as the bomb victims’ friends and families blew through the double doors. When the room was nearly empty, Yuki stepped into the corridor.

“Great job,” I said to my friend.

“Terrific,” said Richie. “You were brilliant.”

“I felt … like myself,” said Yuki. She looked surprised when she said, “It’s good to be back.”

CHAPTER 26

CLAIRE CALLED THE next morning as Conklin and I were going through ninth-grade science classwork on earth and life sciences.

“Lindsay,” Claire said, “I got some info on that dead lady who came in with the bomb victims,” she said. “You know who I mean? Presumed heart attack, but she had a needle mark in her posterior?”

“I remember. Puncture mark and a small bruise.”

“Correct,” said Claire. “Come on down.”

“I’ll be right there,” I said. I pulled on my jacket and said to my partner, “Be back in a few.”

“I know what you’re doing, you know.”

“Guilty of leaving you with dead dinosaurs, Inspector. I’ll be back in ten minutes. Want to come with?”

He glared. “You go,” he said. “You two have fun.”

I grinned at him, and then I took off.

Claire was waiting for me in the reception area. We walked back to her office, and she opened a folder and spread eight-by-ten morgue photos across her desk.

“Meet Ms. Lois Sprague,” she said. “I finally had a minute to do a real thorough search for her, and guess what? Found her in a Washington State missing persons database. She was reported missing two days after Sci-Tron. I took the liberty of calling the Spokane police, and I have some information.”