Forever a Hustler's Wife Read Free

was when he jetted out of the hospital room after the birth of their first child, Desi Arnez Taylor.
    “Your Honor, this defendant is being charged with the murder of his former attorney,” the prosecutor stated. “We recommend denying bail because this man is a serious flight risk.”
    “Excuse me, Your Honor, but the prosecutor is mistaken,” said Mark Harowitz, Des’s new high-profile attorney. He was a commanding presence in his custom-made navy pinstripe suit and elaborate bow tie. His cockiness let everyone in the courtroom know that he was not some public pretender who was on the same payroll as the prosecutor. It wasn’t hard to imagine that his bank account held quite a few more zeroes than the judge’s.
    “Desmond Taylor has a stable residence in Richmond, Virginia, where he was born and attended college,” Harowitz said.
    The prosecutor stood and countered, “And Virginia was the place where he served a ten-year prison sentence for murder, Your Honor.”
    Harowitz cleared his throat then calmly voiced, while holding his hundred-dollar ink pen, “A murder that he did not commit and for which he received an unconditional pardon.” He turned to look at the prosecutor. “He was robbed of ten years of his young life.”
    “How ironic it is that two years after he is released from prison his attorney, who Mr. Taylor feels railroaded him, is murdered in cold blood,” the prosecutor responded. And we have evidence that the defendant was less than forty miles from the scene of the crime on the same day.”
    Harowitz looked directly at the judge. “Technically this evidence as well as any mention of prior crimes is inadmissible in a bail hearing. We’re here only to prove that he isn’t a flight risk, which he isn’t, and to determine what is a reasonable amount for a bond,” he said calmly.
    “My client has strong ties to the community. He has a newborn daughter and a large family that loves and supports him. He and his wife have a lucrative luxury-car dealership, which he manages himself. His wife is a very successful attorney, who is here today in the courtroom.” He turned and briefly made eye contact with Yarni; she offered a small smile to the judge before looking at Des. Des smiled at her, and her heart melted again.
    “We’re not here to discuss his wife,” the prosecutor said in an irritated voice. “We’re here to discuss your client’s checkered past.”
    Harowitz was about to let loose a verbal onslaught on the prosecutor, but the judge finally stepped in. “Sidebar.”
    Both attorneys approached the judge’s bench.
    “Fellas, this isn’t a boxing match.”
    “Your Honor.” The prosecutor jumped in, determined to have the first say. “I’m making it known that this guy is an ex-offender and doesn’t deserve a bond.”
    “Ex-offender?” Harowitz said. “No. He was railroaded in the previous case, and by law he’s indeed innocent until proven guilty.”
    “Which I intend to do,” the prosecution said, lacking conviction.
    “I’d like to see that happen when the only evidence you have is a measly gas receipt charged to his company credit card from some station forty-eight miles away from the murder scene. On top of that, any one of his twelve employees could have used the card to purchase gas. Where are your witnesses? Your exhibits?” Harowitz looked at the prosecutor, who seemed to be tongue-tied and unable to respond. “Cat got your tongue? Or better yet, did a law change and someone forgot to send me the memo? My client deserves a reasonable bail.”
    The prosecutor looked to the judge, his Shriner buddy, for some help. “Your Honor, the only reasonable bail in this case is no bail.”
    “I hear you both, and you both have good arguments.” The judge sighed. “Bail is going to be set at a million dollars.”
    “Your Honor!” Harowitz exclaimed. “A million dollars? That’s a bit excessive, don’t you think?”
    “That’s my ruling. It is what it is.