Part 35 (1/2)
WIN/WIN.
Chapter 122.
YUKI AND RED DOG Parisi walked down the green terrazzo hallway toward Judge LaVan's chambers. Yuki was thinking, Anything could go wrong and as history had shown, it probably would. Red Dog said to her, ”I've changed my mind.”
”What did you say?”
”You don't need me. Just do what you do, Yuki. It's your party. Call me when you're done.”
”I can't believe you're wimping out on me.”
Parisi laughed. ”Yeah, that's me. A big ol' wimp. Now, you go get 'em. I'll be in my office after lunch.”
”Wus,” she called after him.
Parisi laughed.
Yuki knocked on the judge's door and heard him shout, ”Come in.” She opened the door and entered Judge Byron LaVan's chambers. Phil Hoffman and Candace Martin were in place and the judge was behind his desk, wearing his robes to maintain formality.
The court reporter, Sharon s.h.i.+ne, was sitting at her own small table. She put down the phone, said h.e.l.lo to Yuki, and asked after the deputy DA.
”Len had an emergency meeting out of the building. I'll brief him later,” Yuki said, attempting to convey with her body language that Parisi's absence was no big deal.
”Your Honor, everyone's present,” said the court reporter.
”Fire up your transcription machine, Sharon. Everyone, this proceeding is now in session. Dr. Martin, do you know why you're here?”
”Yes, Your Honor.”
”You've told the clerk that you've changed your plea to guilty. Is that correct?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Mr. Hoffman, any objections you wish to put on the record at this time?”
”No, Judge.”
”Ms. Castellano?”
”Your Honor, we're prepared to recommend sentencing based on the defendant's complete allocution.”
”Okay, Dr. Martin. You're up. You're saying that you're guilty as charged, second-degree murder of your husband. Is that right?”
Candace Martin said, ”Yes, Your Honor. I killed him without premeditation.”
”Tell me about that,” said LaVan. ”Don't leave out a word.”
Yuki thought Candace looked like she was sedated. When she spoke, her voice was soft but steady, even when she recreated the terrible scene that preceded the shooting. When she'd finished, she sat back in her chair and sighed deeply.
”Mr. Hoffman, have you spoken with the District Attorney's Office? You've worked something out?”
”Yes, sir, we have.”
”Ms. Castellano?”
Yuki was unprepared for the rush of emotions she felt. Candace Martin had been part of her life for almost a year and a half. Even as she tried other cases, the Martin case had been on her mind, and new information had been added continually to a folder on her computer.
She'd rehea.r.s.ed, lived, breathed, and dreamed this case, and when it blew up in court, when others would have given up, she'd stuck with it. And now it was almost over.
Yuki said to the judge, ”Your Honor, due to the circ.u.mstances, namely that Dr. Martin's daughter had been violently abused and that the defendant acted to protect her daughter from further harm, we recommend a sentence of ten years.
”Because we believe that it is necessary for the good of the children to be able to see their mother, we are recommending that the first five years of that sentence be spent at San Mateo Women's Correctional. It's minimum-security and only eighteen miles from the children's home, and Dr. Martin will work in the infirmary.
”If Dr. Martin's behavior is good during that time, we agree that she be released from prison after five years and serve the rest of her sentence on probation.”
LaVan swiveled his chair a couple of times before saying to Yuki, ”Sounds good to me. So ordered.”
Phil leaned toward Yuki and put out his hand.
She clasped his firm handshake and felt his respect and his sincerity when he said, ”Thanks, Yuki. Congratulations.”
That's when it really hit her.
She'd won.
Chapter 123.
THE NOON RUSH was, frankly, horrible. Claire was driving because we were late and she was adamant that she didn't want to be a pa.s.senger with a ”cowgirl” at the wheel. That cowgirl she was referring to was me.
I was fine with Claire dodging traffic for a change, so I just dialed around the radio as we headed toward Sansome Street.
”If you had answered my text,” Claire groused, ”we could have left ten minutes earlier. I hate to be late.”
”We're only going to be a couple of minutes late.”
A cab swerved in front of us, then jacked around to pick up a pa.s.senger at the curb. Claire leaned on the horn. Others joined in - and then we were driving cowboy-style. I laughed at Claire.