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them.
    “Why’s that camera here?” Roulet asked in a panicked whisper. “Is that for me?”
    “Yes, it’s for you. Somebody tipped him to the case. If you don’t want to be filmed, try to use me as a shield.”
    Roulet shifted his position so I was blocking the view of him from the camera across the courtroom. This lowered the chances
     that the cameraman would be able to sell the story and film to a local news program. That was good. It also meant that if
     he was able to sell the story, I would be the focal point of the images that went with it. This was also good.
    The Roulet case was called, his name mispronounced by the clerk, and Maggie announced her presence for the prosecution and
     then I announced mine. Maggie had upped the charges, as was herusual MO as Maggie McFierce. Roulet now faced attempted murder along with the attempted rape count. It would make it easier
     for her to argue for a no-bail hold.
    The judge informed Roulet of his constitutional rights and set an arraignment date for March 21. Speaking for Roulet, I asked
     to address the no-bail hold. This set off a spirited back-and-forth between Maggie and me, all of which was refereed by the
     judge, who knew we were formerly married because he had attended our wedding. While Maggie listed the atrocities committed
     upon the victim, I in turn listed Roulet’s ties to the community and charitable efforts and pointed to C. C. Dobbs in the
     gallery and offered to put him on the stand to further discuss Roulet’s good standing. Dobbs was my ace in the hole. His stature
     in the legal community would supersede Roulet’s standing and certainly be influential with the judge, who held his position
     on the bench at the behest of the voters—and campaign contributors.
    “The bottom line, Judge, is that the state cannot make a case for this man being a flight risk or a danger to the community,”
     I said in closing. “Mr. Roulet is anchored in this community and intends to do nothing other than vigorously attack the false
     charges that have been leveled against him.”
    I used the word
attack
purposely in case the statement got on the air and happened to be watched by the woman who had leveled the charges.
    “Your Honor,” Maggie responded, “all grandstanding aside, what should not be forgotten is that the victim in this case was
     brutally—”
    “Ms. McPherson,” the judge interrupted. “I think we have gone back and forth on this enough. I am aware of the victim’s injuries
     as well as Mr. Roulet’s standing. I also have a busy calendar today. I am going to set bail at one million dollars. I am also
     going to require Mr. Roulet to be supervised by the court with weekly check-ins. If he misses one, he forfeits his freedom.”
    I quickly glanced out into the gallery, where Dobbs was sitting next to Fernando Valenzuela. Dobbs was a thin man who shaved
     his head to hide male-pattern balding. His thinness was exaggeratedby Valenzuela’s girth. I waited for a signal as to whether I should take the judge’s bail order or try to argue for a lower
     amount. Sometimes, when a judge thinks he is giving you a gift, it can backfire to press for more—or in this case less.
    Dobbs was sitting in the first seat in the first row. He simply got up and started to walk out of the courtroom, leaving Valenzuela
     behind. I took that to mean that I should leave well enough alone, that the Roulet family could handle the million. I turned
     back to the bench.
    “Thank you, Your Honor,” I said.
    The clerk immediately called the next case. I glanced at Maggie as she was closing the file on the case she would no longer
     prosecute. She then stood up and walked out through the bar and down the center aisle of the courtroom. She spoke to no one
     and she did not look back at me.
    “Mr. Haller?”
    I turned to my client. Behind him I saw a deputy coming to take him back into holding. He’d be bused the half block back to
     jail and then, depending on how