Lisa
"Let me do the talking." my lawyer was telling me as we strode into the Hall of Justice in San Jose on the morning of November 18th. "Just sit there and don't say a word."
I nodded and followed him as he opened the door to courtroom 10 and strode inside.
"Cassandra." my attorney said in greeting to the opposing council on the opposite side of the courtroom. I took a seat at the table in front while he stood, unpacking his briefcase.
"Bill." she replied. "Good to see you again."
"Wish I could say the same to you, Cass. But there's just something that sticks in my claw about someone who tries to deport hard-working legal citizens."
"We'll see about that." she said with a scoff, while leaning back to get a good look at me from where I sat. "Let's just hope this one doesn't have an accent so thick that we can't understand her."
My blood was boiling but I remained calm, clenching my fist at my side and keeping my jaw wired shut. The doors to the judge's chambers opened then and Honourable Judge Howard stepped into the courtroom, while taking his seat high above us.
"Morning, counsel." he said, indifferently, with a nod. "Ms. Manoban."
"Good morning, your honour." Bill and Cassandra spoke at the same time.
"I see that we've got an attempted removal proceeding." the judge said, while looking over his glasses at the papers in front of him. "On what grounds does the prosecution move to remove Ms. Manoban from the country?"
"Illegitimate marriage, your honour." Cassandra answered.
"Illegitimate?" The judge asked, while peering over to her. "Six years it's been in place, Miss Nickles, what's illegitimate about it?"
"We believe that we have proof which counters its legitimacy, your honour."
"I suppose we'll see, won't we counsel? Who is your law enforcement representative on this case, then?"
"Agent Ahn Hye-jin with the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, sir."
He looked up from his papers.
"Where do I know that name from?" He mused aloud.
"Sir?" Cassandra asked, with her brows furrowing in confusion.
"Is she here?"
"Yes, your honour." Cassandra replied, while stepping to the side and gesturing to where Agent Ahn sat behind her. I hadn't even see her there when we entered the courtroom.
"Stand up, Agent Ahn." the judge ordered and she complied, standing from her seat. "You were formally FBI, were you not?"
"I was, your honour." Agent Ahn answered but her cheeks coloured at the admission.
"Removed from your role because of an incident regarding the mishandling of evidence in a big name murder investigation, were you not?" The judge asked her and Bill turned to me, while raising a brow in pleasant surprise.
"I was, your honour."
"That young man, the athlete, he got off on a technicality, didn't he?"
"Yes, your honour."
"Well, Agent Ahn." the judge said then, while removing his glasses and shaking his head. "I hope this isn't your latest attempt at waging war with the upper class to atone for your mistakes."
"Your honour, Agent Ahn has an exemplary record and an arrest percentage of..." Cassandra began but the judge raised his hand.
"I've made no judgement on Agent Ahn's character, Miss Nickles, don't worry. I'm only warning her, and you, that you both better have a very convincing case for me today. I don't enjoy having my time wasted with personal vendettas."
