JR SWAT 5: Five, On the move

Chapter 13: Not his morning

Meanwhile, courthouse...

Just a few minutes before, two representatives of the defense team came barging in while Hondo and Pruitt were going over his testimony. The conversation began to get heated, so Hondo was asked to step outside. However, the back and forth that started was of great interest to the officer, so much so that he decided to linger around enough to witness the debacle. Just so happens that the group of lawyers presented a deal for reduced charges in a not-so-subtle way to the ADA and the man wasn't at all amused. Their voices and attitudes intensified until all hell broke loose! Hondo pulled Pruitt to the side, right before left hooks were exchanged. The problem for the older officer was that he feared Pruitt was actually considering the offer.

"Counselor, you can't be serious!" the annoyed officer demanded, almost in a whisper.

"Sergeant, I don't tell you how to do your job, so...let me do mine!" the suited man snapped back angrily, "The longer this thing goes on, the less chances at a fair sentence. We can't risk a mistrial!" the suited man answered, as they both stood with their backs to the group.

"Mistrial?" Hondo asked in disbelief.  "You got all the evidence you need!"

"We don't! Especially without one of our star witnesses!"

"She's fighting for her life in Washington, man!" Hondo snapped annoyed. "Whatever happened to video conferences or recorded witnesses' accounts?"

"Judge Swanson wont allow it! He's terribly old school. Everybody knows it's pen and paper -face to face- with that guy! Besides, blinking and mumbling doesn't really make a convincing testimony."

Sigh. "But Counselor-"

"Sergeant, listen" the man interrupted, sticking a hand out. "we gotta deal with the cards that we got and honestly, not having Captain Alonso is making a huge dent in our case."

"Why? You got Tan, Street and myself! Plus the wife... to vouch for what happened!"

"But without the one who actually intervened, one point of view is gone. Plus the evidence of the gun, bullet and explosion are thin without Alonso's testimony!"

Damn!

"And the fact that they're digging deep into your records isn't helping much!"

I can't believe this! A furious Hondo thought frustrated, as he shook his head in disappointment. He was so heated, he preferred the stairs, rather than the elevator, just so he could calm down a bit. Or at least that was the plan!

I can't believe Pruitt is actually considering giving in! How messed up is our legal system! The perp planned the whole thing, kidnapped me and one of my men, then made it look like we died... and now they hit us with a psych defense? A corruption scandal? What? Who are they kidding!

SLAM

The angry officer opened the exit door abruptly and stomped his way out. Thankfully the building's entrance was so crowded, the steam coming out of the sergeant's head went unnoticed. He kept shaking his head, wearing a deep angry frown, clinching his jaw tighter, all while dozens of people hurried about.

BEEP

He made it to his car and even though he had taken the longest route, he was still steaming. He couldn't believe his luck!

SLAM

After slamming his door shut, he took a moment to just...breathe. He was going for his car keys, but froze. He thought for a moment, putting a stop to his inner wrath.