Alex breathed a sigh of relief when they brought him into the courtroom. He had no handcuffs, no chains, because they would fall off of him in ten minutes or less.
Standing at the defense table was his lawyer, Blake Thompson. He nodded to Alex. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll get you out of there.”
“Hope so.”
The bailiff called the court to order. Blake waited until the prosecution presented its case. “Your honor, this man has killed a ten year old girl in cold blood. The people demand no bail for this man.”
Blake said, “Your honor, she wasn’t killed in cold blood. She was a mutant, with powers beyond her own control. She was abandoned by her mother – who was found dead in Orlando’s city center. Toxicon could not stop her other than by ending her life.” He turned to the prosecution. “Over fifty bodies have been uncovered from the accident, and more are expected. Would you want that toll to go up to a hundred?”
The judge said, “That toll will easily hit a hundred, from what I understand.” She looked at Alex.
“Your honor, Mr. Carlson is a flight risk, as his home is in Millennium City, Michigan.”
“I can assure you,” said Blake, “That we’ll be here for any trials.”
The judge had been looking at Alex the entire time. Alex kept his head down. “Bail is set at ten million dollars.”
Blake erupted, “Ten million!” Alex jerked his head up. The cops came forward.
“Would you prefer fifteen?”
“No bail bondsman will come up with that kind of money…” Alex doubted even Scott had that kind of money at hand.
“He is a flight risk, as are you, Mr. Thompson.” The cops took Alex away, who looked at Blake helplessly. “You can, of course, appeal my decision.” The judge smiled, knowing that could tie things up even longer.
“You bet I will,” said Blake. Alex was pulled out of the room and that was the last time he saw the outside world.