Final justice - W.E.B. Griffin [197]
"You have to sign the waiver before a judge," Kenny said.
The line of cars began to move, in a sweeping circle, through the parking lot. Daniels saw that the lights on the roof of the state trooper car leading the procession were flashing red and blue, but only on that car.
They came out of the Joseph Hall Criminal Justice Center onto a four-lane highway. Two more Daphne police cars blocked traffic in both directions to permit the convoy to enter the highway.
The convoy turned left and moved at just under the speed limit out of Daphne and toward Fairhope. Several times, cars ahead of the convoy spotted the warning lights and, thinking it was a funeral procession, respectfully pulled left and slowed--or stopped--and looked in vain for the hearse and flower car.
In Fairhope, at a shopping mall, the convoy turned left off U.S. Highway 98, and then, a half-mile down a two-lane macadam road, turned left again into a complex of one-story brick buildings.
Daniels saw a sign: "Baldwin County Satellite Courthouse. "
The car with Daniels in it stopped about halfway down the building. As Kenny got out of the backseat, bright lights came on, and when Daniels got out, he saw that he was being videotaped by cameras bearing the logotypes of three different television stations.
With Kenny holding one arm and a state trooper the other, Daniels shuffled into the building and was led to a small courtroom. The courtroom, to judge by the signs on the walls, was often used as the place where driver's license tests were administered.
Roswell Bernhardt, Esq., was sitting at one of two tables facing the judge's bench. He stood up, gave his hand to Daniels, and then watched as Kenny removed the prisoner restraint system, and then motioned for him to sit beside Bernhardt.
The Philadelphia assistant district attorney, and another man who looked like a lawyer, sat down at the other table facing the judge's bench, laid briefcases on it, and then checked their contents. The young homicide sergeant and others took seats in the first couple of rows of benches.
A large man in a two-tone brown police-type uniform--he had both a badge and a large-caliber revolver--looked into the room, pulled his head back, and then, a moment later, stepped inside.
"All rise!" he ordered.
Everybody stood up.
A pleasant-looking man wearing a judge's robe--who looked as if he was no stranger to heavily laden tables-- entered the room and sat down in a high-backed leather chair.
"The circuit court of Baldwin County is now in session, the Honorable Reade W. James presiding," the man in the brown uniform intoned.
"Good morning," Judge James said. "Please be seated."
Everybody sat down.
"The court recognizes the presence of the attorney general of Alabama," Judge James said. "And why are we so honored?"
The man sitting beside Steve Cohen stood up.
"Good morning, Your Honor. If it pleases the court, may I introduce Mr. Steven Cohen, who is an assistant district attorney of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?"
"Good morning, Mr. Cohen. Welcome to Alabama. You have business to bring before this court?"
"Good morning, Your Honor. May it please the court, a warrant has been issued in Philadelphia for the arrest of Mr. Homer C. Daniels alleging violation of Paragraph 2502(b) of the Criminal Code of Pennsylvania, which is Murder of the Second Degree. It is my understanding, Your Honor, that Mr. Daniels, who is present with counsel in this court, is willing to waive his rights to an extradition hearing and prepared to return to Philadelphia to answer this and other related charges."
"Which are?" Judge James asked.
"In brief, Your Honor, Murder of the Third Degree; Rape; Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse; Robbery; Theft; Receiving Stolen Property; Aggravated Assault; Simple Assault; Recklessly Endangering Another Person; Burglary; Criminal Trespass; Possession of Instrument of a Crime; and Abuse of a Corpse."
"Mr. Bernhardt," Judge James said, "may the court presume that the man beside you is Mr. Homer C. Daniels, and that you