FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
The northern Virginia area created a love-hate relationship for Chandler. Nothing reinforced that complex relationship as much as trying to find parking when time was of the essence. Walking would have made sense if he’d been at work, but the office would be closed for at least one more day before they could begin the process of reopening. Jake hung on to life, but in intensive care, his status a harsh reminder of everything that had happened Wednesday.
Chandler had to find a way to keep his angst and frustration from bleeding into Aslan.
Aslan had to do his job and bring presence and calm to Tiffany.
He led Aslan up the steps and into the courthouse’s lobby. There was a layer of dark green marble or stone topped by a beige layer that ran to about his shoulder height, topped by beige paint to the high ceiling. The marble floor caused every sound to echo and be magnified. The security officer waved him to a stop.
“That animal can’t go inside.”
Chandler fished in his jacket pocket for the paperwork showing Aslan was a trained comfort animal. “He’s here to support an eight-year-old who has to testify before a grand jury.”
The man glanced at the papers. “I need more than this.”
“All right.” Chandler pulled out his phone and called Jaime, noticing he’d missed her call. “We’re caught at security. Do you have anything from the judge that shows Aslan is needed in court?”
“It was an oral order.” She paused. “Let me talk to the officer.”
He handed his phone to the officer, who was looking more impatient by the moment. The man nodded and grunted acquiescence.
“Miss Nichols, I’ll need you to meet them here and take responsibility for them.” He handed the phone back to Chandler. “She’s on her way. As soon as she arrives, I’ll let you through.”
Time seemed to drag as he waited for Jaime.
The elevator doors opened, and she burst out as if pushed. “I swear it stopped on each floor.” She turned to the guard. “Arthur, they’re with me. My client needs this dog before her competency hearing.” Jaime glanced at her watch. “Which starts in five minutes.”
“All right. Because they’re with you, I’ll let them through.” Then he proceeded to tell her what paperwork she’d need for the next time, while Chandler read anxiety in Jaime’s clenched fists.
She hurried them toward the elevator. “Tiffany’s so fragile.”
“We’ll get there. She won’t be alone.”
“That’s right. I won’t let her be, which is why we have to get Aslan up there.”
He shook his head. “No. I mean God will be with her. She won’t be alone.”
Jaime stilled and her eyes met his. “I’m trying to believe that.”
“That’s where we all start.” The doors dinged open, and he held them for her. “Let’s go take care of our girl.”
His words echoed in Jaime’s mind. Our girl. She liked the sound of that even as she wished that Tiffany had never needed their help. The elevator opened on the courtroom’s floor, and Aslan stepped out, his nails clicking against the floor.
Savannah straightened from where she’d been leaning against the wall. “Thanks for coming.”
Chandler nodded and leaned down to pet Aslan. “Where’s Tiffany? He’s ready to go to work.”
Aslan tipped his head, ears flopping, almost as if he understood the words.
“We’ve had her waiting in a room with coloring books and a cartoon.” Jaime gestured for him to follow her. “Come this way.”
They walked around two corners, and then she rapped lightly on a door. When it opened, Madeline stood there, worry filling her gaze. Then she saw Aslan and her shoulders slumped. “He made it.”
Jaime put an arm around the woman’s shoulders. “Of course. Now where’s our girl?”
Tiffany looked up, her tongue stuck between her teeth, the picture of concentration. Her face lit as if candles illuminated it from within when she saw the dog. She tossed her colored pencils down and sprang to her feet. “Aslan!”
The dog glanced at Chandler, then at Tiffany. “Release.”
Aslan bounded to Tiffany’s side and let her maul him in her excitement. Savannah stepped toward the door. “They’ll be expecting us in court. Time to move this show.”
In moments the hearing was called back to order. “This time we are here for the competency hearing for Tiffany Ange.” The judge pulled his glasses from his round face and smiled at the little girl. “Tiffany, would you mind coming and sitting in this chair over here?” He gestured to the witness chair.
“Yes, sir.” Her voice was small.
“Thank you. I understand you have a dog with you. He can go with you.”
“Okay.” Tiffany looked at Jaime, eyes round and big. “Do I have to go?”
Jaime knelt in front of the girl. “Yes, but Aslan and I will be here the whole time.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jaime squeezed her shoulders. “You’ll be fine. I promise nothing bad will happen here.”
Tiffany stared at her for another moment and then walked to the witness chair, Aslan half a step behind her after a single voice command from Chandler.
The judge waited until she was settled, her sneaker-clad feet kicking over Aslan’s back. “How old are you?”
“Eight.”
“Where do you live?”
“Arlington.”
“Do you know what a lie is?”
“Not telling the truth.”
“And what is the truth?”
“What really happened.”
“Today we need to ask you some questions about something that happened to you. Can you tell me the truth?”
She looked at him. “Yes, sir.”
“Why?”
“Because if I don’t my mom will be upset, and Miss Jaime will be disappointed. I know it’s important to tell the truth.”
The judge nodded. “It’s very important. Especially when you’re in court.” He considered the little girl. “Does either attorney have any questions?”
Grant stood. “I do, Your Honor.” At the judge’s nod, he turned to Tiffany and held up a sheet of paper. “What color is this, Tiffany?”
She looked at him with crinkled eyebrows and nose. “Green.”
“If I told you this was blue, would I be telling the truth?”
“No, it’s green.”
“So calling it blue is a lie?”
“Yes. It can only be one color at a time.”
“Do you know if it’s wrong to tell the truth in a court like this?”
Jaime frowned as she realized what he was trying to do. Stay focused, kiddo.
Tiffany looked at Grant like he was crazy. “No, I can’t tell a lie, but I can tell the truth.”
He tried to get her to explain what a lie was (not the truth), and how it differed from the truth (one was true and the other wasn’t), but after several minutes the judge called a halt to the badgering.
“I deem Tiffany Ange fit to take the oath because she understands the difference between the truth and a lie.” The judge looked down at his court reporter. “Let’s take a fifteen-minute break and these proceedings will transition to a probable cause hearing. If I find probable cause for the charges to proceed, it will then move to the grand jury.” The judge turned to Tiffany. “Young lady, you may step down and take a break.” He stood and left the courtroom, his black robes billowing around him.
Lacy Collins, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, stood and turned to Savannah. “I need to see you in the hall now.”
Madeline looked at Jaime as Tiffany made her way back to them, Aslan trailing at her side. “What’s happening?”
Chandler leaned into Jaime’s side. “I’m going to take Aslan for a quick lap.”
She nodded, then focused on Madeline. “Tiffany did what she needed to convince the judge that she can tell the truth and understands the difference between that and a lie. Next she’ll tell the judge what Corey did to her. After that will be the grand jury.”
“When will that happen?”
“We’ll see how Tiffany’s holding up.”
“Will the public defender ask her questions?”
“Possibly.”
Madeline’s nostrils flared and her shoulders stiffened, so Jaime hurried on. “But it’s not guaranteed. I often wouldn’t because I didn’t want to tip my hand to the prosecution.” Even a few days earlier she could have anticipated Grant’s strategy. Now she had no idea.
The fact that Tiffany had survived the competency hearing was a win. Now the young girl just had to survive two more hearings.