Smith, sensing the urgency, said, “We need to focus on getting you both out of here. Bail will likely be set at $100,000 each. Will that be a problem?”
Lisa, shocked, asked, “Do I need $100,000 for bail?”
“No, just ten percent, or $10,000 cash for the bail bond,” Smith reassured her.
They agreed they could manage bail and were eager to be released. Smith informed them, “You’ll be arraigned tomorrow morning. Bail will be set then, and you’ll make arrangements to get out. Prepare to spend the night here.”
Both clients reacted badly to the lawyer’s statement. He explained he couldn’t do more until charges were filed. Once they were out, he would talk to the district attorney to unseal the evidence and better understand their case.
They were taken back to their cells, where neither slept well, given greasy takeout food, a single blanket, and loud cellmates.
The next morning at 10:00, they met with their attorney before court. Despite their disheveled appearance, they entered their pleas of not guilty, and bail was set at $100,000.
Blake, owning a home and business, quickly negotiated a $10,000 bond and was released by early afternoon. Lisa was less fortunate. Without sole ownership of her home and finding her savings account empty, she had to call her parents for help.
After much persuasion, they agreed to provide the $10,000. However, the delay meant she spent another night in jail, this time with two tipsy courtesans.
The next day, after the financial matters were resolved, she was released, went home, showered, and ignored incoming calls.
The next month passed quickly. Lisa learned that Mark had withdrawn the money from their account to protect his share before their divorce. She received the divorce papers without knowing what he did with the cash.
Lisa and Blake met with Basil Smith several times. Smith received copies of the evidence and planned to meet with District Attorney Jeff Bagden to get the charges dismissed, arguing the difficulty of obtaining a conviction without a body or witness.
He suggested hiring a private investigator to explore if Mark had orchestrated his own disappearance. Blake agreed, but Lisa believed Mark was a sufferer of a botched carjacking.
Over the next few weeks, the investigator found nothing. He tried to find the tipster who reported the discarded rifle and shovels, but no one recognized the voice from the call. The tipster never followed up, adding to the mystery.
Meanwhile, tensions between Lisa and Blake grew. After his release, Blake suggested they continue their affair. Lisa refused, blaming him for her situation.
“I want nothing to do with you except our court case,” she said, often crying.
Blake’s response was cold.
“Suit yourself, Lisa. You’re not the only woman in town.”
They only spoke in the company of their lawyer, keeping their distance otherwise. Their affair had turned icy cold.
A month after their release, Basil Smith arranged a meeting with District Attorney Jeff Bagden. Lisa and Blake hoped the charges would be dropped, as they had been molested with questions about their relationship. They screened calls using caller ID and answering machines, eager to clear their names and move on.
Jeff Bagden, surprisingly young and stylish, began, “I just received final reports from the medical examiner and police. Based on the evidence, I’m offering a reduced sentence of eight to twelve years for a guilty plea to second-degree homicide.”
Lisa and Blake were shocked, loudly proclaiming their innocence. Their attorney, trying to calm them, asked how Bagden justified the offer.
Bagden explained, “We have new evidence. DNA from blood on your car’s license plate and trunk gasket matches Mark Evans. Additionally, black polyethylene found under Mark’s car matches material from your landscaping business.”
Lisa angrily accused Blake, “What have you done?”
Blake exploded, “You know I had nothing to do with it. You were with me when it happened.”
Basil Smith intervened, calming them both. He addressed Bagden.
“Excuse my clients. We hoped the charges would be dropped, and your statement caught them off guard.”
Bagden, amused, replied, “I understand, but we have enough evidence to go to trial. The medical examiner report confirms the sufferer lost too much blood to survive. The crime scene suggests the body was dragged and loaded into a car. The prosecution is confident.”
Bagden handed over the reports and left.
Lisa and Blake hurriedly talked to Smith, who told them to be quiet. He said, “I know you’re shocked. Don’t fight each other. We need to figure out a defense. Do you want to reject the plea deal?”
Both refused the deal, convinced they wouldn’t be convicted. Smith agreed to prepare for trial.
After they left, Smith reviewed the reports, questioning whether his clients were truthful. Despite his doubts, he was committed to defending them.
Months later, the trial began. Judge Robert Cox took his seat at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. Basil Smith sat between Lisa and Blake to manage their tension.
He had considered suggesting separate lawyers, but they couldn’t afford it. Blake’s business was struggling, and Lisa had quit her job due to the stress of the trial and difficulties with her missing husband’s friends.
District Attorney Jeff Bagden began his opening statement directly.
“Members of the jury, we do not have Mark Evans’ body, but we intend to prove he is dead and that the defendants are guilty of his homicide.”
He revealed that the defendants had an affair, which Mark Evans discovered, leading him to file for divorce. Although it was unclear how or when Mark found out, traces on his computer showed he knew when and where they met.
Emails documented his tracking efforts, financial preparations for divorce, and his intention to confront them.
“We cannot pinpoint when they met, but we know the results. Evidence suggests they met at Mr. Moore’s residence, where Mr. Evans was incapacitated, placed in the passenger seat, and driven to George Washington Park. There, he was shot in the upper chest while likely unconscious. He was dragged from the car, thrown to the ground, and shot again, this time striking his carotid artery. Graphic photos will show his final moments.”
At this point, Lisa Evans lost her composure, requiring Judge Cox’s intervention to restore order.
Bagden continued, “After the second shot, Mr. Evans was wrapped in plastic, dragged from the site, and loaded into Mr. Moore’s trunk. He was driven to an unknown location and buried. The homicide weapon and shovels were dumped in the river, but a concerned citizen reported this, leading police to recover them. Forensic analysis confirmed the defendants’ presence at the crime scene. Mr. Evans’ blood was found on Mr. Moore’s car and on Lisa Evans’ shoes.”
Bagden concluded, “The defense will claim they were not at the scene, relying on each other’s alibis. I am confident you will see through this and find them guilty.”
Basil Smith countered, emphasizing the presumption of innocence and urging the jury to focus on the evidence. Despite his efforts, the district attorney’s statement had a strong impact.
The first witness, a computer expert, testified about the emails and maps Mark Evans used to track his wife’s meetings with Mr. Moore. The tracking device described in Mark’s letter to his counsel accurately logged locations and times.
This evidence embarrassed Lisa Evans, while Blake Moore appeared bored. Smith’s cross-examination yielded little, as the device and emails were indisputable.
Reporters took notes, especially about the tracking device, anticipating interest from their readers.
After an extended lunch break, the trial resumed with testimony from the emergency operator and two patrolmen who first responded. They provided basic, drama-free facts about discovering Mark Evans’ car.
The trial’s intensity rose when detectives and medical examiners described the crime scene, supported by large graphic photographs showing bullet holes, blood, and drag marks.