Hello, Caleb Hayes. A woman's voice professional but warm. This is Linda Chen from the Phoenix District Attorney's Office. I'm handling the prosecution of Sheriff Dalton and his associates. Do you have a few minutes?
Caleb's stomach tightened. Yeah, sure. First I want to thank you for your cooperation with federal agents. The evidence you preserved has been instrumental in building our case. Papers rustled in the background.
Second I need to prepare you for what's coming. Dalton's attorneys are going to argue that the evidence was obtained illegally. They're going to claim Arthur coerced you into handing over materials that belong to their client. That's not true. Arthur was dying when he told me to hide it.
I know, but defense attorneys don't care about the truth. They care about creating reasonable doubt. Linda's voice softened. Which brings me to the difficult part. You're going to have to testify.
Grand jury first then likely a trial. Are you prepared for that? Caleb thought about sitting in a courtroom with Dalton staring at him. About lawyers twisting his words. About every choice he'd made that day being picked apart and questioned.
Do I have a choice? Legally yes, you could refuse to testify. But then Dalton walks free. And every piece of evidence we have becomes inadmissible fruit of the poisoned tree. She paused.
I won't lie to you Caleb. This won't be easy. Dalton's lawyers are vicious. They'll make you out to be a criminal sympathizer, a Hells Angels want-to-be who fabricated evidence. They'll dig into your life, your family, everything.
My parents are dead. There's nothing to dig into. Everyone has something. Linda's tone wasn't unkind, just realistic. But here's what I can promise, we'll prepare you thoroughly.
Mock cross-examinations, witness prep, the whole process. You won't walk into that courtroom unprepared. And when it's over, Dalton spends the rest of his life in prison. That's worth fighting for, isn't it? Caleb looked at the certificate on his dresser.
Honorary patch, brother, family. Yeah, it's worth it. Good. Grand jury convenes in 3 weeks. We'll start prep next Monday.
I'll send you the details. She hung up before Caleb could respond.
He texted Arthur. The DA just called. I have to testify. The response came immediately. I know.
She called me, too. You'll do great, and we'll be there every day of the trial. You won't be alone. Monday morning, Caleb showed up at Desert Dreams at 7:00 a.m. sharp. Jack was already there, elbow-deep in a custom build for some tech millionaire who wanted a motorcycle that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie.
You're early, Jack observed. Didn't want to be late on my first day. Good attitude. Coffee's in the break room. Help yourself, then come look at this monstrosity.