4:00 PM

27
4:00 PM

     Being led in handcuffs up to bench to be arraigned, Dennis Dietrich didn't look so imposing. If anything, despite his size and his significant beard, he looked rather slight. He looked like he'd wandered into the wrong place and he wasn't sure how he'd gotten there.
     "In the case State of Texas v. Dennis Walter Dietrich, defendant is accused of capital murder."
     "Sheriff, do you want to explain the circumstances under which you arrested this man."
     "Yes, Judge, we were investigating the murder of Dr. Samuel Jones. Following several roads, we discovered a conspiracy to commit premeditated murder between Mr. Dietrich, of Fidello, and a Caleb Sampson, of Houston, Texas, a seminary student at Fellowship Christian Academy. In Mr. Dietrich's possession was discovered several firearms, both registered and unregistered, as well as explosive materials and instructional manuals for producing and using them to kill as many people as possible. He had in his possession several unpublished manuscripts where, among other things, he described killing and maiming abortionists and medical clinics that provide abortion, as well as other enemies, among them federal and state buildings and the homes and offices of state legislators."
     The judge looked at the accused. "You've been busy, haven't you?"
     "Proposal for bail?"
     The bail proposal was set in front of the judge.
     "Proposal for no bail."
     "Motion from the defense?"
     Mr. Dietrich's lawyer passed his motion to the judge. "Defendant has longstanding ties to the community including rental properties and businesses throughout the county. He poses a minimal flight risk, and has an untarnished reputation."
     "Defendant credibly accused of shooting down a man in cold blood. In broad daylight. Found with unregistered firearms and explosives. Motion denied. No bail set. Hearing set for 9 o'clock Tuesday, May 19th."
     He hit the gavel and the landlord was led away by Deputy Powell.
     The county attorney turned to the Sheriff. "I got to be honest, Horace. I'm going to need a ton of help going through the volumes of evidence."
     "We're getting some support from the Rangers and the FBI."
     "You might need to take on some support staff, just for the next few months."
     The Sheriff nodded. "You know anyone?"
     The county attorney smiled. "No."
     "Alright, then."
     The landlord's defense attorney came over.
     "This is a big step up for you, Davis," the county attorney intoned.
     "What? You think I'm not up to it? Anyway, Curtis, what's your primary qualification to prosecute a capital murder? That group of high schoolers you prosecuted for producing fake IDs?"
     "Ha, ha. I guess you're right. State's probably going to take over prosecution, anyway. Capital murder cases, they tend to horn in."
     "Bet they'll get a real nasty one, too."
     "Bet you they will."
     The Sheriff had to feel a little bit heartened, because in the county court things were just about the same as they always had been, no matter what was going on in the rest of the world. Heck, things probably would never much change, even in the time of robots and living in underground bunkers.
     The Sheriff stopped by the county clerk's office to drop off some documents and pick up some requests for documents. Curtis was right. He was a bit out of his depth with the level of documentation. Margaret probably couldn't be counted on coming in two to three days a week at most to carry the load. Agent Danley had the energy for it, but he was based out of Washington, ultimately, and he couldn't find anybody from the field office in Dallas. He said he suspected someone from Washington was telling the Dallas field office not to provide any help.
     Well, he thought, one day at a time. That's the only way he could do anything.