Ridge walks up the aisle.
He’s in a dark suit, fitted at the shoulders, and a tie. Every eye in the room follows him, including mine.
I am taken aback at how together he is. How larger-than-life. How his presence fills the entire space.
My heart starts to go nuts again, but not for the same reasons.
What is wrong with me?
Why do I still react to him after everything that happened?
He doesn’t look at me. He walks directly to the front of the room and has a quiet word with the bailiff first. The bailiff steps to the bench and speaks low. The judge’s expression doesn’t change, but something in it sharpens.
She looks at Ridge. She looks at the bailiff. She does not look pleased.
Then she gives a brief, almost imperceptible nod.
“We’ll take a short recess.” She stands, and her robes move. Then she disappears through the door behind the bench with Ridge a few paces behind her.
As soon as they are gone, the courtroom detonates.
“What is happening?” Carla is on her feet. Half the gallery seems to be.
I spin toward my attorney. “What does this mean? What is he doing in there?”
He shakes his head, frowning. “It could mean new evidence has been submitted.”
“New evidence.” I stare at him. “What kind of evidence?”
“I don’t know yet. We have to wait. If the judge allows it, we will be notified and given access to whatever it is.”
“Do you think she’ll retract the bail? Can she do that?”
He nods once. “I’m afraid she can.”
What if he found something that makes this worse? What if there are more planted documents…or worse?
The thought is a cold slide from my collarbone to my stomach. I swallow thickly.
After what feels like an age, the door opens.
Ridge is not with the judge when she returns to the bench. She sits on her chair and picks up a sheet of paper. The room goes silent.
She looks up once, scanning the room briefly, and then down again.
“New evidence has been submitted and reviewed. This evidence is sufficient to clear Dr. Keller of all charges brought against her.” A pause. “Dr. Keller, you are free to go.”
She hits the table with her gavel, just once.
For a full three seconds, the courtroom is completely, utterly still.
I look at my attorney, who looks shocked.
Then he smiles, turning to me, and when our eyes meet, he nods once.
“You heard the judge,” he says.
The room comes apart.
