At the world.
At myself.
This had been Lacey’s last chance. And she wasn’t going to get it. She would die in jail.
“Under the current circumstances,” Judge McKenna said in a firm voice, “I can’t grant—”
The courtroom doors opened, cutting him off. All heads turned at once. A ripple of whispers followed as five men in tailored suits walked in. Confident. Cocky. They carried their briefcases with an attitude as if they were guns.
At the front of them was a shorter, older man. Round and bald with a long nose. His presence changed the mood in the room.
Everything stopped. We all stared at him in confusion as he walked straight up to me. Not the defense table. Not the judge. Me.
He stopped, pulled a pen from his jacket, and handed me papers.
“Sign this,” he said.
At the same time, one of his associates rushed over to Sean and placed a stack of documents on the defense table.
I looked down at the papers in my hand.
Retainer Agreement and Substitution of Counsel.
My gaze lifted slowly over the man’s golden silk tie until our eyes met.
“Robert Goldberg,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”
Across the room, Kara Belmont and her team recovered from the initial shock. Their murmurs turned frantic. Papers shuffled hectically.
“Mr. Goldberg!” Judge McKenna said. His tone had changed completely. It was warm and friendly now. “I think you might have the wrong courtroom,” he added with a smile.
“I wish I had the wrong state,” Goldberg joked. “We were supposed to be in the Hamptons with George, Betty, and the grandkids.” He paused. “And I’d like the record to reflect that my wife is currently alone with toddler triplets. If her day doesn’t end well, neither will mine.”
Laughter moved through the courtroom. The attorney walked up to the bench and handed the judge a set of papers. “I’ve been retained to take over Mrs. Alderwyn’s defense.”
Kara Belmont was on her feet instantly. “Your Honor, that’s not possible.”
“Not possible?” Goldberg turned toward her. “This is America. And in America, people are allowed to change counsel at any time. So, the Alderwyns are changing counsel.” He tilted his head. “Deputy AG Beemont, isn’t it? Or close enough, I guess. May I, Your Honor?”
He gestured toward Sean Holt’s table.
“Of course,” Judge McKenna said, leaning back in his chair.
All eyes were on Goldberg as he crossed the room and picked up Sean’s file, flipped it open, and skimmed it.
Once.
Twice.
Then his head shook slowly.
“Good God,” he said. “Your Honor, is this case something else or what?”
Judge McKenna exhaled through his nose. Like someone finally understood him. “It is indeed.”
Goldberg nodded, then turned toward Belmont and her team.
“Let’s begin with the obvious,” Goldberg said. “This court was ambushed with surprise evidence, a minor was nearly strong-armed onto the stand without a guardian’s permission, and a documented, violent attack by the real suspect was treated like a footnote, despite nearly killing another victim.”
