Trial Junkies

— 52 -

It was a small but significant victory, and Hutch resisted the urge to high-five his friends as Nadine left the witness box and headed for the doorway she had emerged from. More than anything, it was a personal victory, because she was a friend.

Just before she disappeared inside, she threw a wan smile in his direction, as if asking for his approval. He gave her a subtle nod, then she was gone, and he wondered if she would head straight back to her apartment and pour herself another rum and Coke.

When the time was right, when this was over, he would call her and ask if she needed his help. It was hard to read her right now, in this situation, but he sensed that she was adrift-a feeling he knew all too well.

"Who would have guessed it," Andy murmured. "The bitch has a heart after all."

"Shut the hell up," Hutch told him.

What happened next was a surprise to everyone, but its significance didn't become clear until several minutes later. Just as Abernathy was about to call his next witness, Detective Meyer entered the courtroom, moved quickly up the aisle and gestured to him.

"Your Honor," Abernathy said, "may I have a moment?"

"A moment. And make it a quick one."

Hutch watched as Abernathy moved over to the low rail that separated the gallery from the well of the courtroom. Meyer leaned close and whispered in Abernathy's ear, the ADA's eyes widening slightly, a small smile crossing his lips. Whatever the news was, it couldn't be good for Ronnie.

Abernathy nodded, said something to Meyer, then turned toward the bench. "Your Honor, I'd like to request a sidebar."

O'Donnell raised a brow, then said to Waverly. "Any objection, counsel?"

Waverly hadn't seen Abernathy's face and still seemed to be riding the high of Nadine's reversal. She got to her feet. "None whatsoever, Your Honor."

She and Abernathy moved to the bench as O'Donnell cupped his hand over his microphone and leaned toward them, the three speaking quietly. Waverly and Abernathy had their backs to the gallery and their faces couldn't be seen, but it was easy to see that Abernathy was doing most of the talking.

Waverly grew rigid beside him, then it was her turn to talk. They went back and forth for several minutes, O'Donnell cutting in occasionally, then the two attorneys returned to their tables-

— and Waverly's expression said it all.

Something very, very bad had just happened.

As Waverly sat, she leaned toward Ronnie and began whispering in her ear. If Ronnie had looked defeated before, she now seemed absolutely devastated, her body sinking deeper into her chair with each word.

The two spoke quietly-and urgently-for several moments as Abernathy threw papers into a briefcase and Judge O'Donnell conferred with his clerk.

Hutch couldn't imagine what had happened, and he was dying to know. He looked over at Andy, Matt and Gus and they were clearly feeling the same.

"What the fuck…?" Andy whispered.

But before anyone else could chime in, Judge O'Donnell finished with his clerk and said to the jury, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to call a recess as we take this matter into chambers. Please report to the jury room and make sure not to discuss the case with one another."

The jurors all murmured agreement, then got to their feet and filed out of the courtroom, several of them glancing at Ronnie. Then O'Donnell stood up and the bailiff called out, "All rise!"

Waverly rubbed a comforting hand across Ronnie's back as they stood, Ronnie now looking bloodless. Lost. Devastated.

Waverly whispered again into her ear, gave her arm a reassuring squeeze, then joined Abernathy and the judge at a doorway behind the bench.

As they disappeared from view and the spectators began to disperse, Ronnie made a sound and sank into her chair, lowering her head to the table.

People in the gallery turned to stare at her as Hutch moved into the aisle and through the gate, pulling a chair up next to her, putting an arm around her, leaning in close. "What is it? What happened?"

Her voice was barely a croak. "I'm not getting out of this. Not now. There's no way they'll ever acquit me."

"Why? What happened? What's Abernathy up to?"

She looked at him, her face streaked with tears. "You warned me this might happen, Hutch. On the train last night."

"What are you talking about?"

"They think they've found the murder weapon."

Something went cold inside. "You mean the knife?"

"Not a knife," she said, shaking her head morosely. "A pair of grooming shears."