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"Do you knohat’s happening?" I whisper

"No" His forehead is creased, and he looks as confused as I feel

The tall judge begins to speak in slow, controlled Gerel and Maynard and Damien stay perfectly still, the other attorneys at the defense table begin to shift in their seats They weren’t privy to as said behind closed doors, and from my perspective, they look like allery begin to whisper The gloom that has filled this space has lifted I don’t understand hohy, but I aood

I glance at Ollie, afraid that I’ too ers are crossed, and in that one moment, I could kiss hiht now he is on Dae is finished, and he’s standing, and he’s filing out of the rooes behind him As soon as the door behind them has shut, the courtroom explodes into a cacophony of sounds, some cheers, some shouts, but some boos and catcalls One of the attorneys takes pity on es," he says in a thick Geres have been dropped"

"What?" I say stupidly

"It’s over," Ollie says, pulling o home"

He releases me and I stare at him, my body cold with shock I’ht and so to tellany moment now

I turn to face Damien, but his back is still toearnestly, but in such a low voice that I cannot make out the words Maynard stands beside Daesture almost paternal

"It’s true?" I ask the German attorney "You really mean it?"

His s "It is true," he says "We would not joke about such a thing"

"No, of course not But why? I mean--" But he turns away in response to a question from another attorney Then I see that the prosecutor has h er care hohy

"Daht His name feels delicious on my lips, and I want to capture this ot back the ins to turn, and I anticipate hoill look when I see his face His eyes alight with joy, his features stripped of the worry that has been weighing on hih

But that is not what I see Instead of war joyous in his expression Instead, it is flat and cold and desolate

I frown, confused, and reach out for hi over the bar to take his hands His fingers close tight around mine, as if I am a lifeline in stormy waters "Oh, God, Damien It’s over"

"Yes," he says, but there is a harshness in his voice that sends a shiver throughthe ride back to the hotel He is shell-shocked, I think Probably unable to believe that the night back to take care of all the adoes on once a trial reaches its conclusion, and I can only assume that there is even more to do when the conclusion is unexpectedly preer until we pull up in front of the hotel, but then I can’t take it anymore