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A tiny sob pops out of Caroline's mouth and she squeezes her eyes shut while she nods effusively in agreement "I'll take every bit of this nastiness," she says in a quavering voice, then opening her eyes to look at ot out of it"

"No other way to look at it," I agree, dropping rab hers, which sits liers with hers and squeeze

Caroline tilts her head and her eyes widen as she realizes so "The DNAif the DNA in your case doesn't match JTthen?"

I shrug nonchalantly even as a stab of pain lances straight through my heart Caroline doesn't need to kno bad this feels to me, so I say, "I must have been mistaken"

She shakes her head, and squeezes o numb "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation"

"Perhaps," I say as I pull my hand away from hers "But it's a worry for another tiet back to the courtroom for Beck Want to come?"

She nods her head "Yeahlet's swing by the bathroom so I can repair this wreck of a face I don't want to upset Beck, but maybe it will scare the reporters off if we run into them"

I laugh "You twoyour bond is a I know you have a lot of reasons to be pissed at him, but you also have this love that's untouchable I'm a little envious of it actually"

Caroline s with him Don't ever doubt that"

And I don'tdoubt it But I do worry thatas we try to hold this puzzle of lies together because we're fueled by this love we have for each other

"After considering the evidence before me, I believe the state has met its burden of probable cause in thisthis case over for trial and will set it on the trial docket to commence on April 21"

The judge's words are still echoing in my head two hours later as Sela and I make our earily from the elevator into the condo

I'd like to say this ca factor for JT's murder is the fact he raped our sister, Caroline There wasn't a judge in the state as going to let that one pass by, no ht be

After the hearing, Doug, Caroline, Sela, and I all met in the small conference roo and was only for Doug to reassure us not to lose hope That there would surely be a plea deal offered

Nope, not even going to consider that

"And besides," he had said, "with your resources, I'ation team that can find the bookie who's behind JT's murder"

Yeahthat's not going to happen either, because the bookie or his goons didn't murder JT

Of course, I wasn't about to tell my attorney that He may be my attorney and sworn to confidentiality, but I wanted hi whatever the fuck he could to prove ht not be able to find evidence of the ga to connect to JT's death, he could probably find soht there could provide enough reasonable doubt

Reasonable doubt

My t favorite words

In fact, ets back in town, I can have a conversation with hi to feed to ht direction

Sela wordlessly heads back to our bedroom while I detour into the kitchen to open a bottle of wine and perhaps put a frozen pizza in the oven Not the poshest of ht, and neither do I for thatup with texts fro trial for murder as well as the secret that JT was my brother and he raped my sister

Now that I think about it, I'ain Of course, following the trial, that could be a very true statement if I end up in prison, but that's not an outco reminded me, the case is still entirely circu factors, Doug believes we'll be able to show that I'ot hundreds of people who can attest to that We can build up just as much circumstantial evidence in the opposite direction, and the jury s

I hope

In the kitchen, I open up the freezer and see there's nothing in it but half a pint of ice crea takeout

Chinese, maybe

But I do knoe have wine, and I decide on a crisp pinot grigio I have in the fridge Pulling it out, I efficiently re them back to the bedrooet out of this monkey suit, relax, and perhaps cuddle with her after dinner Maybe watch a mindless movie

Probably fuck