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Yuki had had ue, but today, sitting beside Len Parisi at the prosecution table, she felt fully satisfied with her decision The opportunity to lock up Connor Grant was monumental If ever there was a case for the death penalty, this was it
She and Len had discussed every aspect of the case, the strengths and weaknesses, and now Len was very still, no doubt silently rehearsing his opening Yuki used the pretrial moments to steady her nerves with an affirmation: You’re prepared Len’s the best The case is solid Trust the jury Repeat
Yuki shot a quick glance across the aisle to the defense table, where opposition counsel, Elise Antonelli, sat with her unfathoether behind their hands Yuki read conflict in their expressions, but their voices never rose above a whisper
The gallery, the rows of seats behind the bar, was full The victims’ families, survivors of the blast, and reporters waited expectantly for the trial to start
At the bench, Judge Hofflasses, spoke to the court reporter and then to the bailiff, who read the charges against Connor Grant, and called the court into session
Hoffman looked to the prosecution table and said, “Mr Parisi Are the People ready?”
“Yes, Your Honor”
“Then let’s proceed with opening statements”
Red Dog Parisi got slowly to his feet He was six foot four, three hundred pounds more or less His skin was acnescarred and he had coarse, rust-colored hair He wore a black suit, white shirt, and red tie He’d once been described as looking like a cross between a yeti and a superpower avenger When this large, hoood to have him on your side
Parisi lumbered out to the well of the courtroom and fixed his eyes on the jury Their eyes were also fixed on him
CHAPTER 29
PARISI WALKED TO the podium that had been set up in the well, halfway between the bench and the jury box, and addressed the court
“Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it’s been a while since I’ve personally tried a case In my job as district attorne
y of San Francisco County, and I am responsible for over one hundred attorneys ADAs in my office, and I oversee dozens of cases and trials
“So, why a before you today? Because Connor Grant, the s at the defense table, is a ht and considerable skill, destroyed Sci-Tron, a science , he killed twenty-five of the people ere inside”