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Yuki and Art joined the throng entering the courtroom and had just taken their seats at their table when James Giftos strode up the center aisle

He stopped beside Yuki’s seat

“Neat trick, Counselor,” he said “I’ up my appeal”

Of course Giftos was ht It had weakened and depressed her, and that could make her a poor witness for herself

Yuki was torn between saying “Dude, she had a loaded gun” and “Knock yourself out, Counselor,” but Giftos was already on the move He crossed the well and opened the side door that led to the interior stairwell used by court personnel

Giftos’s second chair ca a plain gray skirt and sweater, with a silver cross

Her polished look was gone

Hill had just taken her seat between her two attorneys when the jurors entered the courtrooallery was loud with the sounds of spectators talking, settling into their seats, putting down their cos Yuki looked for Marc but didn’t see him or his parents

This was very worrisome It was five to nine

Judge Rathburn cah his private entrance, and the whispers stopped cold Right then Yuki heard a ruckus behind her

She turned in her seat to see the bailiff trying to close the door and heard a ot here as fast as we could He has a right to be here”

The bailiff relented and opened the door, and with the help of his parents, Marc Christopher hobbled into the courtrooive Marc his seat Marc glanced in Yuki’s direction, and she nodded at hiallery

Like Briana Hill, Marc had lost his look of dewy youthfulness

And now, after he’d been injured and trauo up on the drama of his life

CHAPTER 70