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JUDGE RATHBURN WAS at the bench

He took an uns visual tour of his courtroom, popped a couple of Tu words with his clerk, the judge said, “Ms Castellano Please call your witness”

Yuki was ready—but what about Marc? Would he push through the pain and nervousness and do a good job of testifying on his own behalf? Or would he fold on the stand?

It could go either way

She watched Marc pull hiate like a long-legged waterbird with a broken wing He crossed the well in this aardthe attention of every soul in the courtroom

Maybe he’d draw their pity, too

The bailiff held the Bible and, after Marc swore to tell the whole truth, so help hiave Marc a hand up to the witness box Marc said, “Thanks,” then furasp and bounced down the step to the floor, the clatter sounding through the room, which was otherwise silent

The bailiff retrieved the crutch and asked Marc if he was okay

“Good enough,” he said

It was a dramatic and, she hoped, sympathetic introduction to the jury, who had heard much about Marc but had not actually seen him

Yuki looked at Marc as if she were a juror seeing hie kid, but one who had gotten knocked around on the football field Along with the leg injury, Marc’s cheek was scraped froes under his eyes

When his leg went out froood fall

Yuki flashed on the sex video she had seenit to the jury while Marc sat in the box, pinned under the lights by the appraising eyes of the jurors Thinking of what Marc had endured, Yuki felt sorry for him Her doubts about his sincerity since he’d tried to kiss her dropped away

Marc had been raped and shot, and noas going to have to tell a rooers that he had been tied to his bed and assaulted by a wohed 110 pounds

Yuki left her seat, walked to a spot about ten feet from the stand, and smiled at her witness