Chapter 75:
One month later.
The courthouse is the same building. The same steps. The same crowd of townspeople on the sidewalk with their signs and their hot dogs and their folding chairs.
But it's different today.
Today is sentencing.
Margaret Sterling pleaded guilty to all charges two weeks ago. No trial. No jury. No witnesses. Just a woman in a black dress standing in front of a judge and saying the word "guilty" four times in a row.
Her lawyer said it was a strategic decision. Miss Okonkwo said it was because Margaret Sterling didn't want a jury to hear the tapes.
Either way, today's the day.
Kael's beside me in a suit. Miss Ada's behind us with Betty and Carl. Sarah's in the row in front of us with Caroline. Marcus Halloran's down the hall with his daughter, waiting to be cal
