Chapter 66:
The courthouse is the same building I stood in front of two weeks ago with a subpoena in my hand and my knees shaking.
It looks different today.
Maybe because there's a crowd. Not a hundred people. Not a protest. Just a line of people waiting to get through the metal detector — reporters, lawyers, county officials, a woman from the state attorney's office I recognize from the hearing, and two rows of folding chairs set up in the hallway because the courtroom's too small.
"You ready?" Kael says.
"No."
"Good answer." He takes my hand. "You want to know something?"
"What?"
"Last time you were in this building, you walked in with a torn dress and no shoes. And you walked out with a signed affidavit and a fire marshal and a judge who believed you." He looks at me. "This tim
