Tuesday Elijah had opinions about the impact statement.
He came to find me at nine in the morning with his laptop and the expression of someone who had been organizing his thoughts since six and was now ready to deliver them in a structured and comprehensive way.
I let him deliver them.
He talked for twelve minutes about legal strategy and precedent and the value of a detailed impact statement in cases involving research theft and corporate sabotage and the specific weight a victim's account carried with this particular judge.
When he finished I said Sophia has decided.
He looked at me.
"She's not submitting one," I said. "She wants to be done with that room."
Elijah was quiet for a moment.
"That's her right," he said.
"Yes," I said.
"It may affect the sentencing," he said.
"She
