Broken Alliance

CHAPTER ONE “Court is back in session, be seated and come to order!” The court bailiff didn’t yell, but his voice was loud enough to reach over the murmur in the courtroom. The jurors entered and the judge asked if they had reached a verdict. The spokesman answered: “Yes, Your Honor.” The judge directed him to hand it to the court clerk. The clerk cleared her voice and read aloud without emotion. “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of second-degree murder.” There was a sudden movement behind the defense table. “No!” The anguished whisper of the older man sitting in the gallery behind the defendant as he stared at the defense attorney, reverberated in the silent courtroom. The attorney, visibly shaken, turned. He was very pale and appeared to be in shock. The young man was dazed. “I didn’t do it, I didn’t” he kept repeating. “Order in the court!” The voice of the bailiff boomed over the commotion. “We will need a sentencing date about sixty to ninety days out,” the judge stated to the now-silent courtroom. The prosecutor and defense counsel consulted their calendars. A date for sentencing was set, the defendant was led out by deputies, the judge then retired from the bench and the courtroom began to empty. “What happened?” Demanded the older man. “We can’t talk here,” replied the attorney. “I have some matters to discuss with the prosecutor right now. He hasn’t been sentenced yet. This isn’t over. I’ll see you later today or early tomorrow.” “You assured me it would be OK.” “It will be. Just give me some time. We’ll meet tomorrow for sure.”