Scotty's face was two shades whiter than it should have been. He stared at his public defender wishing that there was more to it—something else behind the words; twenty-five to life.
"You said that you thought I could walk away with justifiable homicide and no time served." Scotty's voice sounded weak to his ears.
"No," the haggard looking man stated. "What I said is that … well I might have said that. But there is the question of your previous record. The judge is not going to allow justifiable homicide for someone with a criminal history as … um… as lengthy as yours."
Scotty's brow drew together. "Those records were supposed to be sealed-"
"Only from public view," the defender looked at his watch briefly. "Look, when records are expunged it doesn't mean that whatever was sealed cannot be considered in any future convictions." The man removed his glasses and wiped the lenses with his jacket.