Chapter 27

I walked back into the courtroom. Judge Garner was still on the bench, talking to Elena. “Hey, Jake. Elena was just showing me the pictures of Chelsea.”

Before I spoke I looked at the microphones. They were still red.

As if reading my mind, he said, “We’re off the record.”

I smiled. Before he became a judge Vada Garner was a well-known family and criminal defense attorney. His wife was Elena’s supervisor at the state attorney’s office for a couple of years.

“Yeah, I it’s hard to believe she’s growing so fast.”

“Here’s my favorite.” Elena tiptoed to show him something else off her camera phone.

I peered over her shoulder. It was Chel wearing her pilgrim costume, right before the weekend’s production. Pumpkins and corn framed the background. Our daughter had a big smile.

When Elena was done showing the photos, Vada walked down off the bench, and unzipped his robe. He motioned with a hand wave for Elena and me to follow him.