Chapter 97

When I finally had their attention, I told them precisely what I wanted each of them to do the next morning, ending by asking if there were any questions or suggestions. Both Mark and Andrew offered viable suggestions, and I worked these into the game plan.

Shortly after we finished, Andrew left to return to Decatur and Miss Emily. Mark lingered a bit to go over the details before he, too, went home. As I let him out the front door, he grinned and said, “We’re going to have some kind of fun tomorrow, aren’t we?”

“You bet,” I said.

32

Atlanta, GACharles

MONDAY MORNING, AS soon as the judge had taken her seat, I was on my feet and said, “May we approach the bench, Your Honor?”

“You may.”

Mark and I walked up to stand in front of her, and Craig Wetherbee and Tom Shields followed us.

“Yes, Mr. Barnett?” she said.

“Your Honor, I acquired a rather special piece of evidence over the weekend. I think we need to talk about it in chambers, if we may.”

“What kind of evidence?”