Page 98 of To Die For

“Then let’s hear from you, Ms. Fine. And I’ll need to look at the relevant court filings.”

Devine glanced at Glass, who did not seem bothered by this at all. Then he looked at Saxby and noted that the woman looked, well, ill.

“Your Honor, that is all now a moot point,” said Fine.

“Why?” exclaimed the judge. “I consider it extremely important as to whether this court will allow Miss Odom to be placed under Mr. Glass’s guardianship.”

“It’s a moot point because the Department of Justice has withdrawn its case against Mr. Glass.”

Devine noted that Nancy Fine looked like she wanted to strangle someone as she kept her gaze rigidly on the judge.

Devine shot Glass another look. The man also seemed surprised and even upset by this development, which puzzled Devine.

Mehan said, “Are you telling me that theentireprosecution has been withdrawn?”

“Yes,” said Fine, her teeth actually clenched.

“May I ask why?”

“We have… lost several witnesses critical to the DOJ’s prosecution of this case. And our inability to prove our case by the requisite burden of proof compels us to withdraw the charges at this time.”

“With prejudice?” asked Mehan, meaning that they could not be brought again.

Fine hesitated, glanced darkly at Glass, and said, “That apparently depends on circumstances of which I have not been made aware, Your Honor. So, for now, they are withdrawnwithoutprejudice.”

Devine looked at Glass once more. He buttoned his coat and then ran one hand over his smooth head. Not looking happy, he leaned into his attorney and said something. The lawyer said something back, which did not seem to please his boss at all.

“Thank you, Ms. Fine,” said a clearly befuddled Mehan.

Fine nodded and threw a dagger glare at Glass, who did not even acknowledge her.

Devine whispered to Saxby, “What in the hell is going on?”

She shook her head and whispered back, “Not now. After.”

Mehan said, “All right. I would now like to hear from Betsy Odom.”

With Saxby’s prompting, Odom slowly rose, walked up to the bench, and was directed to a chair by the bailiff, where she was sworn in.

She took her seat and the judge said, “Ms. Odom, my name is Judith Mehan and I would like to ask you some questions, if that’s all right?”

“Sure, okay,” said Betsy in a tight voice, and squirming a bit in her seat.

“May I call you Betsy?”

“Sure, yeah.”

“How long have you known your uncle, Betsy?”

Odom glanced in Glass’s direction and said, “Um, we only just met the other day.”

“He has not been in your life until the other day? Do you know why that is?”

Odom swiped nervously at her hair. “Um, not really. We moved around a lot, I mean, me and my mom and dad. And… and I had to keep making new friends, although I really wasn’t good at that,” she added. “So, um, it was really just me and my parents… you know.”

She looked so uncomfortable by this admission that Devine’s heart went out to her.

“Did your parents ever discuss your uncle with you? Why he was never around, or part of the extended family? And do you recall what they said?”

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