Page 52 of 25 Alive

Yuki stared straight ahead, feeling the weight of her responsibility to the people of California and to LeonardParisi, who had entrusted her with this case. The judge’s entrance felt to Yuki as if the curtain had gone up on the most important trial of her life.

This was her case.

And she had to win it.

CHAPTER78

THE BAILIFF’S NAME was Noah Stern. He was a large man with a barrel chest and a deep, authoritative voice. He had worked for the Superior Court of California in San Francisco for thirteen years, as a court security officer and now as a bailiff.

He called out to the jurors, “Please be seated.”

The jurors and alternates settled into metal folding chairs in the jury box as Judge Robin Walden leaned across the bench to exchange words with the court reporter.

The judge’s expression was neutral. She wore a thin dusting of makeup, a lace-collared blouse under her robes, a ring on the third finger of her left hand, and an emblem of the USMC suspended from a thin gold chain around her neck.

Yuki was watching when Judge Walden placed a Kimber handgun on the bench with the barrel facing the room.

This was a first for Yuki. She’d never heard of a judge bringing a gun to court. Was it a threat? A warning? Or did Robin Walden always carry a gun?

The judge sat down in the high-backed chair, and the bailiff called out, “Court is now in session.”

Yuki felt the long silence as if it were solid matter that shattered when the judge said to the court officer, “Bring in the defendant.”

The officer opened the rear door and Dario Garza, flanked by two armed guards, entered the room.

Today, Garza wore a white dress shirt, pressed chinos, and prison slippers. His dark hair was slicked back, and the chains around his wrists and ankles clanked as he walked. Even so, Dario looked like a billionaire. He smiled as if it was showtime, and as if he was confident he had the judge in his pocket.

His swagger shocked Yuki and reminded her of the street outside the Hall when Dario was first on trial. She remembered the gang of protesters with their red-lettered signs:DARIO INNOCENT. COPS GUILTY.

As Dario and his guards crossed the well toward the witness stand, Yuki gripped the arms of her chair. Gaines had just put his hand on her wrist when a male voice roared, “Noooooo!”

The howl, a protest in the key of rage, came from juror number 5, who yelled at the defendant, “YOU!”

Then he vaulted over the side of the jury box and ran toward Dario with a knife glinting in his hand.

Three guards and the bailiff charged the juror and brought him to the floor, piling on him. While he was emitting his loud, wordless scream, they cuffed him and dragged him from the courtroom.

Judge Walden’s expression hadn’t changed.

She spoke loudly over the commotion. “Bailiff, take the jurors back to their room. Court is in recess until further notice.”

CHAPTER79

WHEN CINDY HAD emailed Brett Palmer to arrange this meeting, she knew he was flying that night from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco. She’d written to him requesting a meeting and gotten his reply after midnight.

I can meet you for breakfast at the Ritz,he’d written.By the way, I enjoyed your bookFish’s Girl.

Thanks very much, Mr. Palmer.

Sure. And if you don’t mind me asking, how did you know my travel plans?

Lucky guess.

I don’t believe you.

Cindy had shot back,Okay, you got me. But, you know, reporters never reveal their sources, Mr. Palmer. Anyway, it’s just breakfast.

He’d sent a string of laughing emojis, then,Why do you want to see me, anyway?

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