Page 108 of Resurrection Walk

“I’m about to go see the judge to try to get this rolling.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Thanks, I’ll need it.”

I disconnected and headed to the courtroom door.

36

THE LIGHTS INthe courtroom were out except for the bulb positioned above the clerk’s corral to the right of the judge’s bench. Coelho’s clerk was a young man fresh from USC Law named Gian Brown. He was more than used to me coming in over the past six months to drop off motions and subpoena requests for the judge. Brown told me each time that this task would be much easier on me if I just emailed the documents and requests, but I never did that. I wanted him to know me, to get used to me. I wanted him to like me. I learned he enjoyed a caramel macchiato on occasion and brought them to him from the building’s cafeteria, even though each time he protested that the gesture would earn me no favors with him or the judge. I always said that I wasn’t trying to procure favors because I didn’t need any.

But now I did.

“Mr. Haller, you do know that we’re dark today, right?” Brown asked.

“Must’ve forgotten,” I said.

He smiled and I smiled.

“Then, let me guess, you have a motion for us,” Brown said.

“I have an ask,” I said. “A big ask. I need to see the judge about an SDT that is very time-sensitive. Is she here?”

“Uh, she is,” Brown said. “But she’s got her Do Not Disturb on.”

He pointed to a small red light on a panel on the corral’s half wall. Next to it was the button he pushed when all parties were present and ready for the judge to enter the courtroom.

“Well, Gian, I need you to call her or buzz her because she’ll want to hear what I’ve got to say,” I said.

“Um…”

“Please, Gian. It’s important to the case. It’s important that it be brought to her attention as soon as possible. In fact, I think she will be upset with you if she learns there was a delay because of a little red light.”

“Okay, well, let me just go back and see if her door is open.”

“Do that. Thank you. If it’s closed, knock on it.”

“We’ll see. Just stay here and I’ll be back.”

He got up and went through the door at the rear of the corral into the hall that led to the judge’s chambers.

I waited three minutes and then the door finally opened. Brown came through without the judge. He was shaking his head.

“Her door is closed,” he said.

“Well, did you knock?” I asked.

“No. It’s clear she doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

Without a second thought, I stood on my toes and leaned over the half wall of the corral. I reached my hand toward the judge’s call button. My feet were in the air and I was balanced on the six-inch-wide wall cap.

“Hey!” Brown exclaimed.

I pushed the button and held my finger on it until my weight pulled me back and my feet were on the floor.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Brown yelled.

“I need to see her, Gian,” I said. “It’s an emergency.”

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