Page 142 of Resurrection Walk

“I can just go?” she asked.

“You can just go,” I said. “If you want to talk to the media after you see your son and everybody, I’ll tell them they can find you outside the courthouse where they can set up cameras.”

“You think I should?”

“Yes, I think you should. Tell them what you’ve been through these last five and a half years.”

“Okay, Mickey. But first, my family.”

I nodded. She got up, walked through the gate into the gallery, and was soon being hugged by her son and all her family members at once.

I took it all in for a long moment and then I heard my name called from the front row. It was Queally. I walked over to the rail, and the reporters squeezed together to hear me.

“For those of you who need film, my client and I will hold a press conference outside the courthouse on the Spring Street side. Bring your cameras and questions and I’ll see you there.”

I turned to look at the AG’s table and saw that Morris was already gone. He had probably slipped out while Lucinda and I hugged and celebrated our victory and his loss. When I looked at the back of the courtroom, I saw my daughter and ex-wife still seated in the last row. I walked through the gate, went down the center aisle, and slipped into the now-empty row in front of them.

“Congratulations, Dad,” Hayley said. “That was amazing.”

“I call it the resurrection walk,” I said. “You don’t get too many of them. Thanks for coming, Hay.”

“I would have missed it if Mom hadn’t called me,” she said.

I looked at Maggie, unsure how to proceed. Luckily, she took the lead.

“Congratulations,” she said. “I obviously was on the wrong side of this one. Please apologize to Harry for me.”

“Well, he’s around here somewhere,” I said. “Maybe you could say that to his face.”

“Apologize for what?” Hayley asked.

“I’ll tell you in the car,” Maggie said.

I nodded that that was okay with me.

“Now what?” Maggie asked. “Are you going to sue the county for millions?”

“If my client wants me to. I’ll have to talk to her.”

“Come on, you know you’re going to sue and you’re going to win.”

There was an edge to her voice. She still had to bust on me even though I had won the day. I let it go. Maggie didn’t have the same hold over me she’d once had. I had reached the point where her disappointments in me no longer mattered.

“We’ll see,” I said. “It helps when the other side has manufactured evidence.”

Hayley pointed behind me and I turned to see Gian Brown standing at the railing.

“The judge would like to see you in chambers,” he said.

“Right now?” I asked.

He nodded and I realized it had been a dumb question.

“I’ll be right there.”

I turned back to my daughter.

“Can you come out tonight and celebrate with me?” I asked.

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