Page 144 of Resurrection Walk

I left him there, went through the gate, and crossed the proving ground to go see the judge.

The door to her chambers was open but I reached in and knocked anyway. She was behind the desk, no longer wearing the black robe.

“Come in, Mr. Haller,” she said. “Have a seat.”

I did as she instructed. She was writing on a legal pad and I said nothing to interrupt. She finally put her pen into the holder of an ornate desk set with her name engraved on a brass plaque and looked up at me.

“Congratulations,” she said. “I believe the petitioner in this case had a formidable advocate at her side.”

I smiled.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” I said. “And thank you for cutting through all the distractions and smoke screens to get to an incisive and just ruling. You know, I rarely venture into federal court, because, well, it’s kind of David versus a bunch of Goliaths most of the time, but after this ex —”

“I know what you did, Mr. Haller,” she said.

I paused. Her tone had grown too serious for a post-hearing meeting between a judge and attorney.

“What I did, Your Honor?” I tried.

“I took the long lunch to review everything that was presented before I made my determination,” she said. “That included my prior rulings and actions. And I realized what you’d done in my courtroom.”

I shook my head.

“Well, Judge,” I said. “I think you’re going to have to share it with me because I don’t really —”

“You intentionally drew me into holding you in contempt,” Coelho said.

“Judge, I don’t know what —”

“You needed time to conduct your DNA test before continuing the case. Don’t sit there and deny it.”

I looked down at my hands and spoke without looking at her.

“Uh, Judge, I think I’m going to take the Fifth on that.”

She said nothing. I looked back up at her.

“I should file a complaint with the California Bar for conduct unbecoming an attorney,” she said. “But that could significantly damage both your record and your reputation. As I said, you are a formidable advocate and we need more of them in the justice system.”

I started to breathe easier. She wanted to scare me, not destroy me.

“But your actions cannot go by without any consequences,” she continued. “I’m holding you in contempt, Mr. Haller. Again. I hope you have a toothbrush in your briefcase. You’re going to spend another night at MDC.”

She picked up the desk phone and pushed one number. I knew Gian was on the other end of that call.

“Please send Marshal Nate back,” she said.

She hung up the phone.

“Judge, isn’t there a fine I could pay?” I said. “A donation to the court’s favorite charity or —”

“No, there’s not,” she said.

Marshal Nate entered the room.

“Nate, please take Mr. Haller to holding,” Coelho said. “He’ll be spending the night at MDC.”

Nate looked puzzled and didn’t move.

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