The judge rapped her gavel once and told the bailiff to empty the room.

Chairs scraped.

Mallory picked up her phone and her purse and left without a glance at Spencer.

Out past the double doors, the hallway smelled of floor wax and old paper.

Thomas went off to file the order.

Helen waited at the far end with the stroller, her hand resting on the handle.

Spencer trailed me past the water fountain.

“Look,” he said.