I shut the briefcase and kept my hand resting on the latch.

Patricia was already sitting at the respondent’s table when we walked into Courtroom 3B, smoothing the front of her cardigan as though she had pressed it in the car on the way.

Brandon sat next to her with his hands flat on the table and his leather wristwatch turned face down.

Arthur set his briefcase on our table and opened it with both thumbs.

“Judge Vance runs a tight morning,” he said.