“I’ll give my statement,” she said.

And Montgomery let out a slow breath and nodded, and said that then she should prepare herself, because tomorrow Brock would hear every detail of what he had done, spoken aloud for the whole room to hear.

Chapter 10 — The Stand

The courtroom smelled of old wood and paper and cafeteria coffee.

Natasha walked in with her brown hair pulled back and her hands shaking, and just before the doors she turned to me.

“If my mind goes blank up there, don’t leave me alone in there.” “You are never going to be alone again,” I told her, and I meant it as a vow.