“Room three’s at the top of the stairs,” he said.

“They got started five minutes ago.”

I climbed the wide marble steps, my boots ringing on the stone.

The second-floor hallway was hushed, lined with dark oak doors and framed portraits of past county judges.

Outside Courtroom Three, a wooden bench sat empty beneath a bronze wall sconce.

Ethan’s navy blue leather journal weighed heavy in my cargo pocket, pressing against my leg.

I stopped in front of the heavy double oak doors of Courtroom Three and listened.