Chapter 21: In Cuffs

Willa's POV

The man's phone showed Gwen's studio, in her soft white light.

She sat on a sofa with a ring light behind her and a candle burning in the corner of the frame.

"Today I want to talk about forgiveness," Gwen said to the camera.

Behind her, the bell on the front door jingled.

She did not turn her head.

"Some of you have been told lies about me," she said. "But I choose love."

Then the detective's voice came from off screen.

"Gwen Tolbert."

Gwen's smile stayed where it was.

"Please stand up and turn around."

The camera shook as someone bumped the stand.

The viewers in the comments went wild.

The ring light swung, and for a moment the whole frame was the ceiling.

Then it righted itself, and Gwen was on her feet with her back to the lens and her wrists behind her.

A uniformed officer's hand was on her shoulder.

"You're making a mistake," Gwen said, high and bright. "I'm a healer. I have forty thousand people watching."

"One hundred and ninety thousand," the officer said.

She turned toward the camera, mouth open.

For the first time on any screen, she had no line ready.

The stream cut off.

I realized I'd been holding on to Miles's sleeve with my fist.

I let go.

Nobody in the corridor spoke.

Then somebody started to clap, in the hallway of a courthouse, and Miles said, "Don't," very quietly, and they stopped.

The arraignment was Wednesday.

By nine in the morning the steps of the courthouse were packed.

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