In Sickness and in Lies novel · Chapter 29 of 32

Chapter 29: Her Signature

Gwyneth's POV

The federal courtroom was cold and smelled of carpet cleaner.

Desmond came in through a side door in a tan jumpsuit and shackles on his ankles.

He was thinner after four days.

His hair had not been cut, and the gray at his temples had spread.

I sat in the third row between my litigator and Bruce, and behind us the benches were full.

Reporters filled two of them.

Four rows of Keane Freight staff filled the rest, and the assistant in the grey cardigan had saved me a seat.

She had come on her lunch hour and had not asked anyone's permission.

"The government asks for detention," the prosecutor said. "Mr. Keane was found with a passport and eleven thousand dollars in cash at a property he had no right to occupy. He tried to remove records. He tried, the same morning, to pressure an incapacitated woman into signing away her family's shares."

"My mother is not incapacitated," I said, much too loudly.

Bruce's hand closed over my knee.

The judge looked over her glasses at the third row.

"Counsel, is that a statement?"

"Her mother has full capacity, Your Honor," my litigator said. "She read the document and refused it. There are three witnesses."

"Noted."

Desmond turned his head, slowly, for the first time.

He looked for me along the benches.

His new lawyer, a young man in a cheap suit, put a hand on his arm.

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