Chapter 22: Apologize to Him

Nolan's POV

The courtroom was small and brown, and there were no cameras in it.

I had never been so glad of anything.

Margot sat on my left in the grey coat, with the wooden ring on her finger.

Millie sat on my right in her uniform, and behind her sat six paramedics who had traded shifts to be there.

At nine the deputies brought Brody in.

He wore a county jumpsuit and no gold chain.

His hair had lost its bleach tips, and without the ring light his face was young and unfinished.

He did not look at the room.

The judge was a grey-haired woman with half-moon glasses, and she read the charges without hurry.

Forgery of a legal document.

Conspiracy to commit fraud.

Violating a no-contact order, twice.

"Mr. Keene," she said. "Do you understand these?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"And you intend to plead."

"Guilty," Brody said.

His lawyer, the man in the navy suit, stood up beside him.

"Your Honor, my client wishes to make a statement to Mr. Treharne before sentencing."

I felt Margot go still.

"The court allows it," the judge said, "if it is short."

Brody turned.

He looked straight at me for the first time since the ballroom, and his mouth worked.

"Nolan," he said. "I was wrong. I took your watch. I hurt your wife."

His voice thinned.

"I was a kid with a phone who thought everything was a show."

He swallowed.

"I'm asking you to forgive me. I'm asking you to tell the judge you forgive me, because my lawyer says it matters."

The courtroom was very quiet.

Millie shifted beside me.

I stood up.

My knees were steady, which surprised me.

"Your Honor," I said. "May I answer?"

"You may."

I looked at Brody.

I looked at his wet face and knew what he was really asking for.

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