Chapter 10: First Day

The Cook County courtroom on Monday morning smelled of floor wax and old paper.

Leland's lawyer, a silver-haired man in a pinstripe suit, sat at the left table beside Leland and Delaney.

I sat at the right table beside Jonas, with Marcy behind me holding my files.

The judge looked at the two tables over her glasses.

"Counsel," she said. "You are also the respondent's wife."

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Has your client waived the conflict in writing?"

"He has. It's in the file, along with the clerk's receipt."

"Then we proceed," she said, and rapped once.

Leland's lawyer called one witness before lunch.

My father walked down the aisle in a borrowed suit that did not fit his shoulders.

He swore the oath and sat.

He did not look at me.

The lawyer led him through it quickly.

"Sir, did your daughter contact you in March of 2023?"

"She did."

"And what did she tell you?"

"That a rich man was paying her to marry him."

The courtroom murmured.

Delaney folded her hands and looked at her ring.

"Thank you," the lawyer said. "Your witness."

I stood.

My knees were steady, which surprised me.

I walked to the front of the room and stopped a respectful distance from the stand.

My father finally looked at me.

He looked old.

"Sir," I said. "I have three questions."

"All right."

"How old was I when you left?"

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