After Before and After

Phase 4: Chapter 104

September 30, 1993. 8:36 AM.

Something in the air at the Chatham County Juvenile Courthouse was different that Thursday morning. Stepping inside, Ralph Langley couldn't help but feel like something was off. Perhaps the lobby was quieter or the air was cooler or the lighting was darker. Though, a quick scan of the room provided no explanation for the strange sensation that ate away at Ralph. There were no fewer people in the lines or passing by than there usually were, nor was it any colder or darker in the brownish hall than it usually was.

The only thing that was different was Ralph.

Upon checking in, the Langley family connected with Zoey in front of their usual deliberation room to discuss what they could expect from the day. As Laurie and Jeffery took turns shaking Zoey's hand, Ralph's attention was suddenly captured by the sight of the Merridews entering out of the corner of his eye. Jack was dressed in one of his dozen expensive business suits, as was Evan, and Paige looked like she was ready to lead an important marketing meeting. Ralph watched Evan shake hands with their family lawyer and begin conversing with him, whispering close together for a degree of privacy.

Jack caught Ralph staring at him from across the room, and their eyes met. It was hard for Ralph to imagine that less than twelve hours ago, they were cuddling in the field behind the hotel. The rules were different here in the courthouse than they were in the privacy of their own hotel rooms. Here, there would be no cuddling or holding hands or even a quick hug. Here, they weren't together. Here, they weren't even friends. Here, they were co-defendants, just former schoolmates from a time left behind.

Jack smiled weakly at Ralph, and the latter smiled back in the same distant way. Their expressions said the same thing: I wish we could be together when we find out how this day's going to go.

Only a moment after, Ralph was whisked away into the deliberation room by his parents. There, Zoey talked to them about the day, how Reynolds would begin by recapping his opening statement from ten months ago then bringing in his first witness. The witness list wouldn't be all that different from the one Barnes presented during the last ten months. Reynolds' would be a condensed version of Barnes' list, though there would only be minor discrepancies between the types and variety of witnesses to take the stand. The most substantial difference was that each of the twenty-two boys were set to testify, with a number of them scheduled to do so before the end of October.

The relaying of evidence was also expected to be presented in the same order, beginning with the first responders to the rescue scene. As Zoey had already told the Langley family, there would be significantly less witnesses on the defense's side, and many who were scheduled to reappear had already been dismissed due to their earlier contributions to the case during cross-examination. Zoey was anticipating a week or two the most to be dedicated to the day of the rescue and its witnesses. The majority of the defense's case was resting on the boys' testimony. It was the strongest evidence they had, and the only weapon the prosecution couldn't utilize.

Just before nine o'clock, the Langley family joined the other defendants and their families in the gallery of Courtroom 4. Shortly thereafter, Judge Eldeson appeared through the door to the right of judge's bench and entered slowly, as he had every day before this one. The bailiff was in his usual spot, as was the transcriber responsible for transcribing the testimony of the case. Everything looked as it always did, but nothing felt like it always had.

"All rise, the Honorable Judge Eldeson presiding."

On cue, everyone rose, as they always did. Judge Eldeson ordered them to take their seats, as he always did. The jury was sworn in, as they always were. They then took their seats again, like they always did. And then the floor was handed over to Dana Barnes, like it always was.