The Thief

22. Court

Asher

"Why didn't you tell me about Todd?" Ms. Hall asks, sitting down across from me. I shrug. "Asher, I'm your lawyer. The one person who is fighting for you, but I can't do it all on my own."

"I don't want you to use him in court," I say before I can change my mind.

Her eyes widen. "You don't?"

"No."

"Why?"

I bite my lip. I may as well tell her the truth. "He'll hurt them. He's threatened to hurt them if I don't behave."

"Your foster siblings." It's not a question.

"Please," I lean forward. "They've been hurt because of me before and I'm sure he's been hurting them while I've been here. I can't do that to them."

She takes a deep breath.

"You're my lawyer, right? You're supposed to do what I say?"

"Fine." She stands and grabs something from behind her. "Your suit. We have to leave in ten minutes so put it on and make yourself look nice."

I take it from her. "Thank you."

She shrugs and leaves the room.

I put on the suit and comb my hair back instead of its normal puffed up style. Before leaving the room I check my reflection in the mirror. I look like I'm the son of some business man ready to intern at daddy's office. Oh well.

"You ready?" Ms. Hall asks, as I come out from changing.

"As I'll ever be." I swallow.

She leads me out to a car and we drive to the courthouse, which is conveniently only five minutes away. We walk up the steps and I open the door for Ms. Hall and, looking and feeling like a gentleman, stand there to hold it open for a few more people.

When I join Ms. Hall she leads me straight to the courtroom. We sit down on the defense side and I try not to look nervous. I glance back at the audience and see that there's not a lot of people here. That both disappoints and comforts me. Evane sits next to my foster mom. They both wave and smile. Ember comes in to join them a few moments later.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Pearson." The man that will decide my fate.

Evane

Asher looks tense, even from behind. As the judge walks to his seat he seems to stiffen like a dry board. I wish I could sit next to him, but there's not much I could do except squeeze his hand.

"You may be seated." The judge is middle-aged and looks like he could be a pastry chef, but he would kill you if you didn't like his desserts. He doesn't look at Asher until the opening legal mumbo-jumbo is over.

"Asher King." Asher stands keeping his arms at his side. "You're here for breaking and entering and theft."

"Yes, Your Honor."

"This is your first offense. You didn't steal anything worth a lot of money." He looks up from the papers in front of him. "Why?" When Asher doesn't say anything the judge looks to the attorney.

She stands. "Your honor," she walks out from behind the desk. "Mr. King, like you said, has never broken any other laws. He didn't steal anything of worth. Why need a reason?"

"I'm curious."

She glances at Asher and he shakes his head. "Mr. King would like the reason to remain... private."