toxin | parker | book two

CHAPTER TEN

[THE PEOPLE V. FERNANDO ZOLLAS]

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Peter sat in the aisle seat, and Mari next to him, Nina next to her, Mama next to her, and Natasha next to Mama.

Mari noticed two solid black bracelets around Peter's suit-concealed sleeves: his webs. She glanced at Natasha. God only knew how many and what kind of weapons she had on her.

Natasha caught her looking and the two exchanged tight smiles.

People settled, strangers and neighbors, when the jury settled. Then the judge and lawyers came out.

The doors in the back were propped open and everyone turned to watch as Fernando, the worst monster Mari had ever known, was brought to Calvary Hill. He was dressed in orange with the stark black letters "NYPD" across his shoulder blades. Two large men in police uniforms escorted him to the gate. His wrists were red near the cuffs.

They sat him at the table across from the table Mari and her group were behind. His lawyer patted his shoulder.

"Hey," Mari whispered to Peter, her brows drawn. "Who's our lawyer?" She looked at the man at the table in front of them.

Peter smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Tony said he's good."

Natasha interrupted and told Mari it was time for her to take her seat at their table. Mari nodded dutifully. She stood and an authority opened the gate for her, and closed it behind her.

She approached her table and their lawyer.

There was a folded cane beneath his seat, and papers with raised bumps in his hands. He had maroon glasses on.

He's blind.

She took her seat. "Hello, I'm Mari."

"Nice to meet you, Mari," he stuck out a hand and a smile. "My name's Matt Murdock. I'm your lawyer. I'm sorry we couldn't meet before today..."

She shook his hand and they let go. She folded her hands in her lap.

"No, that's alright. It couldn't have been helped. You're good if Tony recommended you."

He laughed, bashfulness shining on the apples of his cheeks.

"I take it as a high compliment."

"You should," she said softly. The judge stood and began. She was tuning out the formalities, even though she knew she should have been listening. She was closely watching Fernando.

Every movement and tick, she noted and found increasingly repulsive. Hatred's cold hand and long nails grasped her heart—

"Mari Zollas to the stand for cross-examination, please," the other lawyer said. Everyone watched as she blink. Matt quietly repeated what the man said. She nodded and stood. She approached the stand and sat.

An officer swore her in.

It was so weird to see the court in front of herself from that perspective. She felt small and ill. Then she saw Fernando seeing her. Her muscles tightened and she straightened up. She swallowed her fear.