But I couldn’t.
There was no time.
I had to find Jack. We needed to get Lacey out of jail as fast as possible.
And we also had a new assignment.
Look into the attorney general—to answer one very important question.
Why was this case getting his close attention?
Chapter 13
Nicole
It was dead silent in the courtroom.
The room looked smaller than it did on TV.
It was cramped and old, and the smell of mold clung to the red carpet. A dull New Hampshire state seal hung on the wall over the judge’s head.
The judge’s bench sat on a low rise at the front, directly across from Jack and Lacey and the prosecutor’s table, where Deputy AG Belmont looked like a million dollars. Some young man in a suit sat next to her, his shoes way too shiny.
Brian and I sat in the gallery, directly behind Lacey and Jack. The aisle split us from Zach’s parents and sister on the other side. The whole thing felt grotesque. Their hateful glares. Their crying. Every sound carried across the aisle and mixed with Brian’s sobs.
Amanda wasn’t with them. And we had no idea how she was doing or where she was. She hadn’t answered any of our calls. Not even Dylan’s. But she had texted him. Said she needed time. Said she’d always love us.
We all stared at Judge Rayner. An older man, bald, with hard lines cut deep into his face.
Papers crinkled as he turned a page, then another. A slight shake of his head. A frown.
I hadn’t slept in thirty-six hours. Everything felt so unreal. Lacey looked totally detached from all of it. She stared at the floor like a broken robot. Like a thing. Something not human anymore.
Judge Rayner finally nodded. “This wasn’t an easy decision,” he said, “but considering there is no evidence tyinganyone else to the crime scene, even without the murder weapon, I agree with the state’s attorney to deny bail.”
A wave of mutters washed over the room. Zach’s family sobbed in relief as I gasped in horror. Brian grabbed my hand and squeezed it until it hurt.
Quickly, Jack turned to us. “Don’t make a scene. Try to stay calm.”
“What does no bail mean?” Brian asked, his eyes red from all the crying.
“I’m also ordering a more comprehensive mental health evaluation,” Judge Rayner continued. “For the upcoming hearing.”
“What does all this mean?” Brian asked again.
“Shh,” Jack warned.
The judge gathered his papers. Then his gavel came down with a loud bang, and two officers grabbed Lacey. Her body was limp, and her movements were mechanical.
“Wait!” I shouted, but they dragged her out anyway.
“I’ll get you out!” I yelled after her.
She didn’t react. Didn’t even blink. Just followed the officers like a puppet dragged by its strings.
“I’ll get you out!” I shouted again, louder this time.
“Oh, God,” Brian muttered as he buried his head in his hands.
