Chapter 7

The jury came back in forty-seven minutes. Clara counted every second, her hands flat on the table, her breathing shallow. Julian had not said a word since his mother's confession. He sat at the defense table with his hands folded, looking at the wood.

Judge Miller took the bench. The courtroom was packed again, fuller than it had been on the first day, because the word had gotten out. The gallery was a sea of faces Clara did not recognize, all of them leaning forward, all of them waiting.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" Judge Miller asked.

The foreman stood—a middle-aged man with a grey beard and glasses, who had smiled at Clara once when she had struggled to carry a stack of papers to the table. "We have, Your Honor."

"Please read the verdict."

The foreman unfolded a piece of paper and read: "In the case of Clara Vasquez versus Julian Marsh, on the claim of assault and battery, we the jury find the defendant liable. On the claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, we find the defendant liable. On the claim of fraud, we find the defendant liable. We further find that the defendant acted with malice, and we award damages in the amount of—" He paused, and his voice dropped. "—five million dollars to the plaintiff."