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“Hmm.”

Shelly’s knowing smile had me taking a quick sip of coffee to hide my expression. I hadn’t told her about our date, but she seemed to sense something was up.

“Ready for another day of thrilling testimony?” I asked, trying to divert her.

She shook her head before leaning in and dropping her voice. “I was talking with the coordinator, and there’s a rumor they’ll sequester us after today. Baseball fans have gotten wind of the case and made threats to the courthouse on social media. Can you imagine? Getting upset over baseball? I hope we at least get a nice hotel.”

“Can they do that? I didn’t think this case would warrant something that severe?”

She lifted a shoulder, and I frowned. I’d been able to stay up on work after hours, picking away at emails and urgent projects, but sequestration might change my options. Would I be allowed to have my laptop?

Ty strolled in, a travel mug in one strong hand, and his knitting bag slung over one shoulder. Dressed in a dark green polo and tan slacks, he looked tasty enough to eat.

“Yummy, hmm?”

Sam’s vocalization of my thoughts startled me, and I glanced to where he’d taken the seat next to me.

“Something like that,” I admitted.

His dark blond hair was smoothed back from his face, and he gave me a toothy grin.

“I’d flip you for him, but I have a feeling you’ve already got this one on lock.”

Unsure of what to say, I was grateful when Ramon arrived to brief us on the day’s schedule and to confirm Shelly’s suspicions. “Unfortunately, due to security concerns, we expect Judge Ye will order sequestration today.”

“What does that mean?”

Ramon frowned. “You’ll all be issued hotel rooms for the remainder of the case. Please leave any laptops or smart watches at home.”

Groans erupted from my fellow jurors, and Ramon held up his hands.

“I know, I know. It’s not what you signed up for, but it should only be for a few days.”

There was a lot of grumbling among the jurors, but not a lot we could do otherwise. Ty looked resigned to his fate. Maybe he’d been expecting the judge’s move. He had more experience than the rest of us with the media and attention that could surround professional sports. After a day of mind-numbing financial record testimony and character witnesses, the judge excused us for the evening. We were given an hour to gather clothes and toiletries before reporting to our hotel.

I packed swiftly when I got home, staring longingly at my laptop. Leaving it behind was going to hurt. As much as I’d wanted a break from work and jumped at jury duty as my way to get it, this kind of disruption was going to make my life hell when I finished. Imagining the emails piling up after at least two days away to wrap up testimony and deliberations made my head ache. I placed a quick call to Mark, hoping I’d get voicemail.

“Hi, Andi.”

Darn caller ID. It would have been easier to provide him with a fait accompli in the form of a message. After all, it wasn’t like Mark could argue with the judge.

“Hi, Mark. How have things been at work?” I asked, dreading his response.

“We’re managing,” he answered mildly. Was that a good sign or a bad one for my future there? “We definitely miss you though, is there any news about when your trial will end?”

The hopeful note in his voice made me grimace. He was about to beverydisappointed.

“About that,” I said, “the judge has ordered sequestration, so this will be my last contact for a while.”

“What? They can do that?”

I frowned. It wasn’t like I asked for this. The disbelief in his tone stung.

“They’re moving us to a hotel and cutting off our communications until we finish, but I think it’ll only be a few more days.”

“I still can’t believe they’re sequestering you. It’s rare, isn’t it?”

“Mark, you can contact the county with my juror number to confirm if you don’t believe me,” I said sharply, feeling impatient.