Page 120 of The Proving Ground

“Uh, it looks like they’re gone. The copies are from court archives. After the trial, the court allowed the lawyer who handled the appeal to take the originals.”

“Who was that?”

“Joel Firestone. I don’t know if you knew him. He died about ten years ago and somebody cleared out his office and got rid of the files from dead cases. The appeals had run their course.”

Maggie shook her head, then looked back down at the documents and started reading one of the physician’s statements. She seemed to be all business, as though I were any lawyer who had come in reppinga convict. I knew it was the way it should be, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the coldness was residual upset from the night before, when I told her about how Victor Wendt had tried to bribe me and what he had said about her insurance and rebuilding situation. It infuriated her that my case had resulted in such an invasion of her private life.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it and saw that it was the clerk calling again.

“Look, I’m going to step out and take this,” I said. “I’ll be in the hallway. Why don’t you two keep reading.”

I answered the call as I went through the door.

“Mr. Haller, Judge Ruhlin wants to see you in chambers forthwith,” the clerk said.

“Uh, I’m in a meeting at the DA’s office,” I said. “Is this about the juror with COVID? Are more jurors sick?”

“I can’t tell you what it’s about, sir. But the judge said you need to get here forthwith.”

“Are the Masons coming in?”

“They are on their way and you should be too.”

“Okay. Tell the judge I’ll be there.”

“She asked that you bring your investigator as well.”

“My investigator? Why does she need him to come?”

“Again, sir, I cannot discuss the matter with you. You must come in and speak to the judge.”

“Okay, I’m on my way.”

I disconnected and immediately called Cisco, but the call went to voicemail. I told him to meet me at the federal courthouse ASAP, then stepped back into Adebayo’s office. He and Maggie had switched documents. Maggie was now holding the petition. I knew I had not been out of the room long enough for Adebayo to have thoroughly read the nine pages.

“You’re just scanning it?” I asked.

“While you’re here, I thought I’d just do a quick read,” Adebayo said. “But I’ll spend some time with it.”

I nodded, suspicious of his true intentions.

“Well, I’m leaving,” I said. “I just got a forthwith from the district court.”

“Then go,” Maggie said. “We wouldn’t want to hold you up.”

“Well, I mean, if you have questions, I’ll answer them,” I said. “It just seems like you’re skimming it at the moment.”

“No questions right now,” Maggie said.

Very perfunctory. I waited for more, but nothing came. I looked at Adebayo.

“How about I call you after lunch?” I asked.

“We’ll call you,” Maggie answered. “Once we’ve thoroughly reviewed the material.”

I nodded.

“Okay, then,” I said. “I hope to hear from you.”