CHAPTER 35

Hennessy’s stress remained throughout the second weekend of the trial.

He spent most of it in his office, focusing on the upcoming witnesses, their statements, and their backgrounds. He reviewed every line of every statement, studied every piece of evidence several times, and spent hours examining the witness profiles.

When his focus waned, Hennessy questioned his choice to defend Palin. Were his morals for sale? No, he concluded. The justice system was based on the idea that everyone, regardless of actions, wealth, or skin color, received a fair, non-biased, and impartial judgment from the jury. Hennessy knew the reality of the courtroom was far from that. There was an unconscious bias in the courtroom, as there was to human behavior. It was his job to ensure that unconscious bias didn’t affect the outcome of Palin’s trial. Yes, Palin was dirty. Yes, Palin was a sleaze. Yes, Palin was corrupt. But none of that proved he was guilty of this crime.

Hennessy was certain Garrett would open the week by calling Judge Berkley to the stand. Garrett used primacy and recency effects well and knew that the first witness on a Monday morning had more impact on the jury than a witness on a Wednesday afternoon after lunch.

By the time Hennessy walked into the courtroom to start the week, he felt like half his blood was coffee. He wiped his eyes and focused on the case. Palin arrived twenty minutes later, followed in by Garrett and the prosecution team. When the gallery doors opened, they filled steadily with members of the public until most of the seats were full.

Hennessy turned and looked to the crowd. The usuals were there—the reporters, the casual onlookers, the future law students—but one person caught his eye. Dressed in a black shirt and black jeans, the man was heavily tattooed and scarred. Hennessy turned back to Palin. “What’s he doing here?”

“Who?”

“The biker.”

Palin turned around and looked at the crowd. “No idea,”

he replied but his voice was unconvincing. “It’s nothing to do with me.”

Hennessy glared at Palin as the bailiff called the court to order. Judge Clayton walked to his bench, unaware of the threat in the room. He welcomed everyone back after the weekend, confirmed there were no further motions, and then asked the bailiff to bring the jury in.

When invited by Judge Clayton, Garrett stood and confirmed Hennessy’s suspicions. “The State calls Judge Clarence Berkley.”

Berkley entered through the rear doors of the courtroom. Dressed in a black suit, complete with a black tie and polished shoes, his movements were slow but elegant.

As he reached the front of the courtroom, the tattooed man stood.

In one swift movement, he leaped toward Berkley, throwing a heavy left hook that connected with Berkley’s face.

Berkley crumbled. Other members of the gallery yelled in fear.

The bailiffs were quick, tackling the tattooed man within seconds. They flung him to the floor, diving on top of him, and using their body weight to subdue the attacker.

The gallery was quiet as they pinned him down.

“Don’t move!”

They yelled as they held the man to the floor, pushing his head down, and holding his arms behind his back. “Don’t move! Stop resisting!”

Members of the public went to the assistance of Berkley, who was dazed and bloodied, sitting on the ground. He looked barely lucid.

The bailiffs called for backup on their radios, and soon, the courtroom was filled with officers who had no sympathy for the tattooed man. They pulled him to his feet and stormed him out of the courtroom. Hennessy looked at Garrett. His mouth was hanging open in shock.

Courthouse staff assisted Berkley, and Judge Clayton asked the remaining bailiff to lead the jury out and then clear the gallery.

Once the bailiff cleared the gallery, EMTs arrived to check on Berkley. Judge Clayton left the room in a huff, clearly angry that his courtroom had been the subject of such violence.

When the commotion started to subdue, Hennessy turned to Palin. “Did you do this?”

“No idea.”

Palin smiled. “Whatever happened to Berkley was out of my control.”