S.W.A.N. LAKE

"Have you reached a verdict?"

"We have, Your Honor."

"What say you?"

"We, the jury, find the defendant guilty."

Judge Silveira repeatedly pounded her gavel as bedlam broke out in the courtroom.  Reporters raced for the bank of telephones in the hallway to call their editors or producers, and photographers readied their cameras as they stationed themselves just past the doors to get good shots of the principals as they exited.  The Judge screamed for order and after several minutes the crowd quieted down.     

"This Court will reconvene for sentencing two weeks from today, September 27th, at 9:00 o'clock.  Mr. Sherrick, your client will remain free on bond until that hearing.  We are adjourned."   She smashed down her gavel for the final time and quickly exited towards her chambers with the bailiff close behind.  Although every person in the courtroom and beyond in the hall was talking, all Lacey heard was a dull roar in her ears.  Actual sounds were muted but the rush of noise was overwhelming.

Andrew was shaking her and staring into her face until she finally seemed to focus her attention on him.  He grabbed her arm tightly and told her no make absolutely no comments whatsoever as he pushed his way down the aisle half dragging Lacey, with Kenneth practically on top of her.  Microphones and lenses were pushed into their faces, and Sherrick almost had to get physical with some of the reporters who refused to stop badgering his clients.  He used his elbows like a football blocker and they managed to escape from the frustrated mob to the front steps of the courthouse and down into the car that Adele had ordered to be ready for them.  The driver was prepared for a fast retreat, and as soon as Andrew had shoved Lacey and Kenneth into the back seat, he jumped in and they sped away. 

Lacey totally lost it at that point.  She began rocking forward and back on the edge of the seat and shook uncontrollably.  "Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God," she moaned as tears coursed down her cheeks.  "What are we going to do?  What about Matt?  How can we manage?  How did it happen?  Oh, my God..."  Her voice rose in pitch until she was screaming.  Kenneth held her as tightly as he could in hopes of calming her, but he seemed to be in shock, as well.  All the blood from his face was drained and he was completely ashen, staring straight ahead, but focused on nothing.  No sound had come from Kenneth since the verdict had been read.  Andrew watched the couple and was sincerely concerned for both of them, physically.  If they weren't so young, he might have actually expected to witness a stroke or heart attack.

"Come on, it's not over yet, not by a long shot," began Andrew.  "I'll have the notice of appeal ready to be filed within the next 48 hours.  They can't convict on so little evidence, and we'll find a way out of this.  There isn't a loophole that I won't find and use.  We'll file a civil suit and sue the bastards for damages in seven figures, and we'll get it, too.  You've just got to hang in there for a while longer.  Please,"  he begged the young couple.

Kenneth and Lacey were silent the rest of the way home.  The driver left them at their front door, and they knew their main task for the afternoon was pulling themselves together before Matt came home from school.  And it was going to be a colossal task, indeed.