Rough Justice

be in soon, and you're welcome to sit and wait.'

'If we must, we must. Thank you,' Emil said graciously, but back at the couch, Bennie just growled.

51

The jurors sat at the conference table in the hotel in the same positions as they had in the deliberations room at the courthouse. The hotel conference room was large, modern, and windowed, like the one at the Criminal Justice Center, the legal pads sat stacked in the middle of the table, and the ice water tasted the same. In fact, the only difference between yesterday and today was that Christopher Graham had, to the astonishment of all, changed his vote. And shaved off his beard.

'You changed your vote?' asked Ralph Merry, his soft jowls draped around a mouth open in surprise. 'You think we should convict Steere?'

'Absolutely,' Christopher answered, with as much certainty as he could muster. 'I vote guilty as charged.'

Megan was amazed at the change in Christopher, and she wasn't thinking about his vote. Without his beard, Christopher's chin was strong, with a rugged cleft in it. His lips were full and nicely formed. He looked ten years younger, and thinner. Megan edged forward in her chair. 'You shaved your beard?' she asked.

Ralph ignored her. 'But, Christopher, yesterday you said we should acquit Steere. You've said he was innocent from the beginning. Why did you change your mind?'

Megan couldn't get over it, over him. The difference in Christopher was so awesome. He looked way hunky. 'I think you look better without your beard.'

Christopher smiled and shrugged happily. He felt better without his beard, like a new man with a fresh start. Lainie didn't want him and neither did Marta. Well, he was starting over, but he couldn't tell Megan that. 'I don't know why I shaved, but I know why I changed my mind. I couldn't sleep all night. My conscience got to me.'

'Your conscience?' Ralph asked in disbelief.

Gussella Williams looked crestfallen. 'Christopher? You're changin' your vote? You're not puttin' us on?' Her large features collapsed into a frown that broke Christopher's heart, He paused, uncertain, and scanned the jurors one by one. The pain on Gussella's face was reflected on almost every juror around the table. They were even wearing their Sunday best, dressed up to go home today. Christopher felt terrible keeping them from their families, especially Mrs. Wahlbaum, who looked at him last, her eyes hooded in disappointment.

'Do you mean this, Christopher?' she asked, uncomprehending. She couldn't have felt worse if her best student flunked a midterm. 'Please explain this to me.'

Christopher reminded himself of his purpose and bore down. He would tell the truth, in a way. 'I'm sorry, Mrs. Wahlbaum. I'm sorry, all of you, but I think Steere belongs in jail. He's a dangerous man. A murderer.'

Smack! Kenny Manning slapped a loud high five with Lucky Seven, but theirs was the only joyous reaction. The other jurors remained puzzled.

'For real?' Nick asked. He was surprised. He woke up this morning all calm. Now he was getting all nervous again. Last night he knew just how to vote. Antoinetta visited him and told him what to do. He should vote not guilty. It would be over sooner if he did and go better for him in the neighborhood. Now Nick was all confused.

'But why?' Mrs. Wahlbaum asked. 'You have to have some sort of rationale. Please explain.'

Christopher cleared his throat. He'd spent all night rehearsing. 'I don't agree with what Steere did. I don't understand why he just didn't drive away. If a man came up to me and I was in my truck, I'd drive away.'

'Damn right,' Lucky Seven said.

Mrs. Wahlbaum frowned. 'Mr. Steere was frightened. In fear of his life, as you said. I thought you showed a real understanding of the situation yesterday.'

'I hadn't thought it out yesterday. I needed to sleep on it.'

'But you were so perceptive. So sensitive.'

Christopher looked as uncomfortable as he felt. 'I guess my conscience got to me. Steere shouldn't have just shot the poor man in cold blood.'

Mrs. Wahlbaum's penciled eyebrows drooped. 'Mr. Steere panicked. He didn't know what to do. It was a biological reaction, for self-preservation.'

Martin Fogel folded his skinny arms. 'She's a biologist now,' he said, but Christopher ignored him and stood up at the head of the conference table, in front of a large window. The snowstorm was still going strong. Snowflakes fell from the gray sky on an already whitened city. The room was quiet and the snow muffled what little noise there was outside.

'It doesn't make sense that Steere was that afraid,' Christopher said, as he stood behind his chair. 'Why was he so afraid? The poor man was obviously homeless. Drunk to boot.'

Megan couldn't take her eyes from Christopher. His shoulders looked so broad in front of the hotel window. She had on her best Urban Decay makeup, thinking she'd get back on-line today. But when she looked at the new Christopher, Megan suddenly stopped missing her computer.

'I wonder if Steere was afraid of the knife,' Ralph Merry answered dryly. 'My guess is that the knife had something to do with it. Besides, the man was a carjacker, not a hobo or something.'

'But the man was drunk,' Christopher countered. 'He couldn't have used a knife.'

Ralph shook his head. 'Christopher, the defense proved the carjacker wasn't that drunk. Remember that expert? The carjacker's blood alcohol showed he wasn't dead drunk. He could still have done some damage with a knife like that.'

'I disagree,' Christopher said. 'It was an empty threat, and Steere killed him for it.'

Lucky Seven grinned, and Kenny Manning crossed his arms. 'Man's goin' down,' Kenny said, nodding.

Christopher's head bobbed in unison with his new allies. 'Also, why didn't Steere take the stand? Why didn't he just get up there and testify? Tell his side of the story?'