Audrey nodded; she knew what was needed. She trundled back into the bathroom and flipped her hair back and forth, stirred it around, then brushed it away from the scalp wound. In the mirror, she looked like a photo of a nineteenth-century madwoman in Bedlam. And that, she supposed, was what they wanted.
Excellent, Gina said, as she set up a couple of spindly light stands. That is just beautiful.
When the photos were done, Glass, whod waited in the hall, said to Audrey, You look like you still hurt.
I do, Audrey said, deliberately vague. She peered around as though shed lost a pair of glasses, or her shoes, and her lip trembled. I cant believe Wilson is gone.
Im going to put you in a wheelchair before we head over to the courthouse, Glass said. I think youll be more comfortable that way.
Thank you, Audrey muttered.
A MAN NAMED DARIUS LOGAN WAS SAYING, I KNOW I shouldnt have done it, Your Honor, but the dude flipped me off, you know? when a sheriffs deputy wheeled Audrey into the courtroom, the two of them trailed by Glass.
Lucas was sitting in the back row, reading the St. Paul paper. Del sat next to him, thumbing throughCliffs Notes on Greek Classics. Two dozen other people were scattered around the courtroom, half of them lawyers, a couple of defendants wives, reporters for the local television stationsand newspapers, waiting for the McDonald hearing, and two or three courthouse groupies following the TV people.
McDonald looked bad, Lucas thought. Her head was patched with white bandages, stark against her gray face. She was wearing a gingham dress with short sleeves, a summer dress really, but one that beautifully showed off the bruises on her arms and lower legs. She looked beaten, both physically and psychologically: then, as the bailiff wheeled her toward the defense table, she saw Lucas. And for a vanishingly small instanta time so short that it must have been imaginaryLucas felt her eyes spark. Not sparkle, but actually spark, as with electricity.
The judge, a prissy little blonde who was known for occasional bouts of judicial intemperance, had grown impatient with Logan. He said, Thats all very well, Mr. Logan, but youve been here a number of times before and were getting a little tired of it. Ill put bail at five thousand dollars and expect to see you back here at… As he thumbed through a calendar, there was a meaty smack from the audience, as though somebody had just been punched. The impact came from the forehead of a young woman whod just slapped herself with one heavy hand. The judge looked up and said, Do you have something to say, young lady?
The woman stood up and said, Your Honor, if we got to pay some bail bondsman seven hundred and fifty dollars to get Darius out of jailshe pronounced it Dare-Iuswhere in the hell am I gonna get the money for the kids dinners?
The judges eyes clicked to the face of a well-known TV reporter, then back to the woman. Why dont you leave Dare-I-us in jail for a while?
Dont dare do that, the woman said.
Why not?
Just dont dare.
Okay. Sit down. Dare-I-us, are you gonna show up for the trial?
I sure will, Your Honor.
All right. Bails set at one thousand dollars, and youve got the young lady to thank for it.
Thank you, Your Honor.
As Logan left, the judge said, Call the next one, and the bailiff called out, Audrey McDonald.
Here, Your Honor, Glass called back.
The woman whod gotten the bail reduced on Darius Logan wedged herself down a line of spectators, out to the center aisle, and headed for the door. As she passed, she saw Del, and Del said, quietly, Quick pregnancy.
Shush, she said, and was gone. Del looked at Lucas and said, Didnt have any kids last week.
Its a miracle, Lucas said, turning to sports.
AUDREY MCDONALD SAT HUNCHED IN HER CHAIR, her back to Lucas, as the hearing routine broke around her, speaking only two words: Not guilty.
Your Honor, Mrs. McDonalds attorney has offered Mrs. McDonalds house as security for her appearance, and the state has no objection to that. As you may know, the circumstances around this particular incident could lead to a change in the charges against Mrs. McDonald. ..
And a while later, it was all done. Audrey waited as Glass talked to the assistant county attorney over a few details, then said, Weve got to sign the papers and then Im going to talk to the press. If I dont, theyll be parked outside your house, hassling you…
She liked that, the press, though her face was determinedly grim.
… I dont really expect you to say anything, Glass was saying.
Ill talk to them, if that will keep them away, Audrey said.
THE PRESS CAUGHT THEM OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, at the curb, where Helen Bell was waiting in her car. Glass made a short speech about spousal abuse, said he anticipatedthat all charges would be dropped, then asked Audrey if she wished to answer questions.
She bobbed her head. Did you kill your husband, Mrs. McDonald, a woman reporter blurted.
She bobbed her head again. Yes, she said weakly. I couldnt… I couldnt… He was hurting me so bad… She touched the bandage on her scalp and peered at the camera lens. Oh, God… A tear trickled down her cheek. God, I miss him. Im so sorry…
Why do you miss him?
He was my husband, she wailed. I wish he could come back… But he cant. She seized Glasss arm. I cant… She gasped.
All right, all right, Glass said. Shes really weak. Shes got to go. Im pleading with you all. If you have any sensitivity, leave her alone.
Mrs. McDonald…
Then she was in the car and Helen was driving them away. My God, Helen said. My God, Audrey…
Just take me home.
No, no. Youre coming to my place.
No. I want to go home, Audrey said. Helen, please dont argue with me. Just take me home. Please. I just want to turn off the phones and get some sleep.
AND BACK AT THE COURTHOUSE, LUCAS SAID TO Glass, Quite a performance.
Glass was staring after Helen Bells car, turned to Lucas and said, The last thing I expected.
You didnt prep her?
Hell, no. I figured she was such a sad sack, we couldnt lose. I didnt think we was gonna get Greta Garbo. Did you see that tear?
I didnt get that close.
A real tear, Glass marveled. Ran right down her cheek, and it was the cheek that was turned toward Channel Three. Tell you what, Lucasif I lose this case, Im gonna want to borrow one of your guns, so I can shoot myself.
THE HOUSE WAS SILENT: AUDREY ENTERED, LISTENING for the footfalls of Wilsons ghost. She heard creaks and cracking that she hadnt heard beforebut shed never before listened. Helen came in behind her, tentatively. Youre sure youll be okay?
Ill be okay, Audrey said, peering around. The police had been through the place, and though they hadnt been deliberately messy, the house looked… disheveled. I hope the police didnt steal anything.
Do you want me to come over tonight?
No… no. Im going to take a couple of pills and try to sleep. I just really need to sleep, I havent slept since before… before
…
Okay. If youre sure youll be all right.
Do you, uh… You used to take Prozac, Audrey said. Do you still use that?
Well, sure. Could hardly get along without it, Helen said.
Do you think it would help? In the next few days? Helen shook her head. I dont think its for your kind of problem, honestly. I could give you a few and you could try them, but I think a doctor could give you something
