The Good Daughter (The Good Daughter #1) - Karin Slaughter Page 0,127

the crowd. “Kelly wanted to know: was the Baby killed.”

Lyman banged his gavel.

Coin told Kelly, “Yes, the Baby was killed.”

“Bailiff.”

Coin looked back at the judge. “Your Honor—”

“Me?” Lyman feigned surprise. “I didn’t realize you knew I was here.”

There was no nervous laughter from the gallery. Coin’s words had left their mark. The headlines had been set for the next few days.

Coin said, “My deepest apologies, Your Honor. I just came from little Lucy’s autopsy and—”

“Enough!” Lyman’s eyes found the bailiff’s. The man stood at the ready. “As you said, Mr. Coin. This is an arraignment, not the Get Away with Murder Show.”

“Yes, sir.” Coin rested his fingertips on the table, bracing himself, his back to the crowd. “My apologies, Your Honor. I was overcome.”

“And I am over your grandstanding.” Lyman was visibly furious.

Sam pushed again. “Your Honor, am I to understand there is audio attached to the school security footage?”

“I believe that is understood by everyone in this courtroom, Miss Quinn.” Lyman rested his cheek against his fist. He took a moment to consider the implications of what had just happened. The deliberations did not take long. “Miss Quinn, the prosecutor will deliver to your office and the court clerk by tomorrow, five o’clock sharp, the following timelines—”

Sam had her notepad and pen ready.

“The hasty release of the Wilson abode back into their custody. The release of the full, unedited videotape made at the hospital. The release of any and all security camera footage, unedited, in or around the middle school, the elementary school beside it and the high school across the street.”

Coin opened his mouth, but rethought his objection.

Lyman said, “Mr. Coin, your timelines will astonish me with their speed and specificity. Am I correct?”

“Your Honor, you are correct.”

The judge finally banged his gavel.

“All rise,” the clerk called.

Lyman slammed the door behind him.

A collective breath was released in the courtroom.

The guards came for Kelly. They slowly prepared the restraints, generously allowing Kelly a few moments with her parents.

Coin did not offer the customary handshake. Sam barely noticed. She was too busy writing in her pad, recording for Rusty what exactly he could expect tomorrow afternoon because the court transcript would not be made ready for at least another week. There was a lot the judge had demanded; more than she had hoped for. Sam ended up having to write around some of the earlier notes she had taken when she spoke with Kelly.

Sam stopped writing.

She looked at the transcription, underlined—

It’s just a little upset this time of day.

Sam turned the page. Then the next page. Her eyes skimmed down what Kelly Wilson had told her.

… Tummy was hurting like it does … Usually calms down on its own … Sick same time yesterday … Make up for missing classes last week …

“Kelly.” Sam turned to the girl. Her feet were already chained. The guards were about to handcuff her, but Sam stepped in, drawing her into a close hug. The orange jumper bunched up under Kelly’s arms. Her stomach pressed against Sam’s.

Kelly whispered, “Thank you, Miss Quinn.”

“You’ll be okay,” Sam told her. “Remember what I told you about not talking to anyone.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll keep to myself.” She held out her thin wrists so that the guards could cuff together her hands. The chain was wrapped around her waist.

Sam resisted the need to tell them not to wrap the chain too tightly.

Lucy Alexander was not the baby that Kelly Wilson had been concerned about.

12

Sam carefully negotiated the steep loading ramp outside the courthouse. The stench of rotting food had dissipated, or perhaps she had become accustomed to the smell. She looked up at the sky. The orange sun grazed the distant mountaintops. Dusk was a few hours away. She had no idea where she was going to sleep tonight, but she had to speak to Rusty before she left town.

He needed to know that Kelly Wilson could be carrying the motive for her crimes in her belly.

Morning sickness did not always come in the morning. Sometimes, it came in the afternoon, but the key factor was that it came at roughly the same time every day, commonly during the first trimester. That would explain why Kelly was missing classes at school. It would also explain the round bump of her belly that Sam had felt when she had hugged the girl so tightly.

Kelly Wilson was several weeks pregnant.

Lenore’s red car made a wide circle, stopping a few feet from the bottom of the ramp.

“Sammy!” Charlie jumped out of the