#no idea...

“Well it is an option most normal people do not have at their disposals.”

“It’s certainly a point that I have never had to consider before. On the one hand, your client is recognised worldwide and until now has been considered an intentional hero. On the other, this is a serious crime with potentially very real legal and political ramifications. It is vital that, should this proceed to trial, there is no appearance of bias due to wealth or status. These charges are severe enough to warrant your client be remanded in custody.”

Virgil, watched with mounting dread from his seat between John and Penny. He kept a hand firmly on the astronaut’s knee; to ground himself or to stop John leaping up and punching someone he couldn’t say.

Scott had given them a forced grimace of a smile when he'd seen them. He looked even worse in the flesh than he had in the illegal video of the interrogation. Virgil kept his eyes glued on his brother. He was pretty sure the prisoner, his mind stuttered at the word, was not in the courtroom with them- his vacant stare fixed on the middle distance.

They had to get him out of here. Now.

The courtroom was practically empty. The three of them the only public in the gallery.

No press. It felt strangely quiet.

Since the war, there were special levels of media regulation that could be put in place in extreme cases. Virgil hadn’t really been concentrating as John had explained the complete media silence where Virgil had expected banks of journalists clamouring for a photo of the Tracy family in crisis. The embargo could only be held for a short time though, so if this wasn’t cleared up soon; he shuddered at visions of the incoming storm, earning him concerned looks from the other two.

At least this barrister seemed to be as good as Penny claimed.

In any other circumstance Virgil would have enjoyed watching how she held herself despite being considerably younger than the prosecution barrister she was calmly facing off against.

He focused on what she was saying.

“There is a further matter that it might be appropriate for the court to take into consideration, but it is of a sensitive nature. May I request your honour hears the detail in chambers?”

“Miss Donavon, with the special measures in place for this case chambers is scarcely more private.”

“It is at the express request of my client your honour.” Jody placed particular inflection in the words and was relieved when the judge’s eyes flicked to the three anxious figures in the gallery and to the haggard figure in the dock. He was not a man known for his bleeding heart but Jody had also found him to be gruffly compassionate towards those in his courtroom when occasion merited it.

His lips pressed into a tight line.

“Very well.” He spoke quietly to the court clerk who gave the instruction to clear the room.

Two people rose and left without question. John and Virgil were startled to realise they were going to be forced to leave as well. A guard came to stand at the end of their row.

“Now hold on!” John started to voice a complaint but Penny soothingly pulled on his arm.

“Let's not get fined for contempt, darling.”

Scott turned and looked at them. He smiled a grim smile in an attempt to reassure the younger brothers. More aware of his surroundings than Virgil had thought then. He made eye contact with each of them, pausing at Penny and nodding slightly, he knew she'd understand and calm the other two. When Jody had explained this potential line of argument, he'd been adamant, his younger brothers would not hear any details put forward. They wouldn't hear what Jody proposed to say to get him released from the hell he was facing. He could spare them that.

The idea that IT would be spoken of. That those things would be mulled over. That Dr Patricia O”Brien, the Trauma specialist who has helped him through some of his darkest days might already have arrived at the court.

He didn't want to think about any of it. He squeezed his injured hand hard. Welcoming the sting it brought.

It was with a growing dread he faced the idea that maybe Green was right.

Maybe this defence was actually also the solution to the case.

Maybe he'd blacked out and gone back to the apartment.

Maybe he was guilty.