Chapter 99: Binch

The lesson of history is that no one learns. – Steven Erikson, Deadhouse Gates

The courtroom had wood paneling all around the room except for the six-foot space behind the judge. The stone façade had the state seal in the center flanked by the American and state flags. The judge had a monitor on either side of his desk. His assistant sat on his right and the witness stand was on the left.

A short wall with swinging gates separated the gallery from the working area of the court. The prosecutors’ table sat in front of the witness stand and the defendants table in front of the clerk. A bank of windows lined the far wall with the jury box in front of it. In place of the jury, prisoners sat in the box.

Hank knew the room well. He had sat on the witness stand many times and spoke for the prosecution. He had helped put bad guys away. He had been Jolene’s hero in blue.

Now he wore an orange jumpsuit and sat waiting for his name to be called like some common criminal.

His mother and father wo