Annamarie had noticed him doing that too. Especially when Kasey was in the court room. She wondered if Royce had noticed and decided that he hadn’t. If he had, or any of the boys for that matter, then White would already be dead. She looked up when Curtis called for Kasey.
Three hours and four large pizzas later they had a committee, a person to run the program they were piecing together, and Kasey Hunter was now an official board member. She still looked a little dazed about it all when they went to the office so that she could nurse little Lee. This time, she asked Royce if she could sit with her.
Lee was a beautiful baby. He had a full head of dark hair and his downy skin was so soft that Annamarie found herself touching him just to feel it beneath her fingers. She’d never been more in love with anyone as she was her first grandson.
“They really will do it, won’t they?” She looked up at Kasey when she asked. “They really will just put me in charge of the whole thing like I have any idea what the hell…heck I’m doing.”
“I’m sure you know a great deal more than you think. You banned them together easily enough.” Kasey snorted. “Well, you certainly have my vote for pulling it off.”
“You’re just saying that because you want to watch Lee when I have to go to meetings.” Annamarie nodded. “Okay, but you know all you have to do is ask. Other than me being his lunchbox, he pretty much doesn’t care who holds him.”
“Not true. I saw him cry his head off when that cook of yours held him. I don’t think he liked him one bit.” Of course, the man had been terrified out of his mind, but she didn’t say that. Best to let that one go.
“I don’t know. I just don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
Annamarie laughed gently and told the girl she couldn’t even if she tried.
Chapter 23
The jury came back the next afternoon. Royce had wanted Kasey to stay home, but she said she needed to be there. He didn’t want to be there so he thought her being beside him would be a tad easier. He held her hand and had his son in his arms. He was sure that White was going to be convicted, but on what charges he had no idea.
When everyone sat back down they looked over at the jury when the judge asked them if they’d reached a verdict. The foreman stood as asked and she started reading the charges.
Guilty. On all nine charges, he was guilty. Before the judge could say more, White stood up.
“You can’t convict me, you stupid bitch. I didn’t do a damned thing to those women that they didn’t want.” He turned to the judge. “You have to tell them to try again. You make them go back in that room until they come out with a better verdict. I’m not going to jail. There is no way I’m going to jail.”
“Then what do you propose we do with you? Let you go? I don’t think so. You have to pay for the crimes you’ve committed. And to do that you will serve—”
Royce would remember the next few seconds for the rest of his life. He would never…no, that’s not right, he could not believe that someone could do so much damage so quickly and then take her own life.
Gertrude Best had been in the court room daily with them. She’d been quiet and reserved for the most part, only getting upset once or twice, but had delivered her story with as much dignity as anyone could under the circumstances. And every day she’d come in with her wand at her throat. Royce knew that she’d never been questioned about it after she’d been on the stand.
The little gun had gone off before the judge had had a chance to make a date for sentencing. Gurt had pointed the little wand at White on several occasions throughout the trial, that when she’d done it this time no one had thought a thing about it. At least Royce hadn’t. The pop-pop-pop had sounded long seconds before anyone moved and the last pop had gone off before Gurt could be reached. The final bullet had torn through her chin and up through her brain in seconds.
While everyone rushed to the dead woman, no one moved to the man who lay bleeding to death on the floor. Gurt had been an excellent shot. She’d gotten White twice in the throat and once in the cheek. There was no saving him after they realized that he wasn’t killed like they had assumed. Royce wondered after if anyone had really tried.
It had taken them four hours to get everyone’s statements. Royce had tried several times to get Kasey to take Lee home and wait for him, but she’d stood next to him, at his side when the reports had come, and then again when they were all questioned. She was eerily quiet on the drive home.
“She had this planned for a long time, didn’t she?” Kasey finally asked when they were in bed together. “She knew what she was doing the moment she’d come to the courthouse.”