“Isabel?”
“Amber? Did they—”
“No. Not yet. But I need you to do something for me. And I need you to do it right now. It’s important, and you have to hurry.”
“Certainly, ma’am.”
“Bring Zachary to the courthouse.”
“He’s asleep.”
“I don’t care. Wake him up. Don’t stop to change him or to feed him. Tell the driver to go as fast as humanly possible. I’ll meet you out front.”
“But—”
“Just do it. There’s not a second to waste.”
“Okay,” said Isabel. “Yes. I will.”
Amber shut off her phone and tucked it away. She took a final, bracing breath, staring back at her reflection. This might be the stupidest move she’d ever pulled. But she didn’t see any other possible hope. If she didn’t do something, they’d lose.
She settled her purse strap on her shoulder. Then she left the restroom and made her way back across the big foyer. Her footfalls echoed against the high ceiling and the marble pillars. Sunlight streamed through a wall of glass above the main doors.
It was far too early to go outside to meet Isabel, but she was too jumpy to sit back down in the gallery. She stopped outside the courtroom. She cautiously cracked the door open and saw Destiny come to her feet. All she could hope was that Destiny had a lot to rebut.
She let the door swing shut again and began pacing in the opposite direction. She took a curved staircase to the second floor, walked the perimeter, then took the staircase back down again. She wandered through a side hallway and found an ancillary exit. She took it and walked the three blocks around the complex to the front courthouse stairs.
There she stood, telling herself it was still too early to expect Isabel and Zachary, but scrutinizing every dark sedan that came into view from the south.
She checked her watch. Fifteen minutes had passed.
“Come on, Isabel.”
Another five minutes, maybe three minutes, and she’d let herself call Isabel’s cell.
And then she spotted the dark blue sedan with Harrison at the wheel. She rushed to the curb, meeting it as it came to a stop, grabbing the back passenger-side handle.
It was locked. Her hand snapped away, and she had to steady herself.
“Ms. Welsley?” Harrison called, rising to look at her over the top of the car.
“Unlock,” she called. “I have to hurry.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
The lock clicked, and Amber pulled open the door. She went to work on the car seat harness, tugging it free, releasing Zachary’s arms and legs.
He blinked up at her, sleepy, puzzled.
“Is something wrong?” asked Isabel.
“I’m in a rush,” Amber answered, pulling Zachary against her shoulder and stepping back. “They’re almost finished.”