Dread Champion Read Online Free PDF Page B

look. “What I’d like, Mr. Breckshire, is to seat this jury. Let’s finish with Ms. Adams today, shall we? If she is excused, we’ll have to call an entire new panel.” She considered Chelsea with a weary expression. “Ms. Adams, you’ve undergone considerable questioning today, and I’m sure you’re tired, as we all are. It’s already past time for court to recess, so I’m going to just ask you a few final questions, okay?”
    Chelsea nodded, holding her breath. Please, Lord, let this be it.
    â€œAll right then. As you have gathered, this court’s main concern rests upon your ability and willingness to be fair and impartial. I’d like to conclude all the questions by asking you this: If circumstances led to your deliberating in this case, could you consider the evidence entered into this trial—and only the evidence entered into this trial? Could you do this regardless of what you may believe God told you privately, through a vision or any other means?”
    Air escaped Chelsea in a thin stream. She closed her eyes a moment before answering.How ironic that all the hard lessons she’d learned from last year’s trial would lead her to this moment. “Yes, I can.”Her voice held unmistakable defeat.
    Judge Chanson sat back in her leather chair, raising her eyebrows at the two defense attorneys. They bent their heads together, whispering, then pulled apart.“Nothing further from us, Your Honor.”
    A thought rose in Chelsea’s mind. A last grasping-at-straws attempt to be excused.“Your Honor?” she said timidly.“Is there such a thing as family issues getting in the way of someone serving? My niece flies in today to visit for a few weeks. If I’m on a jury all day, what will she do? No one else is at home, and this trip has been planned for a long time.”
    Judge Chanson inclined her head, thinking. Chelsea felt a swell of hope.
    â€œI understand your concern,” the judge said at length.“The problem is, I was just about to deny hardship to Mr. Seecham before you. Now you are asking me to grant you the same thing.At this point in time, we are simply too under the gun to seat this jury. So I’m going to deny your request.”
    Chelsea dropped her eyes, then nodded miserably.
    â€œMr. Breckshire?” Judge Chanson said.“Satisfied?”Her tone indicated what she would have him say.
    â€œJust one more question, Your Honor.”
    She considered him, then waved a tired hand in the air.
    He turned back to Chelsea.“Ms.Adams, after all my questioning of you today, how can you be impartial to the prosecution in this case?”
    To her surprise, Chelsea’s lips curved upward slightly. The poor man seemed so deflated. As if she were really anything to fear. “Your questioning today will not prejudice me one way or the other. I know you’re doing your duty.” She added quietly, “As I have to do mine.”
    The prosecutor’s head bobbed once. Clearly, there was nothing more he could do. “I thank you for that recognition.” He smiled briefly, showing teeth. Chelsea decided she liked his frown better. “That’s it,” he announced. “Nothing further, Your Honor.”
    The judge plopped her hands on the armrests of her chair.“Well, Ms. Adams, we thank you for your sincere answers. I’m asking you to stay now as second alternate.” She picked up papers before her and glanced at the clock. “Okay, we know it’s late. Just a minute longer for the rest of you, and we’ll swear you in. And then we’ll expect to see you back here tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.”
    The finality of the words stunned Chelsea. She could hardly grasp what had just happened.What in the world was she going to do with Kerra now? And how was she ever going to tell Paul?

THREE
    The baby cried.
    Yolanda did not hear the baby’s wails with her