#Chapter 160: In absentia

Alexander As we neared the courthouse, traffic slowed to a halt. My lawyer sent me a text just seconds before Fiona and I started to see evidence of what he was notifying me about. Brandon: Scarlet’s a no-show for court. Lindner says she’s MIA. Awaiting word on proceedings. There was an absolute media frenzy around the courthouse. News vans were parked and double-parked on every side of the block. Reporters with outstretched microphones rushed each and every court official to walk in or out of the building, some with boom operators shuffling behind holding recording devices high overhead. They were like a swarm of bees, pushing around in chaotic masses, their prattling voices all joining together into a vibrating wall of sound. The Alpha King smacked his gavel on the podium at the first sound of whispers in the gallery, shouting, “ORDER!” “Not another word will be spoken out of turn in this courtroom.” His face was set hard, his baritone voice raised to an almost