Chapter 75
Friday morning
As Sabre slid into her seat, the bailiff called, “Matter of Bay Mercer.”
Everything had been moving quickly since early that morning. Phone calls with the District Attorney's office and a special hearing added onto Judge Hammouri's calendar. Between court and paperwork, Sabre hadn't had five uninterrupted minutes alone with Bay.
She didn't like throwing all this at the girl in court, but she didn’t want to delay another moment.
Bay entered through the side door with a probation officer and immediately looked toward Sabre. She looked irritated and confused.
She sat between her two attorneys and leaned toward Sabre. “What is this?”
“I'll explain in a minute, but it’s all good.”
Judge Hammouri adjusted the file in front of her. “Good afternoon.”
The deputy district attorney stood. “Your Honor, after review of newly discovered witness information and additional evidence, the People move to dismiss the charges and release Bay Mercer from juvenile hall custody.”
Sabre looked sideways. Bay hadn't moved. Vale glanced toward her too.
Judge Hammouri looked down over her glasses. “Ms. Mercer?”
Bay blinked, then turned to Sabre. “I’ll be released?”
“Yes.”
The DDA continued, “The evidence no longer supports the allegation.” He glanced briefly at his notes. “A witness stated Todd Maddox remained alive after Ms. Mercer left the apartment, and the ME said the stabbing was not the cause of death.”
Bay whispered, “It wasn’t Hannah. She didn’t do it. She can’t take the blame.”
Sabre whispered back, “She’s the witness. She came back and saw what happened. Please wait to hear it all.”
Bay turned and stared straight ahead now.
“The witness also identified another individual as responsible for the fatal injuries. New charges have already been filed, and the alleged perpetrator is in custody.”
Silence settled over the courtroom.
Judge Hammouri signed several documents and handed them toward the clerk. “The murder petition is dismissed.”
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Sabre said.
The judge looked directly at Bay. “Ms. Mercer, I know this doesn't give you back the time you spent in custody.” Her voice softened. “But I am sorry for what you've been through.”
Bay nodded.
The judge continued. “You're still a child, and children sometimes end up in circumstances they never should’ve been put into.”
Bay blinked hard.
Judge Hammouri glanced at the attorneys. “Do we have family information for placement?”
The probation officer stood. “At this time, Your Honor, no placement has been finalized.”
Judge Hammouri looked toward counsel table. “Ms. Brown?”
Sabre stood. “Your Honor, Bay will be transported to Polinsky temporarily while family options are explored. Social Services have already been notified and are working on her case.”
Bay turned toward her. “I don’t understand.”
“I’ll explain once we get you out of custody.”
The judge looked back toward Bay. “I know that's not ideal, Ms. Mercer, but we're going to make sure you're somewhere safe.”
Sabre wondered what that word meant to Bay anymore.
Two minutes later, the hearing ended. People gathered files and began moving toward the next matter on calendar.
Bay stayed seated. Sabre gathered her papers.
“Is Hannah okay?”
“Better than she’s been in a long time.”
~~~
Sabre picked up Bay at juvenile hall, and they drove to Polinsky.
Bay hadn't said much since leaving court, but that wasn’t unusual.
Kids processed things differently. Some cried.
Some talked nonstop. Some stared out windows and held everything inside until they felt safe enough not to.
Bay stared out the passenger-side window.
Traffic crawled along the 163 while afternoon sunlight flashed across her face through passing trees and overpasses.
At Polinsky, they walked inside through the secure doors, then Sabre signed paperwork while Bay shifted nervously from foot to foot.
The staff member smiled gently. “We have someone waiting in visitation.”
Bay looked at Sabre. “Now?”
Sabre nodded. “Now.”
Sabre led Bay to one of the family rooms and opened the door.
Hannah sat on the couch near the window with her legs tucked underneath her. She looked up and stopped breathing for a second.
Bay froze in the doorway. Neither moved nor spoke. For several long seconds, the room simply held both of them.
Bay's eyes filled first, like she'd been trying hard not to let them.
Hannah grinned and stood. “Bay!”
Then Hannah crossed the room fast. Bay met her halfway. Then they were holding onto each other so tightly Sabre wondered if they planned to let go.
Bay buried her face against Hannah's shoulder. “You came back. Why?”
“I had to help you the way you always help me. I tried to find you.”
They talked over one another through tears and uneven breaths.
Bay pulled back enough to look at her sister, then stared at her for a second. Then at the exact same time, they both started laughing.
Then Bay said, “I’m never leaving you again.”
Sabre took a deep breath, because she knew she still had an uphill battle to keep the girls together.