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“Mr. Lawless isn’t present?”

“No, Your Honor,” his attorney said. “I’ve attempted to contact my client several times this morning. I have not been able to reach him.”

The judge looked at the clock.

“Was he aware of today’s appearance?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

The judge looked toward my attorney.

Then back toward Xay’s.

“We’ll give your client a little additional time.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.”

And just like that, we were waiting again.

His lawyer called again.

No answer.

I texted Frozo.

Me: You talk to Xay this morning?

He answered a couple minutes later.

Frozo: Nah why

Me: We’re at court. He’s not here.

My attorney was talking to me about what could happen if Xay didn’t appear, but I was only half listening.

I opened my messages with Xay.

Our last conversations had been dry as hell.

Exactly how I wanted it.

The courtroom door opened.

I glanced over.

Two people walked inside.

A Black man in a dark coat and a white woman wearing a navy blazer underneath hers.

They didn’t look like lawyers.

They stood near the back for a moment, speaking quietly to one of the court officers.

The officer looked toward the front.

Then toward me.

The man reached inside his coat and showed something.