Page 9 of Just Let Go

“I didn’t bring them with me,” Grady muttered. “I’d love nothing more than for all of them to lose interest in talking about my every move.”

Walker pulled him through another door, just a few yards away from the one they’d just exited. “Maybe if you’d stop making such stupid choices, they would.”

At that point, even Grady thought the handcuffs were a good idea.

Walker led him down a hallway and through a few doors until finally they were in front of a door labeledCourtroom.

A small woman with her hair piled on top of her head appeared in the hallway. “This him?”

Walker glanced at her. “Janice. You’re looking radiant this morning.”

“Save it, Walker.” She eyed Grady. “My kid idolizes you. Wish you’d clean yourself up, so he doesn’t have to watch another one of his heroes crash and burn.” She pulled the courtroom door open, and Walker gave Grady a tug.

They followed her into the courtroom, her words heaving themselves onto his shoulders. It wasn’t the first time a parent had chastised his way of life, but he was an adult. He could live however he saw fit. It wasn’t his job to make sure his choices were kid-appropriate.

Even as the thought entered his mind, he knew it was crap. His coaches had drilled it into their heads that the world was watching and they had a responsibility not to let them down.

Maybe that worked for the rest of the team, but Grady didn’t appreciate being told how to live his life. His coaches were there to help get him stronger and faster on the slopes—not to make sure he didn’t get in a fight in a bar or spend the night with the wrong kind of woman.

The courtroom was small, but it was filled with reporters and cameramen who were clearly camped out and waiting for any juicy bit of gossip about their favorite bad-boy athlete.

Walker led him over to a table and took off his handcuffs, then motioned for him to sit down next to a small man wearing an ugly brown suit and an even uglier red tie.

“This is Stuart Landen,” Walker said. “Your lawyer.”

“This guy is not my lawyer.” Grady sat.

“All attempts to reach the people whose names you gave us failed. Since you don’t have a lawyer, one has been appointed to you.”

Stuart turned toward him. There was only one way to describe the expression on his face: fearful. The man’s dark hair had been slicked down and combed off to the side, and he looked like apubescent teen who couldn’t quite grow facial hair but who desperately needed to shave, just to keep from looking ridiculous.

He pushed his glasses up on his nose. “I’m a huge fan, Mr. Benson.”

Grady drew in a deep breath. “Shouldn’t we have met before now?”

Stuart shrugged. “I came into work this morning, and they handed me your file. I haven’t even had time to look it over.”

“Well, that’s reassuring.”

The door behind the judge’s bench opened and the sheriff appeared, followed by a large African American man with a gray beard and a matching ring of hair outlining a bald head. He wore a white dress shirt and tie under a long black robe. Stuart tapped Grady’s arm, motioning for him to stand. The nameplate in front of the bench introduced the man as Judge Harrison, and by the looks of it, he and the sheriff were pretty chummy. Grady wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

He watched as the sheriff stepped down and sat in the row behind him.

The judge smacked his gavel down. “No cameras.”

A low hum of chatter filled the room as the reporters groaned.

“Keep it up, and I’ll kick everyone out.”

Everyone with a camera slowly packed up their equipment. The judge didn’t move until the last cameraman had exited the room. While Grady was thankful he wouldn’t allow cameras, he had the distinct impression Judge Harrison was the kind of guy who might find importance in making an example out of him.

And that was just what he needed to take this year from a huge mess to an absolute disaster.

“You can sit down,” Judge Harrison said, looking at Grady.

Stuart took a breath. “Your Honor—”

“Stop talking, Mr.... what’s your name again?”

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