Page 82 of Butterfly

“Here,” Seinfeld said, pouring him a cup of water. “Get that down you.”

It parched his mouth and tongue, but when it came to swallowing, he couldn’t. He choked, bending at the waist. Seinfeld thumped him on the back and leaned closer to whisper in Ollie’s ear.

“Keep it together.”

“Are you all right, Mr Linton?”

One of the judges asked him, but he didn’t know which one. He couldn’t recall their names. He didn’t even know if the voice had been male or female. The room, the sound, it all warped in time with his heartbeat.

“Fine,” he said, sitting back in his chair. “It went down the wrong way.”

“My client is emotional,” Howard explained. “What happens here will change the course of his life.”

“And what is it you believe should happen?” one of the judges asked.

“I believe the conviction should be overturned.”

That got a murmur in the courtroom. The judges shared looks.

“A manslaughter charge,” the man said, “even with these unique and terrible circumstances, needs punishment. The conviction cannot be overturned.”

Ollie breathed a little easier at that. He was going back to Teddy.

The judges shared another look before standing.

Everyone stood when they did.

“We need to consider Mr Linton’s sentence,” one of the women said before leading the other two out of the courtroom.

“It’s macaroni cheese tonight,” Seinfeld huffed. “Just in case you’re interested.”

“Good. Teddy likes it…”

Seinfeld snorted. “I imagine they’ll give you double helpings, soften the blow of more years inside.” He twisted in his seat, glancing up into the gallery. “Poor kid.”

Ollie knew he was looking at Leo. He didn’t have the courage to look himself.

Howard stood in front of them, packing all his evidence into briefcases.

“How much is he charging?” Seinfeld asked.

Ollie swallowed. “I don’t know.”

Another pang of guilt hit him. Maggie was the one paying Howard to represent him.

The judges didn’t take long and returned to the front of the room. They appointed the man to be the speaker, and he spoke directly to Ollie.

“There’s no doubt this is a complicated case, and you suffered at the hands of your father for nine years. It’s also clear you desired to keep your brother safe. The system failed you, not once, but multiple times. Concerns were raised about you and Leo, and yet no action was taken. For that, I apologise. But it does not excuse the actions you took that night. But we do feel, after hearing your case as laid bare as it just has been, nine years is too long a sentence. We’re reducing your sentence to three years.”

Three years. He’d already served two. Which meant one more to be with Teddy.

Howard cleared his throat. “The governor at Hollybrook has labelled Ollie an ideal prisoner, eager to learn, drug free, well behaved. He just passed his GCSE’s with ease. He would’ve been an ideal candidate for early release. I request his remaining time be shortened to seven months and be changed to a suspended sentence so he walks out of here to be reunited with the brother he so desperately wanted to protect.”

Ollie blinked. He glanced at Seinfeld. “But he said three years. That’ll mean one more in Hollybrook.”

Seinfeld hummed. “Your barrister is working his magic to get you a suspended sentence for the remainder.”

“Wait.” Ollie got to his feet. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

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