“On the charge of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant-”

“I’m sorry!” Shawn howled. “I’m so sorry I hurt you!”

The judge gaveled again. “Quiet!”

“I’ve been quiet too long,” Shawn said. “I should have spoken up in high school-when I broke your heart.”

“How long does it take to get one guy out of a courtroom?” Coules said.

The bailiff yanked Shawn toward the door. Shawn grabbed on to a bench. “But it was the second time that was unforgivable. After my first wife died, I knew you thought we’d finally be together. But I married this waitress instead.”

The forewoman gasped. The judge glared at her. “Do you know this man?”

“No,” the forewoman said. But her face had gone pale.

The bailiff lifted Shawn off the ground, trying to break his grip on the bench. “And I know you didn’t mean to kill me when you stuck me with the epi-pen you carry in case you’re ever stung by a bee. Just like the one you undoubtedly have in your purse right now.”

“Bailiff, release that man,” the judge said.

The bailiff let go of Shawn, who crashed to the floor.

“You wanted to provoke a minor heart attack so you could save my life and prove that we were meant to be together. But when I died, you knew who was really responsible-it was Veronica, who had weakened my heart with her intense sexuality. Every time I saw her cleavage, it took another year off my life.”

“Enough with the cleavage,” Gus whispered.

“Bailiff, I’d like to see the forewoman’s purse,” the judge said.

The bailiff walked over to the jury box and held out his hand. The forewoman reluctantly gave him her large leather bag.

“And since you knew that Veronica was ultimately to blame for my death, you planted several of your epipens in her belongings so that justice would be done,” Shawn said. “When you were put on this jury, it was like justice itself was congratulating you for a job well-done. When in fact it was probably just a close friend somewhere in the court system.”