"Tomorrow morning?" His eyes seemed to be looking into hers for some reprieve, but the situation as they both sat there seemed to keep getting worse. "And once a decision comes down, then what? I mean, is it appealable or something?"

"You mean, once he's declared an adult? No. Then he's an adult."

"God damn." He shook his head, side to side, side to side. "This isn't possible." At last, he seemed to gather himself. "So if they decide he's an adult tomorrow, we're screwed?"

"Well, we go to trial, yes."

"But you might be able to talk to this guy Boscacci before then?"

"I'd call him at home today if you want me to."

"And that gives us a better deal?"

She phrased it carefully. "Less of a potential downside, let's say that."

"And that's definite. I mean, we go juvie, he's out at twenty-five?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's the best deal we can get, don't you think?"

"As a sure thing? Yes, sir, all else being equal, I do. But I don't want to hurry you in any way. This is a huge decision and right now Andrew stands presumed innocent. If he admits, that changes."

North shook his head, dismissing that concern. His stepson, with whom communication was so difficult, who'd screwed up so many times before, had done it again. He was a constant burden and strain, and now he was putting his mother through more and more heartache. But North couldn't yet admit out loud what he might believe, and so he simply said, "He might be innocent, okay, but tell me there's a jury in the world that's going to see it." A sigh. "At least he'll have a life afterwards, when he gets out."

Wu watched the second hand on the mantel clock move through ninety degrees, then spoke in a gentle tone. "So do you want me to see what I can do?"

A last, long, agonizing moment. Then: "Yeah, I think you've got to."