I hit ‘Y’.
“Contempt citation recorded. Fine: $500. Continue.”
A second chime.
The screen shifted. A sidebar appeared: “DEFENDANT DISPLAYS CONTEMPT. SANCTION? (Y/N)”
But Thorne was crying. And he wasn’t looking at the virtual judge anymore. He was looking at me . Through the screen. Through the code.
“Your Honor?” he said. His voice came through my laptop speakers, but it felt like he was in the room. “Is this a joke?”
Janet’s eyes widened. “Yes. I saw the envelope. He told me to log it as a ‘campaign donation’.”