The judge paused for a sip of water and flipped to her next sheet of notes.

‘Philippa Annie Flynn – commonly known as Pippa – you are sentenced to three years in prison for breach of the Official Secrets Act.

‘Wendy Lane Maxime Dewar. While you were not involved in plotting the attack, or in the attack itself, your elaborate plans to seek maximum publicity, and failure to notify authorities when you knew of the attack, is worthy of a prison sentence. Given that you have already served six months on remand, I have chosen to align your sentence with the time you have already served.’

Wendy was free. She temporarily broke her hold on Georgia, smiling with relief as Kamila gave her a kiss.

‘Georgia Pack …’ Judge Malum began.

Wendy gripped Georgia’s hand again as she felt a dry heave up her throat.

‘… This is one of the most complex sentencing decisions I have ever had to make. As the drone pilot, you face charges more serious than your co-conspirators. But as a juvenile I must work with different sentencing guidelines, and take into consideration the excellent and thorough psychiatric evaluation provided by Dr Holden at the Freeman Unit …’

Every word felt like it was taking five minutes to come out.

‘I therefore sentence Georgia Pack to five years in custody …’

Georgia gasped as her dad’s head swivelled towards her and several people in the gallery shouted, ‘No!’

‘… However, this sentence will be suspended in its entirety, subject to good behaviour and the following conditions being met. The defendant must continue to receive regular psychiatric treatment at the Freeman Unit for a minimum of one year …’

Georgia grinned at her dad as about twenty people in the gallery shot up and started chanting her name. It kept going for almost a minute as a court clerk repeatedly yelled, ‘Silence in court,’ and only yielded when three burly court officers stepped into the upstairs gallery with handcuffs in hand.

‘The defendant will also be asked to wear an electronic bracelet,’ Judge Malum continued. ‘And accept a twelve-month supervision order, with an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and no taking part in any public gathering involving five or more persons.’

Georgia and Wendy were going home, but their relief was dampened by the presence of the five who weren’t. Pippa was sobbing and hugging her brother, while Elodie pulled Zac close and kissed him until prison guards forced them apart.

‘Court adjourned. All rise,’ a clerk shouted.

Zac was being led out, but Georgia bumped fists with Elodie and Kamila before they got taken back into custody. Georgia hugged her parents as Wendy hugged her wife, Jane, and son, Sam, who’d grown ten centimetres and had his hair chopped short since Georgia last saw him.

‘You can see outside from the back of the public gallery,’ Sam excitedly told anyone who’d listen. ‘There’s twice as many people as last time.’

‘Great …’ Georgia sighed.