“Your Honor,” Hubert blustered. “It’s just a technical issue. An arrest warrant can be obtained through Monroe County immediately. We can get one here today.”

“But the appearance is happening now,” Judge Medved said.

“Further, your Honor,” Natalie continued, “I dispute the claim that Monroe County will be issuing an arrest warrant immediately—in fact, we can’t be sure they’ll issue one at all. The evidence against Dr. Cabot isn’t just flimsy: it’s nonexistent.”

“This isn’t the proper venue for an evidentiary hearing,” Hubert interjected.

“Normally, I would agree with you. However, you have improperly arrested and upended the life of a respected physician without even the slightest shred of evidence.”

“Mr. Hubert?” Judge Medved asked, his head swiveling toward the State’s Attorney. “What sort of case does the state have against Dr. Cabot?”

“Your Honor.” The State’s Attorney was stuttering. “As I said, this isn’t the proper venue for an evidentiary hearing, so I’m not prepared to speak to the State’s case at this time.”

“That’s because there isn’t one,” countered Natalie. “This arrest was part publicity stunt, part pressure tactic.”

“That is absolutely false, your Honor. The victim, Hannah Nilsson, was strangled and buried in the woods twenty-five years ago. The viciousness of the crime alone warrants that bail be denied.”

Strangled? But even before I could even process this horrifying new detail, Natalie was speaking again.

“I’ve read the Coroner’s report,” she retorted. “Nowhere in the report does it say that the victim was strangled. The cause of death is listed as unknown.”

“The victim’s hyoid bone was broken,” Hubert argued. “Which would be consistent with strangulation.”

“And yet, the Coroner couldn’t even conclude whether that break occurred pre- or post-mortem. In fact, there isn’t any evidence that the victim was murdered at all.”

“So you’re suggesting that the victim dug her own grave, hopped in, and buried herself?” Hubert, obviously sensing he was losing the argument, was getting sarcastic.

“Mr. Hubert, do you have any other evidence?” Judge Medved asked.

“Yes, your honor. We have DNA evidence that links James Cabot to the victim.”

DNA evidence? An icy-cold fear coursed through me. What was happening?

“What DNA evidence?” Natalie demanded.

“There was a hair found. The lab concluded with an over ninety-nine percent certainty that the hair matched a sample taken from James Cabot.”