“Your honor,” Natalie cut in. “First of all, the hair in question was not found on or near the victim’s body. The police recovered it from the t-shirt Hannah Nilsson was wearing on the night she went missing. A t-shirt that was on a beach over a half-mile away from where the victim’s body was eventually exhumed. Second, the t-shirt in question belonged to my client, James Cabot. Ms. Nilsson borrowed it from him. And third, my client and Ms. Nilsson were sleeping in the same tent that night. His hair could have ended up on that t-shirt at any point, like when he was wearing it or when Ms. Nilsson was asleep next to him. It does not in any way link my client to this or any other crime.”

“There wasn’t anyone else’s DNA found on her clothing,” Mr. Hubert argued.

“So what, now you’re going to attempt to prove cases on the absence of evidence?” Natalie scoffed.

“Counselors.” The judge on the television raised his hand. “That’s enough. Mr. Hubert, the arrest warrant is clearly defective on its face. As you’re well aware, it should have been issued through Monroe County. I’m dismissing these charges against James Cabot without prejudice. Dr. Cabot, you’re free to go.”

Natalie and I sat on a bench together outside of the jail, waiting for James’s release to be processed.

“So that’s it?” I asked hopefully.

Natalie had a very direct personality, which I thought probably served her well in her chosen profession. When she spoke, she looked right at me, her gaze not wavering, her voice calm and articulate.

“For now. But it’s not really over,” she said. “The State’s Attorney was right. They can get a warrant out of Monroe County, and arrest James again. If that happens, there will be another first appearance, like the one he had today, where the judge will authenticate the arrest warrant. Then James will be held until he’s transported to Monroe County, where he’ll have another hearing to determine if he’s eligible for bond. Worst-case scenario, all I did today was to buy us some time.”

“And what’s the best-case scenario?” I asked.

“That would be for Monroe County to decide that they don’t have enough evidence to prosecute a murder case against James. Which they don’t, in my opinion,” Natalie said. She sighed and tucked a strand of dark hair behind one ear. “However, the problem with this case is that it’s going to get a lot of publicity. The victim was young, beautiful, and died mysteriously. The main suspect in her death is now a successful doctor. No one wants to prosecute a losing case. But, at the same time, it will be hard for the State’s Attorney to pass up the chance to grandstand for the cameras.”