The Honorable Lucas Baines Woodruff made a tent with his hands and peered over the bench. Woodruff was the dean of the Madison County judiciary, having served as a circuit court judge for almost thirty years. He was a political survivor, having been elected in the late ’70s as a yellow dog Democrat and then, when it became obvious that no one could win an election in Alabama as a Democrat anymore, he switched parties on the eve of the 2006 election. In February 2015, he’d run unopposed in the Republican primary, and it was doubtful that any Democrat would be foolish enough to run against him come November. Woodruff was a balding man with two patches of white fuzz on the sides of his head. He wore bifocals to read, and now after clearing his throat, he lowered the glasses to the edge of his nose so that he could see the parties and their attorneys, all of whom were standing.

Bo sucked in a deep breath and stole a glance across the courtroom at the petitioner’s table, where attorney Candy Hoffpower stood with her hands folded behind her back, eyes locked on to the judge. Her client, Bo’s former father-in-law, stood next to her. Ezra Henderson had a full head of silver hair and a matching beard. Ezra’s skin was milk-chocolate brown and mirrored that of his daughter, Jasmine.

Jazz . . . , Bo thought, seeing a vision of his deceased wife in his mind. It was always the same image. Jazz with a confused expression, reaching out toward him with blood on her fingers, her cream-colored dress stained red from the first gunshot and then, before Bo could clasp her by the hands, her head . . .

He closed his eyes, feeling shame, bitterness, and despair engulf him.

“Mr. Haynes,” Judge Woodruff bellowed, his voice harsh and cold. Bo’s eyes snapped open. “I have considered the evidence in Mr. Henderson’s petition carefully, and I think, at least at this juncture, there is only one way that I can rule and be assured that I’m acting in the best interest of your daughter, Lila, who is fourteen years old.” He paused, frowning at Bo with creased eyebrows. “Given your criminal record, your multiple suspensions from the practice of law, the fact that you currently do not have gainful employment, and finally that you are renting a farmhouse on the edge of the county that, in light of where Lila currently attends school, would not be a suitable residence, I’m going to award full custody of Lila Michelle Haynes to her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Henderson.”

Bo felt heat on his cheeks and face but kept his expression neutral.