My reaction has nothing to do with surprise. Through pretrial discovery, I’ve seen the hotel registries and the photographs from the ATMs that Lauren and I visited together. I also knew that Ella would refer to the text message sent from my phone to Lauren on the night she was murdered as a smoking gun, and that I had worked a case with Papamichael a few years back, which linked me to the murder weapon. But every other time I considered the evidence, it was with a ready rebuttal thrown in, which allowed me to find solace that each piece was easily explainable. So I reasoned that many people have affairs—more than 50 percent of married people, according to some studies—but that only a statistically insignificant number end in murder. And I took comfort in knowing that Stuart would testify that I lost my phone before the text was sent, which explained that evidence away, and that Papamichael and I had only one case together, which was years ago; he had cases with hundreds of ADAs over his career. And Lauren and I were in love. And . . . and . . . and . . .

When the evidence was presented by Ella, however, it sounded compelling. I’m reminded of LeMarcus’s concern that the jurors would make up their mind right after her opening. I pray that’s not true, because if it is, I’m going to be convicted.

After Judge Gold tells him it’s his turn, LeMarcus stands and buttons his suit jacket. He cuts an impressive figure. Tall and trim and handsome as all get-out. By the smiles on their faces, it seems clear that the women jurors certainly like what they see.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” LeMarcus says to Judge Gold, then pivots a half turn so he’s facing the jury. “The prosecutor—Ms. Broden—claims that Dana Goodwin killed Lauren Wright. But she never said why, now did she? And that is because there is no motive here. No fights. No breakup. It doesn’t make sense that a woman in love—and clearly Dana and Lauren were in love, as evidenced by their texts—would murder her lover for no reason. But let me tell you something that does make sense. It makes all the sense in the world. Lauren Wright was murdered by her husband.”

The courtroom is eerily quiet at the dropping of this bombshell. The jurors, who had undoubtedly expected another long examination of the evidence, seem surprised that something so noteworthy has occurred so suddenly.