He would also verify all of the home life trauma directed at Billy.

At twelve-thirty Judge Flowers asked if either side wished to make closing arguments. Both sides waived the right.

The judge dismissed the first count of rape, pointing out the lack of corroborating evidence and the lack of a similar modus operandi.

“Now, proceeding as to the defense of insanity,” Judge Flowers said, “all of the evidence is stipulated medical evidence, and from that, without question, the doctors all testify that at the time of the acts in question, that the defendant was mentally ill at the time of the offense with which he was charged. That by virtue of his mental illness he was unable to distinguish between right and wrong, and further that he did not have the ability to refrain from doing these acts.”

Gary held his breath.

“Lacking any evidence to the contrary,” Flowers continued, “this court has no alternative other than to determine from the evidence before me that as to counts two to ten, inclusive, that the defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity.”

Judge Flowers placed Billy Milligan under the authority of the probate court of Franklin County, struck his gravel three times and adjourned.

Judy felt lie crying, but held it back. She squeezed Billy and pulled him toward the holding cell to avoid the crowd. Dorothy Turner came in to congratulate him, as did Stella Karolin and the others, who Judy could see were crying.

Only Gary stood apart, leaning against the wall thoughtfully, arms folded. It had been a long battle, with sleepless nights and a marriage ready to break up, but now it was almost over.

“All right, Billy,” he said. “We’ve got to go down to probate court before Judge Metcalf. But were going to have to go out in the lobby and run the gauntlet of those reporters and TV cameras. ”

“Can’t we go the back way?”

Gary shook his head. “We’ve won. I don’t want you to have bad relations with the press. They’ve been waiting there for hours. You’ll have to face the cameras and answer a few questions. We don’t want them to say we sneaked out the back way.”

When Gary led Billy out into the lobby, reporters and cameramen gathered around, filming as they followed him. “How do you feel, Mr. Milligan?”

“Okay.”

“Are you very optimistic now that the trial is over?” “Nope.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well,” Billy said, “there’s a lot to come.”

“What are your goals now?”

“I want to be a citizen again. I’d like to learn life all over.” Gary pushed him with gentle pressure in the center of his back, and Billy moved on. They went up to the eighth-floor probate court and Judge Metcalf’s chambers, but he’d gone to lunch. They would have to come back to the court at one o’clock.

Bemie Yavitch called each of the victims, as he had promised he would, and told them what had happened in court. “Based on the evidence and the law,” he said, “there’s no doubt in my mind that Judge Flowers made the right decision.” Terry Sherman agreed with him.