UPON THEIR SECOND entrance into the courtroom, the mood was decidedly reserved. There were more uniformed gendarmes than members of the public. Some of the original onlookers were no longer there, replaced by others who'd been waiting in line to come in----a line that, from what Mischa had been told, wound through the hallways of the Palais de Justice and out onto the street.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6glUSBIKS
It was fairly modern, this courtroom, and distinctly non-American. The rear quadrant of the courtroom was for the spectators, half a dozen benches of blond wood and some chairs placed along the back for additional seating. Over the spectators on the ground level was a balcony holding several additional rows of seating.
The actresses were on the left side of the courtroom, enclosed in bulletproof glass that had one rectangular slit that allowed them to communicate with their lawyers, who sat in front of their cage. on the side opposite them was the prosecutor, Victoria Barraud, seated behind a long pine table much like this one in front of the defense lawyers. At a right angle to them, seated in front of the spectators, was the partie civile----the civil party---in this case the former first lady of France, Celemine Diderot, a stunning and fashionable redhead who once held the crown of Miss France.
The judges hadn't yet appeared, but all the lawyers were dressed in black robes and thin white scarves that hung straight down form the middle of their collars like glorified bibs. All that was missing was the old-fashioned wigs.
Mischa turned and looked at her boyfriend, Sebastian, in the front row among the spectators. Friends and families of the accused had the right to attend the trial, and all four of the boyfriends were there. Zoe and Hania were absent from the proceedings, at Mischa's insistence. This entire ordeal had been devastating enough for her sisters----it was unbearable for her to even think about it-----and they didn't need to see this trial firsthand.
Sebastian slowly nodded his head in her direction and gave her a warm smile. It was strange, to say the least, between the two of them now. Neither of them was sure how to handle it. Like the rest of the world, he knew of her fling with Benito McLaughlin, but he hadn't so much as acknowledged it because of the dire circumstances she now faced, but probably also because his own disloyalty had spanned some two years, not one night, so he could hardly throw stones in his glass house.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTQGFnzqas
Regardless, Sebastian had been decent to her over these last months. Mischa knew this had been hard for him too, both personally and professionally. It was all he could do to keep himself afloat when acting. Worse, it was Sebastian who saw the effects of this case on her sisters; he had suffered some embarrassment of his own. The list of casualties from their weekend in Monte Carlo seemed to be endless.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5TRps7id9
A high-pitched bell sounded. From the long table in front of the courtroom, the buissier ----the bailiff----stood and announced, "Le Cour."375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe4BR7DTvM
Mischa stole one more glance at her boyfriend, then the whole courtroom got to its feet as the judges entered.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaX6AI8deI
