Derek tightened his grip again.
Then the secured double doors at the far end of the corridor opened.
Not dramatically.
Not all at once.
One door released.
Then the other.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Coordinated.
Derek did not notice immediately.
Vanessa did.
A group of U.S. Marshals entered the corridor with the courthouse security supervisor.
Twelve in total.
Some in suits.
Some wearing protective vests over professional clothing.
None had weapons drawn.
They were moving quickly because Judge Vanessa Cole had failed to appear for a sealed hearing and her chambers had reported that she had already entered the building.
Lead Deputy Marshal David Lawson saw her first.
His pace changed.
Then stopped.
For half a second, he seemed unable to process the scene.
Judge Cole.
Pressed against marble.
Uniformed officer gripping her arm.
Mark beginning to form along her cheek.
Lawson’s voice cracked through the corridor.
“Officer!”
Derek turned.
Every marshal stopped.
Not uncertain.
Not confused.
Locked onto him.
Lawson raised one hand.
“Release Judge Cole.”
Silence.
Derek stared.
Then looked toward Vanessa.
Then back.
“What?”
Lawson stepped forward.
“Take your hands off Federal Judge Vanessa Cole.”
Derek’s face emptied.
Vanessa felt his grip loosen.
Not fully.
Enough.
Lawson’s voice became colder.
“Now.”
Derek released her.
Vanessa stepped away.
Slowly.
She adjusted the legal folder.
Then touched her cheek once.
Pain.
No blood.
She straightened her jacket.
Derek began speaking.
“She refused—”
Lawson held up one hand.
“Stop.”
“I didn't know who she—”
“Stop.”
Derek looked toward Vanessa.
Panic appeared.
“Judge, I—”
Vanessa raised her eyes.
“You were right about one thing.”
He froze.
“Someone here is about to be removed from this courthouse.”
Lawson looked toward two marshals.
They stepped forward.
Derek instinctively moved one hand near his belt.
Every marshal's posture changed at once.
Vanessa saw it.
So did he.
His hand stopped.
Lawson said:
“Hands where we can see them.”
Derek lifted both.
No one celebrated.
No applause.
No dramatic satisfaction.
Only procedure.
That made it more devastating.
Vanessa turned toward the clerk.
The young woman looked shaken.
“Are you okay?” Vanessa asked.
The clerk blinked.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“I… yes.”
Vanessa nodded.
Then looked toward Lawson.
“I need to get upstairs.”
Lawson stared.
“Judge.”
“The hearing started five minutes ago.”
“You were just assaulted.”
“I am aware.”
“We need medical evaluation.”
“After.”
“Judge—”
Vanessa looked at him.
Lawson had known her six years.
He sighed.
“At least let medical staff check you before court.”
“Five minutes.”
“Ten.”
“Seven.”
He almost smiled.
“Eight.”