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voice, said, “Herbert, Andrew is waiting for us in the car. Let’s not cause him any more worry, okay?”
    Mr. Chapper covered his face with his hands, seemingly on the verge of tears, and became docile as his wife led him toward the exit. People moved quickly aside to let them pass.
    Dave sighed heavily, then saw me watching and motioned for me to follow. He didn’t even comment on the huge floral arrangement in my arms as he held the door for me.
    “Poor people,” Dave said, shaking his head as we stepped outside. “They’re desperate for Andrew to win this lawsuit. They want him to go to music school, and he refuses to go because they’re both in ill health and don’t have enough income to provide for themselves. Herb was a career army man but had to retire because of severe post-traumatic stress. He goes to the VA Hospital in Maraville for therapy, but I don’t think something like that is easy to get over.”
    “Why did the judge clear the courtroom?”
    “Because that bastard Lipinski took one of my exhibits,” Dave said through clenched teeth.
    The Lip had sure put a different spin on the story he was spreading, although I declined to tell Dave about it. He didn’t need the extra aggravation. “How did he get into your file?”
    “He didn’t take it from my file,” Dave said, as we walked around the other side of the building, away from the reporters, and headed toward Lincoln Avenue. “The court reporter asked us to bring all of our exhibits up to her before the start of the hearing so she could mark them for the record—Exhibit A, B, C, and so forth. Lipinski waited until I’d put mine on the desk in front of her, and then he put his down beside them.
    “I didn’t think anything of it until I was presenting my case and went to get my fourth exhibit, which should have been Exhibit D. I searched through my file and my briefcase, while the court reporter looked through everything on her desk, but that particular piece of paper was gone. And all the while Lipinski sat at the defense table looking like the cat that ate the canary.”
    “How important is the exhibit?”
    “It’s my most crucial piece of evidence, Abby. It’s Andrew’s handwritten memo to Cody Verse containing the lyrics he wrote for the winning song, with Cody’s written reply making some suggestions on them. Without that evidence, Judge Duncan may very likely rule in the defendant’s favor and dismiss the case. Lipinski knew that. He should be disbarred for this.”
    “A photocopy of the memo won’t work?”
    “Copies can be altered.” He glanced at his watch. “In fifteen minutes I have to meet with my clients and somehow soften the blow.”
    “The Chappers don’t know about the exhibit?”
    “No. As soon as I realized it was missing, I approached the bench to tell the judge, and he immediately cleared the courtroom. All my clients know is that there was a problem.”
    No wonder Dave looked grim. That loss could cost him the case. As we paused at Lincoln to wait for a break in the traffic, I asked, “How could Lipinski have palmed that exhibit in full view of the court?”
    “It wouldn’t be hard. The judge hadn’t entered the courtroom yet, and people were still milling around. All Lipinski had to do was wait until the court reporter was busy, then slide my exhibit onto his pile, take everything back to his seat, and return it minutes later without that piece of paper.”
    “So what happens now?”
    “Duncan called a recess until tomorrow morning to give me a chance to search for it, but I know it’s gone.”
    “Shouldn’t the judge have Lipinski’s files searched?” I asked, as we hurried across the street.
    “Ordering the opposing counsel’s papers to be searched would be tantamount to accusing him of theft. Duncan’s not about to do that.”
    In other words, Dave’s client was screwed. “I’m sorry, Dave.”
    “Not as sorry as Lipinski’s going to be.” He opened the door to his office and