2:06.
She had been on the bench continuously since 1:15.
Court cameras had recorded the entire session.
The court reporter had a transcript.
The clerk had remained beside her.
Nearly eighty people had watched her.
Naomi raised the document.
“Detective Holloway.”
He looked irritated.
“What?”
“Who signed this warrant?”
He pointed.
“It’s right there.”
“I’m asking you.”
Holloway’s eyes narrowed.
“The issuing judge.”
“Which judge?”
He looked at the signature line.
For the first time, something uncertain crossed his face.
Only for a second.
Naomi saw it.
Then it disappeared.
“You can read.”
“Yes.”
Naomi turned the warrant outward.
“Apparently better than you.”
The courtroom went silent again.
The clerk stepped closer.
Naomi handed her the page.
“Read the issuing judge.”
The clerk looked.
Her face changed.
“Judge…”
“Out loud.”
The clerk swallowed.
“Naomi Carter.”
A murmur rolled through the gallery.
Holloway stiffened.
Naomi said:
“And the signature time?”
The clerk looked again.
“One forty-two p.m.”
Naomi pointed toward the courtroom security camera.
“Where was I at one forty-two?”
The clerk stared at Holloway.
“Here.”
“Doing what?”
“Presiding over State versus Reynolds.”
Naomi looked at the court reporter.
“Reporter?”
The court reporter opened her notes.
“At 1:42 p.m., Your Honor was ruling on a discovery objection.”
One of the defense attorneys in the gallery stood.
“She was.”
An assistant district attorney nodded reluctantly.
“I was here too.”
Holloway’s face hardened.
“Enough.”
Naomi turned toward him.
“No.”
She held the warrant up.
“This document claims I authorized my own arrest twenty-four minutes ago while sitting on this bench.”
Holloway stepped forward.
“Administrative mistakes happen.”
Naomi almost smiled.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“A moment ago, this was a lawful warrant.”
“It is.”
“Now it contains administrative mistakes.”
“It’s still valid.”
Naomi looked at the seal.
“Current courthouse seal?”
He said nothing.
“This one was retired three years ago.”
The clerk examined it.
Her eyes widened.
Naomi continued.
“Case number?”
The clerk read it.
Naomi said:
“Search it.”
The clerk moved to her terminal.
Holloway’s voice rose.
“No one touches anything.”
Everyone looked at him.
That was mistake number two.