Spencer put me on a bus back to our apartment, and he drove back with Hotch to the BAU.
The next day I went back to court with Hotch and Spencer. This time Hotch didn't comment on me being there. He was focused. The attorneys gave their opening statements. I learned that Mattloff had been a member of the park service, and this was how he would get the women to a secluded area to murder them. Mattloff's defense argued that there was nothing to tie him directly to the murders. Hotch took the stand, assuring the jury that Brian Mattloff was the murderer. He explained how he, Reid and Morgan had determined that the murders were the work of a serial killer, and that they had narrowed the suspect pool until only one person remained: Brian Mattloff. Throughout this time I could clearly hear Mattloff's lawyer's phone vibrating occasionally on the table. Garcia had also worked on this case, and had helped them go through names of employees of the park service.
We were let out of the courtroom for a short break before Hotch would be questioned by the defense. Spencer called Rossi to tell him that all went well so far. I sat on one of the benches, and started thinking about Mr. Corbin. There was something odd about him. I knew it couldn't be easy for him to revisit all of this again, after the murder of his daughter had destroyed his marriage and most of his happiness.
Court resumed shortly, Hotch was back on the stand. Mattloff's lawyer immediately started pegging away at the evidence of Mattloff's guilt. He had an outstanding warrant at the time of his attempted arrest. The lawyer reasoned that this was the reason he had fled from law enforcement. It didn't seem at all reasonable to me, because, as Hotch pointed out, he was being pursued be eight law enforcement officers in bullet proof vests.
The lawyer continued to give speeches about how criminal profiling was just educated guesswork. I was starting to get irritated with this man, when Hotch turned it around, and profiled everything about him from the color of his socks to why his phone kept buzzing: he bet on horses and he was getting race results. Since he refused to show his phone to the judge and jury, he had to let Hotch off the stand. I saw Spencer suppress a smile, I didn't hesitate to grin at Hotch.
Court adjourned, and Spencer immediately pulled me out into the hall to find Mr. Corbin. From where I'd been sitting, I had seen some sweat on the back of his balding head. He'd been nervous during questioning.
"Mr. Corbin," Spencer called after him, pulling me along, "I just wanted to make sure you knew that cross-examination wasn't as bad as it looked," Spencer tried to assure him.
Mr. Corbin looked strangely calm and responded, "I'm not worried."
"Good," Spencer said, sounding surprised.
"I have a… better understanding of things now."
"Understanding?" Reid asked.
"After Darcie died, I started to see a therapist, I had a lot of guilt, thought that I should have been there for her, saved her somehow," Corbin explained. I looked at the tiled floor, understanding just what he meant. "This guy, the shrink," he continued, "He always brought it back to control. He said that I had to accept the fact that there would always be things in life I couldn't control."
"Well I think that's wise," agreed Spencer.
"I realize I have no control over what goes on in that court room." Spencer gave him a questioning look. "See you later Spencer." Mr. Corbin nodded to me and turned away.
"Mr. Corbin, wait!" I called after him. He stopped and turned around. "It will be ok, you know," I assured. "I know what it's like, it will be ok, I promise."
He gave me a look I didn't recognize, and in a far off voice replied, "Yes, it will be ok." Then he exited the court house.
