After nearly twenty-four hours of jury deliberation, Beth waits in mounting dread as the court is called back for the verdict in Frank Johnson’s trial. Judge Miskin’s earlier directions still frame the stakes in Beth’s mind: a murder conviction would require proof that Frank intended serious harm, while manslaughter could follow if the jury believed Frank unlawfully held the gun when it went off.

The long wait has left Beth exhausted and almost unable to enter the courtroom. Beth’s father, mother, and sister Eleanor steady her, insisting that Frank needs her present. Inside Court Seven, the silence and the attention of journalists and spectators make Beth feel that her family’s grief and scandal have become public entertainment.

As the jury files in, Beth studies their faces and imagines the worst because none of them look toward Frank. When the foreman confirms that the jury has reached a unanimous verdict, the court first asks for its decision on the murder charge. The foreman answers, “Not guilty,” and Beth is flooded with relief while her family reacts with gratitude and celebration.

That relief lasts only a moment. The clerk then asks for the verdict on the manslaughter charge, and the foreman replies, “Guilty.” The word shatters the courtroom mood, and Eleanor cries out in shock as Beth and her parents are stunned by the sudden reversal.

Beth jumps up, calling Frank’s name as officers move to take him away. Frank finally looks up at Beth, meets her eyes, smiles, and gives her a single nod before he is led from the dock. The chapter ends with Frank spared a murder conviction but still condemned for Jimmy’s death.