“Doctor, how often do you see Jacob?” I ask.

“I used to see him weekly when he was younger, but now we’re down to once a month.”

“And he’s a senior in public school?”

“That’s correct.”

“So he doesn’t have any educational delays due to his Asperger’s?”

“No,” Dr. Murano says. “As a matter of fact, Jacob’s IQ is probably higher than yours, Mr. Bond.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Helen Sharp murmurs.

“Does Jacob have any special accommodations at school?”

“He has an individualized education plan-an IEP-which is mandated by law for children with disabilities. Ms. Hunt and I meet with the principal and Jacob’s teachers four times a year to review strategies that will help him function well at school. What’s normal to certain high school students would set Jacob off into a tailspin.”

“Such as?”

“Commotion in a classroom is going to be very overwhelming for Jacob. Flashing lights. Being touched. Crumpled paper. Something that’s unexpected in terms of sensation-like darkness in preparation for a video or film-is hard for Jacob if he doesn’t know in advance that it’s going to happen,” Murano says.

“So his accommodations are meant to keep him from becoming overstimulated?”

“Exactly.”

“How’s he doing in school this year?”

“He got all A’s and one B the first semester,” Dr. Murano says.

“Before he was incarcerated,” I ask, “when was the last time you saw Jacob?”

“Three weeks ago, for a routine visit.”

“How was Jacob doing?”

“Very, very well,” the psychiatrist says. “In fact, I commented to Ms. Hunt that Jacob initiated a conversation with me, instead of the other way around.”

“And this morning?”

“This morning, when I saw Jacob, I was appalled. I haven’t seen him in a state like this since he was three years old. You need to understand, this is something chemical in his brain, mercury poisoning of a sort, caused by vaccinations-”

Oh crap.

“-it’s only the diligent biomedical treatment regimen and Emma Hunt’s commitment to her son’s social interaction that’s brought Jacob to the point he was prior to incarceration. You know who really ought to be tossed in jail? The drug companies that are getting rich off the vaccinations that triggered a wave of autism in the nineties-”

“Objection!” I yell.

“Mr. Bond,” the judge says, “you can’t object to your own witness.”

I smile, but it’s really a grimace. “Dr. Murano, thanks for your political opinion, but I don’t think that’s necessary right now.”

“But it is. I’m seeing the same pattern: a sweet, interactive, social child has suddenly isolated himself, removing himself from stimuli, not interacting with people. We don’t know enough about the autistic brain to understand what it is that brings these kids back to us, and why only some of them manage to return. But we do understand that a severely traumatic incident-like incarceration-can lead to a permanent regression.”

“Do you have any reason to believe that if Jacob was released to the care of his mother, he’d be a danger to himself or others?”

“Absolutely not,” Dr. Murano says. “He follows rules to the letter. In fact, that’s an Asperger’s trait.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” I finish.

Helen Sharp taps her pen on the desk in front of her. “Dr. Murano, you just referred to Jacob as a boy, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I suppose I did.”

“Well, he’s actually eighteen years old.”

“That’s true.”

“He’s legally an adult,” Helen says. “He’s responsible for his actions, isn’t he?”

“We all know there’s a chasm between legal responsibility and emotional capacity.”

“Does Jacob have a guardian?” Helen asks.

“No, he has a mother.”

“Has his mother applied to be his legal guardian?”

“No,” Dr. Murano says.

“Have you applied to be his legal guardian?”

“Jacob only turned eighteen a month ago.”

The prosecutor stands up. “You said that it’s very important to have Jacob adhere to a stable routine?”

“It’s critical,” the psychiatrist says. “Not knowing what’s happening to him right now is likely what led to this breakdown.”

“So Jacob needs to be able to predict his schedule, in order to feel secure?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, what if I were to tell you, Doctor, that in the Southern State Correctional Facility, Jacob will rise at the same time every day, will eat his meals at the same time every day, will shower at the same time every day, will go to the library at the same time every day, and so on. Why isn’t that perfectly in line with what Jacob’s accustomed to?”

“Because it’s not what he’s accustomed to. It is such a deviation from his ordinary daily routine, such an unplanned break, that I worry it’s irrevocably affected him.”

Helen smirks. “But Dr. Murano, you do understand that Jacob’s been charged with the murder of his social skills counselor?”

“I understand that,” she says, “and I find it very difficult to believe.”

“Do you know what the evidence is against Jacob at this point?” Helen asks.

“No.”

“So you’re basing your assumption of his guilt or innocence on what you know of Jacob, and not on the evidence.”

Dr. Murano raises a brow. “And you’re basing your assumption on the evidence, without ever having met Jacob.”

Oh, snap, I think, grinning.

“Nothing further,” Helen murmurs.

Judge Cuttings watches Dr. Murano step off the witness stand. “Does the prosecution have any witnesses?”

“Your Honor, we would like a continuance, given the short notice we had-”

“If you want to make a motion to review, Ms. Sharp, that’s fine, provided we get that far,” the judge says. “I’ll hear arguments now, counselors.”

I stand up. “Judge, we want that competency hearing, and you can review the bail again after it’s completed. But at this point, I have a young man who’s deteriorating psychologically by the minute. I ask you to put limitations on him, on his mom, on his psychiatrist, even on me. You want him to come in here every day and check in with you? Great, I’ll bring him. Jacob Hunt has a constitutional right to bail, but he also has human rights, Your Honor. If he’s kept in jail much longer, I think it’s going to destroy him. I’m asking-no, I’m begging-you to set bail in a reasonable amount and release my client until after the competency hearing.”

Helen looks at me and rolls her eyes. “Judge, Jacob Hunt has been charged with the first-degree murder of a young woman he knew and supposedly liked. She was his teacher, they spent leisure time together, and the facts surrounding this crime-without getting into details-include incriminating statements the defendant made to the police and strong forensic evidence linking him to the crime scene. We believe this is a very, very strong case for the State. If the defendant is doing this poorly even before his bail hearing, Judge, you can imagine how much incentive he’ll have to flee the jurisdiction if you let him out now. The victim’s parents are already devastated by the loss of their daughter and they’re terrified that this young man, who’s been exhibiting violent behavior inside a jail cell and who doesn’t know right from wrong, might be released. We ask that no bail be considered until after the competency hearing.”

The judge looks into the gallery at Emma. “Ms. Hunt,” he says. “Do you have any other children?”

“Yes, Your Honor. I have a fifteen-year-old son.”

“I assume he requires attention, not to mention food and carpooling.”

“Yes.”

“You do understand that if the defendant were released into your custody, you’d have to be responsible for him twenty-four hours a day, and that this could significantly affect your own freedom of movement, as well as your responsibilities to your younger son?”

“I will do anything I have to do in order to get Jacob home,” Emma says.