Part II p 304 Wally was not in the courtroom. David sat alone at counsel table as the Rogan Rothberg team filed in and the spectators took their seats. At 8:50, David eased over to a bailiff and said he needed to see Judge Seawright, and it was urgent. "Follow me," the bailiff said. Judge Seawright had just put on his black robe when David entered his chambers. Skipping the greetings, David said "Judge, we have a problem. Mr. Figg is AWOL. He's not here and I don't think he'll show up." The judge exhaled in frustration and continued to slowly zip up his robe. "You don't where he is?' "No Sir" Judge Seawright looked at the baliff and said, "Go fetch Ms. Karros." When Nadine arrived, alone, she and David sat with the Judge at the end of his long conference table. David told him all that he knew and pulled no punches about Wally's history with alcohol. They were sympathetic and uncertain about what this meant for the trial . David confessed that he felt thoroughly unprepared and inadequate to handle whatever was to be done, but at the same time he could not imagine the firm attempting to try the case again. (questions regarding a continuance of the case). Judge Seawright said, "I'm not sure a contunuance will work. If Mr. Figg is back on the booze and drinking so much he fails to show up for court, it might take some time to get him detoxed again and ready for action. I am not inclined to consider a continuance." David could not argue with this logic. "Judge, I have no idea what to do out there. I've never tried a case before." p 319 (Almost a week after Wally missing in action and AWOL on a binder) Halfway through a cheeseburger, David's cell phone vibrated in his coat pocket. He looked at it, jumped to his feet, whispered "It's Wally" to Helen (his wife), and stepped outside the front door. "Where are you Wally?" In a weak and dying voice, the reply came, "I'm drunk, David. So drunk" That's what I figured. Where are you?" You gotta help me, David. There's no one else. Oscar won't talk to me." Sure Wally, you know I'll help, but where are you. "At the office" I'll be there in forty-five minutes. He was on the sofa snoring next to the table, AC nearby watching him with great suspicion. It was Wednesday night, and David assumed, correctly that Wally's last shower had been bright and early Monday morning, the day the retrial commenced, six days after Oscar's dramatic collapse, and six days after Wally's legendary mistrial. No shower, no shave, no change of clothes-he was wearing the same navy suit and white shirt as when David has last seen him. The tie was missing. The shirt was heavily stained. There was a slight tear in the right leg of his trousers. Dried mud caked the soles of his new black wing tips. David tapped his his shoulders and called his name. Nothing. His face red and puffy, but there were no bruises, cuts or scrapes. Perhaps he had not been brawling in bars. David had wanted to know where he had been, but then he did'nt. Wally was safe. There would be time for questions later, one being "How did you get here?" His car was no where in sight, which was somewhat of a relief. Maybe, drunk as he was, Wally had the presence of mind not to drive. On the other hand, his car could have been wrecked, stolen or repossed. David punched him in his biceps and yelled from six inches away. Wally's heavy breathing paused for a second, then continued. AC was whining, so David let him out for a pee and made a pot of coffee. He sent a text to Helen: "Drunk as a skunk but alive. Not sure what's next." He called Rochelle and passed along the news. A call to Oscar's cell went straight to voicemail. Wally rallied an hour later and took a cup of coffee. "Thanks, David, " he said over and over. Then, "Have you called Lisa?' "And who might Lisa Be?" "My wife. You need to call her, David. That sonofabitch Oscar won't talk to me." David decided to play along, to see where the chatter might go. "I did call Lisa." "You did what did she say?" "Said you guys got a divorce years ago." "That sounds just like her." He was staring at his feet, glassy-eyed, unable or unwilling to make eye contact. "She says she still loves you though, " David said, just for the fun of it. Wally started crying, the way drunks do when they cry over nothing and everything. David felt a little lousy but a lot more amused. I'm sorry, Wally said, wiping his face with a forearm. "I'm so sorry David, thank you. Oscar won't talk to me you know. Laid up in my apartment, hding from his wife, cleaning out my refigerator. I came home, had the door locked and chained. We had a big fight, neighbors called the police, I barely got away. Running away from my own apartment now, what kinda deal is that?" "When did this happen?" I don't know. An hour ago, maybe. NOt real sharp on times and days right now for some reason. Thank you David." You're welcome. Look Wally, we need to put together a plan. Sounds like your apartment if off-limits. If you want to sleep her tonight and sober up, I'll pull up a chair and keep you company. AC and I will get your through this." "I need help David. Ain't just a matter of sobering up."