[ WP ] You are on the jury of a crime you committed .

`` Guilty,'' I said. `` It's as clear as day.'' 
 
 The other eleven sat around the table. Some of them nodded in agreement. Others were dozing. The old man was the only one that seemed to have something to say. 
 
 `` Now, now,'' he said. `` Let's not be too hasty. This is someone's life we're dealing with, after all.'' 
 
 Just my luck. This guy's more interested in due process than in getting back to his life. Righteous old bastard. 
 
 `` After all,'' he continued. `` If it were you up on that stand today, you'd be hoping the folks here in this little room gave you the proper consideration.'' 
 
 That was an interesting choice of words, I thought. Did he suspect something? 
 
 `` You've got witnesses that put him at the scene and fingerprints on everything. The motive is money, obviously.'' 
 
 `` He's the night watchman. Of course he's going to be at the scene, and I'd be awfully surprised if his fingerprints were nowhere to be found.'' The other jurors has woken up, and some of them were now nodding along with him. Sheep just follow whoever is out front. 
 
 `` Furthermore,'' he said. `` Do n't you find it a bit odd, throwing away ten years of employment for a $ 10,000 dollar heist.'' 
 
 `` Times change,'' I said. `` People change. People need money. Nothing mysterious about that.'' 
 
 `` Yes, I do n't disagree that some people are willing to do some pretty terrible things for money.'' His eyes met mine as he said this, and I felt my lunch lurch in my stomach. His steady gaze told me he knew more than he was saying. Or suspected, anyway. If I pushed too hard, I'd give myself away. But if the suspect walked, it would still be an open case. I did a pretty good job cleaning up after myself, but who know what a more diligent search could turn up. 
 
 `` Let's lay out the facts,'' I said. `` The suspect shows up to work at 6pm. He spends some time checking in and double checking his gear, proceeds to make his rounds. An hour in, he steps away for a quick bathroom break. During that time he must've been standing in front of the mirror, psyching himself up, cause just after he comes back is the timestamp of the alarm. 
 
 Now one of the other jurors speaks up, some pimply-faced know-it-all college kid. `` Wait, wait, wait,'' he says. `` They never told us when he started work. Where'd you get that detail?'' The rest of the jurors are now eyeing me pretty warily, looking like they've put together a few other puzzle pieces as well. 
 
 Well shit.
