The ballot counters sat behind their tables, mechanically tearing open envelopes, removing the ballots, scanning them, and filing them away.
Across from each table stood two people in suits.
One was from Leo's side, the other sent by Monroe's.
Like two fighting cocks, they stared intently at every slip of paper in the counters' hands.
"Stop!"
A sharp cry cut through the din of the gymnasium.
It was a lawyer sent by Monroe, a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses.
He pointed at a ballot in the counter's hand.
"This ballot is invalid!"
the man with the gold-rimmed glasses said loudly.
"Look here. The voter wrote last year's date when filling this out. This ballot has an invalid date and must be thrown out."
It was a vote for Murphy.
The ballot counter hesitated, holding the ballot, unsure of what to do.
"Objection!"
Leo's lawyer, a young but highly aggressive red-haired woman, immediately pushed back.
"That's clearly a slip of the pen!"
