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Kramer was determined.

Beyer thanked him profusely and headed home to get a few hours’ sleep before getting up early to get ready for his court appearance with Bullock.

Shivering, Kramer got into his sleeping bag and thought of a statement by Thomas Jefferson: “We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed.” Suddenly, something dawned on him. Technically, according to Connecticut law, Beyer’s house belonged to the NLDC. “We’re trespassing,” Kramer told Humphries.

“If we get arrested,” Humphries said, “my editor will bail me out. But who will take care of you?”

Kramer laughed. “If this is the price to ensure a man’s house is free, I’ll happily pay it.”

Eventually, both men drifted off.

Kramer had drifted into a shallow sleep when pounding on the front door jolted him awake. “You in there?” a man shouted.

It was just after 5:30 in the morning. “This is it,” Kramer said to Humphries, hustling out of his sleeping bag. “It’s either the police or the demolition crew.”

His adrenaline rushing, Kramer hustled down the stairs and opened the front door. Smiling, Matt Dery greeted him with two steaming cups of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and a bag of hot breakfast sandwiches. “I thought you guys could use something warm,” he said, his breath visible in the frigid air.

Kramer took a deep breath and thanked Dery for his thoughtfulness.

Before long, the other neighbors and plaintiffs started showing up. By eight, Mayor Beachy had also arrived to stand vigil with the group around the perimeter of the property.

Bullock showed up at Judge Martin’s chambers expecting to finally meet Tom Londregan. But someone else from his office showed up instead, along with the NLDC’s outside attorney, Ed O’Connell, a short, portly fellow who made no effort to veil his disdain for Bullock and Sawyer. Judge Martin welcomed the group into a conference room and asked Bullock to orient him by telling him where each of the plaintiffs’ properties was located.

Bullock began with Susette’s house, identifying it as being on the corner of East and Trumbull.

“Oh, that pink one?” Martin asked.

Bullock nodded.

“That’s Kelo’s place?” the judge asked.

Everyone nodded.

“And you’ve got Cristofaro,” Bullock said.

“I know where that place is,” Judge Martin said.

“And there’s one right behind the Italian Dramatic Club,” Bullock said. “That’s Byron Athenian’s place.”

Martin had known Athenian since his adolescent days, and he had once taken a vehicle to Athenian’s house to get it repaired. He made it clear he wanted to try to resolve the disputes over demolition, rents, and occupancy without having to litigate each point. Mediation, he explained, was also an option that might avert a trial and enable the homeowners to receive compensation for giving up their homes. He suggested Judge Angelo Santaniello could conduct the mediation.

Bullock politely declined. Santaniello had practiced law with Tom Londregan’s brother. And he had been a primary force, along with Jay Levin, in negotiating for the Italian Dramatic Club to stay put while the houses around it were torn down. Bullock didn’t trust Santaniello. Besides, his clients wanted no part of mediation for a monetary settlement.

Hardly surprised at Bullock’s answer, Judge Martin got to the major points of contention: whether the city was entitled to charge the plaintiffs rent during the litigation and whether the homes would be protected from demolition during any appeals that might be filed after the trial. Bullock had already applied for a preliminary injunction to protect the homes until the end of the trial, and the city and the NLDC agreed that no demolition would take place until the trial judge ruled on the injunction.

Martin looked to O’Connell. The NLDC, O’Connell indicated, was not willing to concede on the rent issue or the demolitions. Bullock said his clients wouldn’t concede either.

Convinced both sides were dug in, Martin focused on the one item he could control: insuring a timely, orderly trial schedule. The last thing he wanted was to see both