Chapter 16 - Tyler Looks at His Father
Tyler wore navy sweater.
No suit.
Therapist said child should not be dressed like miniature adult for trauma testimony.
He carried no funeral program.
No metal tag.
Just himself.
The judge explained:
“If you don’t understand, say so.”
Tyler nodded.
The prosecutor began easy.
Name.
Age.
School.
Favorite subject.
“Science.”
Then Tuesday.
Dad pickup.
Orange soda.
Sleepy.
Room.
Calvin.
Brian visits.
The prosecutor did not ask “coffin” immediately.
Then programs.
“What did you think when saw your picture?”
“That they were saying I died.”
“How feel?”
“Mad.”
Not scared.
Mad.
Then Friday.
“Where did Calvin take you?”
“To box.”
“What did it look like?”
“Coffin.”
“Did you want go inside?”
“No.”
“Did father hear you?”
“Yes.”
“Did he take you out?”
“No.”
Brian’s face broke.
Then:
“Who locked?”
“Cal.”
“Where was dad?”
“Right there.”
Then recording words.
Tyler said what he heard.
No interpretation.
Then escape.
He kicked panel until loose.
Ran.
Grandma.
Then Brian at door.
“Did you want see dad?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I thought he’d take me back.”
Then:
“Did father ever hit you during those days?”
“No.”
“Threaten directly?”
Tyler thought.
“He said if I told anyone, bad people would take Grandma’s house.”
Interesting.
Brian had manipulated.
Then defense.
Gentle.
“Tyler, you know dad loves?”
Prosecutor object maybe emotional manipulation. Judge cautioned relevance. Defense rephrased.
“Did father tell you he loved you while in room?”
“Yes.”
“Bring food?”
“Yes.”
“Blanket?”
“Yes.”
“Did father ever say ‘I’m going to kill you’?”
“No.”
“Did he say ‘I’m going to kill Grandma’?”
“No.”
Then:
“When you heard ‘kill us both,’ you were inside box?”
“Yes.”
“You could not see speakers?”
“No.”
“Could ‘us both’ mean dad and Calvin?”
“I guess.”
Good.
Then:
“Did Dad lock box?”
“No.”
“Calvin?”
“Yes.”
“Did Dad object to Cal?”
“I heard yelling.”
Then defense may be trying reduce Brian.
All true.
Then lawyer asked:
“Did dad ever tell you this was to protect family?”
“Yes.”
“Did you believe at first?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Do you hate dad now?”
Prosecutor object.
Sustained.
Tyler looked at Brian anyway.
Then said without question:
“I hate what he did.”
The judge paused.
Defense did not move strike? Maybe the jury heard. The judge instructed answer not responsive and to focus evidence. Fine.
Then Brian cried.
Tyler did not comfort.
That mattered.
Then judge excused.
As Tyler walked past, Brian whispered:
“Ty.”
The bailiff looked.
No communication allowed.
Tyler stopped.
The judge:
“Mr. Porter.”
Brian lowered eyes.
Tyler left.
Outside courtroom, he vomited into trash can.
Courage has body cost.
I held towel.
He cried:
“Did I do bad?”
“No.”
“Dad cried.”
“You are not responsible.”
He repeated:
“Not responsible.”
Then we went home.
He did not stay for rest.
Good.
The trial continued without him.
Digital expert.
Financial.
Brian’s Google searches.
Forged documents.
Defense prepared Brian testimony.
He did not have to.
His lawyer advised maybe not.
Brian insisted.
Like Andrew in prior story, but okay.
He wanted jury hear father, not just fraudster.
When I learned, I felt fear.
Would he blame Tyler?
Calvin?
Rachel?
Me?
The next day Brian took oath.
First question from own attorney:
“Did you intend your son to die?”
“No.”
Then:
“Did you understand that by making him legally dead, you created a situation in which his living existence threatened everything you were trying to accomplish?”
Brian closed eyes.
May you like
“Yes.”
That was the beginning of truth.
