Chapter 15 - Emily Takes the Stand
Emily walked into court with her shoulders straight.
She did not look at Michael immediately.
The prosecutor started simply.
“Your age?”
“Sixteen.”
“Why were you hospitalized?”
“Appendicitis.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
Then she told the story.
The statement.
The account.
The garage.
The recording.
No exaggeration.
Then:
“Did you think your father wanted you dead?”
“No.”
That answer changed the room.
“What did you think he wanted?”
“To scare me.”
“Why?”
“So I wouldn’t tell Mom about Grandma’s money.”
Then:
“Why record?”
“Because he always said things happened differently than I remembered.”
My eyes filled.
Then hospital.
“Why tell there?”
“There were other people.”
“Did you trust your mother?”
Emily paused.
“I loved her.”
The prosecutor waited.
Then:
“I didn’t know if she would believe me before Dad explained.”
I cried silently.
Not because she was accusing me.
Because she was accurate.
Then cross.
Defense counsel remained controlled.
“You were already sick.”
“Yes.”
“You were angry.”
“Yes.”
“You went through your father’s desk.”
“I opened a drawer looking for charger.”
“You took a statement.”
“It had my name.”
“You had recorded your father secretly before?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he lied.”
Then:
“Did Michael ever say the substance would kill you?”
“No.”
“Did he identify it to you as poison?”
“No.”
“So your ER statement about rat poison was based on where it came from and what you believed?”
“Yes.”
Honest.
Then:
“Did he say he wanted you dead?”
“No.”
“Did he say he wanted you sick?”
“No.”
Then:
“He said drink and forget account.”
“Yes.”
The core remained.
Then:
“Do you hate him?”
Emily finally looked directly at Michael.
“No.”
His face changed.
“I hate what he did.”
Then defense:
“Your mother is divorcing your father.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want her to win?”
Emily frowned.
“It isn’t a game.”
A juror looked toward counsel.
Then:
“Did your mother ever tell you what to say?”
“No.”
“Did she tell you your father was abusive?”
“After I told her what happened, she said what he did was abuse.”
Reasonable.
Then:
“Do you want your father punished?”
Emily took time.
“I want him not to do this again.”
Then:
“I don’t know what punishment fixes that.”
That answer was not rehearsed.
You could tell.
She stepped down.
Outside, she started shaking.
I asked:
“Can I hug you?”
“Yes.”
I held.
Then she whispered:
“I thought I’d feel powerful.”
“What do you feel?”
“Tired.”
That was trial.
Not empowerment theater.
Work.
Then Michael announced he would testify.
Grace closed her eyes.
May you like
“Of course.”
He still believed explanation could control the room.
