Chapter 17 - The Trial Begins
Miguel testified first about the gas station.
He did not embellish.
Richard smelled of alcohol.
Appeared unsteady.
Tried to purchase additional alcohol.
Miguel refused.
Defense asked:
“You are not a doctor?”
“No.”
“Did you test blood alcohol?”
“No.”
“Could red eyes come from fatigue?”
“Yes.”
“Could unsteadiness come from wet floor?”
“Maybe.”
Good.
Truth survived concession.
Janet testified about speed and swerving.
Defense:
“You could not see inside continuously.”
“No.”
“You did not see Ethan’s hands?”
“No.”
“You cannot rule out a passenger grabbing wheel?”
“No.”
Again.
No perfect witness.
Vehicle expert explained speed.
Rain.
Late braking.
Steering.
Phone records.
Defense expert said sudden passenger interference remained possible.
Then Kevin Marshall.
Richard’s business partner.
He looked miserable.
He described call.
Richard angry.
Laura leaving.
Richard said:
“She thinks she can take boys and house.”
Kevin heard Laura:
“Put the phone down.”
Defense asked:
“Did Richard sound drunk?”
Kevin:
“Angry.”
“Drunk?”
“I couldn’t tell.”
“Did he say he planned to harm anyone?”
“No.”
Important.
State was not alleging intent.
Then Dana showed handwritten apology script.
Kevin recognized Richard’s handwriting from business notes.
Defense objected.
Foundation established.
Admitted.
My stomach twisted.
Practice without crying.
Jury saw.
Insurance representative testified about attempted minor statement.
Uploaded from Richard’s account.
No valid consent.
Insurer refused.
Then me.
I walked to witness stand.
Right leg healed.
No cast.
But I could feel phantom weight of it.
Dana started simple.
“How old?”
“Seventeen now.”
“Relationship to Noah?”
“Twin.”
“Laura?”
“Mother.”
“Richard?”
“Stepfather.”
Then crash.
“What do you remember?”
“Arguing.”
“About?”
“Mom wanted him to pull over.”
“Why?”
“I think because he was driving too fast and on phone.”
“Did you touch steering wheel?”
“No.”
“Could you see it?”
“Mostly.”
“Did you ever reach forward?”
“I leaned forward during argument.”
“Why?”
“I was yelling.”
“What?”
“I told Richard he was drunk and Mom should drive.”
Defense later attacked that because I had concussion and no chemical evidence.
Fair.
Dana:
“Did Richard ask you after crash to say you grabbed wheel?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He wrote statement. Made me practice.”
“How many times?”
“I remember three clearly. Noah says five. I only remember three.”
That answer mattered.
No inflation.
“Why didn’t you agree?”
“Because it wasn’t true.”
“Did he ever tell you your mother died because of you?”
“Yes.”
My voice cracked.
Dana paused.
“Need break?”
“No.”
Then bedroom.
Live audio played.
Richard’s voice:
“Your mother would still be alive if you kept your hands to yourself.”
My voice:
“I didn’t.”
Then movement.
Noah crying.
Richard:
“At least one of you worthless brats knows who’s in charge.”
I stared at table.
Dana asked:
“What happened next?”
“Sarah came.”
“Why?”
“Noah sent code word.”
Defense cross was harder.
“Ethan, you suffered concussion?”
“Yes.”
“You have memory gaps?”
“Yes.”
“You argued in car?”
“Yes.”
“You leaned forward?”
“Yes.”
“You were angry?”
“Yes.”
“So you cannot guarantee your hands never moved near front seats.”
“I can guarantee I did not grab steering wheel.”
“How?”
“Because I remember not doing that.”
“Memory can be wrong.”
“Yes.”
“So possible?”
I looked at Dana.
Judge instructed answer.
“I don’t believe it happened.”
Defense pressed:
“Not my question.”
I breathed.
“I cannot prove a negative with video. I can tell you what I remember.”
That was best I could do.
He moved on.
Afterward Dana said:
“You did fine.”
“I hated it.”
“That’s normal.”
Noah testified next day.
His memory:
Richard holding phone.
Mom reaching toward it.
Ethan leaning between seats but hands on headrest, not wheel.
That detail helped.
Defense:
“Could Ethan’s hand slip?”
Noah:
“I didn’t see it.”
Perfect.
Not rescue.
Truth.
Then Sarah testified about emergency code and Mom’s missed call.
Some of Mom’s letters admitted only for limited purposes.
Judge instructed jury.
No melodrama.
Then Richard had to decide whether testify.
May you like
He did.
That changed everything.
