I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by PATRICIA MACDONALD (bookstand for reading txt) 📗

himself and continued. ‘It’s a place where kids who are sick, with very serious illnesses, can come to have a few weeks of recreation with other kids who are just like them. We have lots of equipment adapted for children with handicaps. We have nurses on our staff, and doctors always available.

‘Did Troy Petty ever work at your camp?’

‘Yes, ma’am. He did. About ten years ago.’

‘Was he a good employee?’ Marjorie asked.

‘I thought so. At first. He seemed to be very caring when it came to the children. He told me that being at the camp inspired him to become a nurse.’

‘But you fired him, correct?’

Halloran nodded, and then said, ‘Correct.’

‘So why was he dismissed from your employ?’

Carl Halloran frowned. ‘There were allegations made against him. By a camper. A seven-year-old girl.’

‘What sort of allegations?’ Marjorie asked.

‘She claimed that Mr Petty had sexually molested her.’

‘Objection!’ D.A. Castor exploded. ‘This is an irrelevant, blatant attempt to smear the character of the victim. Mr Petty was never in his life charged with a sexual assault.’

‘Your honor,’ said Marjorie calmly, ‘the district attorney has suggested that my client perjured herself with regards to Mr Petty’s intentions. Mr Halloran is here to supply relevant evidence which will reinforce my client’s account of Mr Petty’s character.’

‘Mr Petty is the victim, your honor,’ the D.A. insisted. ‘He is not on trial here.’

‘Nonetheless,’ Marjorie insisted, ‘the jury’s decision about my client’s fate rests, in part, on whether or not they see her as a truthful witness. Mr Halloran’s testimony supports her account.’

The D.A. shook his head emphatically. ‘There were never any charges of sexual molestation brought against Troy Petty. Ms Fox’s goal is simply to cast aspersions on the character of the victim. She hasn’t even been able to produce the so-called victim in question,’ the D.A. asserted.

‘Your honor, we cannot produce the camper who made this complaint because she died not long after the alleged incident,’ said Marjorie solemnly.

There was a murmur of horror and dismay in the courtroom.

‘Attorneys, approach the bench,’ the judge commanded.

Marjorie Fox and the D.A. stood before the judge, and a heated discussion ensued among them in urgent, quiet voices.

Hannah shook her head in disbelief. ‘Oh my God. Troy was a monster. Think what might have happened to Sydney,’ she whispered.

‘The D.A. would love to ask more about it but now he doesn’t dare,’ said Jackie. ‘The answer might only make it worse. See that guy at the prosecution’s table frantically working the iPad? The D.A.’s got his assistant trying to google the information right now. The D.A. walked right into this trap. He really has only himself to blame. All he can hope for now is damage control. He needs to have the witness dismissed.’

‘How do you know that?’ Hannah asked. ‘You sound like a lawyer.’

‘I testify a lot in custody hearings. This is not my first time in court. One of the accepted rules among attorneys is that you try never to ask a witness a question unless you already know the answer they are going to give. This D.A. clearly didn’t investigate the testimony that this camp owner was going to give. Really. This is bad for the D.A. Good for Lisa, though.’

‘Step back,’ said the judge. The two attorneys did as they were bidden. The judge turned to the jury. ‘Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the testimony of this witness will be stricken from the record. You will disregard his testimony . . .’

‘Your honor,’ Marjorie protested.

The judge glared at Castor. Then he turned to Carl Halloran. ‘Mr Halloran, you are excused.’

Hannah turned to Jackie. ‘What just happened?’

Jackie spoke in a whisper. ‘The D.A. won the battle and lost the war.’

‘Meaning?’

‘The judge ruled that the witness can’t testify. The jury is forbidden to consider his testimony in their deliberations. But do you think anyone in this courtroom will be able to shake that image of a mortally ill child being molested by our so-called victim?’

‘I know I couldn’t,’ said Hannah.

‘Neither can anybody else.’

Carl Halloran stepped down and left the courtroom.

Hannah looked at Adam. ‘To think I was actually glad that Lisa had such a nice boyfriend.’

Adam shook his head, disgust in his eyes. ‘Bastard.’

With the dismissal of the camp owner, the day in court ended. Hannah could see exactly what had happened. This had turned the tide. Troy Petty may not have faced charges but in this courtroom he looked guilty. The judge announced that they would reconvene the next morning. After he left the bench, the murmurs in the courtroom rose around them. Hannah turned to Jackie.

‘What do you think?’

‘Quite a turn of events,’ said Jackie.

‘You picked a good day to come,’ said Adam grimly.

‘So it seems.’

‘Come with me,’ said Hannah. ‘I’ll introduce you.’

Lisa and Marjorie had their heads together at the defense table. They looked up as Hannah touched Lisa on the shoulder.

‘You did a wonderful job today,’ said Hannah sincerely. ‘Lisa, this is my friend, Jackie, from work. I’ve told you about her.’

Lisa’s smile was satisfied. ‘Did you enjoy the show?’ she asked.

Hannah frowned at her daughter’s choice of words. ‘It was terrible,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t believe it.’

‘She was perfect on the stand, wasn’t she?’ Marjorie said, beaming at her client.

‘Lisa, you did very well. But why didn’t you tell us what Troy was like?’ Hannah asked.

‘Mother, I didn’t know what he was like until I caught him with Sydney. Well, it doesn’t matter now. This has changed everything. Wouldn’t you say?’ She looked at her attorney for confirmation.

‘We’re not out of the woods yet.’

Adam came up and rubbed Lisa’s shoulder. ‘You should have told me what he was up to.’ He shook his head. ‘When I think about it, I just want to . . .’