Page 71 of Whispers on the Water

“From Kevin?” he asked.

I nod, then catch myself and say aloud. “Yes.”

“Why? Why buy a gun for $800 when you could have bought a bus ticket for much cheaper?”

I shift in my seat and look over to first Joshua and then Greg. With their encouraging nods, I clear her throat. “I didn’t think he would let me leave.”

The lawyer probes further, “Could you elaborate on why you believed Mr. Williams would prevent you from leaving?”

“Kevin had a history of controlling behavior. Leaving wasn’t as simple as it might seem.” It was entirely the truth. Kevin wasn’t the type to just let his wife leave him. The gun was just an intimidation tactic, a way to keep him from hurting me while I planned my escape.

“So, you bought a gun without the intention of using it?” The opposing lawyer’s tone suggested incredulity.

Joshua immediately stood up. “Objection, Your Honor. Counsel is making assertions rather than asking questions.”

The judge looks up, considers, and then nods. “Objection sustained. Please rephrase your question, counselor.” Mr. Perkins straightens his tie and flashes a full tooth cougar of a smile at the judge.

“No problem. Then, let’s go back to the night of Kevin’s murder.” The lawyer flips to a page in his notepad and starts digging in. Asking me about how I felt when he got home, my state of mind if I had been drinking and my intentions, but I stuck with what I had already said, not deviating from my story.

I know he is trying to make me look less credible or uncover inconsistencies; Joshua had warned me this would happen. But I had been over the story at least one hundred times with Joshua and his team. When he did ask if I remember pulling the trigger, I finally gave in to the urge to look at my hands. The memory of Kevin’s face as he realized he had been shot flashed in my mind. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice before attempting to speak. It was the only fact from the long line of questioning that I was truly nervous about.

“I uh, don’t, sorry. I just wanted the pain to stop, I didn’t want him to die.”

“So, you blacked out?”

Joshua was on his feet again. “Objection! We’ve been over the night several times and he’s leading the witness. Move to strike.”

“Sustained. Her story has been established. Remember counselor this is an evidentiary hearing to show new evidence for dismissing charges. Further cross examination can be done if and when there is a full trial.”

“Of course. If everyone will look at the evidence sheet, I’d like to present exhibit B.” He walked to his table and picked up a laminated sheet of paper.

He walked it over to me—a picture of me and Greg kissing on a surfboard. When I first see it, my stomach flutters. Truly, a beautiful moment is captured in that photo. My hair was all wet but smiling as Greg’s lips met mine. He’s gorgeously tan and toned, dripping with warm seawater. While surfing in Costa Rica, we kissed all the time, but I’ve never taken a photo of it and I’m unsure of who did. The gravity of what it meant then made my hands tremble.

“Can you tell me who those people are?”

Joshua was on his feet once again. “Objection, Your Honor, relevance to the case at hand?”

The opposing lawyer raises a hand, that smarmy smile still on his face. “I aim to show that her personal relationship with this man led to insider information on the case at hand.”

“Overruled. Please answer the question Ms. Williams.”

I gripped onto her own hands, trying to quell the tremble running through them. “That’s me and Greg Sanderson.”

“FBI Agent Greg Sanderson?” I nod and hand the picture back. “The man that was tasked with bringing you home to face these charges. A man that you’ve been sleeping with for months, isn’t that correct?”

“Yes. But—”

“And this was specifically to gain information into the investigation?”

Joshua quickly objected, “Your Honor, I object on the grounds of speculation. There’s no substantiated evidence to suggest any manipulation for personal gains in this matter.”

But Mr. Perkins shook his head. “Ms. Williams’ credibility is in question. I’m trying to show she engaged in a relationship because Mr. Sanderson was involved in her investigation.”

“Overruled. But I would remind the prosecution that they must provide relevance to the actual case. Please continue Mr. Jenkins.”

“Were you aware of his job?”

“No.”

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