Page 171 of In the Air Tonight

The courtroom erupts into chaos that’s contained by the judge banging her gavel and calling for order. “Outbursts of any kind will not be tolerated in my courtroom.”

In the quiet that follows her directive, I hear the distinctive sound of someone weeping.

I lean in for a closer look and see that Ryder has his head in his hands as he listens to Denise’s testimony. Is he weeping at hearing more about how she suffered?

“Mrs. Messner, can you please describe your overall state of mind in the months that followed the assault?”

“I was as low as I’ve ever been. Not only because I’d been assaulted and suffered through a painful miscarriage, but also because his brother and friends rallied around him afterward, claiming I’d slept with all of them, which was a lie.”

“Have those men admitted to lying?”

“They have.”

That causes another gasp and more intense whispering that has the judge banging her gavel again.

“Thank you, Mrs. Messner. Nothing further.” As she leaves the witness stand, Josh says, “The state calls Ramona Travers Silvia to the stand.”

Ramona is sworn in and seated.

“Mrs. Silvia, can you please tell us where you were on the night in question?”

“I was at the party held by Houston Rafferty at his parents’ home in Land’s End.”

“While you were at the party did you see Ryder Elliott?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you see Denise Sutton Messner, who was known then as Neisy?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you at any time see them together?”

“I saw them leave the party together and walk into the woods.”

“Did you report this to the authorities after Mr. Elliott was accused of sexually assaulting Ms. Sutton?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you report it?”

“Because I was afraid the other kids would do the same thing to me that they’d done to her when she reported it.”

“Why did you choose to come forward now?”

“Because I heard someone else had witnessed the assault itself and had come forward. I wanted to do the same. I’ve always regretted that I hadn’t done it before.”

“Had you ever known of Ryder Elliott to be inappropriate with girls or women?”

“Objection! Anything she heard from someone else is hearsay and is inadmissible.”

“Overruled. I want to hear her answer.”

“Mrs. Silvia?”

Ramona licks her lips before she speaks. “Once in the library when we were juniors, he backed me into a corner and told me he thought I was pretty. He got very close. I was afraid he was going to try something more, but thankfully someone else came along, and he backed off.”

A gasp goes through the courtroom as people start to whisper.

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