Page 77 of The Billionaire's Royal Crown

“Your Honor, I do not, but my client has maintained her innocence throughout this case, so I would very much like to see the evidence.”

“Your Honor, this is nothing more than a publicity stunt to try to pull the focus from Mrs. Kingsley.”

“I don’t see any press here, Counselor. I want both of you in my chambers along with…” He waved a finger at Elena.

Caroline stepped forward, her hands clasped in front of her as she raised her chin. “Her Royal Highness, Princess Elena of Eldoria.”

“Right, her.”

Elena swallowed hard as the judge rose and left the bench, disappearing into a door tucked in the corner. Clifford motioned for her to step forward, leaning closer to her as they walked. “This had better be good.”

“Oh, it is,” Elena promised.

They entered the judge’s chambers, finding the man already behind his desk. “Now…”

“Your Highness is the most appropriate form of address, but you may call me Elena.”

The judge cleared his throat as he shifted in his seat again. “Your Highness, please explain what it is you say you have.”

Elena raised the camera in the air. “This, Your Honor, is a video camera that recorded the crime. It was found in Chloe Hartman’s apartment.”

“By whom?” the prosecutor asked.

“Me,” Elena answered, her eyes flicking to the judge. “We entered her apartment earlier in search of clues.”

“Clues?” the prosecutor repeated. “Please, Your Honor, you cannot allow this to proceed. This could all be fabricated.”

“I resent that accusation. And if you’d just allow me to connect this to your computer or laptop, I can show you the contents.”

The judge motioned for her to approach his desk.

With trembling hands, she plugged the cord into the camera and then into the computer. With another shaky motion, she jiggled the mouse and navigated to the drive as Maddie had shown her earlier.

“Here you see the list of dates. If you click the date of the murder, the third video is the one to watch.”

“Why not the first?” the prosecutor asked. “Or the second?”

“Easy, Counselor, she is not on cross-examination here.”

The judge took hold of the mouse, navigating to the video Elena pointed out and opening it. The other two men grouped behind him, leaning closer to the screen.

The scene played out as Elena glanced away, not wishing to witness the crime again.

After a moment, Cliff said, “I wish to make a motion to dismiss all charges against my client.”

“I don’t blame you,” the judge answered. “Counselor, do you wish to revise your charges?”

“We’d like to verify–”

“Counselor, this is clearly the victim’s apartment, the victim, and the assailant, who is obviously not Victoria Kingsley unless she suddenly grew taller, more muscled, and began sporting a beard.”

The prosecutor pressed his lips together. “We’ll withdraw all charges against the defendant.”

Elena grinned at the words, her heart lifting.

The judge nodded. “All right, let’s make it official.”

The prosecutor called for the detectives, asking them to take the camera into evidence before they returned to the courtroom. Elena shuffled behind the others, offering Victoria a smile and a nod.

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