Page 26 of Promise Keeper

"No, thank you," I said, and she moved on to Mom, admiring her engagement ring.

The cookie was oatmeal butterscotch chip, one of my many favorites of Betty's. I gave her a big smile in way of thanks and broke off a piece hoping some sugar would calm my nerves.

Cass's mother, Judy, of the Briar Bird Inn, was there, along with Sue Nelson and her daughter Lianne, Stephanie's older sister. Steph and Mia were in school, and I'm sure they'd get a big laugh out of this mock trial. I only hoped it was over before they got out of class in about twenty minutes.

Soapy opened the door and stepped in, quickly taking a seat in the back corner of the room. As the mayor, he had the right to sit in on such matters.

"Sister Sergeant At Arms, please call this meeting to order," Irene said from her screen. Her voice sounded distant and tinny.

Fiona stood and took roll, then called the meeting to order.

Irene cleared her throat. "This tribunal has been called today to determine the guilt or innocence of Cameron Cripps Hayman accused of slanderous speech and defamation of character against our sister Daughter, Fiona Stein."

When they said sister Daughter it killed me every time. I put a hand in front of my mouth to hide the snicker that threatened to erupt. Next to me, Roy snored. He'd fallen asleep. I scooted my foot over and nudged him. "Roy," I whispered. "Roy!"

He let out an enormous coughing, snorting, snore, sounding like he was choking. "What happened?" He darted his eyes around the room, like he was wondering where he was and how he ended up there.

"Mr. Lancaster," Irene said, in her most hoity-toity tone, "this is an official town tribunal. If you aren't able to behave appropriately, please excuse yourself from the room."

"I apologize, your Irene, Honor, Sister, Daughter, um... woman person on the throne there." Roy sat up straight and tugged on the lapels of his old, ratty navy blue blazer that he wore every day of his life.

In the corner, Soapy rubbed his mustache to hide his grin. Cass bit her lip to stop smiling.

Irene took a deep breath. "I take it you are Cameron's counsel?"

"I am," he said.

Mom stood and faced the jury. "He's my assistant counsel," she said. "I'd like to ask the court for evidence of the charges against my client, as we believe it's hearsay and file a motion for a dismissal of the charges."

"What she said," Roy said, jabbing his thumb toward Mom. "I second that motion."

"You don't have to second it," Mom said, gritting her teeth.

"Overruled," Irene said. "The tribunal doesn't have to entertain your motions."

Mom swung around facing Irene, her hands hitting her hips. "Madame, you are aware of the constitutional rights of every man, woman, and child is this great nation, are you not? Rights which cannot be usurped by a kangaroo tribunal called by a private, civic, organization. Before my client entertains this farce any farther, we demand to know by what authority you called us here today."

"Our authority was written into the town charter in 1868, under section twelve, The Founder's Counsel, which states, and I quote--"

Mom cut in. "Are you or are you not a founder of this town?"

"I am a Daughter of Historical--"

"Yes or no, Mrs. Hayman?"

"She has her on the ropes," Roy said, elbowing me in the side.

Irene cleared her throat. "Madame Sergeant At Arms, the defendant's counsel will be treated as hostile from here on out."

Fiona stood. "Mrs. Zaborowski-Cripps, you are hereby silenced by this tribunal. Please sit and observe. Any farther outbursts and you'll be ejected."

Roy bolted up out of his chair. "That means I'm in charge now. Listen up ladies, this here is a witch hunt. We all know bones were found and The Steins are digging up their backyard."

Irene banged her gavel, but it was ineffective coming from the laptop screen. Roy was on a roll.

"I ask you," Roy said, "given that bones are typically buried in the ground, and these ones suddenly show up out of nowhere, where would your mind logically go? The woman who holds her reputation in such high regard that she'd do anything to keep it from being smudged by mud and a bunch of old bones?" He paced in front of the jury of Daughters. "Nobody ever said Fiona did it, it's only a theory. When we get rid of theories, how do we find the truth?

"That's enough!" Fiona shouted at the top of her lungs. She shot out of her chair, banging against the table. "I will not stand her listening to these accusations against me!" She banged her fist behind the laptop and made it jump.

---