Page 85 of Saving Her Heart
"Yes, but they were all dismissed as unfounded."
"By a board that liked you," Brennan suggests. "A board that might have been biased in your favor."
"Objection," Patricia says. "Speculation."
"Withdrawn," Brennan says smoothly. "Ms. Greene, you're romantically involved with Officer Masterson, correct?"
"Yes," Kendall says, lifting her chin slightly.
"The same Officer Masterson who led the investigation?"
"He didn't lead it. The FBI and state investigators led it."
"But he was involved. Intimately involved, you might say."
I clench my fists, but Kendall remains calm. "Jax protected me when my life was threatened. That's his job."
"His job, or his personal mission?" Brennan asks. "How can the jury trust testimony from someone whose boyfriend built the case?"
"Objection!" Patricia stands. "Officer Masterson didn't build the case. The evidence built the case."
"Sustained," the judge rules.
Brennan continues attacking Kendall's credibility for another hour, but she holds steady. She doesn't get flustered, doesn't contradict herself, and just keeps telling the truth. By the end, even Brennan seems frustrated by his inability to shake her.
The prosecution rests after calling a few more technical witnesses. Then it's the defense's turn.
William takes the stand, and his transformation is complete. Gone is the powerful businessman. In his place is a frail old man who can barely speak above a whisper.
"Mr. Thornfield," Brennan begins gently, "did you conspire to burn down buildings?"
"Never," William says, his voice shaking. "I've spent my life building this community. Why would I destroy it?"
He spins a tale of being framed by Morrison and Valerie, claiming they conspired together to steal his money and blame him for their crimes. He admits to some financial irregularities but insists he never knew about any violence.
"These people," he says, gesturing weakly toward the prosecution table, "they needed someone to blame. I'm old, I'm wealthy, I'm an easy target."
Patricia's cross-examination is surgical. "Mr. Thornfield, you claim you didn't know about the explosives?"
"That's correct."
"Then how do you explain this?" She produces a receipt. "This is from your personal credit card. A purchase of electronic timers, the exact type found on the explosive devices."
William's face goes pale. "I... I don't recall that purchase."
"You don't recall spending fifteen thousand dollars on military-grade electronic timers?"
"I buy many things for my properties. Electronics for security systems?—"
"These aren't security timers, Mr. Thornfield. These are specifically designed for explosive devices. The company that sells them requires federal licensing to purchase. Here's your signature on the federal forms."
William stammers, looking at his lawyer desperately. Brennan objects, calling for a recess, but the damage is done.
Patricia continues dismantling William's story piece by piece. Financial records showing payments to Brad. Text messages using burner phones traced back to him. Security footage of him at the buildings shortly before the devices were planted.
"But my favorite piece of evidence," Patricia says, pulling up a video on the screen, "is this. Security footage from the marina, the night of the first fire."
The video shows William on his yacht, watching something on his phone. The timestamp shows it's the exact moment Building 3 caught fire. And clear as day, William is smiling.
