Page 46 of Daddy’s Protecting

“Definitely.”

“Let’s change clothes and make some cookies.”

CHAPTER 16

Cynthia clutched the edges of the table as they waited for the trial to resume. Dirk shifted next to her and pulled something out of his suit jacket pocket, placing it in front of her. She blinked at the sight of the plastic-wrapped cookie decorated so badly with purple and pink frosting. Her Daddy had truly tried to create something beautiful but failed miserably with great humor. They’d had so much fun making the treats.

She glanced up at him, feeling the corners of her lips turn up at the memory.

“Decorating cookies isn’t my thing. Closing arguments? They’re what I do best. Trust your Daddy.”

Letting the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding out in a long gust, Cynthia tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach. “I trust you. I just don’t know if I can trust them.”

“All rise.” The bailiff’s directions prevented Dirk’s response.

Within minutes, the prosecuting attorney delivered her closing arguments. She was convincing and wove the facts of the case together until Cynthia almost scooted lower in her chair. Only her Daddy’s presence kept her from being overwhelmed.

She watched him stand and walk to the jury box. Dirk paused to make eye contact with each member of the jury before speaking.

“Hearing the prosecution’s case against Cynthia Grant, you would expect that she is a hardened criminal who deliberately set out to fleece Edgewater Industries of all they owned. Someone hated by the company she betrayed. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. During the course of the trial, over two hundred Edgewater Industries employees have attended a morning or afternoon session to support Cynthia. Those visitors include everyone from the CEO down. How do I know? Here is a signup sheet organized by the employees and posted in the cafeteria.”

Dirk paused to pull out a thick packet of papers from his jacket pocket. “They are here today wearing Cynthia’s favorite color—yellow.”

Everyone in the courtroom, including Cynthia, turned to see a yellow ribbon pinned to everyone’s clothing behind her. They sat in silent support, causing no disruption. Tears sprang to Cynthia’s eyes, and she mouthed, “Thank you,” to the familiar faces who’d chosen to attend.

“Cynthia has never lied. Coerced and manipulated by a threat to implicate her in the murder of two people she loved, Cynthia believed that flash drive would cause nothing more than a small ripple in the Edgewater Industries operations—an annoyance. She had no way of knowing that it contained such a disastrous virus.”

Everyone’s gaze was riveted on Dirk as he walked over to pick up the decorated cookie. “Guess what this hardened criminal wanted to do last night? Cynthia Grant and I made cookies. My decorating skills left a lot to be desired,” he shared with a laugh as he displayed the treat.

“Cynthia’s were beautiful. I wanted to eat them, but she sent them to a local nursing home for the residents and the staff to brighten their days. Some of mine went along for the ride and I hope there are giggles at the torturous decorations I created.”

He set the cookie back on the desk. “As you deliberate, I’d like you to put yourself in Cynthia’s shoes. Picture yourself as a young woman, alone in the world, who creates soul-satisfying food to care for others. Consider the support of the company she supposedly so ruthlessly attacked. They’ve known Cynthia for the longest time. Would they consider her an evil cyber mastermind or a cookie creator?”

Clearing his throat, he continued, “The law is clear. Cybercriminals must be stopped. But who committed this crime? The creator of the virus contained on the flash drive, or the young woman manipulated into plugging it into the computer? Who should go to jail for the crime? A cookie maker or the virus maker? Do we have the right person on trial for this crime?”

Dirk nodded to the judge and rested his case. He sat down next to Cynthia and took her shaking hand in his. He nodded subtly at the jury, who all focused on Cynthia and that symbolic cookie sitting in front of her.

She didn’t know what the prosecutor said in her rebuttal. Cynthia’s mind focused only on the hope Dirk’s words provided. Was it possible that they would find her not guilty?

The rustling of the jury as they stood and filed from the room drew her from her thoughts as Dirk urged her to her feet. She looked around in bewilderment. Her Daddy squeezed her hand to reassure her.

“Is it over?” she whispered.

“Now we wait as the jury deliberates. A quick decision indicates that the group agrees unanimously with one side.”

“And if they don’t?”

“It will be up to them to come to a consensus by talking through the evidence and the charges.”

“You used our cookies in your argument. What if I’d wanted to make a spinach souffle?” she said, trying to lighten the tension.

“That wouldn’t have been as convincing,” he said with a laugh.

Two hours later,they received the notice that the jury had reached its conclusion. Cynthia stood by Dirk’s side. She turned to study his handsome profile, memorizing the picture of him in his element. She wanted to remember everything.

“Has the jury reached a verdict?” the judge addressed the jury foreperson.

“We have.”

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