Betrayal - Fern Michaels [49]
Kate realized James wasn’t as confident as he’d been when he first took their case. She didn’t like this and told him so.
“I’m doing the best I can for both of you. Alex, if you want another attorney, now would be the time to speak up.”
Alex shook his head. “No, of course not. I’ll just go to trial. I’m innocent, and the truth will come out. I have always lived by that motto, and I’m not going to stop now!”
Kate wasn’t so sure. Oh, she believed in the criminal justice system, but she was afraid of a jury. She knew just how convincing Sara could be. She’d conned her and Alex all these years, and they’d been as close to her as her parents. She could only imagine what act she’d play for a jury. Still, Alex needed to know she was with him. She’d show her support by believing that the truth would emerge triumphant.
“Alex is right. He’s innocent. Anyone with the slightest bit of intelligence will see this. Besides, when it’s Alex’s time to take the stand, the jury won’t have any trouble believing him.”
James fumbled with his goatee. “We haven’t discussed this yet, but might as well. I don’t want Alex taking the stand. It’s too risky, and Lyle is much tougher than he looks. Trust me.”
“And?” Kate asked.
“Let’s just say I don’t feel comfortable putting Alex on the stand and leave it at that, okay?”
Kate got up from her chair and dumped her tea in the sink. “What about it, Alex? Don’t you want a chance to tell your side of the story?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t have anything to tell, Kate. You know that. I’m going to do as James suggests.”
Kate felt like she’d been rammed by a Mack truck. Alex wasn’t willing to take the stand, put up a defense? She would. “Then put me on the stand. I’ll tell them about Sara, what a conniving little brat she is. I’ll tell them what she did in my studio.”
“And we might do that. For now, I need both of you to understand that no matter what, I’m on your side.”
Alex came and stood next to Kate. “So, how soon can we get this over with?”
“You’re in luck. The docket for two weeks from today is clear. The DA has cleared his schedule, so we can get started on your defense right away.”
This surprised Kate. “I thought a trial date would take forever. Why so sudden?”
“For starters, this is Naples. There isn’t a lot of serious crime. Mostly civil suits, family matters, that type of thing. The judge is ready, the DA is clear, there isn’t a lot of investigating that needs to be done, and what there is, we can certainly have it completed long before our two-week starting date.”
“Let’s just get this over with as quickly as possible. I need to get back to the kennels. Gertie’ll be needing a break soon enough,” Alex said.
“I’m ready, too. I want our life back, I want to put this nightmare behind us and never think about it again.”
“And so we will,” James acquiesced. “Let’s get started.”
Chapter 15
The courtroom was the same one used for the arraignment hearing, only this time it was packed. Newspaper reporters and television reporters from all across southwest Florida were positioned in a section closed off just for the media. Court TV had been given permission by Judge Stowers to broadcast live coverage of the trial. James explained to them that the Polly Klaas case had been instrumental in bringing these types of cases to national prominence. Kate was mortified, to say the least.
Seated directly behind Alex and James, Kate didn’t dare turn around to view the people gathered in the courtroom. Somewhere, Debbie and Don were seated. She hadn’t spotted them when she entered the courtroom. She was afraid of what she’d do if she saw them. This had all happened so fast. James was true to his word and had done a thorough investigation of the case. Alex had been examined by a psychiatrist. James had interviewed Sara and was more convinced than ever of Alex’s innocence. “The child has major issues,” he’d told them, but refused to say anything more. Jury selection had been a breeze,