Betrayal - Fern Michaels [56]
Kate strained, but didn’t see a thing.
“Then what did you do?” the ADA asked.
“I dropped my plate. I ran inside and got an ice cube. I put some aloe on it. It was okay after that. I went back outside and Mommy gave me her hamburger.”
“You didn’t tell your parents what had just happened to you?”
“Nope. I didn’t want Uncle Alex to kill my dad. He’d said that before. I figured he still meant to kill him if I ever told anything he did to me.”
“Tell me about the times when Mr. Rocket hit you.”
“Which time? There were lots of them.”
“Just tell me the ones you remember the most.”
“I remember all of them. Want me to tell you all of them?” Sara looked to the side.
“Okay, yes. Mommy says to tell all of them. Well, the first time he really hit me, we were in Asheville. It was Christmas. Mommy and Daddy were on one of their cruises. They always go on a cruise when we stay with Aunt Kate and Uncle Alex. I think me and Emily will have to go with them now. But, anyway, it was Christmas. Emily and Aunt Kate were in the kitchen baking cookies. Uncle Alex was in the den watching the television. I think it was the Playboy Channel. I remember telling Mommy about seeing all the naked ladies. So I was just messin’ around. I guess I stood in front of the television too long or something. The next thing I remember is Uncle Alex smacking me in the face. I cried and ran upstairs. I so wanted Mommy, but she was on the cruise.”
“Did you tell your sister or Mrs. Rocket what happened?”
“No. They never believe anything I say. Like the Conzelmans’ cat. Emily swore to Mommy that I was dragging Snuggles around by its tail. But she just lied ’cause she wanted to get me into trouble. That’s how Aunt Kate is, too. She believes anything Emily and Uncle Alex tell her. I was glad when my parents picked me up. I told Mommy I never wanted to go back, but she said that would hurt Aunt Kate’s feelings and all. I just kept going on the visits.”
Emily must have told Debbie about the cat incident. Good for her. A hand came into the camera’s view with a paper cup. Gulping noises were heard across the courtroom.
“And when were you hit again?”
Sara rubbed her eyes, then started picking her nose. She rolled a booger between her thumb and index finger. Watching her, Kate gagged.
“We were at our house in Naples. Not the one we live in now, the other one. The one Mommy called a high-priced outhouse.”
“Sara!” Debbie exclaimed.
“Well, that’s what you called it,” Sara said.
Wykowski spoke up, “Sara, let’s just talk about Mr. Rocket and the things he did to you. Remember, we’re here to make sure that he never does this to you again. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Duh! Of course I understand, I already told you. I am not stupid. I told you that, too. Now what did you ask? Oh, yeah, the next time Uncle Alex hit me was at our old house. They were there for Christmas. I can’t remember what I was doing. I think I was using the bathroom. Yeah, that’s right. I was in the bathroom . . . taking a shower. Uncle Alex came in and . . . uh, he peeked at me. I told him to get out. He laughed. I think I called him a bad word. Asshole, or maybe it was dickhead. I don’t remember, but he took off his belt, yanked me out of the shower, and slapped me real hard on my butt. My skin was still wet, so it really stung.”
“And you didn’t tell your parents about this either?” Wykowski questioned.
“No! How many times do I have to tell you?
Uncle Alex was going to kill my dad, I couldn’t tell!”
“I’m sorry, Sara. I know this is extremely hard on you. You’re doing a great job. Now if you want, we can take a break.”
The tape stopped. The lights in the courtroom brightened. Kate