Betrayal - Fern Michaels [57]
Judge Stowers announced, “We’re going to recess for the rest of the day. Tomorrow the cameras will be dark and the media will not be allowed back in the courtroom until the jury has viewed all of the child’s testimony. I would like to remind the jurors that you are not to speak to the media, read a newspaper, watch television, or talk about this case to anyone. Friends, family, anyone at all. Court is adjourned until nine A.M. tomorrow.”
The gavel sounded once again. The jurors were allowed to leave first. A deputy escorted them to a bus, where they were transported to a private parking garage that housed their personal vehicles. Judge Stowers took no chances.
Kate and Alex waited until James said the coast was clear before exiting the courtroom. Apparently Debbie was holding court with the media. She would suck up every minute of publicity; Kate knew her well. This wasn’t just about Sara, this was about poor Debbie. Kate couldn’t stand the sight of her.
Once inside James’s car, Kate breathed a pent-up sigh of relief. It was exhausting sitting in the courtroom listening to her husband’s life being torn apart by a twelve-year-old. Thirteen, Kate thought. Sara had a birthday recently.
“I want you both to go home, get a good night’s rest. I’ll pick you up around seven. That too early?”
“I doubt either of us will get any sleep. Seven is fine,” Alex said.
Kate heard the worry in his voice, the fatigue. She knew he was trying to hold it all together. For her. Hell, she was doing the same. They both needed a good scream, something to punch or kick, anything to relieve the bottled-up emotions gripping them. Kate didn’t even want to think of their future, at least not beyond tomorrow.
One day at a time.
Just like an alcoholic.
Chapter 17
“You shouldn’t watch this stuff. James asked us not to,” Kate called out. She was making tea for herself and coffee for Alex. He was in the great room watching Court TV. She brought their drinks in and placed them on the sofa table.
The reporter, an older woman with frizzy red hair and big, chunky jewelry, was interviewing the parking lot attendant from the private garage where the jurors parked their vehicles. So much for secrecy.
“This is ridiculous. What in the hell does he know about your case?”
“He knows the year, make, and model of the jurors’ vehicles. At this point, I’m glad this is all they have to report. Once word of Sara’s testimony is out, the Rocket name will make headlines all over the damn country. This just sickens me, Kate. What in the hell is this world coming to when children can tell such monstrous lies and get away with it! Goddamn that child!” Alex took one of the throw pillows from the sofa, tossing it across the room. “I would like to get my hands on Don Winter. I’d choke the life out of the son of a bitch. Then they’d have a real reason to send me to prison.”
Kate stood by silently, allowing Alex to release his anger. He’d needed to do it for days now. He took the remote control, hit the Off button, then tossed the device across the room so hard that it shattered. Kate would replace it.
“Where’s all that wine you’ve been trying to get me to drink? I think I could use a glass right about now.”
“I’ve got something stronger, if you prefer.”
“I’ll take whatever you have. God, Kate, I don’t know why this is happening to us! What did we do to deserve this? Was I mean to Sara? Didn’t we always get her the best of anything she asked for? I never scrimped when she asked for those outlandish Christmas presents. Hell, I liked spoiling her and Em. I wanted to buy them more. I wanted to give them each a pup. I wanted . . . Oh hell, I don’t know what I wanted.” Alex slumped forward, his head in his hands. His shoulders heaved. Kate watched her husband sob. In thirteen years of marriage she’d never seen him cry. Her heart ached at the sight. Knowing Alex wouldn’t want her to see him like this, she busied herself in the kitchen, searching through strangers’ cabinets for