Chapter 16 - The Criminal Trial
The prosecution began with the emergency call.
My voice.
The nurse’s questions.
Rachel interrupting.
“She’s exaggerating.”
“She’s doing this for attention.”
Then the hospital report.
The bruise.
The healing rib.
The doctor’s notes.
The school records followed.
Then the camera footage.
Then Rachel’s messages.
I PUSHED TOO HARD THIS TIME.
The defense argued context.
The prosecution supplied context.
All of it.
That was the difference.
Emily testified.
Daniel testified under a cooperation agreement.
Dr. Hale testified after reaching terms with the licensing investigation.
I testified too.
Rachel’s attorney asked about my temper.
“Yes.”
“Have you yelled at your wife?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever frightened Sophie?”
“Probably.”
The attorney looked pleased.
Then I continued.
“That doesn’t make what Rachel did less true.”
The jury watched me.
I did not need to be perfect.
I needed to be accurate.
The defense tried to suggest I wanted custody for revenge.
I answered.
“I wanted my daughter to stop being hurt.”
Then the prosecutor played the bedroom recording.
Rachel’s own voice filled the courtroom.
He sees what I tell him to see.
Rachel closed her eyes.
May you like
For the first time since the hospital, she had nothing to correct.
