“I wasn’t any help the first time,” Aly said miserably, and Landon took her hand in his.
“This time, we’ll have you talk about the nature of Ben’s relationship with Sandy.”
“But he didn’t kill Sandy,” Sam said quietly.“What’s that got to do with anything?Wheeler won’t let her talk about that if it doesn’t have to do with the case.”
“They’ll be bringing character witnesses.This is just a character witness.Because we know Dad liked to fight with Sandy.Aly saw it.Lived it.He liked moving her into that house even though his kids disapproved.Even if Wheeler blocks some of that, it’s not about the testimony itself, it’s about how mad Dad will be that you’ve spoken against him.You were supposed to be grateful he took you in, Aly, and now you’ll be speaking against him.It’ll piss him off.”
Landon hated the idea of Aly being the target of Ben’s rage, but Cal kept talking.
“And then we bring in Sam.Someone he’s hated since she was a teenager.She’ll testify about what Bo told her, what he hired her for,andwhat Glenda told us about his true parentage.It plants a seed in the jury’s head that maybe he’s a liar, or someone is, but more importantly, it pisses Dad off.High and mighty Samantha Price trying to undercuthisstory?No, he won’t like that.Maybe he cracks then.”
Landon watched as Cal clearly came up with the plan.He’d never doubted his brother was good at being a lawyer, but now he was seeing it firsthand, and after watching Cal seemingly fall apart for the past six months,thiswas somehow a small positive in this whole shit show.
Cal back to himself.
“If he doesn’t, we twist the knife,” Cal said firmly.“We end it with Glenda.”
“I don’t think she’s going to be up to testifying just because she finally… spoke,” Aly said gently, clearly with some regret.
“Maybe.Maybe not.We’ll have Jill read Glenda’s statements out loud if she can’t speak.None of this the jury reading handouts bullshit.Ben’s going to sit there and listen to a woman undercut every lie he’s told.Because a parade of women slowly proving his story false—whether the jury believes it or not—chips away at his control.And if he explodes, that’s all we need.It proves who he is.That’s all we need.To undercut his little act.”
Landon looked down at Aly.He wasn’t sure what she was thinking or feeling about this, until she lifted her gaze to his.Determined, chin raised.
If she was determined, Landon was all in.
He turned to his brother.“Will Vanderbilt go for it?”
Cal’s gaze was hard and sharp.“He fucking better.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Crawford County Courthouse
Alyhatedhavingto take the stand again.She hated all those eyes on her.Hated recounting all those places she’d believed in Benjamin Bennet’s lies.For nearly thirty years, she’d believed him the good guy.
It made her feel guilty and sad and foolish, and like she was helping the defense that she couldn’t get up here like Sam and say she’d always known he was evil.
But Cal was sure this was necessary.So sure.So much like his old self the past few days of making this all happen while the defense brought up character witness after character witness to prove Ben was sogreat.
Aly would have testified a hundred times about how wrong she’d been, how wrong they all were, if it kept Cal being this strong, this sure, this determined.Not lost and crumbling.
The remaining days of the defense bringing up witnesses had been grueling, but Cal seemed energized.Cal and Sam both, actually.Aly felt like every day was an extra weight on her shoulders—and she would feel that way until it was over.She was pretty sure everyone else felt the same as she did.Even Nate.
But as they walked into the courthouse, knowing Mr.Vanderbilt would call all the women up to the stand today for his rebuttal, Aly tried to find some hope.Some of Cal’s cool, clear determination.
Cal gathered them all up prior to going inside the courtroom.But his message was for Aly, Sam, Glenda, and Jill.
“No matter what Dad does, or says, it doesn’t matter.You give your answers to that jury.Calm.Truthful.You do it just like we planned and practiced.This isn’t about what the lawyers let you say or don’t.It’s just about getting under his skin.And once you do, he’ll break.He won’t be able to help himself.”
Aly knew Landon wanted to ask what happened if he didn’t, but Landon resisted, no doubt because he also saw Cal back to his almost old self and wanted that to stay.She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
She had to hold on to Cal’s determination to see this through.They were all moving forward with some hope today.They could come up with contingency plans if neededafter.
Cal had given them all directives.Aly’s was to paint a picture of the differences between Marie Bennet and Sandy McCoy and Ben’s relationship with each.Cal wasn’t expecting Ben to blow a gasket with the first witness, so it was just her job to lay out the truth.To make a lot of eye contact with Ben.To make sure he knewshehad the upper hand, and she didn’t fall for his bullshit anymore.She saw through it.
Cal was certain that would start the domino fall to break him.
Aly wasn’t sure it would, but she did know that when Sandy had been alive, Ben had not cared for commentary on their relationship, and that when Sandy had been murdered, hehadgrieved.Bringing her up in this context would definitely havesomeeffect.
