"Just a small folding knife. Nothing threatening."
Diana pulled another exhibit. "Defense Exhibit 18. The knife recovered at the scene by police." She held up an evidence bag. "This knife has a four-inch blade. It's a tactical folding knife, not a utility pocketknife. Is this your knife?"
Antonio wouldn't look at it. "It could be."
"It is your knife. Your fingerprints were found on the handle. The police report confirms it." Diana set down the evidence bag. "So you did have a weapon on you that night. A weapon you initially claimed you didn't have. Why did you lie about that?"
"I wasn't thinking about the knife—"
"Or you were hoping we wouldn't bring it up? That you could testify you were unarmed and we'd just accept that?" Diana moved closer. "Multiple witnesses testified that you pulled this knife on Sarah Mitchell, the waitress who was working that section. Did you pull your knife on her?"
"I don't remember—"
"You don't remember pulling a four-inch blade on a woman who was just doing her job?"
"Objection!" Roberto was on his feet. "Counsel is badgering the witness."
"Sustained. Ms. Martinez, ease up."
Diana nodded. "Mr. Costello, let me ask you directly. Did you pull your knife on anyone at Inferno that night?"
Long pause. Then, quietly: "I might have. For self-defense."
"Self-defense against a waitress who weighs maybe a hundred and twenty pounds?"
"She was being rude—"
"So you pulled a knife because someone was rude to you?" Diana let that hang. "And then Mr. DeLuca, who's head of security and whose job is to protect staff and patrons, intervened to disarm you. Correct?"
"He attacked me—"
"He disarmed a drunk patron who was threatening a staff member with a weapon. That's his job, isn't it?"
Antonio's composure was cracking. "I don't know—"
"You don't know. You don't remember. You weren't that drunk. But you also had six shots and multiple beers. You didn't have a knife. But then you did have a knife. For self-defense against a waitress." Diana's voice was sharp now. "Mr. Costello, have you been truthful with this jury about what happened that night?"
"I've told the truth—"
"Have you? Because your testimony keeps changing every time I point out an inconsistency."
"Objection! Argumentative."
"Sustained."
Diana returned to her table. "No further questions for now. But I reserve the right to recall this witness."
Judge Morrison called for afternoon recess. I followed Diana to our conference room.
"He's breaking," she said. "His story's falling apart. If I can get him back on the stand, I can finish destroying his credibility."
"The prosecution knows that. They'll try to rehabilitate him before you get another chance."
"Let them try. He's scared. He knows he lied. It's just a matter of time before he cracks completely."
She was right. Over the next three days, Antonio's testimony continued. Roberto tried to rehabilitate him on redirect. Asked sympathetic questions. Tried to explain away the inconsistencies. But Diana had planted doubt.
On the fourth day of Antonio's testimony, something shifted.
