Kelsey looked toward Rich. “Rich is dating my older sister. We do a lot of activities together, and I work for her at Walker’s Funeral Home.”
“I see. Is there any other way you are associated with the defendant?” Alice asked.
“Well, I was dating his cousin,” Kelsey said, clutching her hands together.
Alice looked over at the jury. “You’re no longer dating his cousin?”
“Objection, your Honor.” This was going down the wrong path. “Relevance,” I said.
“Approach,” Judge Grizzio said, his bushy eyebrows rising.
Alice and I approached the bench, and I leaned up to talk before Alice could. “Danny Pucci’s death has nothing to do with this case,” I said.
Alice leaned up. “The defendant’s overall violent lifestyle shows that it’s more likely that he’d carry a gun.”
I looked sideways at her. “Man, that’s weak. You can’t use past bad acts unless they’re relevant, and you know it.”
“Agreed,” the judge said. “Follow a different line of questioning, counselor.” He lifted back up and faced the jury. “The objection is sustained.”
Alice and I returned to our seats. But now the jury looked curious at what I’d tried to keep from them, so the damage was done as Alice had intended. She had a lot more trial experience than I did, obviously.
Alice stared at Kelsey for a moment. “Where did Mr. Dorsey, also known as the blond guy, allegedly grab your sister?”
“On the butt,” Kelsey said.
I coughed out a laugh before I could help it, as did several of the jury members. I could hear Aiden’s low chuckle from the back row, and a new type of heat washed over my skin.
Kelsey turned beet red. “Oh. I mean, she was standing over by the dart boards in the bar.”
Alice didn’t lose stride. “Where were you standing?”
Kelsey faltered. “Over by the dartboards?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” Alice asked.
“Telling you,” Kelsey said, nervously pushing her hair away from her face. She faltered.
Alice stepped toward her. “Would you lie for your sister or her boyfriend?”
“Objection, your Honor,” I said, defending Krissy and seeing a couple of the jurors nod. “Badgering the witness.”
The judge looked up. “Objection denied.”
Well, I’d gotten it across to the jury that Alice was mean, and Kelsey needed protection. Good enough.
Alice softened her voice in a very plausible manner. She sounded almost regretful to have to ask any more questions. “Please answer the question. Would you lie to protect your sister or her boyfriend?”
Kelsey chewed on her lip. “Probably but not in court under oath.”
Excellent answer. I kept my expression stoic when I wanted to run up and high-five her. Sometimes the nicest people made the best witnesses, which actually gave me hope with the entire system.
Alice smiled. “All right. I assume you talked to the defendant’s attorney before your testimony. What did she tell you to say?”
Kelsey pursed her lips before answering. “She just told me to tell the truth. That’s all.”
The bailiff stifled a grin. Yeah, I was new, but everybody learned that trick in mock trial and debate.
“I see.” Alice didn’t lose a step. “Let’s go back to the night of the incident. You and your sister were in the bar. How close were you to your sister when Mr. Dorsey allegedly touched her?”
