“What name did your brother and his wife give to the child?” asked Walker.
“Fionn.”
“The same name they gave their previous child who died. Do you know why they did that?”
“My brother said his wife insisted. Claimed it was an old family name.”
“Did the child survive?” Walker asked.
“Yes.”
“Is that child in the courtroom today?” asked Walker.
“Yes, he is.”
“Please point him out.”
“There,” Eideard MacDùghlas said, jabbing a finger at Fionn.
“Let the record show the witness has identified the minor, Fionn MacDùghlas as the child who was the second child born carrying the name Fionn,” Walker stated. “One last question, Mr. MacDùghlas, why do you seek custody of Fionn?”
“Fionn and my brother were very close but then his wife became jealous of the time they spent together and she eventually drove a wedge between them so that Fionn grew up without knowing his father’s family. After Fionn’s mother died, the lad blamed my brother for it…refusing to have anything to do with him, even though my brother tried very hard to repair their relationship and reunite the family. If the court grants custody of Fionn to me, he’ll have the opportunity to get to know his father’s family and his heritage.”
Walker headed back to his seat with a smug look, passing Fionn who ignored him and, instead, was transfixed by the viciousness he found in his uncle’s eyes. A shiver ran down his spine, remembering his father giving him the same look when Fionn woke in the cave, chained and unable to shift. Startled when he heard Cody again whispering to him, he gave an imperceptible nod before grasping Dylon’s hand.
“Mr. Anderson, your witness.”
“Thank you, Your Honor, I have no questions for this witness.”
“You may step down, Mr. MacDùghlas. Mr. Walker, you may call your next witness.”
“Thank you, Your Honor. We have only one more witness. I call Fionn MacDùghlas to the stand.”
Penn jumped up, “Your Honor, I object. Mr. Walker didn’t inform me that he intended to call my client as a witness.”
Walker stood, “Your Honor, Mr. Anderson’s objection is without merit because, according to his filings, his client is an adult and therefore is free to be called without notice.”
“Mr. Walker, are you conceding that my client is an adult?”
“Of course not. I’m simply saying you’re claiming he is and therefore isn’t subject to the rules governing a minor,” Walker argued.
“Your Honor, in order for Mr. Walker’s argument to have merit, this Court would have had to rule that Fionn MacDùghlas was an adult prior to this hearing. Without such a determination, my client is still a minor in the eyes of the court and therefore cannot be called as a witness without prior notification given to the minor’s attorney and his guardian who is present in the courtroom and can testify as to the lack of contact from Mr. Walker.”
Holding his breath, Fionn watched the judge glance at his uncle and his attorney before asking Walker if he had proof he’d given notice to Penn and Dylon before the proceeding. When Walker admitted he didn’t, the judge sustained Penn’s objection, and Fionn let out his breath.Then Penn spoke. “Your Honor, I’ve just been informed my last witness has arrived and will be in the courtroom shortly.”
Looking at the time, the judge asked, “Will this take long, Mr. Anderson?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“Very well. If your witness is not here in five minutes, the hearing will proceed without their testimony.”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Penn sat down, gathered his papers up, sorted through them, and pulled out two documents.
Wondering what was going on, Fionn leaned over to Dylon, whispering, “What’s Penn doing?” At that moment, he heard the courtroom door open. Swiveling around in his chair, his jawed dropped when he saw who Penn’s witness was.
Chapter 33
Pausing for a moment, Oracle spotted Penn, then, smiling, headed over to his table. “Sorry I am late, dear.”
