“Not all of it, no. But whatever Hayden …”
“I’m not asking you about Hayden. Let me ask you this. When Ellie’s remains were found, you were shown the items found along with her, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“What were they?”
“She … some of her clothing. Her necklace. Her earrings.”
“Earrings. But it was only one of the earrings, isn’t that right?”
“I think so.”
“You think so.”
“Yes. One earring. Yes.”
“You even remarked on that to Detective Ritter, didn’t you? You asked him where the other earring was because it was important to you to get them back, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. They were her favorites.”
“Do you recall what Detective Ritter told you?”
“He said it was evidence. That they couldn’t release it until the case was closed. Until after they made an arrest.”
“Mrs. Luke, you understand the mate of Ellie’s earring was found in a box in your son-in-law’s possession, don’t you?”
She shook her head almost violently. “No. Don’t you dare. I know what you’ve done. You’ve poisoned my granddaughter’s mind. She’s disturbed. Just like my husband. Just like Jamie said.”
My heart thundered. “Like Jamie said? Jamie Simmons told you not to believe Hayden, didn’t he?”
“Of course.”
“And he told you not to talk to the police, or to me, didn’t he?”
“You’re twisting everything. I knew you would.”
“Did Jamie Simmons tell you not to talk to the police or to me?”
“I didn’t … that wasn’t … you’re making it sound like …”
“I’m not making it sound like anything. I’m asking you a question. Did Jamie Simmons ask you not to talk to me or the police in connection with this case?”
“He told me not to believe everything people were saying. I knew my granddaughter had an unhealthy obsession with what happened to Ellie. And I know my husband is having some of the same issues he had when Ellie went missing. That’s all.”
She wasn’t going to budge. But she’d all but admitted Jamie had exerted influence over her.
“I have no further questions,” I said. Cutler deferred rebuttal.
“You may call your next witness,” Judge Saul instructed him.
Without missing a beat, Bennett Cutler squared his shoulders and spoke with a booming voice. “The defense calls Dane Fischer to the stand.”
29
Dane Fischer looked different from the last time I saw him. He’d gotten leaner. His dark expression cut through me. It wasn’t hard to understand how he saw the world. How he saw me, every deputy in the room, Bennett Cutler, Jamie Simmons. Even Erin Simmons as she sat meekly two rows behind her husband.
We were Dane’s enemies. We were the people who he had to believe kept him from the life he wanted to live. He was another one of Jamie Simmons’s victims and Claudia Luke had just pilloried him again in her direct testimony.
