Simon’s father rose from the gallery, his expression calmbut serious. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered, with the same dark hair as Simon, though streaked with gray. He walked to the witness stand with quiet dignity and took his seat after being sworn in.
I approached slowly, giving the jury time to take him in. A father. A man who’d raised his children with love and care. Someone they could relate to.
“Mr. Nelson, can you please state your relationship to the defendant?”
“Simon is my son,” David said with a proud smile.
“Can you tell the jury a little about Simon’s upbringing?”
David nodded. “We raised Simon and his sister here in Diamond Creek. My wife, Susan, and I did our best to give them a stable, loving home. We taught them to be kind and honest. To treat people with respect.”
“Did Simon ever exhibit violent behavior as a child or teenager?”
“No,” David said firmly. “Simon was always gentle. He was protective of his sister, yes, but never violent. He got into a few scuffles at school. What kid doesn’t? But nothing serious. He was a good kid.”
“What about as an adult? Have you ever witnessed Simon being violent or aggressive toward anyone?”
“Never,” David said. “Simon’s not that kind of person. He’s caring and thoughtful. He’d rather talk things out than fight.”
I nodded. “Mr. Nelson, were you aware of your daughter Sadie’s relationship with Alan Sanders?”
David’s expression darkened slightly. “Yes. We don’t live in Diamond Creek anymore; we retired to Florida. But we talk to both of our kids regularly. Sadie told us she was dating Alan.”
“When did you find out about your daughter’s abuse?”
“When we arrived in town. Simon told us everything,” David said.
“Objection,” Rosalind barked, standing. “Hearsay.”
“Sustained,” Judge Markham said, though it was clear he didn’t like it.
“No further questions, Your Honor.”
Rosalind stood, her expression sharp. She approached David with the confidence of a prosecutor who thought she could break him.
“Mr. Nelson, you mentioned that Simon got into ‘a few scuffles’ in school. Can you elaborate on that?”
David shrugged. “Normal kid stuff. Some kid was giving him grief, and they threw a few punches. A disagreement with another boy on the basketball team. Nothing that resulted in serious injury or disciplinary action.”
“But he did fight,” Rosalind pressed. “He did use physical violence to resolve conflicts.”
“When he was sixteen, yes,” David said dryly. “Most boys do.”
A few people in the gallery chuckled, and Rosalind’s jaw tightened.
“Mr. Nelson, you testified that Simon was ‘protective’ of his sister. Given your son’s... lifestyle choices, would you say his relationship with Sadie has always been entirely appropriate?”
David’s expression hardened. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, Ms. Winthrop.”
“I’m simply asking whether Simon’s protectiveness might stem from something other than brotherly concern. Perhaps an inability to accept that his sister was in a normal, healthy relationship with a man?”
“Objection,” I said, standing. “Counsel is making unfounded insinuations.”
“Your Honor, I’m exploring the defendant’s state of mind and his relationship with the victim,” Rosalind said smoothly.
Judge Markham’s jaw tightened. “Overruled. But tread carefully, Ms. Winthrop.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
