Sam stared straight ahead without blinking, a technique she’d used effectively in the past while under cross-examination.
“Your Honor, is that an actual question?” Faith asked.
“Move along, Mr. Wells. We haven’t got all day.”
“Where were you when Mr. Gibson’s allegedly tortured body was found?”
“That Mr. Gibson was tortured is a fact, not speculation, Mr. Wells, and I was in a secure bunker with my family, where we’d been taken after the Secret Service determined the threats made against us, along with the photos of our son, siblings, nieces and nephews going about their daily lives, were credible.”
“What did Mr. Gibson tell this so-called torturer about you?”
“Nothing.”
“Why do you suppose he protected you?”
“It could be that he recognized Fields was a psychopath, and he didn’t want to help him try to hurt me.”
“How did you feel when you learned that he’d done that?”
“Initially, I was confused and relieved. Later, I was appreciative.”
“Because he could’ve ruined you with the things he knew about you?”
“Not at all. Because he could’ve made up whatever fiction he wanted to and chose not to do that. In his final moments, he was honorable, and that’s what I choose to remember about him.”
“How long were you held in this bunker?”
“Several days.”
“And when you were released, what did you do?”
“Everything I could to assist in the investigation into my ex-husband’s murder.”
“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”
“We were no longer married, so no.”
“But you had extensive history, no?”
“We did, but?—”
“Didn’t that history color your approach to the investigation?”
“It did not. Mr. Fields was quickly linked to Mr. Gibson, and Mr. Fields is the one who connected Gibson’s murder to Mr. Nelson and Mr. Ritter.”
Her lack of emotion was rattling the defense attorney. Had he expected her to wail and carry on? If so, he’d be disappointed. That wasn’t her style, even when talking about horrors that struck far too close to home.
Wells stared her down for a long moment before he said, “Nothing further. I reserve the right to recall this witness at a later date.”
“Thank you for your time, Lieutenant,” the judge said. “You’re dismissed.”
Sam got up and walked past the defendants, wishing she could say something like, Have fun in prison, but she kept moving until she rejoined Vernon and Q at the door. “Get me out of here.”
“Right this way, ma’am.”
* * *
In the car, Sam sent Nick a text to let him know she’d gotten through testifying and was headed back to work.
