He watched Gina place her left hand on the New Testament and raise her right hand, swearing to tell the whole truth.
He listened to Molly question Gina, establishing her identity and connection to the district attorney’s office and her personal, but former, relationship with the current district attorney, Cory Vinson. Then Molly submitted the video recording as evidence and attested to its validity.
Drew held his breath as Gina confirmed the recording was of Reuben Cote and Cory Vinson. She was positive as she had in fact recorded the video. Drew exhaled.
Gina continued, explaining that Drew could not have known about Mr. Cote’s initial testimony or the recording at the time because she possessed the only copy. Cory Vinson had assumed Gina destroyed the recording when he’d asked her to. Molly submitted further evidence to corroborate the exact date Drew had stepped in as chief counsel on the Van Solis murder trial.
Molly returned to the chair beside Drew. Once again, he wanted to reach for her hand. But this wasn’t a game. They weren’t out to dinner, trying to keep a new relationship under wraps. They were in a courtroom, fighting for his innocence.
Worse, Molly had gone behind his back and brought Gina Hahn into the spotlight. How was he supposed to protect Gina now? He’d ruined Van Solis’s life. He never wanted to repeat that mistake.
If he was cleared, and no one questioned Molly’s decision, Gina could still be collateral damage. And every day Drew would question if there had been another way. A better way. One that hadn’t included harming another life to save his own.
Molly ended her questioning. Judge Bartlett offered Clint, the trial counsel, his opportunity to cross-examine the witness. During the rapid questioning, Gina never stumbled. Never lost her composure.
But Drew cringed and wrestled his anger each time Clint insinuated Gina only wanted revenge on Vinson. Or maligned her character. Or questioned her credibility.
Clint, his voice mild and deceptive, asked her how she could be so certain the second man in the video was in fact Mr. Cory Vinson. Maybe she hadn’t been the one to record the meeting.
Gina tucked her dark hair behind her ear and straightened. She offered that the man in the video wore an insignia ring on his finger that contained a family crest identical to that of Cory Vinson’s. But it was the pencil thin scar that tracked from the man’s ring finger toward his wrist that truly identified Vinson.
Cory Vinson had disarmed an intruder who had had a knife and obtained the scar on his hand. Or so Cory liked to tell the media during interviews. Gina confessed Cory had in reality given himself the wound when he’d incorrectly gutted a fish on a weekend cottage trip with friends.
Drew’s mouth dropped open as if he’d been gutted. Even Clint stood still and silent as if frozen to the spot. Sitting at the table across the aisle from theirs, Clint’s assistant counsel uttered a small gasp.
Beside him, Molly grinned. “And that’s how it’s done.”
It was done.
Judge Bartlett called for counsel to approach the bench. Conversation ensued followed by Judge Bartlett’s announcement that charges against Drew Harrington had been dismissed. Instructions were then issued to the trial counsel to open an investigation into Cory Vinson posthaste. Judge Bartlett exited into her chambers.
In a matter of minutes, Drew’s world had righted. Justice had ruled.
Yet he was anything but content. The court clerk escorted Gina through a side door and the pair disappeared. Denying Drew the chance to thank her. Or to watch out for the woman.
“I’ve been called to Judge Bartlett’s chambers.” Molly returned to the table and quickly slid folders and her notepad into her briefcase. “But congratulations. You’re free to go and celebrate.”
Drew put a hand on Molly’s arm, gaining her full attention. “We promised not to involve Gina.”
“I had no choice.” Molly closed her briefcase. Her face was set and her tone firm as if the discussion regarding Gina was closed too.
But Drew had questions. Wanted answers. He deserved those answers. After all, his hearing could ruin Gina’s life. “How did you get Gina to testify?
“Excuse me.” Molly dropped her briefcase strap on her shoulder and stared at him.
“Reuben’s recanting had already helped Van overturn his conviction. Gina never had to come forward today. Now Gina’s allegations open her to media scrutiny and possible legal trouble.” Drew tugged on his ear as if reminding himself to slow down and listen. To let Molly explain. But his anger, mixed with his pent-up emotions, steamrolled over any caution. “Gina will be exposed. Every secret revealed, the good and the ugly. Her personal life and her relationship with Cory Vinson made fully public. And Cory Vinson won’t go down without destroying her and her family in the process.”
“Gina wouldn’t have come forward to see justice served. She was too scared. But I got through to her, I had to. And she did the right thing finally.” Molly eyed him. “For you. She’s prepared to accept the consequences of her actions, but wants those genuinely guilty to be convicted.”
“Not without incentive.” Or persuasion. The risk to Gina was too big. But Molly was also too good. He appreciated her tenacity, if not her methods. “I don’t blame you or her.”
“That’s very big of you.” Molly crossed her arms over her chest. Her words dry like that quicksand Drew felt he was standing in. “After all, she’s the reason you just got your life back.”
“But at what cost to Gina?” Drew wiped his hand over his mouth. The guilt and regret remained like a bad aftertaste.
Molly studied him. Finally she straightened and pulled back. The motion almost imperceptible. Except to Drew.
To him, she’d recoiled as if she’d discovered he stood in a rattlesnake pit. Or worse, he was the snake.
“You don’t trust me at all, do you?” Her voice lowered into a cold whisper. But a sense of betrayal shone in her overly bright gaze.
Trust me. That’s all
