***
“DS McKenna, you seemed to have a sudden realization during the questioning. Can you share with the court what was going through your mind?” Solomon asked.
“It was just a number of little things I’d heard coming together. Tom was mentoring Jonah Tyson to help him become a police officer. They had a regular night they met. Then there was the day I spoke to Vinny, at her house. She didn’t seem to know what I was talking about when I mentioned the charges against Jonah.”
Solomon nodded. “I recall.”
“I did some checking, and it turned out that the charges were filed by Rose Chadwick, not Evelyn Shepherd. Evelyn never made a statement.”
“And Jonah Tyson was charged after the murder of Adam Fields, wasn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Did you learn anything else?”
“Jonah had a solid alibi for the night in question. He was having dinner with Thomas Shepherd.”
That got everyone’s attention. Grainger’s head snapped up quickly. “Objection, Your Honor. What evidence does the witness have to support this claim?”
“Your Honor,” Solomon said, “we are prepared to call to the stand the officer who took a sworn statement from Detective Inspector Thomas Shepherd, stating that Jonah Tyson was with him at the time of the alleged assault.” Solomon walked over to his table and opened a folder. “I have a copy of the statement right here.”
The judge gestured for the paper and Solomon handed it to her.
After a moment, the judge passed it to the court reporter to be filed with the exhibits. “For the record, the defense has produced a genuine statement given to police regarding the charges against Jonah Tyson. Prosecution’s objection is overruled.”
“Forgive me, DS McKenna,” Solomon continued, “but it almost sounds as though Mrs. Chadwick made up the story about Mr. Tyson assaulting her daughter. Why on earth would she do that?”
“That’s what I didn’t understand at the time. Not until I thought about Heather, and what she said about dressing up as Ivy, and what Jonah said about Ivy assaulting him when he was a boy.”
“So you suspected Ivy Dorn was involved?
“I suspected something had happened with these teenagers, and the accusations against Jonah Tyson were a smoke screen.” Hunter hesitated. “I’m not sure I could have made a solid conclusion, but it’s possible that Ivy Dorn made up the story about the assault so that Evelyn wouldn’t get in trouble, and so that it would solidify her alibi for the night in question.” She took a sip of water and let that sink in with the jury.
“But isn't her alibi solid? Mrs. Chadwick testified-”
“No," Hunter said. "We confirmed from a witness that Mr. Chadwick was out of town, and that Mrs. Chadwick was at a social function on the night in question. There's no way she could know for certain that Evelyn had remained at the family home for the entire evening."
Hunter paused, then added, "There's no way Rose Chadwick could have known for certain what time it was when Ivy Dorn actually arrived.”
TURNING TABLES
- Adele -
News Review
“Meadow, I have to say, this trial just gets more and more shocking as it continues.”
“Unfortunately it does, Ginger. I don’t think anyone could have imagined a more shocking development than Evelyn Shepherd’s unscheduled appearance in court just days ago, but today’s testimony completely stunned the jury.”
“Now, it’s really seemed as though the defense has been building a solid case recently.”
“That’s right, Ginger. They were pretty quiet in the beginning, but I wonder if the defense attorney, John Solomon, was trying to lull the prosecution into a false sense of security, because he’s countered with a pretty strong case, and by allowing some leniency with how the prosecution presented their case, Solomon has been able to present events in a more chronological and orderly fashion by suspending testimony with the right to finish questioning witnesses later. That’s also meant that cross-examination from the prosecution has been delayed.”
“Now, is that a good thing for the defense?”
“Well, yes and no. It does make it harder for the prosecution to immediately jump on things that have been said on the stand, and Grainger’s had to go back and recall testimony in order to refresh everyone’s memory. I’m sure that for the jury, it’s seemed a bit disconnected, and lacks some of the emotional impact it would have had if he’d been able to cross-examine witnesses sooner.”
“So perhaps this was a strategic move by the defense, another unorthodox approach in a trial that’s been anything but by the book.”
Hunter had noted a long time ago that Ginger seemed to love digging out big words and common phrases in the same sentence. It struck her as odd.
“You’re right, Ginger, but it may be backfiring a bit. This also means that the prosecution got to score all their points close together. We’re nearing the end of this trial, and today’s questioning of Detective Sergeant Hunter McKenna the prosecution still scored a solid blow. The defense is trying to even the score, but the prosecution is still capable of adding strength to their case.”
“Tell us about what happened.”
“In a shocking revelation, it appears that DS McKenna’s daughter, Audra, is the product of her affair with Evelyn Shepherd’s father and Evelyn learned about this after her drug overdose and hospitalization in the days before she shot and killed her father.”
Hunter wanted to scream, or turn the TV off, or smash it with a hammer. Anything, but sit there and listen. This wasn't a new revelation; it had already come out in court days earlier. But the way it was being twisted made it sound as though the jury had no idea until now. For a few moments she managed to block out the sound of the voices, but after they returned from commercial, the women managed to get her attention again.
“The defense is now trying to counter the effectiveness of the prosecution’s revelations on the stand.”
“And how will they do that?”
“Today, or tomorrow, the defense is expected to call Ivy Dorn to testify.”
“Now, wasn’t she a close friend of Evelyn’s, and actually close to Evelyn’s mother as well? How will her testimony help the defense?”
“Nobody knows for certain. This is, again, one of the things about this case that’s really rather unusual. Ivy Dorn has already been called as a prosecution witness. At this point, it’s hard to say just what the defense plans to question her about. One thing the defense did do yesterday was to re-establish the existence of emotional trauma as a result of Evelyn’s sexual assault as a child, and the fact that the boy who instigated the assault now attends Evelyn's high school, and they were able to conclusively prove in court that Jonah Tyson, the young man charged with raping Evelyn Shepherd, was innocent.”
“So the defense has managed to exonerate one person during these proceedings already, even if it wasn’t the person who’s actually on trial.”
“That’s right, Ginger. And sources with the Ontario Provincial Police Department tell me that Jonah Tyson has been accepted for training and that they will be proud to see this dedicated young man wear the uniform.”
“So a happy ending for Jonah Tyson, but the fate of DS McKenna still hangs in the balance.”
Hunter switched the TV off and collapsed back against the pillows as she pulled the comforter over her and shivered. Solomon had said the news was like a barometer, and could sometimes indicate which way the jury was swaying, but based on what she’d heard she felt as though they were approaching a stalemate.
She wondered about what the reporters had said, about Solomon’s plans to call Ivy Dorn and her stomach tightened. Ivy Dorn could do a lot of damage, and they couldn’t afford that.
But she had no idea what Solomon’s plan was, or how news reporters could know things about her defense strategy that even she didn’t.
THERE ARE NO ROADS HERE
- The Corb Lund Band -
Once Ivy
Dorn was reminded of her rights and seated, Solomon stood up. Ivy looked as poised and confident as ever, more adult than child in her skirt and jacket, her hair neatly pinned back in an almost secretarial fashion.
"Ms. Dorn, police have recovered a diary." He lifted an evidence bag from the table. "Do you recognize it?"
Ivy's jaw dropped open. The first crack in her façade.
"Yes."
"Whose diary is it?"
"It looks like Evelyn's." Ivy shifted in her seat.
"So it wouldn't surprise you to learn that it is, in fact, Evelyn Shepherd's diary, and that this has been confirmed by Ms. Shepherd herself?"
Ivy shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Dorn. Could you verbally answer the question for the court record?"
"No."
Solomon extracted the diary from the bag, opened it to a marked page and handed it to Ivy.
"Please read the highlighted passage."
"Your Honor-" Grainger began.
For a few moments, Hunter ignored the arguments between the lawyers as she watched Ivy's face. The girl couldn't resist skimming the passage, and as she did her eyes widened and the color seeped out of her cheeks.
Ivy Dorn had already taken the stand for the prosecution, and portrayed Evelyn as a loved friend she dearly missed. Ivy had worked hard to sell the jury on the lie that Evelyn had adored her mother and would never do anything to hurt either of her parents.
It was imperative the jury dismiss Ivy's testimony as self-serving half-truths that didn't tell the whole story, especially about Ivy's influence over Evelyn Shepherd.
Hunter glanced at the jury. Some of them had seen it, too.
The judge ruled, and Solomon prompted Ivy, again, to read the highlighted passage.
“Ms. Dorn, is it correct that this was written two days after Adam Fields' death?”
Hunter watched Ivy’s face. Beneath the careful expression she'd regained control of, the smooth, creamy skin, Hunter sensed the wheels turning.
Ivy responded with a light, quiet voice. “I…I… I’m not sure...” She looked up at Solomon.
Her eyes were wide, innocent. Almost pleading.
There was no response from the lawyer.
After a quick glance at the judge, Ivy glanced at the papers and then nodded. “Yes. Yes. I just had to think of the date.”
“Would you please read it to the court, Ms. Dorn?”
Ivy glanced at the judge again, but there was no response. It seemed to Hunter as though she was looking for someone to help her escape from her current predicament, but Grainger offered no objection.
The judge addressed her. “Ms. Dorn, you will read the papers for the court.”
“Yes,” Ivy sat up and straightened her shoulders, “of course, Your Honor.”
***
There I was, staring at the clearing where we used to play, at a different scene of terror.
The earth was stained with a large, dark circle of dried blood.
I closed my eyes. The papers had reported where Adam’s body had been found, but nobody had said where he’d been killed.
I looked down at the path, the one that led to the cul de sac.
The address of the house had meant nothing to me; it wasn’t where they'd had the party the night Adam died, it wasn’t where any of my friends lived. When Hunter had asked me I hadn’t even think of where the house was…
But from the hill I could see crime scene tape in the distance, fluttering in the breeze.
I thought about that night, about being grounded and not knowing why. About the party Ivy had mysteriously ditched early.
About the lie Ivy had told Mother. Ivy has said she’d been with me all night.
She wasn't.
***
There was an audible gasp in the courtroom, and the individual, quiet voices meshed together into one loud murmur. Hunter couldn’t see the people behind her, but she could imagine the reporters already writing their leads in their heads.
The judge struck the gavel and called for order.
“Ms. Dorn, where were you on the night Adam Fields was shot?”
Ivy blinked, and raised a hand to wipe away an invisible tear. “With Vinny.”
Solomon smiled. “Yes, we’ve read Evelyn’s account. You snuck in her window, lied to her mother about being there all night, and told Evelyn you left a party. Isn’t that correct?”
“That Vinny wrote that?”
“Yes, and that it happened.”
“Yes. I mean, she wrote it. But sh-she didn’t know everything.”
Solomon frowned. “Did you show up at her house in the middle of the night?”
Ivy’s voice was timid and soft. “Yes.”
“Did you lie to her mother?”
“Well-”
“Yes or no, Ms. Dorn?”
“Yes.”
“And had you been at a party that night?”
“Yes, but-”
“So Evelyn Shepherd’s account was accurate?”
Ivy remained silent.
“Were you at the hill that night?”
“What hill?”
“Were you at the hill where Adam Fields was shot?”
“H-how should I know? Where was he shot?”
“You’ve been reading Evelyn’s accounts to the court. Don’t you know the hill she’s referring to? Where she found the gun, where she found the ground stained with blood? The same hill where you instigated the beating of Jonah Tyson?”
“Evelyn hit him first.”
“But you encouraged the others to beat him, didn’t you? Because he’s Native. What happened the night Adam was shot? Did he reject you? You have a history of turning on people when they don’t do what they want you to do. What did Adam do that made you shoot him?”
Ivy’s mouth dropped open and she looked at Grainger, who jumped to his feet.
“Your Honor, I object. The defense is badgering their own witness.”
“Sustained. Mr. Solomon, move on.”
Hunter watched as the color filled back up in Ivy’s face, and then looked at the jury for a moment before focusing on her lawyer.
She could have sworn he almost smiled. And then he suspended his testimony of the witness.
ONE HEADLIGHT
- Wallflowers -
The Defense Redirects Questions to Hunter McKenna
“DS McKenna, can you describe for the court the scene when you arrived at the Chadwick residence and found Tom Shepherd had been shot?”
Hunter felt her breath catch in her throat. She hadn't expected Solomon to recall her to the stand, or to ask about this.
“I understand this is difficult, DS McKenna. Please. Take your time.”
She wondered how much of a lawyer’s billable time was spent considering how to emotionally manipulate their own client. It made sense that Solomon would want her reactions to be genuine, and that the best way to ensure they were was to keep her in the dark, but this was one time when she wished she’d been able to prepare herself. She couldn't think about the jury, or the look on her face, or how she felt, because if she did she'd come apart and lose control, and Hunter knew if she let herself cry she might never be able to stop.
***
Hunter heard Noah’s four-letter utterance as they stepped inside the kitchen and saw the body on the floor. The paramedics were still working.
Despite the size of the pool of blood on the floor.
Despite Tom’s blue lips.
Despite the gray shade of his skin.
Ben, the paramedic who’d worked on Vinny Shepherd only a few days ago, was talking loudly. She could tell, because of the force of his facial muscles, but something had sucked all the noise out of the room. His movements were fast and frantic. His partner responded.
The first attempt to shock his heart failed. She couldn’t hear them shout the commands; all she saw was the shake of the head, all she heard the echo in her ears of nothingness.
The look in Ben’s eyes.
&nb
sp; Hunter was aware of all of this, but the sound was muffled somehow, as though her head was under water. The steady pulse of her own heartbeats echoed in her ears. Somehow, she knew Noah was touching her arm, talking to her, trying to get her to leave the kitchen, but she stood rooted to the floor.
Incapable of hearing. Incapable of moving. Incapable of closing her eyes.
Yet capable of knowing, somehow, even before Ben gave his head one small final shake and looked up at her, that Tom was gone.
The whistle of wind in her ears turned to the sound of a roaring waterfall before everything clicked back into place with a force that made her reel and reach out to steady herself as she drew a breath.
Noah had grabbed her flailing arm.
She could hear the voices in the room and quickly steadied herself and pulled her arm away.
“First on the scene?” Hunter looked past Noah, to the uniformed officer standing on the other side of her partner. He nodded at another officer. She forced herself to ignore the look in Noah’s eyes that she could see all too clearly, the one begging her not to do this.
“Hunter.” Noah’s voice was soft, her name barely a whisper.
A plea falling on deaf ears.
She pried her gaze away and looked at the man the first officer had nodded at. “First on scene?”
He pointed toward the stairs by the door. “Elijah Two-Rivers. In the basement.”
Hunter knew the kitchen was an intersection, a room that connected the entrance to the house with the stairs to the basement. On the other side of the kitchen was the entrance to the dining room, living room, and hallway that led to the bedrooms. The more people who passed through the kitchen, the greater the chance of contaminating the scene.
Elijah had removed the witnesses to the most sensible place in the house.
Harvest of Ruins Page 17
