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A security guard walking by came toward her. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
Andy got up and put his hand on her back. “She’s all right,” he told the guard before turning to Holly. “It’s okay,” he said. “Just breathe. In and out. It’s going to be fine.”
Her breathing slowed as Andy led her back to the bench by her upper arm and helped her sit.
“Your testimony is going to put that sonofabitch behind bars so he can’t hurt you—or anyone else—anymore.”
Holly stared at the floor, remembering the statement Jared had given to the press after his arrest, claiming that he’d acted in self-defense after Holly had pulled his gun on him. “What if they don’t believe me?”
“They will.”
“I’m scared, Andy.” Holly turned, meeting his gaze.
“I know. But as soon as you’re done testifying, you’ll never have to see him again. He can’t hurt you from prison. Your testimony is the only way to make sure he pays for what he did to you. And to stop him from doing it again.”
Her coffee burned like acid inside her stomach, and she felt like she might throw up on the marble floor. “I can’t.”
Andy put a hand on her shoulder. “Yes, you can.”
She shook her head, her lungs twisting like a tetherball rope around her heart. She closed her eyes.
“I never told you this,” Andy said. “But the woman Jared dated years ago dialed 911 from his house one night after they’d gotten into a fight. She claimed he’d shoved her against the wall in a fit of rage, but it was in ’83 before the mandatory arrest law was enacted for domestic violence, so Jared wasn’t arrested. They broke up afterward and nothing ever came of it.” He sighed. “Jared claimed she’d lied. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I’d seen his temper enough that I should’ve known better. And I should’ve told you.”
Holly opened her eyes. “It’s not your fault, Andy.”
Beside them, the courtroom door opened with a creak.
“Holly.”
Holly turned to find the assistant DA’s gaze on her.
“You’ve been called to the stand,” she continued. “It’s time to go.”
Holly buried her head in her hands.
“She’s coming,” Andy said. “Just give us a minute.”
“We don’t have—”
Holly looked up to see Andy put a finger in the air.
“One minute,” he said.
The assistant DA clenched her jaw, looking between Holly and the detective. “Fine. But no more.”
As the attorney retreated into the courtroom, Andy moved in front of Holly and crouched into a squat so they were eye to eye. “Holly, I know this is hard. Meg never got the chance to speak up for herself in court. But you can. Meg would want you to testify, just like you’d want her to if she were still here.”
Holly stared into his brown eyes, knowing he was right. Without a word, she stood to her feet. He nodded before opening the courtroom door for her.
“Here’s our witness, your Honor.” The assistant DA motioned toward Holly from the front of the courtroom after she stepped inside.
From the corner of Holly’s eye, she saw Jared spin in his seat at the defendant’s table. She could feel his menacing gaze on her as she moved toward the witness stand. She kept her eyes straight ahead.
“The prosecution calls Holly Sparks to the stand.”
Holly lifted her chin, steeling herself for whatever Jared’s defense attorney might throw her way on their redirect. Andy was right, Meg never got the chance to face her attacker in court.This is mine.Just like she’d never give up her search for Meg’s killer, she had to fight for justice for herself.
No matter how much Jared or his attorney tried to intimidate her, she couldn’t let him win.