Muted Judgement (Legal thriller, thriller) Read Online Free Page B

but he had few questions and mostly what he asked supported what Lauren wanted to accomplish with this witness. She wanted to smile, but decided that gloating was not attractive.
    Finally the doctor was dismissed from the stand.
    "Well take a lunch break and return in an hour," Ethan said before banging his gavel.
    ***
    Lauren stared at the message on her phone.
    "Don't prosecute Claire Smith."
    The number the text had been sent to was blocked. This added, to the threat called to her home phone, she was now officially worried.
    She stood outside the court house, in broad daylight. Looking around she saw that people were in groups, but no one was paying any special attention to her.
    Something had to be done, but she wasn't backing down.
    With her jaw set, she called her housekeeper. "Marcia, I need you to pick Sasha up from school today."
    "Sure. Any reason?"
    "Yes, but I'd rather not explain over the phone. Please take her to my parents' house and stay there with her."
    "Whatever you say."
    "Thanks Marcia and try not to scare her."
    "Understood," Marcia said before hanging up.
    That taken care of, Lauren straightened her blouse, looking around. "Could be anyone here."
    But only a handful of people knew her cell.
    The whole idea put a chill down her spine, but she was not giving up.
    The trial must go on.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 3
     
    After a quick lunch, eaten on the run, Lauren entered the afternoon portion of the trial. Trying hard not to be distracted about the threat to her, she called another witness to the stand.
    "State your name for the court."
    "Ben Williams."
    A short, round man, Ben Williams was not impressive-looking, but Lauren hoped he had credibility. He placed Claire at the scene at the right time.
    Lauren stood after her witness was sworn in. "Mr. Williams, please state your address."
    As he spoke, she sauntered over to the witness stand. No reason not to try to convey confidence. Williams sat in the chair as if he'd done this all of his life. When she'd talked to him as a witness, he'd fidgeted the whole time. Having coached him on sitting still, she almost smiled that he ended up being so still.
    "10 Hunt Lane."
    She nodded at him. "And yo u live how close to John Sheffield?"
    "I am, er, was his next door neighbor," Ben said.
    "And on the night he was killed, do you remember what you were doing?"
    Lauren looked at the jurors to gauge their reaction to her witness. They all had their eyes glued to him. No one nodded. They all seemed to be just taking in what he had to say. Good.
    "I was walking my dog. The night was clear and moonlit. I enjoy nights like that and Buffy, my dog, will always oblige a last walk."
    Some of the jurors smiled at his dog story.
    "Did you see the defendant that night?" Lauren asked.
    She indicated Claire who didn't make eye contact with anyone. The ever present tears hadn't made their appearance yet. Ben looked at her then back to Lauren.
    "Yes, I did."
    She put a hand on the oak stand. "You're sure? It was night time."
    "I'm sure," he said more to the jury than to Lauren. He cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. "She almost ran into me."
    "She was in a hurry?"
    "Objection," Brad said. "Asking the witness to assume the defendant's state of mind."
    Ethan pondered this for a moment. "Sustained."
    Some jurors shuffled in their seats. Lauren had never been on a jury and she wondered if this was good theatre or very boring for them. A few yawned.
    Lauren nodded at the judge. "Mr. Williams, was Miss Smith moving quickly?"
    "Yes, she was running out of Sheffield's house."
    "Where were you at the time?"
    "I was at the end of Sheffield's front walk. The one that lead to his front door."
    "So Miss Smith came at you quickly."
    He shook his head. "I barely had time to get out of the way. I thought she was going to step on Buffy. I think I growled at her as did my dog."
    "Did she stop?"
    "She did pause and look straight at me,"