Chapter Two Hundred and Forty Five - Hailey's Testimony

The prosecutor told the Judge, he had no question for the witness at this time, so as daddy stepped down, Mr. Gussippie turned to Adian and I, with a small smirk and a lift of his eyebrows.

When Adian squeeze my shoulders, I realize something is different and I met daddy's small smile before he sat down and tapped Mr. Gussippie's arm, shaking his head.

Mr. Gussippie turned to Adian and I again, lifting his eyebrow and frowns, as he silently waits expectantly on us.

With his arm still tight around me, "I think they're going to call you to the stand," Adian says softly.

Tensing up, I sought to make eye contact with my father, who kept his eyes fixated to the front.

When I didn't answer Adian stood up, "I'll tell Gussippie that it's not happening," Adian whispers.

Gripping his arm, I stopped him and smile sadly when he looked down at me, "no," sighing deeply, "I'll be okay," smiling reassuringly at Adian, "I'll do it." I nod.

Adian takes his seat and nods at Mr. Gussippie but my eyes was glued on daddy who for some reason, didn't look back at me, not once.

"Your honor," Mr. Gussippie addressed the Judge, "The defence would like to call Mrs. Hailey Knights to the stand," he says and we all wait for the judge's response as I slowly stand to my feet.

With my eyes still glued to the back of my father's head, I smiled when he finally turned to look at me but with a deep frown as he shook is head and tugs Mr. Gussippie's arm.

Daddy wants to stop me from testifying but I'm determined to go ahead because it's the only way the court could hear what actually happened to mummy.

"Mrs. Hailey Knights?" The judge looks at me and then, Mr. Gussippie.

Staring down at the document he was holding, "Yes, sir," Mr. Gussippie responds. "Hailey Sullivan Knights, is the daughter of Mr. David Sullivan." Mr. Gussippie explains.

Nodding the Judge glances at the prosecutor who looks back at me and nods to the judge.

Leaning back, "Mrs. Knights, you may take the stand," the judge invites me to take the seat my father just vacated.

Adian stands up and gives me a tight hug but as usual he couldn't hide the worried expression in his eyes.

"I'll be fine," I assured him but I felt far from fine aware that this testimony must be given, even if daddy isn't freed.

Mummy deserves justice!

When I was sworn in, everything pass by in slow motion after Mr. Gussippie asked my age and how old I was when I last saw mummy.

Without being asked a second question, I gave an insight about mummy's visit to the hospital and us going home to give daddy the good news that I was going to big sister to a baby brother.

The only person I looked at in the courtroom was the man whose been my strength since we got married and the only man who, I know will catch me if I fall today.

No one objected while I gave my statement, describing everything as clear as if it was happening in front of me all over again.

You could have head a pin drop when I concluded my statement, "and daddy kept screaming at the naked lady to call 911 but she didn't move and then when I got down where mummy laid, daddy held my hand and said, stay with her, I'm going to call the doctor." Tears were streaming down my face as I didn't look away from the deep blues that smiles encouragingly at me.

I started wiping the tears when I heard Mr. Gussippie say, "no further questions, your honor," realizing it was the prosecutor would definitely cross-examine me.

"Mrs. Knights, why now?" The prosecutor, standing up asks abruptly, his tone mocking.

"What?" I whispered, frowning, I averted my eyes from Adian's to the prosecutor to Judge Roberts.

"Mr. Jackson," Judge Roberts, addresses the prosecutor, giving him a stern look.

Chuckling, the prosecutor smiles at me, mockingly.

"Why now?" He repeats his question but didn't stop there. "Why are you now coming forward to give a testimony about something which happened almost seventeen years ago.?" He continued. Staring at the file that laid flat on the desk, he stood in front of. "It says here, you were five, now you're a grown woman and suddenly you decided to come here and give the court a story and expect us to buy it?" With his head still lowered, he looks up at me from lowered lashes.

I'm not going to allow myself to be bullied by anyone.

"I'm not here to sell anything but to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!" Lifting my chin, I responded with a calmness, I didn't feel. "Like you said, I was five when I saw mummy being pushed from the top of the stairs." I responded firmly and continued as he lifts his head to stare at me in surprise. "I was five, so no one ask me and no one believed me." I continued. "I was five so I was pushed in a corner and left alone." With my eyes fixate on him, I didn't stop. "I was five, when my daddy told me, he's coming back and left in a police car with two cops." My lips started quivering as I remember that day when daddy left.

I remember!

Turning, I see daddy staring at me with sadness etched all over his face. "Mummy's funeral?" I whispered and looked away when he nods.

I forgot mummy's funeral!

"I was five, when I asked for daddy but was told that both mummy and daddy died in a car crash," I continued, smiling sadly at the prosecutor, as he looked at Mr. Gussippie and back at me.

"I see," the prosecutor started leafing through the documents on his desk, nervously.