Splitsville, page 20
And yet, Kenzi thought, he kept moving closer.
“I saw someone running. They started near the burning buildings, then crossed the entire lawn. It was dark, but there was a lot of light coming off that fire. I could see the long hair. Slender figure.”
“What happened next?”
“I watched the fire for a while. Checked my phone to see what was going on, but nothing was posted. Eventually I went back into the convenience store.”
“What did you see there?”
“The defendant. Maya Breville.” He pointed.
“You’re sure about that?”
“Saw her clear as day. For a minute. Then she went back outside. Guess after that the cops got her.”
He was right. The SpeedyMart security camera footage showed Maya was in the store. When the police arrived at the scene, a minute or so after the fire department, they found Maya as close to the fire as it was safe to be. After talking with her a few moments, they detained her for questioning and later arrested her.
“You saw the defendant fleeing from the scene of the crime. Did you see anyone else running around?”
“Nope.”
“Driving away?”
“Nope.”
“Anyone else at all?”
“Just the defendant.”
Harrington turned toward the jury. “And that is a telling fact. Pass the witness.”
Telling fact, yes, but what did it tell? That the actual arsonist was too smart to be spotted? Or had set a long enough fuse to disappear before the fire broke out? Unfortunately, Emma said juries gave eyewitness testimony enormous weight, despite how fallible memories are.
Kenzi addressed the witness. “You’ve acknowledged that it was nighttime when you first spotted the person you claim was my client. How close were you?”
Atherton pondered a moment. “Maybe a couple hundred feet or so.”
“That’s quite a bit. Especially in the dark. How can you be certain it was Maya?”
“Like I said, I saw the long hair. Slim figure.”
“And that proves it was Maya?”
“It looked like her.”
“Was any light shining on her?”
“Only from the back. The fire.”
“You didn’t see her face?”
“I didn’t need to see her face. I’m telling you, it was her. I wouldn’t lie about that.”
No, he wouldn’t lie. But he might be…overly certain. “Basically, you saw her silhouette.”
“I saw her in bright fluorescent lighting inside the store!”
“Yes, but that was later, right?”
“Maybe a minute or so.”
“Did you see Maya enter the store?”
“How else would she get in there?”
“Please answer the question.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “No, I did not actually see her enter the store.”
“So the person you saw running across the lawn, and the person you saw in the store, might be two different people.”
“I’m telling you, I saw her. Outside. Then in the store. Then I saw her leave.”
“Do you have any idea how far the lab is from the convenience store?”
“I dunno. Maybe five hundred feet?”
“Just over three thousand. Three thousand one hundred and twelve. I measured. You said the lawn was long, but it’s even longer than you realized.”
Kenzi saw Judge Foreman look up from his notes, eyebrow raised. Was it possible he was impressed?
“Do you know when the explosion occurred?”
“Not precisely…”
“As confirmed by satellite, it was 10:24 pm. Do you know when the police arrived?”
“Noooo….”
“According to their time-stamped car cam, it was 10:29. They were on the scene fewer than five minutes after the explosion occurred.”
“Impressive.”
“And the first thing they did was arrest Maya. Who was already there when they drove up. How long do you think it would take to run from LORE to the convenience store and then back again?”
“I have no idea. She was moving pretty darn fast, I can tell you that.”
Kenzi took a folder from Emma. “According to your testimony, Maya crossed the front lawn to the convenience store, stayed in the store for a few minutes, bought nothing, then returned across the street before the police arrived…about five minutes after the explosion.”
“Like I said, she was a fast runner.”
“She’s over thirty and she was wearing work shoes.”
“That don’t mean nothing. Some people can move fast. Back in the day, I used to—”
“Yes, some people are fast. Athletes. Track stars. The only sport my client has ever played is chess. But just for giggles, we contacted a middle school track champion and asked her to run this distance. I have the reports here, and if opposing counsel wishes, I have the champion I mentioned ready to testify. She ran the distance three times. From the lab to the convenience store, one minute pause, then back to the middle of the front lawn.”
Kenzi paused and looked up from the report. “Her best time was seven minutes and three seconds. And let me tell you, she’s fast.” Pause. “But not fast enough. Because what you’re claiming, sir, is impossible. A track star couldn’t do it. The Flash couldn’t do it. And a scientist in street shoes definitely couldn’t do it. I don’t know who you saw out there—but it wasn’t Maya.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
The Sentinel sat in the back of the courtroom pondering the deepening and darkening situation. The lawyer was getting too close. Closer than she realized, he suspected. It was like watching a Perry Mason episode play out before your eyes. If someone had the sense to put all the pieces together…
There was a vague chance, however remote, that Maya might dodge the murder charge but still go down for arson. Or vice versa. Either way, her time in prison could be less than anticipated.
That was a disturbing thought.
The Sentinel had been following Maya, watching her, watching everyone associated with her, for a reason. She was a threat to all those future plans. And that was unacceptable. This was a decisive moment, not just for the Sentinel, but for everyone.
A new beast, slouching towards Bethlehem…
This minor disturbance could not be permitted to impede the plan.
The Sentinel had broken the shackles of convention before, in the most dramatic way possible, and would not hesitate to do so again. Fate could not be slowed by plebian morality or commonplace tropes. They had moved far beyond all that, never to return. A higher plane of existence awaited, for those who had the courage to walk the path. This could be the next step in human evolution.
This could be the time when everything changed. Because the Sentinel kept watch. Protected the populace. Guided the masses toward the beckoning horizon.
Assuming everything went the way it should in this courtroom. If it didn't…
Steps would have to be taken.
The Sentinel watched like a fly on the wall, the invisible observer, seeing all. Michael sneaking into the courthouse conference room. Brittany looking more like a kidnap victim than a daughter. The woman from the lab. The so-called wife. And so much more…
That was how the title “Sentinel” came to be. It belonged to the one who saw all, who had insight and foresight and profound powers of perception.
But you could never be certain who’d taken their thirty pieces of silver.
The Sentinel must be watching. Always watching.
And when appropriate, nudging the pieces into place. With a sledgehammer, if necessary. With the purifying flames of perdition, if that was what the situation demanded.
If the Sentinel had to kill again, so be it. Amen. Requiescat in pace.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kenzi peered into Maya’s eyes. “Remember, no reaction. None. Whatsoever. I don’t care what he does. I don’t care what he says. I told you this before the settlement conference but you didn’t listen—and look what happened.”
Stress was apparent on every inch of Maya’s face. “What if he tells lies about me?”
“We both know he will tell lies about you. We expect that. Even the judge expects that. Rise above it.”
“Those jurors don’t know me. They have no way of realizing who’s telling the truth.”
Kenzi picked up the file that contained Hailee’s juror profiles. “Don’t they, though? According to our background checks, seven of the twelve have been divorced themselves. Every one of those seven people has heard their ex tell lies about them. They will not expect Michael to take the stand and sing your praises.”
“How will we rebut his testimony?”
“Leave that to me. I’m not too shabby on cross-examination.”
“You won’t trick him. And he’ll never admit he’s lying.” A weariness seemed to consume her. “I’m going to have to take the stand, aren’t I? And even then, it will just be he-said/she-said. Leaving the jury with no way to perceive the truth.”
Kenzi laid her hand on Maya’s shoulder. “One step at a time. Let’s get through today. Then we’ll figure out what to do tomorrow.”
Michael Breville took the stand. Harrington did not spend much time on the preliminaries, though he made sure everyone understood that Michael and Maya were in the middle of a divorce and Michael currently had custody of their daughter—by court order. He established that, although the two were technically still married, Michael had waived all spousal privilege. He wasn’t being forced to testify against Maya. He wanted to.
“What do you do for a living?” Harrington asked.
“At present, I’m a househusband. About to be an ex-househusband, I guess. I have a science background too, but I was let go. I’ve focused on raising our daughter…who has needed a lot of assistance.”
“So you’re financially dependent upon your wife.”
“For the time being.” He seemed uncomfortable, crossing and re-crossing his legs. “I do hope to get back to work, once things settle down and Brittany is in a secure place.” He paused. “Away from her mother.”
“Are you suggesting that her mother is a dangerous influence?”
“Objection,” Kenzi said, springing up. “This is a murder trial. Not family court. And that’s a leading question.”
“I have no intention of trying the divorce,” Harrington said. “But there is some…overlap. The same factors that explain why the court awarded this witness custody of their child help explain why the defendant committed the murder.”
“Allegedly,” Kenzi insisted. “I urge the court to exclude—”
Judge Foreman cut her off with a wave of the hand. “I will allow questions that are relevant.” He gave Harrington a warning look. “Don’t descend into irrelevant mudslinging. And that last question was leading, so the objection is sustained.”
Harrington turned back to the witness. “Please tell the jury why you felt it was important to distance your daughter from her mother, the defendant now on trial for murder.”
Michael nodded. “As I think you already know, Maya has joined the cult known as Hexitel—”
Kenzi jumped up again. “Objection to the use of the word ‘cult.’ That’s judgmental and prejudicial. My client considers Hexitel her religion.”
The judge didn’t quite curl his lips…but almost. “Overruled. I’m not going to choose the witness’ words for him.”
She didn’t expect to win that one. But she did want to make the point in front of the jury. ‘Cult’ was in the eye of the beholder, right?
Not according to Michael. “Hexitel is nothing like a religion, except maybe Scientology. But it’s even more money-grubbing and potentially dangerous. Everything is about dollars and power. Rise through the ranks so you can be the master instead of the slave. Recruit more people so you can share in the wealth. Get involved in more orgies.”
“Objection!” Kenzi said loudly. She couldn’t actually think of a reason, but there had to be one. That was offensive and obviously meant to turn the jury away from Maya. “Lack…of personal knowledge.”
“Overruled,” the judge said without missing a beat. “The man lived with the defendant. I think we can assume he knows what he’s talking about. Please continue.”
Michael did. “They do in fact engage in sexual rituals involving large numbers of people. For instance, Maya told me about a mass spanking. Obviously, some people are into that.”
Kenzi tucked in her chin. Couldn’t deny that one…
“And they assign same-sex partners. As I think you already know, they assigned Maya a wife.” He looked directly at the jurors. “And what’s worse—Maya brought the wife home to meet my daughter.”
Kenzi felt Maya leaning forward. She pushed her back and glared. No reactions, remember?
“What happened?” Harrington asked.
“I don’t know what happened before I got home and met this…woman. But when I arrived, she was telling Brittany all about their cult, how it trained women to be executives and helped women find the power within themselves and all that claptrap. She even said something about sexual energy, which I took to be a coded message. It’s all a false front for what they’re really doing.”
“And what would that be?”
“These people are witches. I mean, that’s what they call themselves. I guess you could say that’s female empowerment, in a black magic sort of way. But we’re not talking about cute Samantha Stevens-type witches. We’re talking about sick people committing foul deeds to advance their own agendas. And this woman was trying to drag my daughter into her club of sex-fiend witches.”
Harrington bore a grim expression. “What did you do?”
“Threw the woman out. Not physically, not violently, but I told her I did not want my daughter exposed to anyone calling themselves her mother’s wife. And she left.”
“What was the impact on your daughter?”
“Devastating. She was so confused. She thought Mommy and Daddy loved each other. And then Mommy comes home with a wife.”
“Did you ask Maya why she brought this woman to meet your daughter?”
“Yes. And with no shame or embarrassment she told me they were trying to educate Brittany about the cult. She said it was only natural for her to want her daughter to join her church. She said that to survive, every religion needs to indoctrinate new members.”
Maya clenched her fists. “Not true,” she whispered. “I would never use the word ‘indoctrinate.’”
“If you don’t shut up,” Kenzi whispered back, “I’m telling the marshals to take you away.”
“Hexitel had so warped my wife’s thinking,” Michael continued, “that she was willing to expose our daughter to these sickos. That’s when I had to intervene. I filed for divorce and asked for an emergency custody order. Which was granted.”
Maya scribbled on a legal pad. FREEDOM OF RELIGION?
Kenzi ignored it and tried to pay attention to what was happening on the witness stand.
“Have things been more peaceful since then? Without your wife trying to influence the child?”
“Much more. And Brittany’s talking to me, telling me about things that happened before. Things I didn’t know about.”
She could feel Maya clench. Here it came…
“What kinds of things?”
“Things her mother said and did. She loves her mother and didn’t want to tattle. At first. Now, with a little more distance, she’s opened up more.”
“And what have you learned?”
“Apparently, Hexitel gives its members…quests.”
“Like crusading knights?”
“Except these won’t get you the scarf of a fair maiden. These will get you into the upper hierarchy of Hexitel.”
Harrington paused, bracing himself against the podium. “Did Brittany tell you what the defendant’s quest was?”
“Yes.” He paused, drawing in his breath. “Apparently she was given a mission to strike out against her employer. Against the lab where she worked. The one that burned.”
Kenzi could see the jurors looking at one another. You didn’t have to be clairvoyant to know what they were thinking.
“Why would Hexitel want that?”
“I’m not sure. It might be a loyalty test. Like making a random hit so you can become a made man in the mob. But I think Hexitel was trying to get something from that lab. Trying to gain access to its research. Or to stop its research. And the lab wasn’t cooperating.”
“So the defendant went after them?”
“Eventually. Maya tried to steal something and got caught. I don’t know what she was after. But I know she was held by the lab security officer for hours. I think this is the real reason Maya was fired. Not because she was in a cult. Because she tried to steal proprietary research.”
Maya scribbled furiously. HE’S LYING.
“At that point,” Michael said, “the quest changed to something else.”
“Burn the place down?”
Michael nodded solemnly. “And take out the woman who fired her.”
“Objection,” Kenzi said. This is pure hearsay. I’m sure the prosecution loves it, since they don’t have any evidence of motive. But the witness’ claim that he got this information from an extremely young child who is not in the courtroom makes it inadmissible. If he—”
“Actually,” Michael said, “I also talked to Maya about this after she was fired.”
Kenzi fell silent.
Michael continued. “We were separated, but she’d asked to see Brittany. I told her I couldn’t allow that unless I knew what happened at LORE. And her reply was, ‘A spy was sent into Canaan.’”
“What does that mean?”
“Not sure. But it confirms what Brittany said about her mother’s quest. She was fired for a good and valid reason.”
“Did you ask the defendant to explain?”
“Of course. But all she said was, ‘The sinners will be purged with fire. And the fallen angel will be punished.’”
Harrington paused to let the jury absorb that message. “What do you think that meant?”
“At the time, I had no idea. But after the lab burned and the woman who fired Maya was murdered….”
“I saw someone running. They started near the burning buildings, then crossed the entire lawn. It was dark, but there was a lot of light coming off that fire. I could see the long hair. Slender figure.”
“What happened next?”
“I watched the fire for a while. Checked my phone to see what was going on, but nothing was posted. Eventually I went back into the convenience store.”
“What did you see there?”
“The defendant. Maya Breville.” He pointed.
“You’re sure about that?”
“Saw her clear as day. For a minute. Then she went back outside. Guess after that the cops got her.”
He was right. The SpeedyMart security camera footage showed Maya was in the store. When the police arrived at the scene, a minute or so after the fire department, they found Maya as close to the fire as it was safe to be. After talking with her a few moments, they detained her for questioning and later arrested her.
“You saw the defendant fleeing from the scene of the crime. Did you see anyone else running around?”
“Nope.”
“Driving away?”
“Nope.”
“Anyone else at all?”
“Just the defendant.”
Harrington turned toward the jury. “And that is a telling fact. Pass the witness.”
Telling fact, yes, but what did it tell? That the actual arsonist was too smart to be spotted? Or had set a long enough fuse to disappear before the fire broke out? Unfortunately, Emma said juries gave eyewitness testimony enormous weight, despite how fallible memories are.
Kenzi addressed the witness. “You’ve acknowledged that it was nighttime when you first spotted the person you claim was my client. How close were you?”
Atherton pondered a moment. “Maybe a couple hundred feet or so.”
“That’s quite a bit. Especially in the dark. How can you be certain it was Maya?”
“Like I said, I saw the long hair. Slim figure.”
“And that proves it was Maya?”
“It looked like her.”
“Was any light shining on her?”
“Only from the back. The fire.”
“You didn’t see her face?”
“I didn’t need to see her face. I’m telling you, it was her. I wouldn’t lie about that.”
No, he wouldn’t lie. But he might be…overly certain. “Basically, you saw her silhouette.”
“I saw her in bright fluorescent lighting inside the store!”
“Yes, but that was later, right?”
“Maybe a minute or so.”
“Did you see Maya enter the store?”
“How else would she get in there?”
“Please answer the question.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “No, I did not actually see her enter the store.”
“So the person you saw running across the lawn, and the person you saw in the store, might be two different people.”
“I’m telling you, I saw her. Outside. Then in the store. Then I saw her leave.”
“Do you have any idea how far the lab is from the convenience store?”
“I dunno. Maybe five hundred feet?”
“Just over three thousand. Three thousand one hundred and twelve. I measured. You said the lawn was long, but it’s even longer than you realized.”
Kenzi saw Judge Foreman look up from his notes, eyebrow raised. Was it possible he was impressed?
“Do you know when the explosion occurred?”
“Not precisely…”
“As confirmed by satellite, it was 10:24 pm. Do you know when the police arrived?”
“Noooo….”
“According to their time-stamped car cam, it was 10:29. They were on the scene fewer than five minutes after the explosion occurred.”
“Impressive.”
“And the first thing they did was arrest Maya. Who was already there when they drove up. How long do you think it would take to run from LORE to the convenience store and then back again?”
“I have no idea. She was moving pretty darn fast, I can tell you that.”
Kenzi took a folder from Emma. “According to your testimony, Maya crossed the front lawn to the convenience store, stayed in the store for a few minutes, bought nothing, then returned across the street before the police arrived…about five minutes after the explosion.”
“Like I said, she was a fast runner.”
“She’s over thirty and she was wearing work shoes.”
“That don’t mean nothing. Some people can move fast. Back in the day, I used to—”
“Yes, some people are fast. Athletes. Track stars. The only sport my client has ever played is chess. But just for giggles, we contacted a middle school track champion and asked her to run this distance. I have the reports here, and if opposing counsel wishes, I have the champion I mentioned ready to testify. She ran the distance three times. From the lab to the convenience store, one minute pause, then back to the middle of the front lawn.”
Kenzi paused and looked up from the report. “Her best time was seven minutes and three seconds. And let me tell you, she’s fast.” Pause. “But not fast enough. Because what you’re claiming, sir, is impossible. A track star couldn’t do it. The Flash couldn’t do it. And a scientist in street shoes definitely couldn’t do it. I don’t know who you saw out there—but it wasn’t Maya.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
The Sentinel sat in the back of the courtroom pondering the deepening and darkening situation. The lawyer was getting too close. Closer than she realized, he suspected. It was like watching a Perry Mason episode play out before your eyes. If someone had the sense to put all the pieces together…
There was a vague chance, however remote, that Maya might dodge the murder charge but still go down for arson. Or vice versa. Either way, her time in prison could be less than anticipated.
That was a disturbing thought.
The Sentinel had been following Maya, watching her, watching everyone associated with her, for a reason. She was a threat to all those future plans. And that was unacceptable. This was a decisive moment, not just for the Sentinel, but for everyone.
A new beast, slouching towards Bethlehem…
This minor disturbance could not be permitted to impede the plan.
The Sentinel had broken the shackles of convention before, in the most dramatic way possible, and would not hesitate to do so again. Fate could not be slowed by plebian morality or commonplace tropes. They had moved far beyond all that, never to return. A higher plane of existence awaited, for those who had the courage to walk the path. This could be the next step in human evolution.
This could be the time when everything changed. Because the Sentinel kept watch. Protected the populace. Guided the masses toward the beckoning horizon.
Assuming everything went the way it should in this courtroom. If it didn't…
Steps would have to be taken.
The Sentinel watched like a fly on the wall, the invisible observer, seeing all. Michael sneaking into the courthouse conference room. Brittany looking more like a kidnap victim than a daughter. The woman from the lab. The so-called wife. And so much more…
That was how the title “Sentinel” came to be. It belonged to the one who saw all, who had insight and foresight and profound powers of perception.
But you could never be certain who’d taken their thirty pieces of silver.
The Sentinel must be watching. Always watching.
And when appropriate, nudging the pieces into place. With a sledgehammer, if necessary. With the purifying flames of perdition, if that was what the situation demanded.
If the Sentinel had to kill again, so be it. Amen. Requiescat in pace.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kenzi peered into Maya’s eyes. “Remember, no reaction. None. Whatsoever. I don’t care what he does. I don’t care what he says. I told you this before the settlement conference but you didn’t listen—and look what happened.”
Stress was apparent on every inch of Maya’s face. “What if he tells lies about me?”
“We both know he will tell lies about you. We expect that. Even the judge expects that. Rise above it.”
“Those jurors don’t know me. They have no way of realizing who’s telling the truth.”
Kenzi picked up the file that contained Hailee’s juror profiles. “Don’t they, though? According to our background checks, seven of the twelve have been divorced themselves. Every one of those seven people has heard their ex tell lies about them. They will not expect Michael to take the stand and sing your praises.”
“How will we rebut his testimony?”
“Leave that to me. I’m not too shabby on cross-examination.”
“You won’t trick him. And he’ll never admit he’s lying.” A weariness seemed to consume her. “I’m going to have to take the stand, aren’t I? And even then, it will just be he-said/she-said. Leaving the jury with no way to perceive the truth.”
Kenzi laid her hand on Maya’s shoulder. “One step at a time. Let’s get through today. Then we’ll figure out what to do tomorrow.”
Michael Breville took the stand. Harrington did not spend much time on the preliminaries, though he made sure everyone understood that Michael and Maya were in the middle of a divorce and Michael currently had custody of their daughter—by court order. He established that, although the two were technically still married, Michael had waived all spousal privilege. He wasn’t being forced to testify against Maya. He wanted to.
“What do you do for a living?” Harrington asked.
“At present, I’m a househusband. About to be an ex-househusband, I guess. I have a science background too, but I was let go. I’ve focused on raising our daughter…who has needed a lot of assistance.”
“So you’re financially dependent upon your wife.”
“For the time being.” He seemed uncomfortable, crossing and re-crossing his legs. “I do hope to get back to work, once things settle down and Brittany is in a secure place.” He paused. “Away from her mother.”
“Are you suggesting that her mother is a dangerous influence?”
“Objection,” Kenzi said, springing up. “This is a murder trial. Not family court. And that’s a leading question.”
“I have no intention of trying the divorce,” Harrington said. “But there is some…overlap. The same factors that explain why the court awarded this witness custody of their child help explain why the defendant committed the murder.”
“Allegedly,” Kenzi insisted. “I urge the court to exclude—”
Judge Foreman cut her off with a wave of the hand. “I will allow questions that are relevant.” He gave Harrington a warning look. “Don’t descend into irrelevant mudslinging. And that last question was leading, so the objection is sustained.”
Harrington turned back to the witness. “Please tell the jury why you felt it was important to distance your daughter from her mother, the defendant now on trial for murder.”
Michael nodded. “As I think you already know, Maya has joined the cult known as Hexitel—”
Kenzi jumped up again. “Objection to the use of the word ‘cult.’ That’s judgmental and prejudicial. My client considers Hexitel her religion.”
The judge didn’t quite curl his lips…but almost. “Overruled. I’m not going to choose the witness’ words for him.”
She didn’t expect to win that one. But she did want to make the point in front of the jury. ‘Cult’ was in the eye of the beholder, right?
Not according to Michael. “Hexitel is nothing like a religion, except maybe Scientology. But it’s even more money-grubbing and potentially dangerous. Everything is about dollars and power. Rise through the ranks so you can be the master instead of the slave. Recruit more people so you can share in the wealth. Get involved in more orgies.”
“Objection!” Kenzi said loudly. She couldn’t actually think of a reason, but there had to be one. That was offensive and obviously meant to turn the jury away from Maya. “Lack…of personal knowledge.”
“Overruled,” the judge said without missing a beat. “The man lived with the defendant. I think we can assume he knows what he’s talking about. Please continue.”
Michael did. “They do in fact engage in sexual rituals involving large numbers of people. For instance, Maya told me about a mass spanking. Obviously, some people are into that.”
Kenzi tucked in her chin. Couldn’t deny that one…
“And they assign same-sex partners. As I think you already know, they assigned Maya a wife.” He looked directly at the jurors. “And what’s worse—Maya brought the wife home to meet my daughter.”
Kenzi felt Maya leaning forward. She pushed her back and glared. No reactions, remember?
“What happened?” Harrington asked.
“I don’t know what happened before I got home and met this…woman. But when I arrived, she was telling Brittany all about their cult, how it trained women to be executives and helped women find the power within themselves and all that claptrap. She even said something about sexual energy, which I took to be a coded message. It’s all a false front for what they’re really doing.”
“And what would that be?”
“These people are witches. I mean, that’s what they call themselves. I guess you could say that’s female empowerment, in a black magic sort of way. But we’re not talking about cute Samantha Stevens-type witches. We’re talking about sick people committing foul deeds to advance their own agendas. And this woman was trying to drag my daughter into her club of sex-fiend witches.”
Harrington bore a grim expression. “What did you do?”
“Threw the woman out. Not physically, not violently, but I told her I did not want my daughter exposed to anyone calling themselves her mother’s wife. And she left.”
“What was the impact on your daughter?”
“Devastating. She was so confused. She thought Mommy and Daddy loved each other. And then Mommy comes home with a wife.”
“Did you ask Maya why she brought this woman to meet your daughter?”
“Yes. And with no shame or embarrassment she told me they were trying to educate Brittany about the cult. She said it was only natural for her to want her daughter to join her church. She said that to survive, every religion needs to indoctrinate new members.”
Maya clenched her fists. “Not true,” she whispered. “I would never use the word ‘indoctrinate.’”
“If you don’t shut up,” Kenzi whispered back, “I’m telling the marshals to take you away.”
“Hexitel had so warped my wife’s thinking,” Michael continued, “that she was willing to expose our daughter to these sickos. That’s when I had to intervene. I filed for divorce and asked for an emergency custody order. Which was granted.”
Maya scribbled on a legal pad. FREEDOM OF RELIGION?
Kenzi ignored it and tried to pay attention to what was happening on the witness stand.
“Have things been more peaceful since then? Without your wife trying to influence the child?”
“Much more. And Brittany’s talking to me, telling me about things that happened before. Things I didn’t know about.”
She could feel Maya clench. Here it came…
“What kinds of things?”
“Things her mother said and did. She loves her mother and didn’t want to tattle. At first. Now, with a little more distance, she’s opened up more.”
“And what have you learned?”
“Apparently, Hexitel gives its members…quests.”
“Like crusading knights?”
“Except these won’t get you the scarf of a fair maiden. These will get you into the upper hierarchy of Hexitel.”
Harrington paused, bracing himself against the podium. “Did Brittany tell you what the defendant’s quest was?”
“Yes.” He paused, drawing in his breath. “Apparently she was given a mission to strike out against her employer. Against the lab where she worked. The one that burned.”
Kenzi could see the jurors looking at one another. You didn’t have to be clairvoyant to know what they were thinking.
“Why would Hexitel want that?”
“I’m not sure. It might be a loyalty test. Like making a random hit so you can become a made man in the mob. But I think Hexitel was trying to get something from that lab. Trying to gain access to its research. Or to stop its research. And the lab wasn’t cooperating.”
“So the defendant went after them?”
“Eventually. Maya tried to steal something and got caught. I don’t know what she was after. But I know she was held by the lab security officer for hours. I think this is the real reason Maya was fired. Not because she was in a cult. Because she tried to steal proprietary research.”
Maya scribbled furiously. HE’S LYING.
“At that point,” Michael said, “the quest changed to something else.”
“Burn the place down?”
Michael nodded solemnly. “And take out the woman who fired her.”
“Objection,” Kenzi said. This is pure hearsay. I’m sure the prosecution loves it, since they don’t have any evidence of motive. But the witness’ claim that he got this information from an extremely young child who is not in the courtroom makes it inadmissible. If he—”
“Actually,” Michael said, “I also talked to Maya about this after she was fired.”
Kenzi fell silent.
Michael continued. “We were separated, but she’d asked to see Brittany. I told her I couldn’t allow that unless I knew what happened at LORE. And her reply was, ‘A spy was sent into Canaan.’”
“What does that mean?”
“Not sure. But it confirms what Brittany said about her mother’s quest. She was fired for a good and valid reason.”
“Did you ask the defendant to explain?”
“Of course. But all she said was, ‘The sinners will be purged with fire. And the fallen angel will be punished.’”
Harrington paused to let the jury absorb that message. “What do you think that meant?”
“At the time, I had no idea. But after the lab burned and the woman who fired Maya was murdered….”
