Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen
We stayed at the house the next few days just waiting. The little girl who was kidnapped would be testifying first and my testimony would come a few days later. Bryntley came in and told me about the girl’s testimony. The live testimony was evidently short. They wanted her to identify the defendant live in court. The details were in the video testimony that was played to the jury right after the girl left the stand. They didn’t release her name to the media because she is a minor and her identity would be concealed. 

The defense attorney didn’t cross examine the girl, he knew the jury would consider that questioning, beating up on a little girl who had already suffered the trauma of being kidnapped and her mother murdered. The prosecution had decided not to try the murder case so they could save it in the event the kidnapping case fell through. This trial was about kidnapping and human trafficking and those penalties were stiff enough the murder case wouldn’t be needed. Also kidnapping and human trafficking were federal crimes with the full power of the federal government. 

I knew I had a protection detail in the house with me and there was another detail waiting outside the house to protect the perimeter of the property. I was told they had stopped several people driving in the area and asked for identification. Anyone who didn’t live in the area were turned away and denied access through the street. 

Tonight would most likely be spent with little sleep. I would be testifying tomorrow and I was certainly nervous. I hoped I was safe but I had to tell my story. These guys needed to be put away and I would do whatever I could to help that happen. I wish I knew who the leader was and had info on him but those were cases still to be resolved. John McKinley would have to testify against whoever he worked for to ever prosecute them and that was unlikely. It was obvious what they were capable of doing. 

The only thing that kept me sane was having Lincoln with me. Hearing him laugh was the one thing I never tired of. I finally got him to bed, but he seemed to sense something was about to happen. Maybe he could sense it from me. After Lincoln went to bed I lay awake thinking about all the possibilities. What if the jury acquitted John even after all of the testimony? Would they still come after my family? It was a question I thought was valid. The jury could decide anything and there was nothing anyone could do. 

I woke up to the aroma of coffee brewing in the kitchen. It was a smell I was beginning to enjoy. I wondered if I could keep Bryntley and Todd after the trial. They took such good care of me I was getting spoiled. I wondered if I would have to relocate to Santa Fe after all of the trial business was over. The fact that I was waking up meant that I had fallen asleep at some point. 

I made my way into the kitchen stumbling at least half of that distance. Lincoln hadn’t made it up yet surprisingly. He probably struggled to fall asleep as well and I knew he worried about me. I wanted to give him a hug for good luck but he needed to get some sleep so I would let him rest. 

Todd would be my driver to the courthouse and Bryntley would stay at the house and protect everyone left there. I trusted her and felt that Lincoln was safe with her. I ate the breakfast that Todd had prepared and then went in to get ready. I would get a shower and put a little makeup on. I had already laid out what I would be wearing. 

After I got dressed and went in to tell Todd I was ready, Lincoln had gotten up and I gave him a hug before going to the Suburban to ride to court. I was nervous and it was obvious. Todd told me to just be calm and clear my mind. He said not to worry about any of the details I couldn’t control, just concentrate on the testimony I was about to give. 

We arrived at the court building unscathed and I had to wait outside the courtroom until they were ready to call me. I wasn’t allowed to go in and listen to the proceedings until after I testified. There was a room close by the courtroom that I waited in, until they came and got me. They are afraid witnesses might be influenced by the testimony of others so you wait until you are actually called. I saw others standing outside the courtroom waiting for a chance to say their piece. I saw a man sitting on a bench on the other side of the doorway from me. 

Todd bent down and said, “That is the little girl’s father and the husband of the murdered wife.” 

I felt sorry for him, really sorry. I knew what he was going through of sorts. I remember when losing Charles was still fresh and how bad I felt for so long after. He had a tough time coming and I thought about going and offering him some support but after second thoughts I decided he needed some time. I knew that’s what I needed after Charles died but now I needed to concentrate on what I was about to do. 

Todd was listening to something in the earpiece he wore and after that he came to me.

Todd said, “It’s time. They are ready for you.”

I followed him into the courtroom and the judge asked me to step up to the witness stand. My legs felt wobbly and I carefully made each step. They did a swearing-in ceremony, and I promised to tell the truth. I knew the prosecutor because we had gone over the testimony. I saw the defense attorney sitting at the table occupied by the man I knew as John McKinley. 

The prosecutor asked me to tell my story and I repeated it the way I had told it to him in his office. It was the truth so it was easy to remember. It all came back to me as vivid as it was the day it happened. I talked about being suspicious and writing down his name and address from his identification. John McKinley sat at the table with his lawyer while I gave my testimony. John used his fingers to mimic holding a gun and then aimed them at me and motioned pulling the trigger. 

I knew it was a threat but I wasn’t scared anymore. I would be carrying my gun and if someone tried something it would be the last task they ever completed. I was tired of running and I was very ready to send this guy away for what he did. I told the complete story and I could see the jury stare at the defendant while I told my story about watching him. I knew I would face cross examination but I was ready to face it.

The prosecutor finished his questions and then he took his seat at his table. The defense attorney walked up to the witness stand and began to speak. 

He asked, “Is it illegal to buy duct tape? After all, your stores sell it.”

I replied, “No sir it isn’t illegal to buy or sell duct tape. My concerns were of the items as a group.”

The defense attorney asked the judge, “Could you please instruct the witness to only answer yes or no to my question?”

The judge issued that instruction and I simply apologized and answered with a no. I knew the prosecutor would cross examine and let me explain my reasons. 

The defense attorney asked me each item and the legality of them. He included zip ties, rubber gloves, trash bags and bleach. I gave a simple “no” answer. 

The defense attorney asked, “Do you make it a habit to follow customers home from the store?”

I replied, “No sir, I don’t”

The defense attorney said, “I have no other questions.”

The federal prosecutor stepped up to the witness stand to clarify some of the questions and answers limited by the defense.

The federal attorney asked, “Can you elaborate why you had suspicions about the items bought by the defendant?”

I replied, “Of course I would. It wasn’t what each item was individually but the total of those items combined together.”

The attorney asked, “You don’t make it a habit of following people home from work?”

I answered, “Of course not. All the items taken together raised some serious red flags and I felt that as citizens of this country we owe it to our fellow citizens to take action when we deem it necessary for the safety of other people.”

The federal prosecutor said, “You sound very strong in your convictions in this matter.”

I replied, “I wish everyone felt as strongly about this as I do. My husband was run over and killed by a drunk driver some time ago and they have yet to find the guy who did it. I know somewhere out there is a guy or girl who knows what happened and could solve the case but for now I will just hold on to the belief that someday someone will step forward with information.”

The prosecution finished with my testimony and just excused me from the stand. That was it, all of the hiding out for months, the disruption of my life and all the fear had boiled down to a few minutes on the witness stand. 

Since I had given my testimony I was free to hang out in the courtroom until the trial ended. I had given it some thought but my family had given up a lot for me to tell my story, I think it is time for us to disappear completely. I knew I had made a difference and that is all that mattered. 

I would take Lincoln and my mom and we would go somewhere that we never heard of before. Somewhere nobody could find us and that we could barely find. There had to be somewhere out there where I could live free of fear and where no one ever came to bother you.