Chapter 13 - Taking the Stand
It was my turn to take the stand on the final day of the trial.
I walked to the witness box, the heavy gold medals on my chest clinking softly in the quiet courtroom. I swore the oath and sat down, my eyes locking onto Marcus. He couldn't even look at me.
The prosecutor established my credentials, my rank, and the highly classified nature of the phone call I was conducting on the night of the arrest.
“Admiral Vance, can you describe the defendant’s demeanor when he breached the den?”
“He was erratic, violent, and highly insecure,” I stated clearly. “He saw encrypted technology he didn't understand, and because he had spent a decade convincing himself I was a failure, the reality of my authority triggered a violent, paranoid reaction.”
The prosecutor played the audio recording from the Joint Chiefs' command center. The entire courtroom listened to the chilling sound of Marcus shoving me to the floor, his arrogant voice shouting, “Who do you think you are?” followed by my distress code, and finally, my mother’s terrified pleas before he pointed the gun at her.
“When he pointed the weapon at your mother, what did you do, Admiral?”
“I waited for the tactical team to breach,” I said coldly. “Because if I had engaged him myself, he would not have survived the encounter to stand trial today.”
The absolute, icy certainty in my voice sent a shiver through the gallery.
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The defense didn't even attempt a cross-examination. Sterling knew that attacking a decorated Flag Officer of the United States Navy in front of a jury would be legal suicide. He sat down, defeated.
The prosecution rested. The trap had closed.
