Chapter 15 - The Cross-Examination Nightmare
Mason’s lead attorney,
Mr.
Albright,
stood up slowly,
smoothing down his tie as he approached the witness stand for cross-examination.
He knew he was in an impossible position;
trying to attack a mother who had survived a blizzard to save her baby was legal suicide,
but he had no choice but to try to discredit my memory.
"Mrs.
Vance,
"
Albright began,
keeping his tone overly polite and soft.
"You mentioned that you were recovering from an emergency C-section and severe sleep deprivation at the time of this event,
correct?"
"Yes,
"
I replied calmly.
"And isn't it true that heavy pain medication was prescribed to you following that surgery?"
"I was prescribed medication,
yes,
"
I answered,
anticipating his angle.
"But I stopped taking all narcotics three days after leaving the hospital because I was nursing my daughter.
"
"I was completely sober.
"
Albright shuffled his papers,
frowning slightly.
"Isn't it possible,
Mrs.
Vance,
that in the dark,
in the midst of a panic attack brought on by the sudden mechanical failure of the vehicle,
you misinterpreted your husband's actions?"
"Is it possible he went to walk for help because there was no cell service,
and you simply didn't see him return?"
I leaned forward slightly,
looking Albright straight in the eye.
"Mr.
Albright,
"
I said,
each word dripping with razor-sharp clarity.
"Does a man walking for help intentionally disable the interior door handles before he leaves?"
"Does a man walking for help step into a waiting car driven by his mother and drive twenty miles down the pass to buy hot coffee while his wife is pounding on the glass?"
"Does a man walking for help go home,
pack his bags,
transfer six million dollars out of joint accounts,
and prepare a lavish wedding with another woman six weeks later without ever calling the police or mountain rescue?"
Albright stood frozen at the podium,
his mouth opening slightly,
completely unable to formulate a response.
The entire courtroom remained dead silent,
waiting to see if he had any ground left to stand on.
"I.
.
.
I have no further questions for this witness,
"
Albright stammered,
sitting down abruptly at the defense table,
his face red with total embarrassment.
Mason glared at his attorney with sheer fury,
realizing that his defense had just been completely dismantled in less than five minutes.
I stepped down from the witness box,
my head held high,
and returned to my seat beside Claire.
Claire reached over and squeezed my hand tightly.
"You were incredible,
"
Claire whispered.
"You just destroyed him.
"
I looked toward the judge's bench,
feeling a profound sense of relief washing over me.
The truth had been spoken clearly,
undeniably,
May you like
and permanently into the record of history.
The darkness of the mountain pass could no longer hide the evil that Mason Vance had tried to bury beneath the snow.
