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.”“Okay.I can do that.” Karla released a breath she didn’t know she was holding and hugged Trent.“Thank you for coming today.I don’t mean right now, I mean to the service.It meant a lot to me having you, Captain McGraw, Mrs.Jones and Mr.Jennings there.”“I’m glad I could make it.I’ve gotta go and get him processed in.I’ll call and check on y’all later.”“Bye Detective and thanks for coming by.” Andrew said and shook Trent’s hand.As Trent walked out the door Karla and her friends went back upstairs to talk before they all had to leave.Chapter Forty-OneThe next couple of months passed quickly.Leslie landed an account to design a webpage for one of the radio stations in town and was working hard on that and Andrew had switched back to night rotations in the ER.When Karla arrived home from school one afternoon a couple of weeks before Halloween Detective Greeves, Captain McGraw and Mr.Jennings were waiting for her.Leslie walked into the family room as Karla walked in the front door with Rylee, Callie and Conner right behind her.“Karla, Detective Greeves, Captain McGraw and Mr.Jennings are here to speak with you about something.Why don’t you sit down and your friends can go upstairs and wait in your room for you.”“No.I want them here, I want you here too.You all know about my past and I know this has something to do with that.”“Alright.We’ll all hear what they have to say.”Karla, Callie and Rylee sat on the couch and Conner sat on the floor at Karla’s feet.They all looked at Captain McGraw when he cleared his throat.“Karla, Garrett’s trial is in three days and the judge has granted ya the right to do your testimony through video.The only stipulation is that Garrett’s Public Defender must be present.Ya can have a lawyer there as well, but it isn’t necessary.The DA and Garrett’s PD will ask you some questions and all you have to do is answer them”“I’ll be there with you,” Mr.Jennings spoke up, “and Leslie and Andrew will be there as well.I know the law and what the lawyers can and cannot ask you so there really isn’t a need for a lawyer.”“Okay.When do I need to do this?”“We have it set up for tomorrow at four-fifteen.We’ll do it right here so ya won’t have to go anywhere.Does that work for y’all?” Detective Greeves asked both Karla and Leslie.“I’m good with it and I’ll make sure Andrew is awake by then.He’s back on nights and sleeps until about five, but I know he’ll want to be awake for this.Is that all you needed to discuss with us?”“That’s it for now.Do you have any questions Karla?”Karla nodded and took a deep breath before she started talking.“Do you have any idea what the lawyers are going to be asking?”“The DA will ask you to tell the court what happened over the six weeks that Garrett lived with y’all and his lawyer is going to ask questions to try to get you to change your story and make you seem like a confused little girl.All you have to do is stick to the truth and you’ll be fine.” Mr.Jennings answered her.“Like I said.I’ll be here so they won’t ask anything they shouldn’t be asking.”“Okay.One more question.Can my friends be here? Not in the room, but upstairs maybe? I’m going to need them when this is over.”“Yes, honey, they can be here.” Leslie answered before she turned to the three men sitting on the couch across from Karla and her friends.“I don’t care if the DA objects to them being in the house.This is Karla’s home and if having them here makes it more comfortable for her then they’ll just have to suck it up and deal with it.”“I think it’ll be alright as long as they aren’t in the room.” Mr.Jennings said as he stood up.“I have to get back to the office and make a couple phone calls.I’ll see y’all tomorrow.”“We have to get back too.” Captain McGraw said.“We’re working on a big case and have a long night ahead of us.Karla, Mrs.Peterson, if y’all need anything just give me a call and I’ll be here.”When they were gone Karla and her friends headed upstairs and did their homework, none of them spoke about what was going to happen the next day.Chapter Forty-TwoThe next day passed in a blur for Karla.She was distracted at school thinking about what was going to happen that afternoon.She spaced out during the discussion of Oliver Twist in Lit and Conner had to poke her with his pencil to get her attention when the bell rang.During P.E.they were playing badminton and she completely missed the shuttle cock and hit Conner in the head with her racket.On the bus ride home she sat quietly beside Conner and tried to calm down.She was scared to go into details about what Garrett did to her, but she was relieved it was him and not Tony.When the bus stopped at her stop, her friends had been getting off with her there too, they got off the bus and walked up the street to her house.There were two cars she didn’t recognize parked in the drive way and she stopped walking.“They’re already here.”“We’re here with you Karla.We aren’t going to leave until you’re ready for us to.” Rylee reassured her before she grabbed her hand and started walking again.“The quicker you get this over with the quicker you can copy down all the stuff you missed today when you took your trips into space.”Karla laughed a little at Rylee’s comment.“I have been spaced out today.I’m sorry for hitting you in the head Conner.”“It’s okay.I think you may have knocked some sense into me.” Conner replied with a chuckle.When they entered the house their laughter died instantly.Karla turned and hugged Rylee, then Callie, then Conner.“I’ll be up as soon as I’m finished.Thanks for being here.”“We will always be here Karla.Always.” Conner said before he followed Callie and Rylee upstairs.Karla took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen.Everyone was gathered around the table and a small camera was set up in the corner.Leslie looked up as she entered.“Hey honey.You ready to get started?”“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”“Karla,” Mr.Jennings began.“I’d like you to meet ADA Hannah Marks and Public Defender Savannah Jenkins.Ms.Marks and Ms.Jenkins have some questions for you whenever you’re ready.”“Let me get some water and I’ll answer whatever you need me to answer.”As Karla got her water Ms.Marks walked over to the camera.Once Karla was seated at the table again she moved the camera to where it’d record Karla and pressed the record button.“ADA Hannah Marks and PD Savannah Jenkins in questioning with Karla Hall for case number 14-596-08 The State of Tennessee vs.Garrett Kent.Karla, I’m going to place you under oath now okay?” When Karla nodded ADA Marks picked up a Bible from the table and placed it in front of Karla.“Place your left hand on the bible and raise your right hand please.” Karla did as she was asked.“Do you Karla Hall promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?”“I do” Karla replied.“Thank you Karla.” ADA Marks said with a soft smile.“Karla can you tell us about the day you and your mom first met Mr.Kent?”“Sure.We had left Daytona earlier that day and headed toward Nashville.I went to sleep in the back seat and I guess she was tired and didn’t have money for a hotel room so she stopped at a rest area somewhere in Georgia.Garrett knocked on the car window while we were sleeping and woke us both up.” Karla paused and tried to remember everything from that night [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]