“Objection, your honor,” Felty stood again.
“Sit down, Mr. Felty, you’re overruled.” The judge sighed. “You may answer the question, Miss Killion.”
“Someone has been trying to prevent me from testifying here today,” Justus said. “I’ve been threatened with having acid thrown in my face, my rental home was vandalized, and my dog was almost snatched from the groomers. Then when I went for pre-trail prep two weeks ago, I was abducted again by Mr.Warshafsky and two other men, drugged, and held captive for over eighteen hours.”
“And yet, you are still here to testify against these three men to see justice prevails,” McAdams said.
“Yes, I am. My parents were civil liberties attorneys. My sister is one. I believe in the law, and by abducting me, they took away my rights,” Justus’ voice growing stronger and louder with conviction as she said each word.
The courtroom erupted with applause as people stood in the gallery. The judge banged his gavel several times to quieten them down.
“Thank you, Miss Killion,” McAdams said.
“Your witness, Mr. Felty,” the judge said.
Felty stood. He looked at Justus and glanced over at his defendants and then back at Justus. “I have no questions at this time.” And he sat back down.
“Very well,” the judge said. “You may step down, Miss Killion. We’ll take a fifteen-minute recess before continuing with the trial.” He banged his gavel.
The bailiff stepped forward. “All rise.”
Justus stood, her legs feeling wobbly. She held on to the rail as she took the three steps down from the witness box and McAdams met her.
“Please come with me,” he said, and she took his arm for support as he led her out a side door of the courtroom to a private chamber.
“What’s going on? Did I do bad?” she asked.
“On the contrary. You did wonderful, Miss Killion. I’ve never had a gallery stand and applaud a witness before,” McAdams said. “I thought you’d like a little privacy after your testimony to recompose yourself. Also, there is someone who has asked to meet with you.”
Justus studied him for a moment. “I still don’t understand, Mr. McAdams. Who wants to meet with me?”
The door on the opposite side of the chamber opened and a man in a suit entered. Rafferty followed him. What confused her more was that Rafferty was with him, because she thought she recognized the man, but at the same time she couldn’t place him.
McAdams handed her a bottle of cold water from a mini refrigerator in the corner. “I have to get back, to prepare for my next witness, but take your time.”
She nodded. “Thank you.” She unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip of the water, sighing.
“Justus you were wonderful,” Rafferty said, pulling out a rolling chair at the end of the table and sitting down.
“Truly magnificent,” the man with him in the suit said.
“I’m sorry, do I know yo–Dan?” Justus said when his voice registered in her ears. “Oh my God. Dan? Is that really you?”
“Surprised you didn’t, I?” he said.
She nodded, stumbling forward until she was standing a few feet away from him. “How…how did you ever find where I was?”
“I have my ways. I wanted you to know that I’m okay. I know you were worried, but there isn’t any reason for you to be. I’m good.”
She looked him up and down in his suit and knew that was how he really should look on a regular basis, not in his grungy jeans and T-shirts like he’d worn while she was in captivity. His hair was neatly trimmed and combed, not long and messy.
“Are you a Brotherhood Protector?” she asked.
“No.”
“But you’re something important like that.”
“Something like that,” he said.
