“That’s all I have for this witness judge,” Liam said. He walked back to his table and sat down.
“Ms. Reichland,” Judge Carter said. “Your witness.”
Camille Reichland stood and said, “You recounted a very detailed, tall-tale of interactions with Priscilla Dumay from the month of February of last year.” She chuckled, then added. “One worthy of a novel or some kind of television movie.”
Liam interrupted. “Objection, argumentative and speculative, Judge. Counsel should not add interpretation of witness’ testimony.”
“Objection sustained.”
Ms. Reichland tipped her head to Liam, then turned back toward Julian. “Are you aware that Priscilla Dumay denies ever seeing you at her medical facility on her private island? And that Quentin Tufa denies being at the same facility last February?”
Julian leaned back in his chair. “Yes. It doesn’t matter, they are both lying—”
Ms. Reichland interrupted, “Your honor.” She raised her hands in the air as if Julian had done something wrong.
Judge carter responded, “Mr. Montgomery, you are to answer only the questions being posed to you and refrain from adding extra commentary that does not pertain to your response. The jury is directed to strike anything beyond Mr. Montgomery’s answers of yes to both questions.”
Ms. Reichland continued, “Mr. Montgomery, the police spoke to all the people on the island that day in February and none of them remembered seeing you there, except Mena Nix, who you are dating. Now, tell me, did you happen to video record or tape via audio, perhaps on your cell phone, these conversations you claimed to have had with Priscilla Dumay on that day?”
If looks could kill, the one Julian was giving Ms. Reichland would send her straight to the morgue.
Julian responded, “No.”
Ms. Reichland said, “Basically, you expect the jury to just take your word that you were at Ms. Dumay’s medical facility and had these conversations with her. That she invited you in and was gracious enough to give you a tour of some women you claim were kidnapped before locking you in a basement with Mena Nix. But you have no proof of those claims.”
Liam interrupted, “Objection, your honor. Mr. Montgomery has already answered the question.”
“Move on, Ms. Reichland,” Judge Carter said.
“Mr. Montgomery, why do you believe that Priscilla Dumay tried to kill you?” Ms. Reichland asked.
“Because she told me she was releasing carbon monoxide into the mansion to kill Mena and me. She also said that she was going to detonate explosives around the mansion once she and the staff were safely away from the island to cover up her crimes.”
Ms. Reichland pivoted and approached the defense table, grabbing a couple of sheets of paper, then handed them to the Judge.
“Your Honor, I have here as an exhibit, the Official Investigative Report of Genesis Clinic by the Palmchat Islands Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations,” Ms. Reichland said, handing one copy to her. She then held out the other toward Julian. Julian didn’t budge as he stared at the paper.
“Mr. Montgomery, would you please read the conclusion from the report?”
“Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide present at the site. Inconclusive on whether the explosion was accidental or a result of foul play,” Julian said.
Ms. Reichland smiled at the jury, then continued, “Thank you, sir. Now, you testified earlier that you used Zak Webber’s cell phone to talk to Ms. Dumay and claim to have learned that Mena Nix was being held against her will by my client. How did you know you were calling Ms. Dumay on Zak’s phone?”
Julian rolled his eyes, sighing loudly before responding. “I scrolled through the contacts list until I saw her name.”
“Was the name in the contacts list Priscilla Dumay?”
Julian frowned, hesitated as he sat up straighter. “Well … no.”
“What was the name in the contacts list that you dialed?”
“Boss Lady,” Julian said.
“Did the person on the line introduce herself as Priscilla Dumay?”
“No.”
“How often had you interacted with Priscilla Dumay as a member of the staff of her security team at the Genesis Gallery?”
