by Rachel Dylan
“Your Honor, if I might, I’m just laying the foundation. It will all become very apparent soon.”
“I’ll give you a few more questions, Ms. Murray, but that’s it.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.” She turned her attention back to Nina Marie. “Are you familiar with Optimism’s position with regard to Windy Ridge Community Church?”
“Yes.”
“And how so?”
“Because both of our groups are often aligned directly against the church.” Nina Marie kept her eyes on Olivia and didn’t look to the audience.
It was time to put it all out here. “What do you know about Beverly Jenkins and her connection to this case?”
“Objection, speculation,” Tony said.
“Overruled.”
“Beverly Jenkins is working with Layton Alito and Optimism to set up the pastor.”
Noise broke out in the courtroom. The judge banged his gavel. “No more outbursts, or I will clear the courtroom.”
“How do you know that?”
“Layton told me that he had someone on the inside of Windy Ridge Community Church. That it was Beverly Jenkins.”
“Objection, hearsay.”
“It’s not hearsay, Your Honor. She’s providing her account. She has personal knowledge as a participant in the conversation.”
“Overruled.”
“And what did Layton Alito tell you about Beverly Jenkins and the financial operations of the church?”
“That Beverly had setup Pastor Dan Light to take the fall for embezzlement.”
Once again the courtroom erupted in chaos.
“Enough,” the judge said, banging his gavel. The courtroom quieted at his stern rebuke.
“And why would Ms. Jenkins do that?”
“It was all part of Layton’s grand scheme to take down the church. He knew that if the pastor was convicted of embezzlement, the church would…” Nina Marie’s words trailed off and her skin paled. Then her body went limp as she sunk down in the witness seat.
Fear shot through her.
An officer rushed toward Nina Marie. “Call for the paramedics!”
**
The judge called for a recess while the paramedics worked on Nina Marie. Tony had just gotten a report on her condition. Thankfully, she came to after a few minutes. Her blood pressure was up to normal levels. He’d seen a lot in his time as a prosecutor, but nothing so dramatic as a witness passing out on the witness stand.
The paramedics had taken her into one of the conference rooms for privacy, and he saw that his opposing counsel was seated on the bench outside the room. He needed to confront her and figure out what in the world was happening. He’d seen lawyers take desperate measures before, but this was taking things to a new level.
“Talk to me. What’s going on here, Olivia?” He took a seat beside her.
Her eyes were a little red from crying. “I told you that there was evil operating in this case. You didn’t want to believe me.”
“Why should anyone believe Nina Marie’s testimony? Especially since it appears she is not well.”
“She is well. Layton is responsible for what happened to her.”
“Do you realize how insane that sounds? I can’t tell whether you’re crazy or just unethical and pushing the envelope.”
“I’m neither. I’m telling you the truth, and so was Nina Marie. This whole thing has been a setup from the start. Beverly Jenkins is working with Layton and Optimism. Their mission is to spread their occult beliefs in this community and take out the church.”
He fiddled with his cufflinks as he sat there. He wasn’t sure how to handle all of this. It seemed like a stretch. And he totally didn’t believe any spiritual force was responsible for Nina Marie’s medical condition. But what if there was a kernel of truth to this Beverly angle? He had a duty to address it.
“I can tell that you’re trying to process this, but remember, you represent the people of this state. The last thing you want on your record is the conviction of an innocent man, and even if I can’t prove it today, I will prove it.”
That argument hit him squarely in the gut. His future could be destroyed if it turned out that Dan was innocent post a conviction. He couldn’t allow that. But he also needed to make sure he wasn’t made a fool. “Can we talk a deal again?”
“No. He’s innocent. Nothing less than an acquittal will suffice. For a man of God, this is a fatal accusation. He needs to be completely exonerated.”
“We’ll see how her story holds up under cross. Assuming she’s well enough to testify.”
“She will be.”
But he heard the doubt in Olivia’s voice.
When one of the paramedics walked over, Olivia shot out of her seat.
“She’s asking to see you, ma’am, but I don’t want her standing up just quite yet.”
“I’m going to go check on her,” she told Tony.
As he sat there, he wondered what kind of case he had gotten himself into. Could there be any measure of truth to all of this spiritual stuff? He had no clue, but he had to do whatever was necessary to protect his career.
**
A couple of hours later, Nina Marie was back on the stand. She refused to let Layton get the best of her. She was more prepared now for his frontal attacks. She should’ve known better than to underestimate an enemy like him. There was nothing off the table as far as that man was concerned.
“Ms. Crane, thank you for coming back. I trust you are feeling better?” Tony Sampson asked.
“Yes, thank you.” She didn’t know what his endgame was. He wasn’t evil like Layton, but he definitely had ambition, and she knew all too well how dangerous that could be.
“Now isn’t it true that you and Mr. Alito were involved in a lawsuit last year? That Optimism actually sued your company, Astral Tech?”
“That is true.” She knew exactly where he was headed on this one.
“And isn’t it also true that you and Mr. Alito had a romantic relationship?”
“Yes.”
“And it didn’t end well?”
“Well, I broke up with him.”
A few members of the courtroom audience laughed.
“I see. But given your complicated history with Layton, why should the jury believe you?”
“First, because I’m telling the truth. Second, Layton and I made up—or at least had a truce. Once he concocted this plan, he wanted both of our companies to come together and mount an offensive against the church because he thought we’d be stronger if we stood together.”
“And did you?”
“We’ve been working together until just recently when I had a change of heart. But I can assure you that Layton is behind this. Dan Light is innocent.” Her words flustered the prosecutor who just stood there looking at her dumfounded.
“Do you have any proof to substantiate these claims?”
“I thought that was the purpose of my testimony today. To tell the truth about what I know.”
“Let me rephrase. Do you have any tangible evidence to substantiate your testimony?”
“All I can tell you is what I saw and heard firsthand. This is a larger strategy to take down the church, and it was formulated by Layton and executed by Beverly.”
Tony sighed. She was getting to him. “No further questions.”
“Any redirect, Ms. Murray?” the judge asked.
“Yes, just briefly.” Olivia walked up to the witness stand.
“Just so we’re all perfectly clear, you were sworn in this morning, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you understand that lying under oath is committing perjury that can carry with it a criminal penalty?”
“I do.”
“But you told the truth here today, Ms. Crane?”
“Absolutely. Why would I risk my reputation over this trial if I were just trying to bother Layton? I know for a fact that Beverly Jenkins is the one who moved that money.”
“One other question
. Do you know what actually happened to the money once it was taken out of my client’s account?”
“I bet if you looked into it, you would find that it went from the offshore account and into Optimism’s account.”
“Move to strike, Your Honor,” Tony said. “Pure speculation.”
“Sustained. Jurors you will disregard the last answer of the witness.”
She knew enough about how the human mind worked that her having said the words could have an impact on the jury, even when they were directed to disregard.
“Thank you, Ms. Crane. I’m done.”
“You may step down,” the judge said.
It was over. She’d done it.
Chapter Seventeen
The jury was brought back into the courtroom after their deliberation—a short two hours. She looked over at Dan. “It’s all going to be all right. If there’s a conviction, we’ll appeal.” She wasn’t sure on what basis yet, but she would find something.
He nodded. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve gone above and beyond in every respect. I’ll never be able to repay you for all the hard work you’ve put in and all the kindness you have extended to me each and every day.”
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” the judge said. “I understand that you’ve reached a verdict?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” the foreperson said. The woman was one of the eight Christians on the jury, but Olivia couldn’t read too much into that—because it could cut either way.
The foreperson passed the verdict sheet to the bailiff, who handed it to the judge. He opened it and took a moment to read before handing it back.
Olivia held her breath as the verdict was going to be read.
“On the first count of embezzlement, a class X felony, the jury finds the defendant, not guilty.”
Relief flooded through her body, and her eyes filled with tears as the foreperson continued reading. A full acquittal on each and every count.
When the foreperson was finished and sat down, Olivia leaned over and hugged Dan.
“Thank you for your service,” the judge told jury. “And Mr. Light, you’re free to go.”
The courtroom was all abuzz. Grant walked up to her and gave her a huge hug and then turned to give one to Dan. “I think I’m still in shock,” Dan said. “I will forever be grateful to you, Olivia.”
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” she said. “It was an honor to defend the honorable.”
She watched as Dan’s eyes also filled with tears. “God is good. Even through the dark of night, He never left me. He’s been by my side the entire time.”
“Let’s get out of here and celebrate,” Grant said. “Everyone can come over to my place.”
“Great idea,” she said. She also wanted to find Nina Marie. Not just to invite her to Grant’s but to check on her. Thankfully, she saw Abe was standing beside her. She didn’t need to be alone. One thing she was sure of: Layton would be angry and looking for payback.
A couple of hours later, the mood at Grant’s was festive. It had taken some convincing to get Nina Marie to come over, but she now sat beside Abe and laughed.
Olivia stood truly amazed at the work God had done. Not only in the lawsuit, but also in ultimately bringing a lost soul to Christ. The weight of it all was almost too much for her to take.
She walked over to Nina Marie. “Hey, can we talk for a second?”
“Sure.” Nina Marie smiled and stood up from the couch.
The two of them went into the kitchen. “I have to thank you again for what you did, Nina Marie. Because of your bravery, an innocent man’s name has been cleared of this awful crime. And I also got a call from Tony. He’s going to open up an investigation into Beverly and Layton.”
Nina Marie nodded. “I must say, it’s been a whirlwind, but after I testified, I felt much more at peace. I still can’t believe that I found the Lord through all of this. I never thought anything like that would ever happen to me.”
“The Lord loves you. I don’t want you to focus on what you’ve done in your past. You can move on and focus on how you now want to live your life. A life that is full of love, compassion, forgiveness, and grace.”
Nina Marie’s eyes filled with tears. “Olivia, I owe you thanks. I knew from the moment we first met that you were special. At that time, I viewed you as a potential enemy. But then you put your life on the line for me, and showed me through the way you live your life that there is a different path for me. I’m not going to say this transition is going to be easy. I’ve got a lot of darkness that needs to be dealt with in my life, but now I have that chance.”
Olivia wrapped her arms around Nina Marie in a tight hug. “I’ll be here for you, and you have a whole new group of friends now that will love and support you.”
“I’ll never be the same again.”
Praise the Lord. What an amazing work He had done.
Grant walked into the kitchen. “Ladies, the food should get here in about half an hour.”
“Thanks for hosting us,” Nina Marie said.
“Of course. You’re welcome here anytime,” Grant said.
“I never thought you’d say that.” She smiled. “I’m going to go back and find out what Abe is up to.” Nina Marie left the kitchen to head back to the living room.
Grant wrapped his arm around Olivia’s shoulder. “How’re you feeling now?”
“So thankful for what God has done here—and what I believe He will continue to do in Windy Ridge. I knew this battle would be harder than anything we’ve ever fought, but the Lord held the victory. We just had to stand firm in knowing that He was and is in control.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “You’re an amazing woman, Olivia.”
“You’ve been there for me.”
“No other place I’d rather be.”
She looked up at him but then was distracted by Chris walking into the kitchen. This wasn’t going to be a pleasant discussion.
“Hi,” Chris said.
“I’m sorry about what I did in the courtroom.”
“No. I’m the one that should apologize. I already talked to Dan, but I needed to see you next, Olivia. You tried to tell me Dan was innocent—something that I should’ve believed myself. But instead, I only caused more problems for him and the church. I hurt the people I most wanted to protect.”
“Don’t give it a second thought. I know Dan respects that you were trying to look out for the best interest of the church, and we all need to stick together if we’re going to face the next battle that is brought to this town.”
“I know you’re right. I can’t imagine Layton is just going to go quietly into the night and leave us all alone.”
Grant shook his head. “No way. He may nurse his wounds and regroup, but he’ll never give up on his quest to destroy the believers in Windy Ridge.”
“But tonight is not about Layton or the forces of evil,” Olivia said. “So let’s not give them time right now.”
“I’m going to go say hello to Nina Marie and thank her for what she did,” Chris said.
Olivia nodded and turned her attention back to Grant, who was looking at her intently.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Come with me for a second.” He took her hand and led her down the hall to one of the guest rooms and shut the door. “I know this probably isn’t the best time, but it never seems to be the right time.”
“What?” her pulse kicked up, fearing more bad news.
“Olivia, I want us to really give this a shot. I know that we haven’t been able to focus that much on our relationship, and that is totally understandable. But I hope we can make some time for us now.”
“Absolutely.”
He smiled widely before he pulled her close to him and kissed her. A kiss that held the promise of a future together.
**
“Thanks for driving me home, Abe,” Nina Marie said.
“No problem. I’ll be back for dinne
r if you’re still up for it.”
“That’s great. See you then.” She got out of his car and headed toward her front door.
It had been a week since the trial had ended, and she had spending a lot of time getting to know Abe better. And today had been a huge step for her. It was her first time attending Windy Ridge Community Church. People welcomed her with open arms, even those that knew about her prior association with Astral Tech.
She’d resigned her position and left it up to them to figure out who would succeed her. She knew that if she was really going to be able to get through all of this, she had to make a completely clean break with everything New Age related.
While she realized that she had a ways to go on her faith journey, she was floored at the changes she’d already felt within her heart and her actions. She no longer had a yearning to seek out the darkness—just the opposite. Lord, thank you for saving me.
When she walked into her living room, she stopped short and her pulse quickened.
“Layton, how did you get into my house?”
He sat on the couch smiling, having a glass of wine, like he owned the place.
“Why is it that you don’t seem happy to see me?” He stood up from the couch.
She took a step back. “You have no right to be in my home.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Nina Marie. I have every right. I gave you a little space after the trial to try to regain your senses. You were obviously not thinking clearly.”
“Believe me, I’m thinking more clearly now than I have in years.”
“So that’s it? Just like that, you’re switching your allegiance?”
“Why does it matter to you? If I’m no longer in the picture, that benefits you.”
He nodded. “You’d think so, but this isn’t just about our two rival companies. This is so much larger than that.” He took a few steps closer to her.
She wanted to stand her ground, but fear also started to grip her heart. What was his plan here? “Why don’t you explain it to me?” She took a large step back. She contemplated turning and trying to run.
But the next thing she knew, he grabbed onto her arms and backed her up against the living room wall. It was at that moment she realized he was really going to hurt her.