Chapter 23 - I TESTIFY ABOUT THE LOCK
The courtroom was smaller than television.
No dramatic audience.
Wood paneling.
Fluorescent lights.
Judge.
Jury.
Lawyers.
Fenella in a dark suit.
She looked like someone going to a bank appointment.
The prosecutor started with the beginning.
“Why did you enter the shed?”
“To retrieve an old bassinet.”
“Did you agree to remain inside?”
“No.”
“Did Fenella close the door?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hear the lock?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
I repeated it.
“Hunger teaches disobedient wives gratitude.”
The room stayed silent.
Then water.
No food.
Five days.
Bucket.
Blanket.
Scratching.
No need dramatic adjectives.
Facts were enough.
Then the fake messages.
“Did you send them?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize anyone to send them?”
“No.”
“Did you move your car?”
“No.”
“Did you prepare the statement found in the tote?”
“No.”
Then defense.
“You had significant conflict with Fenella before this?”
“Yes.”
“You wanted her house key removed?”
“Yes.”
“You had described her as controlling?”
“Yes.”
“You often asked Auberon for space after conflict?”
“Yes.”
“You sometimes turned off your phone?”
“Yes.”
There.
They needed the fake messages to sound plausible.
I admitted why they did.
Then:
“You posted publicly that Fenella tried to starve your unborn child.”
“Yes.”
“Was that a legal conclusion?”
“No.”
“Did you remove the post after your attorney told you it overstated motive?”
“Yes.”
“So you exaggerate when distressed.”
I breathed.
“Sometimes.”
Then:
“You told police Fenella left you five days. Did she physically stand outside the door every moment?”
“No.”
“You had tools?”
“Yes.”
“Water?”
“Yes.”
“A vent?”
“Yes.”
“Could you shout?”
“Yes.”
“Could you try to escape?”
“I did.”
“But the door remained locked?”
“Yes.”
He paused.
The questioning had not changed that.
Then:
“Did Fenella ever say she wanted to kill you?”
“No.”
“Kill your unborn baby?”
“No.”
“Harm the fetus?”
“No.”
Good.
Precision protected truth.
The prosecutor did not need a murder motive.
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The state alleged intentional confinement and coercion.
That was what happened.
