After hanging up the phone, Ashton got dressed and called an Uber. Before leaving the apartment, she reread the card Bull had given her weeks earlier and while sitting in the car on the way to the courthouse, she stared at Benny's text of encouragement he had sent late the previous evening. After passing through security, Ashton found her way to the room she had been told to report to. Upon approaching the closed door, she paused and took a deep breath before knocking. With a slow exhale, she realized the nervousness she had felt while getting ready was gone and had been replaced by a low, simmering anger.
A second or two after her knock, the door was opened by a young man in a suit who introduced himself as Diana Lindsay's assistant. He stepped aside to allow Ashton to enter and graciously took her coat. Diana Lindsay looked up from the table where she sat writing. Bull had briefly filled Ashton in on what she could expect from Diana Lindsay when they had met with their lawyers at the beginning of the trial and now Ashton did her best to school her expression as the lawyer's eyes looked her over.
"Thank you for coming, Ms. Catazarro. Please, have a seat," The lawyer said in a southern drawl and gestured to an empty chair.
"Thank you," Ashton said shortly and proceeded to give the lawyer the same once over she had just received prior to sitting down.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions before court reconvenes," Diana Lindsay said. Ashton gave her a curt nod and watched the other woman closely with narrowed eyes.
"How would you describe your marriage to Dr. Bull?"
"Very typical; we had our disagreements from time to time but otherwise it was good," Ashton said.
"It wasn't all good, you did divorce him," the lawyer said.
"Jason is a very complex person and can be a challenge to live with," Ashton replied after taking a moment.
"A challenge that resulted in irreconcilable differences," Diana said.
"I really don't think my marriage has anything to do with this trial."
"No, it doesn't. I was just wanted to see where you stood since we haven't spoken before," Diana admitted.
A short time later, Ashton strode to the front of the courtroom without a sideways glance at Bull or the jury. She was sworn in and after taking a seat, she focused her attention directly on Diana Lindsay.
From behind the table where he sat, Bull had not taken his eyes from Ashton since the moment she passed by in the aisle in the hopes of determining her thoughts. He silently approved of Ashton's dark plum pencil skirt and mauve silk, long-sleeve collarless blouse. Her hair was twisted into a casual chignon and a few dark strands framed her face. As usual, its natural waves were trying to work their way loose. The overall effect was polished and professional, yet not overly severe.
"She didn't even look at you," Liberty whispered worriedly to Bull.
"I know," he whispered back.
Any apprehension Bull may have felt regarding about Ashton's state of mind dissipated when he saw how she focused on Diana. He had been recipient of the same look that now emanated from her grey eyes and had observed the set of her jaw more than once. Although most others in the courtroom wouldn't pick up on it, Ashton was angry - very angry - and Bull knew that it would most likely be to his benefit.
"Ms. Catazarro, can you please state your relationship to the defendant?" Diana Lindsay asked.
"We were married."
"Ms. Catazarro, you understand that your privilege to not testify against the defendant ended when your marriage ended?"
"Yes," Ashton said.
"Your brother-in-law is also currently employed by the defendant isn't that correct?"
"Yes."
"So, you still have very close ties with the defendant and Trial Analysis Corporation. Would I be correct in saying that you don't want to be here?" the attorney asked.
"Yes," Ashton said.
"Does the fact that your testimony could affect your former husband or your brother-in-law have anything to do with why you don't want to be here?" Diana asked. The question caused Bull to lean over and whisper to Liberty.
"No." Ashton said.
Diana Lindsay then asked the court for permission to treat Ashton as a hostile witness and had the request granted.
"Your testimony today could cost you financially," Diana said.
"I don't understand."
"What you say, or don't say, could directly affect the defendant's ability to provide you with the level of support that you are accustomed to."
"I don't receive alimony," Ashton replied succinctly. Her answer resulted in a few raised eyebrows from the jury.
"The defendant does pay the mortgage on your residence," Diana informed the court.
"He took care of that bill while we were married; we never changed it during the divorce," Ashton said.
"If the defendant is found liable, he might have to sell the apartment you live in. Rent in the city is expensive; I don't think your income as a medical illustrator would allow you to stay," the attorney said.
"He can't sell without my signature; we didn't change that either."
In his seat, Bull did his best to hold back a smile as he heard his ex-wife's tone. Diana had unleashed a side of Ashton that few people ever saw.
"During your marriage to the defendant, he was involved in numerous trials, wasn't he?" Diana Lindsay asked changing the direction of her questioning.
"Yes."
"How many of those did his clients win?" the lawyer asked.
"Most of them; I don't know the exact amount," Ashton said.
"His success rate is extremely high. Don't you think that's odd?"
"No. Jason is very dedicated and good at what he does."
"During your marriage, did the defendant discuss the trials he was working on with you?" Diana asked.
"No."
"He never mentioned his work or what he had his staff doing?"
"No."
"You didn't ask how his day went?" Diana pressed.
"Yes, I asked how his day went but we didn't discuss work," Ashton said.
"You expect everyone in this courtroom to believe you were married to the defendant and didn't discuss work?" the lawyer charged.
"It's the truth," Ashton said.
"I find it hard to believe that the two of you didn't discuss work. Can you explain it to me? I'll remind you that you are under oath."
"When I met the defendant, he was a practicing psychologist and bound by patient confidentiality so we didn't discuss his work. When he began trial consulting, we followed the same convention," Ashton replied with slow deliberation.
"You weren't curious?" Diana Lindsay asked.
"Not really."
"What did the two of you talk about?"
"Everything else," Ashton said shortly and straightened up in the seat.
"Like?"
"Books, art, music, sports, possible vacation ideas, friends, family," Ashton listed.
"But not work?" the lawyer inquired again.
"No, not work."
The back and forth went on a bit longer with Diana Lindsay purporting that Ashton must've had some idea of what was going on at the TAC office. For her part, Ashton denied any knowledge of the trials that Bull was involved with or what his team did to assist him on the case. Diana then went on to conclude that Bull didn't mention work because he was hiding something and didn't want Ashton implicated. Upon hearing that theory from Diana, Bull leaned over and whispered to Liberty.
After coming to that conclusion, Diana Lindsay ended her questioning and Liberty was given the opportunity to cross examine Ashton.
"Ms. Catazarro, I know your father is ill so I will try to be as brief as possible and not take up much more of your time. The defense would like the jury to think that you're lying to save your home or your brother-in-law's job. Are you?"
"No," Ashton replied.
"Are you worried about losing your home?" Liberty asked.
"I love my home, but I think if we sold it I would be better off financially than I am right now."
"What about your brother-in-law's job? Are you concerned he would lose his position at Trial Analysis Corporation?" Liberty continued.
"When he asked my opinion about working there, I told him not to take the position," Ashton told the court.
"Because you had divorced Dr. Bull and didn't want any sort of ties or reminders?"
"No, because Dr. Bull expects everyone to give the same intensity and energy to his clients that he does. I thought Benny should have a life."
"Can you tell the court why you and my client didn't discuss work at home?"
Before speaking Ashton paused and took a deep breath. She finally looked over at Bull who gave the slightest nod.
"Jason…Dr. Bull…left home by six in the morning to go to the office, sometimes even on weekends. On the nights he didn't end up sleeping there, he came back home around seven or eight usually carrying a stack of files. After dinner, he would read those files for a few hours, then get a couple of hours of sleep before starting all over again the next day."
"We didn't talk about work because I wanted him to be able to relax for a bit. Whether it was for a short time when we had dinner or a couple of hours on the weekends; the last thing I wanted was Jason thinking of work all the time."
"Ms. Catazarro, do you think my client, your ex-husband, did anything illegal during the original trial?" Liberty asked.
"No, I don't," Ashton said.
"You don't believe he kept things from you because he was trying to protect you?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Dr. Bull has too much respect for the law to break it. He wouldn't cross that line," Ashton said.
"Thank you. I have nothing further," Liberty said.
Once excused, Ashton hurried home. She kicked off her shoes, got out of her "court clothes" and jumped into the shower in an attempt to get the day off her. The hot water relaxed the tension that had gathered in her neck and shoulders and put her in somewhat better spirits. Even though it was still early, Ashton donned pajamas and decided to make some mashed potatoes before making some phone calls.
