WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

by Desktop Dragon

Ana Grey was always sure of who she was and where she came from, until a surprise email is sent to her informing her that she may be the long lost sibling of someone seeking answers. In New York Eva Cross is that person seeking answers as she has just had everything she took as fact turned upside down and she no longer knows who she is. I DO NOT OWN FSOG OR THE CROSSFIRE STORIES.

157. Chapter 157

CHAPTER 157

Two days later…

(ANA)

I watch my sister laughing with El and I smile, the therapy session with Monica was a huge success. So much so that Eva was quite shocked at just how well it had gone. She had told me beforehand that she wasn't hopeful but it seems that Caroline has worked her magic once again. While Eva wasn't there for the session between Victor and Monica it appears that was also a resounding success where Victor had managed to lay to rest a number of issues he had with Monica.

Dr Petersen left Seattle that day and caught a commercial flight home to New York. Monica and Richard have also left now but it is clear Monica now wants to work on her issues and is determined to do so and do it properly. There had been quite a tearful farewell at the airport as they had boarded Gideon's plane which was taking them back to New York and the fact Victor had also accompanied Eva to the airport to say goodbye had spoken volumes as to how well his own session had gone.

At this moment though we are all sitting around our dining table, Christian is sitting at the head of the table in his usual seat listening to something Gideon is saying to him. The whole family together once more and I take a moment to glance around the table, there is a lot of chat and everyone is animated and in good spirits. My dad is talking to Victor and Carrick, and Grace is chatting amiably with Meg, Lucy and Mia. Mia is alone tonight as Simon had to work but he sent his apologies and assured us he would join us later.

I glance at Jared who is talking with Sadie, I was so happy when Sadie agreed to come. I knew it was a risk and a big ask, but the fact she did it is massive. We are all so proud of her, this is the first time she has left the house since the news of Jen's death. The fact she got herself showered and dressed and came is brilliant. Lucy and El encouraged her in when she had a bit of a wobble when they got here and she didn't want to get out of the car but now she is holding her own and she is present, really present and not just lost in a world of her own tortured thoughts which is all we hoped for. We all wish she would speak to Caroline but she still refuses on the grounds she doesn't want to be a bother to anyone, something we have repeatedly told her she wouldn't be. Jared is holding her hand and speaking earnestly to her, and eventually I see a slight nod of her head. I have no idea what is being said but she is clearly agreeing with something. Suddenly Christian throws his head back and laughs loudly which brings all the chatter to a stop as everyone turns to look at him. I see Grace and Carrick exchange a significant look and I know that they never tire of seeing my husband so openly and freely happy.

The door opens and Gail appears with a huge tureen of soup and places it on the table, and then sets some bread rolls down beside it. She exchanges a few words with Jared before she disappears. A moment later another tureen appears equally as big as the first and another plate of bread rolls.

Everyone thanks Gail sincerely and she just smiles before vanishing out of the room.

(JARED)

I sit beside dad who is sitting next to Christian and talking to him, to my right is Sadie. I hear her clear her throat.

"Jared" she says quietly and I turn my attention to her. There are all individual chats going on around the table and it seems Sadie and I were the only people not talking to anyone in particular.

"How are you doing now?" I ask carefully and Sadie smiles at me.

"I'm ok thank you Jared… I just wanted to thank you for your lovely letter and the card you sent me, it was very thoughtful of you… especially considering everything you have going on at the moment, the fact you took the time to reach out, well… it was very much appreciated" she says.

I smile at her, "That was the very reason I did it, I mean… while our situations are very different, we are both recently bereaved aren't we?" I pause as I don't want to upset her, I know enough about the situation with Sadie that there is one death she isn't really grieving for at the moment.

I watch and she nods sadly before recovering, and she seems to pull herself from whatever she was thinking, "And how are you doing now? The last time we talked at your father's birthday party it was all very fresh for you… very raw" she asks me gently.

I nod, "I'm getting there, it still hurts like crazy when I think of them all but Caroline told me it will do, and that I have to go through the grieving process at my own pace… she has been brilliant, along with mom and dad and their support, Caroline has been brilliant, she has said I can call her anytime, day or night if I need to speak with her… which is amazing really considering she is here in Seattle and we are in New York with the added time difference… but while mom and dad are on the ground and help support me each and every day… I still have these worries, and when I can't get them out of my head… I know Caroline will be able to help me and she always does".

Sadie listens and nods, "Everyone has suggested I speak with her… about my own worries, so you would recommend her?" she asks hopefully.

I nod adamantly, "Absolutely" I say with complete certainty.

I watch as Sadie thinks about that, and glances around the table, "Elliot told me how she has helped practically every person around this table in some way… I don't want to add to that, I don't want to be a bother to anyone. I've been enough of a bother since…" she says and stops as the words catch in her throat and I see tears welling up in her eyes.

I reach for her hand and hold it. "It's ok to be sad" I say to her. "Caroline told me that, it's also ok to lean on people and get help when it all becomes too much… she told me that as well" I say.

Sadie thinks, "…and you really think she could help?" she asks me again.

I nod, "I do. I mean…" I pause and bite my lip, "She not only helped me with my grief over mom and dad dying and my aunt and uncle dying and the fact my uncle was involved in all their deaths… but… it was all the other stuff as well, and trust me there was a lot of it. I mean finding dad and everything that surrounded that was a biggie… finding Corrine and the fact we don't want a relationship with each other… I mean we cleared the air and apologies were made for that scene I caused in Central Park… but Caroline helped me deal with and come to terms with all that. Then there was the abuse and the fact my uncle also wanted to kill me". I pause as Sadie looks surprised and shocked at that, and I realise she probably doesn't know about how Uncle Phil was with me. "My uncle drank and he took drugs and… let's just say he was a mean drunk, something I discovered when I was sent to live with him after mom and dad died. I… talked all that through with Caroline and she made me see not one thing of it was my fault… it was all on him, and his selfishness. She has just helped with everything. Do you know about dad?" I ask as I glance at dad who is still talking with Uncle Christian.

Sadie nods, "He had a terrible upbringing it was truly awful some of the things I have learnt about his past" she says. "When we flew out to support him when his mother died and that awful man turned up at the crematorium and those terrible things he said to Gideon".

I nod again, as the events of that day fill my mind and I smile as I remember Angus punching him and Sadie putting him in his place. "Yeah, Chris is an asshole there are no two ways about it and the way he treated dad all his life along with everything else that happened to him… Well… It left him with issues… a lot of issues, and Caroline is helping him with those and mom said she has transformed his life with all her help. He also speaks to her with his brother Ryan as they are still trying to build a relationship and it's amazing that they are managing it after the hate and bitterness which surrounded them, but that is down to Caroline patiently helping them come to terms with everything, so yeah… I think she would certainly help you". I pause and look at mom, "The latest thing she did was for mom, the other day. That was unreal how she managed to unravel all the resentment between mom and Mrs Stanton. Mom said she didn't think it would work, before she went in, but she came out saying that Caroline was a bona fide genius".

Sadie smiles at me, and it is a genuine one not at all forced. She seems to be coming to some kind of realisation about something and I wait for her to speak.

"I might… I might ask Elliot if he would mind calling her then, I mean… I don't want to be a bother but what you have said… it wouldn't hurt would it?" she asks nervously as she glances across at Uncle Elliot who is gesticulating wildly and making mom laugh loudly.

"Any one of us sitting here today could call her, as she has helped us all and you are just as important as everyone else here so if you want my opinion, I think it would really help you… I overheard some of the stuff that had happened to you before… before you came to live in Seattle, mom, Aunty Ana and Uncle El were talking and I wasn't purposely eavesdropping but I overheard enough to know that you had a really tough time… plus I saw the interview Uncle El and Lucy did. It was when I first came to live in New York with dad and I Googled dad and the rest of the family to find out stuff… Caroline could help with all of that, trust me she really could" I say earnestly as I grip her hand.

Sadie nods, "Ok, I'll do it" she says after a moment and I smile at her.

"You won't regret it" I say with total conviction.

I stop speaking as I hear Uncle Christian laugh loudly and I look up at dad who also has an amused look on his face. Then I smell something delicious and I see Gail appear with some soup in a massive tureen and some bread rolls. "Do you need a hand Gail?" I ask politely and she smiles at me.

"No, I'm fine honestly Jared but thank you for asking" she says as she places her hand on my shoulder before disappearing out of the room. A few moments later she returns and places an identical tureen down along with some bread.

"Thank you" I say to her and I hear everyone else also thanking her, she just smiles and leaves the room.

"Ok everyone tuck in" Uncle Christian says, with that the little individual chats around the room seem to stop and everyone is now all talking together.

"Erm… could I?" Sadie begins and everyone immediately focusses their attention on her, this seems to freak her out a bit and I reach for her hand.

"It's ok Sadie, just ask" I urge her.

She looks at me and smiles kindly at me, and I see everyone is now watching with open curiosity.

"Erm… Jared and I have been chatting and he said… Caroline has helped him tremendously and I was wondering… after all you have all made the suggestion to me…" she pauses and seems to wilt and she shakes her head, "I'm sorry to bring it up now, I shouldn't have done so, I should've waited" she says as she seems to lose her confidence.

Uncle Elliot stands and comes around and crouches in front of Sadie, "Hey" he says as he wraps his arms around her.

"I'm sorry, I'm causing all this trouble" Sadie mutters.

There is a chorus of no coming from everyone, and I look at Sadie and reach for her hand once more.

"Mom stop it" Lucy says gently, "You know that is him… that's not you, you are not causing trouble. He is making you think that and you need to stop because he is dead… he is gone" she adds.

I reach for Sadie's hand, "You can do it" I say and Sadie grips my hand.

"I'd like to speak to Caroline… if that is ok?" Sadie asks quietly.

There is immediately a chorus of yes and Uncle El gives Sadie a fierce hug before promising her he will call Caroline for her.

After Uncle El goes and sits back down I lean towards Sadie and whisper in her ear, "You have made the right decision… and what Lucy said, that is called conditioning… Caroline explained it to me. I hadn't been with Uncle Phil long after mom and dad died… but all my life he had said I wasn't a real Martin because I was adopted and that had stuck with me… but because it was only at odd times when I saw him Caroline is helping me with that to kind of help me to retrain my brain to think about it differently… she will help you with what that man said to you, it will probably take a lot longer for you as you were subjected to his conditioning for a lot longer and all the time but she will help you" I say.

Sadie listens to me, and then glances around the table at everyone, "I am so lucky to have all these wonderful people care about me, for so long it was just me and Lucy… I have never felt so safe in my entire life since I have been here so I owe it not only to myself to rid myself of David and Jen's influence but to everyone who has made me feel so welcome here".

I look up and see everyone is listening to her words, and every single person around the table has a beaming smile on their faces and are nodding in agreement.

After the soup, Gail returns with the main dinner and once again I ask if she needs any help and once again she shakes her head and tells me she is ok. I like Gail, she was so kind to me when I first arrived here that evening, afraid, traumatised and unable to let go of Uncle Christian's hand. She is also an amazing cook. It reminds me of the home cooked meals I had when mom… I close my eyes and shake my head.

"Jared?" dad says his hand immediately touching my shoulder.

I swallow hard, "Just thinking about… my mom" I whisper to him and his eyes soften with concern and he immediately focusses his entire attention on me. This means I quickly also get everyone else's attention and I flush slightly as I can almost feel the collective concern for me. Then I feel a hand reaching for mine, I look and see Sadie has reached for me as well and she squeezes my hand gently and smiles at me.

"I'm ok now" I say brightly out loud and everyone nods the relief evident on their faces. I turn towards Sadie.

"Thank you" I whisper to her and she just nods before releasing my hand, and focussing her attention on the meal in front of her.

As the dinner progresses talk inevitably turns towards the forthcoming trial, but Grace clears her throat and shakes her head.

"No, I don't want any talk of that awful man here today" she glances at me, "I'm sure Jared doesn't want his dinner spoilt by him?" she says.

I smile at her, I was hoping to avoid thinking about the trial. I know I will have to talk about it as that is the entire reason we are here in Seattle and this time next week the first day of it will be over.

"Thank you Grace, I must say I was trying to avoid all thoughts of what is going to happen next week" I say with a little shrug. Dad immediately wraps his arm around me and gives me a squeeze.

Uncle Christian smiles at me kindly, "In that case no more trial talk, that subject is banned for this evening" he says with a firm sweep of his hand, to emphasise his point.

oooOOOooo

One week later…

We are gathered around the dining table once more. Everyone is animatedly talking about the events of today and I am feeling oddly serene. I was a nervous wreck this morning but everyone rallied around and the support I had from everyone who are also gathered here tonight was complete and total.

My mind goes through the events of today as I process everything that has happened…

"So we are clear on what is going to happen?" Arash says as he looks around. He and Carrick are watching me closely and I nod.

"I am fine with all that" I say simply and I feel dad give me a squeeze.

"Jared just remember we are all here supporting you, and we really think making you go first is the best call, we will outline the case and lay out all the physical evidence and then you will be questioned by the DA, just take your time and try not to get flustered especially when the defence try to cross examine you. Just tell your side of the story and it gets your part over with. Then after Barnett, Beverley, the security guys and Gideon testify which will hopefully help to consolidate all the physical evidence we have Christian will finish things off for us with his testimony, is that clear?" Arash says kindly.

I take a deep breath and nod, "Clear" I say simply.

Arash grins at me, "Good boy" he says. "I need to go in now" he says and with that he shakes dad's hand and vanishes through the doors. Carrick has already gone, and I take a deep breath as I look around me. Everyone is here and I look at each person in turn. Mom and dad, who are standing flanking me one on each side of me. Angus, Victor, Uncle Christian and Aunty Ana. Grace is also here, as is Uncle Elliot and Aunty Meg – that surprised me I didn't expect them to be here. The security guys who are testifying who I vaguely remember from that night, along with the man Uncle Christian introduced as Geoff Welch and also Jason who came that night with Uncle Christian. They are all here to help get justice for Uncle Pete and Aunty Suzy. I feel a huge lump in my throat at that thought and I swallow hard. I glance at Caroline who is also here, and she is watching me closely and when our eyes meet she just nods once at me not saying a word but that simple nod says to me 'you can do this'.

"Thank you all" I say carefully and everyone just smiles and nods at me telling me it's nothing.

Then I hear a voice calling my name and I turn in surprise as does everyone else, "Sadie!" I exclaim as I pull away from mom and dad and walk towards her.

"I had to come, I had to be here to offer what moral support I could for you" she explains and I don't hesitate, I wrap my arms around her and she hugs me tightly. Then I turn towards Lucy who is standing at her side, and hug her.

"Good luck" she whispers to me and I quietly thank her.

"Ok we need to go in" Dad calls and as he wraps his arm around me we make our way into the courtroom.

I look around, and gulp, I feel intimidated… I was in a courtroom in Chicago but that was different as I didn't have to actually do anything as Uncle Phil was just being sentenced. Now I have to play my part. I have to make everyone believe he did what he did. The enormity of that prospect hits me and I feel tears welling up in my eyes. Dad grips me tightly and mom grasps my hand. We sit down and I feel numerous hands on my shoulders squeezing and patting me. I turn to see Uncle Christian, Aunty Ana and Uncle Elliot directly behind me. I blink furiously and manage a weak grateful smile.

The jury file in and I look at them, there are a lot of men and only four women that I can see. Then I freeze as Uncle Phil is led in, he is shackled like he was before because he is already a convicted murderer. He glares at me and I straighten my back and just glare right back. He lowers his eyes first and I smile, that gives me confidence… I can do this. We all stand up as the judge comes in and things begin.

The DA stands and makes his opening statement, he tells how Uncle Phil is motivated by greed and how that greed had caused the death of my mom and dad. He tells of how he has already been convicted of killing my mom in cold blood. He tells of how, when I found out who my dad was greed had consumed him and how his diabolical plans had resulted in the deaths of my aunt and uncle. I sit rivetted by his speech. He tells how our evidence proves our case and how the jury will have no alternative but to find Philip Martin guilty. I glance at the jury and see they are all listening intently. I will them to believe us and convict my uncle so my aunt and uncle can get their justice.

When the DA has finished Arash stands up and walks everyone through the phone records, he explains how we will hear testimony which backs up what is written in these records. He reads out Uncle Phil's texts to Jerry Barnett, and he tells how Barnett has agreed to testify to corroborate the evidence we have. He pauses and then looks across at me, and I feel myself stiffen… this is it.

The DA stands once more and calls me to the stand. I stand up and I take a deep breath, as I do so everyone stands up and I am engulfed in a massive group hug.

"Take your time, tell the truth and don't let them confuse you" dad says quietly.

I look at the jury who are all staring at me as I walk to the stand. I see looks of sympathy from a few of them, but the majority have impassive expressions much like the ones dad and Uncle Christian adopt.

I stand and the judge smiles kindly at me, "Can I ask you to take the Oath" he says.

I nod and place my hand on the bible, "I promise that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth… so help me god" I say.

The DA rises to his feet and gives me a reassuring smile.

"If you could state your full name and your age" he says gently.

I nod and clear my throat, "My name is Jared… Jared William Martin-Cross and I am thirteen years old". I pause, "When my aunt and uncle died though, my name was Jared William Martin" I add.

I hear the stifled gasps when the jury hear how old I am. I know I look a lot older as I am physically tall, like my dad and much taller than the average thirteen-year-old. I dread to think how tall I am going to be when I hit puberty.

The DA smiles kindly at me once more. "Can you explain the relationship between you and the deceased – Peter and Suzanne Martin?" he asks.

I nod, "They… they were my aunt and uncle. You see, I was adopted at birth by William and Angela Martin. Peter Martin was dad's brother. There were four brothers my dad William Martin was the eldest, then came Peter Martin then Patrick and then…" I stop and look at Uncle Phil, "Him… Philip Martin" I say coldly. "When my mom and dad died, I was sent to live with Uncle Phil… nobody knew then that he was responsible for mom and dad's deaths. It was around that time I started thinking about where I came from originally… and that was when I found my biological dad. He wanted to be a part of my life but he also realised that he was a stranger to me. I told him about the abuse I had suffered at the hands of Uncle Phil since I had gone to live with him and my dad… my birth dad - Gideon, arranged for me to go and live with Uncle Pete and Aunty Suzy instead. He said that would be in my best interests while we got to know each other. Uncle Pete and Aunty Suzy lived in Seattle and so I moved there from Chicago, which is where I had always lived". I stop and wait hoping I have made that clear enough.

"So, to be clear at this point in time you were not living with your birth father?" the DA asks and the defence lawyer stands and shouts objection on the grounds it isn't relevant but is quickly overruled and I nod in answer to the question also wondering where he is going with that.

"If you could answer verbally please" he coaxes and I flush.

"Sorry… yes that is correct, dad – Gideon wanted us to get to know each other and he felt it would be best for me to live with Uncle Pete as I knew him better and I trusted him, dad just wanted what was best for me" I say as I glance across at dad who smiles at me.

The DA nods, "So, you moved to Seattle can you explain what happened on the night in question that your aunt and uncle died?" he asks gently.

I swallow hard, and nod again. "Yes, when I met dad… my birth dad – Gideon, he also introduced me to his brother in law, Christian Grey. Christian and Ana Grey had come to Chicago with dad and mom… that is Gideon and Eva to support them. I just want to say… I call Gideon and Eva mom and dad now, but I will clarify which mom and dad I am referring to" I say and I turn towards the jury as I say that. I see a number of smiles at my words, and sympathetic looks.

"Objection is this relevant?" the defence lawyer asks.

The judge glares at him, "Over ruled. The witness is a minor and as such discretion needs to be taken into account of how he tells his evidence. He is a child and you would do well to remember that fact" he says glaring at the defence lawyer who sits down without another word.

"Sorry" I say and the DA shakes his head.

"No Jared you are doing really well and it is important that you clarify the details as you see fit" he says and he glances at the defence lawyer as he says this. "So the day in question?" he pushes.

"Yes, well I went to school as usual but a car kept appearing wherever I was… I recognised the car, it belonged to a man who had been a visitor at Uncle Phil's house regularly when I lived there. A man I didn't like. He scared me, so when I saw his car… at first I thought I was mistaken but then I saw it again… and again. But then when I got home that night and I saw it outside. It was parked up right outside the house. I knew, I knew something was wrong. Then I saw the man, and it was the same man who used to visit Uncle Phil" I say.

"Do you know that man's name?" the DA asks.

"Yes, I do his name is Jerry Barnett" I state clearly.

"What happened then?" The DA asks.

I swallow hard, "I thought about it and I phoned Uncle Christian" I say as I glance across at the family who are watching me closely.

"Uncle Christian?" the DA asks.

I nod, "Yes, Christian Grey… I now call him Uncle Christian" I clarify.

"Why did you call Christian Grey? Surely I would've assumed you would call your biological father Gideon Cross?" the DA asks.

I shake my head, "No, my dad – Gideon, made me promise to call Uncle Christian if I was ever scared or felt unsafe. Uncle Christian gave me his phone number and he also made me promise him to call him if I needed him" I say.

"Why?" the DA asks.

I shrug, "He was closer, dad lives in New York that is the other side of the country and in the event of an emergency it made sense to call Uncle Christian instead as he lived a short distance away from my aunt and uncles house, so therefore could raise the alarm and help me physically quicker than dad could and I knew he would also let dad know something was wrong… so that is what I did. I called him and told him about the car and how I recognised the man, I was worried at first wondering if I was wasting his time but Uncle Christian told me I had done the right thing. Uncle Christian immediately raised the alarm and told me to stay in my bedroom and that if I felt threatened to hide somewhere" I say.

"Did you feel threatened?" the DA asks.

I nod and I feel a tear slip down my cheek and I brush it away with the back of my hand. "After I'd hung up from Uncle Christian, dad called me and promised me that he was coming. He had heard what was happening and he assured me that he was leaving New York right there and then. He told me to do exactly what Christian had told me. I said I would, then after dad had hung up I heard gunshots, I was so scared so I hid and I called Uncle Christian back and told him. He told me to stay really quiet and he promised me he was coming to get me, he promised me he was on his way to me. I did as I was told and he stayed on the phone with me talking to me making me feel safe. I described to him what I could hear and at one point I heard shouting and Uncle Christian just stayed on the phone with me. He came and he found me and he took me to his house. I remember him telling me that Uncle Pete and Aunty Suzy were dead but after that… It all becomes a bit blurry, I think I was in shock and I just went where Uncle Christian told me to go. I'm sorry I don't remember much after that… until… until much later when mom and dad – Gideon and Eva arrived, it was really late but they came".

The DA smiles kindly at me, "You are doing really well Jared, can you explain what happened after that?" he asks.

"It all became confusing after that. Information kept coming in about who the guy was and what had happened. I kept trying to remember things, things from when my mom and dad were killed in Chicago as it was believed the same people were involved, because the guy Jerry Barnett had told Christian's security men Uncle Phil was involved. I asked if we could go to Chicago to try and jog my memory as I had remembered something about the day of the shooting of my parents. That was when the case was blown wide open… security footage came to light. It corroborated the story Jerry Barnett told the security guys… and proved my uncle was behind it all. I identified everyone in the footage… and I saw Uncle Phil shoot my mom in cold blood".

"Thank you Jared, do you remember what you were told about Jerry Barnett's testimony?" the DA asks.

I nod, "Yes, I was told that he had said that Uncle Phil had paid him to come to Seattle to try and snatch me. He had to kill my aunt and uncle and snatch me. That was his plan originally when my dad – William got shot. His plan was to stage a kidnapping of me to extort money from my dad – William Martin. Jerry Barnett played his part and accidentally shot my dad, William Martin and that was when the plan changed and Uncle Phil shot my mom – Angela. He thought he would be named as a beneficiary in their will you see. But mom and dad left everything to me, in trust. So his plan changed again and he took me, and he planned to kill me, he got drugs from Jerry Barnett and he was going to feed them to me and overdose me – killing me so he could claim my inheritance as my guardian. But me wanting to find my birth family changed that and when he realised who my birth father was… well that changed everything and he decided to revert back to his original plan and have me kidnapped but this time to extort money from my dad – Gideon, and then when he got the money from Gideon he planned to kill me anyway to claim my inheritance. But Gideon had moved me into the guardianship of Uncle Pete and Aunty Suzy which meant they then had to be eliminated as well so they were unable to claim my inheritance as my official guardians".

The DA sighs, "Can you tell me what your uncle was found guilty of in Chicago?" he asks.

"Objection…" the defence lawyer cries leaping to his feet.

"Over ruled" the judge snaps.

"First degree murder of my mom, Angela Martin. First degree murder of my dad - William Martin. Attempted kidnapping of me, drugs possession charges and child abuse… I think that's everything" I say.

"Thank you, no further questions" the DA states and sits down.

The defence lawyer gets to his feet grinning at me. I remember him from Chicago and I just glare at him.

"To be clear here… you were hiding in your bedroom" he begins and I realise immediately what he is trying to do.

"Yes" I say.

"So you never actually saw anything" he says smugly.

"No" I admit.

"And yet here we are. I put it to you that you were not mistaken when you saw Jerry Barnett's car outside, you were not mistaken when you heard gunshots and sadly your aunt and uncle had indeed been murdered in cold blood. But that was Jerry Barnett who did that wasn't it?"

"Objection irelevent, these facts are not in dispute we have already established that Jerry Barnett was who was on the ground and who pulled the trigger" the DA states.

The judge nods, "Sustained, please rephrase the question" he says.

The defence lawyer nods, "You state you saw Jerry Barnett's car throughout the day and parked outside your house that night" he says and I nod.

"Did you see Jerry Barnett kill your aunt and uncle?" he asks.

"No" I say, "but I heard gunshots" I add.

The lawyer nods, "You heard gunshots but you did not see the gun fired" he says.

"Objection irrelevant, the witness has already explained he was hiding, has already explained he heard the gunshots I fail to see why the defence lawyer is pursuing this line of questioning?"

The judge nods, "Sustained, make your point" he snaps.

The lawyer nods, "You are adamant that Jerry Barnett killed your aunt and uncle?" he asks.

I nod, "Yes" I say.

"What gives you that unswayable belief?" he asks.

"Because he admitted it, to Uncle Christian's security guys. He told them he was told to do it" I say.

"Ah yes the confession where he implicated my client, but wait was my client there that day?" he asks.

I shake my head, "No" I say.

"So how can you be sure that your uncle was implicated in killing his own brother and sister in law?" he asks.

I stare at him, "Because I have seen the texts, I have seen the conversation between him and Jerry Barnett and I have seen the corroborating Google searches which back up those texts and back up the story given by Jerry Barnett and by my Aunt Beverley – Uncle Phil's own wife" I say.

"But surely you are not so naïve to realise that, that evidence could be fake are you? You seem like an intelligent boy, do you know for sure if that was even your uncle's phone?" he asks smugly.

I smile at him, "Yeah it was his phone, I saw him use it a number of times when I lived with him. He had two phones you see, his every day one and that one which is in the evidence which he kept for communication with Jerry Barnett. It was security locked, so nobody else could access it. When Aunty Bev found it she tried to get into it but didn't know the passcode and when the experts got into it they verified the last time it was opened and used was around the time of my aunt and uncle's deaths". I glance at the evidence table, "I see the phone in this courtroom right now, it is right there" I say pointing at it.

I look at dad and he is grinning proudly at me.

The defence lawyer stares at me, "But can you be certain?" he pushes.

I nod, "I can, that was his phone, he was the only person who had access to it and he used it to communicate with Jerry Barnett at the time of my aunt and uncle's murder – and that evidence has already been shared" I say.

"Are you certain your uncle was involved in your aunt and uncle's death?" the lawyer pushes and I nod emphatically.

"I am, the evidence on that phone proves he was and he was certainly capable of it. He murdered my mother – Angela Martin in cold blood something which I saw with my own eyes as it was all captured on CCTV, and I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the events of that day confirm Jerry Barnett's account of that day, so before you ask me if Jerry Barnett could be lying I say no because everything he has said has been backed up by concrete evidence in every single case".

I stop and stare defiantly at the lawyer.

"No further questions" the lawyer says and sits down.

The judge tells me I'm free to step down, I retake my seat and dad stands and gives me a massive hug.

"Well done, you were brilliant" he whispers to me.

"Thanks dad" I reply.