Chapter Thirty

Jarrod took a deep breath and said a silent prayer for the proceedings. Nick's life hinged on this proceeding.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Frederick Turner"

Jarrod, Nate, and Maris stood up at their table. JD Autonberry, Peterson and a young lawyer, Branch Davis stood up at the opposite table. The proceedings were closed except for the judge, bailiff, and clerk.

Both tables had been cautious to not make eye contact with the other group. Jarrod had cautioned Maris, "Do not look at him. He wants to weaken you. Make you fear and depend upon him again. He will try to make you look hysterical or unstable or weak or emotional. Don't give him any ground"

"I will try."

The judge sat down and the bailiff nodded for everyone to sit down.

"Be seated. I have spent the last two weeks reviewing all the pertinent documents and precedents provided by the parties. Mr. Barkley, Mr. Springer, you may have a career writing law books. I was not familiar with several of them. Mr. Peterson and Mr. Uh Branch—-uh Davis, I appreciate the intricacies of your detailed reports. They were very helpful in reviewing this decision. I have two additions, testimony from Mr. JD Autonberry and Mrs. Alice Springer. Mr. Autonberry, would you please take the stand."

"Ladies first," Peterson deferred.

"Fine but I will allow both parties to redirect. This is my courtroom." the judge frowned back.

Alice had dressed carefully, an elegant matronly dress with a high neck and long sleeves.

She walked gracefully into the witness stand and was sworn in. She was a very beautiful woman with white streaks in her jet-black hair at forty-seven years.

Jarrod began the questioning, "In all sense of disclosure, my family and myself have had thirty years of friendships with the Springer family."

Nate caught the young attorney marking something off their long list of objections. "Good job, Jarrod. They were going to use that. I have faith in my Alice; she will do our case well."

"Mrs. Springer, Alice, could you describe the last two and a half months with your house guest, Mrs. Maris Autonberry?"

"Of course. She has been a delightful house guest. Punctual to all meals, gracious to all she comes in contact with, early riser, witty conversationalist, neat as a pin. Volunteers as a docent at the San Francisco Arboretum, a member of our ladies book club, just a perfect guest in our home. My grandchildren have already named her their Aunt Mare."

The judge smiled at Alice.

Jarrod continued, "Have you seen any melancholy or even emotional outbursts from your houseguest?"

"Oh yes,"

"Please tell us, Alice."

"She misses her son terribly and twice we have traveled to her scheduled visit, only to find him unavailable. I believe the Headmaster colluded with Mr. Peterson to keep them apart."

"I object. Opinion and without merit." Branch interrupted.

"Sustained. Strike the last statement."

Alice acted contrite at her statement although it was carefully planned.

"Please continue."

"I saw her cry on the way home both times. To be honest, I was just as tearful as she was disappointed."

"Any other times?"

"Yes. When her clothing trunks were delivered—completely unusable and despoiled. She cried very hard."

"Your honor, I refer you to the photographs we submitted to the court."Jarrod added.

The opposing table looked straight ahead.

"Continue Mr. Barkley. I have seen the photographs."

"You opened the trunks?"

"Yes it was vile how everything was destroyed."

The younger Autonberry lawyer jotted down some notes.

"Do you feel you trust Maris? In your home? With your family? Introducing her to your friends?"

"Absolutely. I brought a letter from the head of the arboretum about her work ethic and performance. The visitors love her. My friends find her kind and delightful. I trust her so much, I have left my three-year-old granddaughter overnight with her."

JD frowned seeing the judge's approving reaction.

"Mrs. Springer, are you aware that Mrs. Autonberry has been examined by medical personnel?"

JD and Peterson shared a look of concern.

"Yes, I took her myself. The head of Berkeley medical school, a professor at the university, and my personal physician. All found her safe, with no defects. I attended all the appointments with her and never saw any instability."

Jarrod handed the letters to the judge and Peterson. He Hmpfed. Branch didn't seem phased.

Jarrod asked Alice several other questions and she answered clearly.

"I defer to opposing counsel."

"Good morning, Mrs. Springer. I have a few questions. Please let me know if any are distressing and I will temper my inquiries. Would you like some water or a break to collect your thoughts?" The young attorney took the lead to Peterson's obvious annoyance.

Alice answered back firmly, "I will be fine."

"Were you with the trunks the whole time from the freight delivery?"

"No, but I was there when they were opened by Maris."

"How many men or boys let's say carried them upstairs?"

"Three young men."

"Of what age?"

"Late teens."

"Could they have dropped them? Jostled them? Tumped them over?"

"No."

"But you weren't with them the whole time and you are sure?"

"Yes, they would have told me."

"Oh—-because all young men admit to errors?"

She rolled her eyes, "My men did not do that damage. It isn't possible."

"Don't get distressed Mrs. Springer, I mean no offense," Branch said innocently.

Nate cleared his throat in annoyance. Jarrod cut him a look.

"Let me continue. So the first trunk was opened and India ink leaked out?"

"Dumped out most likely," she spat back.

"Wasn't Mrs. Autonberry's fine silver writing well in the trunk? Her father-in-law didn't have to give it to her, but out of the graciousness he did. He knew how much she loved it. Couldn't it have just spilled by poor packing of lazy servants, a distracted freight company—even your own stable boys?" with condescension in his voice.

"All three?"

"It's quite possible Mrs. Springer. The second trunk? Mr. Autonberry out of the goodness of his heart he sent her favorite olive oil and her red Madeira from the neighbors' hacienda. From the pictures, it appears to have been broken and spilled too."

Alice was furious," It was deliberate. I was there."

"No offense ma'am. Just looking objectively as men tend to do. You sweet ladies look at things more fanciful."and Branch smiled at her as he would a child.

"Objection," Jarrod interjected.

"Sustained,"

"The third trunk was flowers and a shattered windchime"

"Yes—how do you explain that?" Alice challenged him.

"Glass breaks, plant petals fall off. Very common occurrences when a trunk is mishandled."

Alice let out a sigh of frustration, "I did not come to that conclusion."

The young attorney smiled, "Of course Mrs. Springer, many a happenstance. We respect a woman's prerogative with the truth."

Alice gave him an angry look.

"Oh, by the way, a couple of more questions. Just informal. You and Mrs. Autonberry attend a book club?"

"Yes, we do. Maris is very well-read and articulate. Our whole group has embraced her."

"What kind of books do you read?"

"Me or my friends? Wait, the answer is many kinds. Even those we eventually dislike or disagree with—opening one's mind to the world gives us wisdom." and she narrowed her eyes at him.

Nate and Jarrod suppressed a smile.

"Hmmmm, I believe scripture tells us that the world's wisdom leads to death."

JD and Peterson openly smirked,

"I know my Bible quite well sir and by the way—- Maris openly quotes scriptures in her daily life. She is one of the rare people who lives them out well. I believe the correct verse would be that we are to live in the world but not be of the world."

He smiled at her condescendingly again, "I stand corrected."

"Let me rephrase the question. Moll Flanders? Madame Bovary? How do these banned books flourish in your book club? They are banned if I am correct in many cities as immoral."

The judge's opinion was written on his face as he frowned at Alice. Nate and Jarrod noticed.

Alice quickly answered, "Hmmmm I didn't know my book club ladies were on trial. Just our sweet Maris and I am not certain she has read such. But—-" with a dramatic pause for effect, "If those books are a problem, please let me put my Bible on the shelf with them. I do believe that prostitution and adultery are clearly, clearly, clearly mentioned. As with the consequences for both. What shall we do with the story of Tamar? A poor widow beset upon by her father-in-law?"

Nate couldn't quite suppress his smile at his life and Jarrod looked down immediately to school his appreciation for her rhetoric.

JD fumed and Peterson was taken aback.

"Thank you, Mrs. Springer. I think my questions have come to an end for the moment. Thank you for your very insightful answers. I think the court has seen the powerful influence you have in the life of your house guest. I assume your dinner parties are the talk of San Francisco."

"Mr. Barkley, do you have any more questions for your witness?"

"Not at this time."

"I reserve my right to redirect."

"Granted. You are excused ," pronounced the unreadable judge.

"Let's break for lunch and resume at 1:00. The court calls JD Autonberry to the stand,"