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Alexandra cleared her throat. “Yes.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Yes.”
“Me too. I always get nervous when I’m in court, so I’m right there with you.”
This was a lie, but Garrett wasn’t under oath. The truth was that it had been a number of years since he’d felt any nerves in a courtroom.
Alexandra offered a subtle smile.
“If we start talking about anything you don’t want to discuss, just let me know and we’ll move on. Okay?” he asked.
“Okay.”
Garrett paused for a moment before walking over to the witness stand. This gave the jury a moment to settle as they waited to hear from Alexandra Quinlan, a girl who they had all admitted during jury selection they’d seen in the papers and tabloids. Now, they were about to meet her in person.
“During cross-examination this week, the state of Virginia has attempted to put forth a narrative that the McIntosh Police Department did everything by the book in their handling of the Quinlan family murders in general, and Alexandra Quinlan in particular. Next week, when it’s their turn to put forth their case, they’ll tell us more of the same.”
Garrett looked over at the defense table.
“Other than accusing the wrong person in a triple homicide, and still to this day failing to bring the actual killer to justice, perhaps that argument works. Otherwise, it’s filled with a few holes.”
“Objection,” Bill Bradley said.
“Sustained.”
“They want you to ignore a couple of early ‘mistakes’ they made, and to concentrate only on how well they did after that point. But it’s not the things they did correctly that has brought us here to this courtroom; it’s all the things they did terribly wrong.”
“Your Honor,” Bill Bradley said in an annoyed tone.
“Mr. Lancaster,” the judge said, “we discussed this yesterday. You are not making a closing argument, you are questioning a witness. Do you have a question for Miss Quinlan?”
Garrett turned back to Alexandra.
“The McIntosh Police Department feels that they treated you correctly—by the book, as I said—starting with the journey from your home the night your family was killed. Do you agree with that argument?”
“No,” Alexandra said.
“Where were you placed after you were arrested?”
“Alleghany Juvenile Detention Center.”
“How long did you stay there?”
“Two months.”
“After two months, what happened?”
“The charges against me were dropped and I was released.”
“The charges were dropped, but for two months you were forced to fend for yourself inside a juvenile detention center for a crime you did not commit. Do I have that correct?”
“Yes.”
“The defense has argued that while you were at Alleghany you were treated well. Do you agree with that?”
“No.”
