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“Did you hear about the arrest of Louis Ralls this morning? It’s alleged he tried to evict your mom, Celeste Ebbings, from their farm if she didn’t speak out against you.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my expression neutral. But the image of Christina Ralls’s cross face came to mind. She’d been so certain her husband wasn’t guilty of anything. Then again, the arrest wouldn’t have come for someone as elite as Louis Ralls was without a mountain of evidence. Right? Regarding Celeste, I didn’t know how to process the news. Only that she made a choice not to speak out against me and that alone soothed my spirit. It also surprised me. Maybe she’s changed?
After passing through security, Gunnar led us up to the fifty-fifth floor. The steel sign of the firm was encased in oak next to high polished steel and leather seats. A man seated there stood and shook our hands. “I’m Dale Briggs with the New York prosecution office. I’ll let them know we’re ready.” He went to the front desk.
Gunnar came close to me. “This is go time. Short, clear answers; don’t embellish. Answer the question only, and truthfully, even if it hurts. Okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Are we all here?” A woman’s voice filled the front area. She appeared middle-aged and had on a pantsuit with a silk shirt. Her brows were penciled in an arc that gave her a constant look of surprise. “Mr. Paul Crane’s here. I never thought I’d see the day.”
Paul looked right through her. But the woman appeared indifferent.
A handsome older man in a suit came through the door and over to Paul, and they spoke softly. He turned to me. “This is Ian Unger.”
I shook his hand.
He turned to face the middle-aged woman. “Hello, Brenda,” Ian said in a polite tone. He went to the front desk. “What office are we using for the meeting?”
I raised my brows. What meeting?
Before I could ask Paul about it, Gunnar touched my arm and gestured for me to go with him to Brenda. “We’re ready to get started.”
“It’s not going to be quick, so get comfortable,” she quipped and let out a hoarse laugh as she shook our hands. “Hello, I’m Brenda Pierson. Even though I’m the defense lawyer, we can be polite. I’ll be asking you questions today, and might I say, you look stunning in person.”
I plastered on a smile. “Thank you.” Did the defense attorney just try to flatter me? That I had not expected. We walked down a corridor and into a medium-sized boardroom where three women were already seated with shorthand typewriters at a conference table. One Gunnar greeted, letting me know she was from his firm. There was a table with a video camera on a pedestal before it.
Gunnar tutted at Brenda. “This isn’t a video deposition.”
“We record all our depositions.”
“Not without a court order request. Do you have one?” Dale asked in a clipped tone.
Brenda smiled. “It’s just for training purposes, but fine. We won’t use it. Your client will have to make herself available for testimony at trial.” She glimpsed me.
I shifted on my feet. I hope not.
“This is Tabitha.” She pointed at another woman seated at the table. “She’s the court reporter. We’re ready.” An assistant handed Brenda a folder, and she went to stand next to the desk. I followed her and sat down.
Gunnar moved the camera away from in front of me, then sat next to Dale.
My leg trembled under the seat, and my pulse sped up. I glanced over at Gunnar, who mouthed, “Relax.”
I took a couple of cleansing breaths and folded my arms in front of me.
Tabitha spoke as she typed, “This is the defendant’s deposition of Nadia Sokol for use in The State of New York vs. Styles Corporation criminal cases.…” She read off a long list of charges, including criminal negligence, racketeering, assault, prostitution, and human trafficking. I’d heard the charges before, but this time, it was official. “Are you aware you are being deposed for these cases, Ms. Sokol?”
My pulse jumped. “Yes.”
“Are you also aware your answers are under oath? This subjects you to the criminal charges of perjury for willfully giving false, misleading, or incomplete testimony?”
“Yes.”
“You are allowed to ask to repeat a question, explain, but if you answer, it is assumed you understood the question. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Ms. Pierson, you may begin your questioning.”
