Page 86 of Fake it With Me

“Understood, your honor.”

“And Ms. Jefferies?” The judge fixed me with a stern look. “No more outbursts. You will speak when spoken to, answer the questions asked of you, and conduct yourself with appropriate decorum. Is that clear?”

“Yes, your honor. Crystal clear.”

“Good. Bailiff, swear her in.”

I stood on shaking legs and made my way to the witness stand. The bailiff swore me in, and I sat down, acutely aware of everyone’s eyes on me. What the hell had I been thinking?

“Ms. Jefferies, can you please state your qualifications?”

“I’m a PhD candidate in marine biology at Columbia University. My dissertation focuses on humpback whale migration patterns along the eastern seaboard, specifically between the Caribbean breeding grounds and the Gulf of Maine feeding grounds.”

“And how long have you been studying whale migration?”

“Four years in my doctoral program, but I’ve been interested in marine mammal behavior since my undergraduate degree. That’s eight years total of focused study.”

“And in your expert opinion, what do you see in this photograph that leads you to believe it’s been altered in some way?”

I looked at the monitor with the image that had nearly destroyed Darek’s case. “I see humpback whales. Specifically, I see the distinctive blow patterns of at least three individuals surfacing in the background of this image.”

“And is there anything unusual about seeing humpback whales in Maine waters?” Aaron asked.

“Not in general, no. Maine is part of their summer feeding grounds. But according to Mr. Whitmore, this photo was taken on February twenty-fourth. At that time of year, humpback whales would still be in their winter breeding grounds in the Caribbean. They don’t begin their northward migration until late March or early April.”

“And you’re certain about this?”

“Completely certain. Humpback whale migration is one of the most well-documented and predictable animal migrations in the world. There are decades of research supporting these patterns. The whales in this image could not be in Maine waters on the date this image was supposedly taken.”

Aaron nodded. “So what does that tell you about this photograph?”

“That either the date is wrong, or the image has been digitally altered.”

“Thank you, Ms. Jefferies. No further questions.”

I started to stand, but Judge Morrison stopped me. “Stay right there, Ms. Jefferies. Mr. Whitmore, your witness.”

Sasha’s lawyer stood. I braced myself for whatever he was about to throw at me. But before he could say anything, there was a commotion at the petitioner’s table.

Sasha had stood up and turned to face Grant, who was sitting in the row behind her.

And then she slapped him.

The crack of her palm against his cheek echoed through the courtroom. Everyone froze.

“What the hell did you do?” Sasha’s voice was shaking with rage. “Grant, what the hell did you do?”

30

DAREK

Gasps filled the courtroom. People half-stood from their seats, craning to see what was happening. The court reporter’s hands froze over her keyboard. Even the bailiff looked shocked.

This was better than any courtroom drama I had ever seen on TV. I always paid lawyers to handle my legal business so I never had to step foot in a courtroom, but damn, I was missing out. It was a whole new world.

Judge Morrison’s gavel came down like a gunshot. Pounding over and over. “Order! I will have order in my courtroom!” She banged it again for good measure. “Everyone sit down and be quiet. The only people who will speak are the ones I explicitly tell to speak. Do I make myself clear?”

The room fell silent except for some residual murmuring.