Page 63 of High Season
A few voices are rising up to meet hers now, a murmur of protest, a hum of horror.
“In fact,” says Nina. “Maybe someone should bring me a drink up here right now, because I’d really like…”
“Nina.”
There’s a hand on her elbow. Blake, his voice in her ear. The weight of him holding her still.
“It’s OK,” he says. “Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”
“I’m not finished,” she hisses.
“On the contrary,” he says. “I think that you are.”
A gentle steer, pulling her back from the edge. His body between her and the spectators below, shielding her from view.
“Show’s over, guys,” he says. “Everyone fill up your drinks. I think we all need another one after that!”
Then he’s leading her upstairs, and his grip is so assured, so gentle, that Nina almost believes that he will fix things for her. She almost thinks that he might be able to take everything away.
“Blake,” she says. Her voice is small. Childlike. “Blake, I think I’m going to be sick.”
Interview withDavid B. Walker, internationally renowned expert in child witness testimony.
Interview conducted byCeline Blanco, investigating magistrate.
19 May 2005
Blanco:Mr. Walker, we are here today to discuss the testimony of Nina Drayton. Before we begin, can you confirm that you’ve analyzed the interview recordings and transcripts of Nina Drayton relating to the Tamara Drayton case?
Walker:I have.
Blanco:Thank you, Mr. Walker. A key question of this case is Nina Drayton’s very young age. Nina was five at the time she was first questioned. In your opinion, can the evidence of a five-year-old child be considered reliable evidence?
Walker:The point of the matter is not the age of the child, but how the testimony is gathered. Nina Drayton is very young, but there have been several cases of children of a similar age being used as witnesses in America, the UK, and other countries, often resulting in extremely important testimony. We don’t look at if the child should have been a witness. We look at the witness testimony that they gave. If the police officer conducted the interview in an appropriate way. If the child’s answers seemed natural and believable.
Blanco:And do you believe Nina Drayton’s answers to be natural and believable?
Walker:I do. Examining Nina Drayton’s speech patterns, I believe that she answered in a way that a child speaking honestly would have done. There are certain indicators that a child is not telling the truth—the timing between the question and the answer, changing the topic, talking quickly. In the recordings and transcripts of NinaDrayton’s interviews, I didn’t see any of these signs.
Blanco:And the interviewing officer? Do you believe that they conducted the interview appropriately? Do you think that the way the information was gathered was fair?
Walker:Look, to be frank, there’s no such thing as perfect evidence. When it comes to children, the waters are always muddied. Children don’t communicate the way that you and I do. They don’t think the way that you or I do. And with the Nina Drayton evidence, there’s plenty of muddying. The information came to the police’s attention via Evelyn Drayton in the first instance, which is challenging because we’ll never know exactly what Nina first told her mother, what conversations were had then. There were child protection experts and guardians and translators in the room, which can confuse a child. There are lots of things that are imperfect about Nina Drayton’s evidence. But do I believe that the evidence was gathered as well as possible, for a case involving a child witness? Yes. I do.
Blanco:So you believe Nina Drayton’s testimony to be credible, in spite of her young age?
Walker:I do. Although young, Nina Drayton was clearly able to distinguish the difference between a lie and the truth when asked. She didn’t display any signs of lying. And the story she told in the interview was credible. To me, Nina Drayton is as good a five-year-old witness as you can possibly get. In my expert view, Nina Drayton saw exactly what she said she did.
Blanco:So, Mr. Walker, in your opinion, should Nina Drayton’s testimony be admissible in court?
Walker:I wholeheartedly believe that Nina Drayton’s testimony should be taken seriously, and should be admissible in court.
TWENTY
2004
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
Hannah spent a lot of time at the pink house after she and Blake first slept together.
