Page 63 of Breathless
“To prove without a shadow of a doubt that these men did not act alone. They work for Leland Warshafsky and Mr. Felty knows it,” McAdams said. “Felty knows it because he and his law firm represent Warshafsky and his illegal dealings.”
“Objection, your honor,” Felty yelled. “Neither I, nor my law firm and our client list are on trial here.”
“Sustained. You’re treading on dangerous grounds claiming there are illegal dealings, Mr. McAdams. Be careful. We’ve already established earlier during Miss Killion’s testimony that there is a conflict of interest with Mr. Felty representing thesemen and Warshafsky too. But you can’t claim illegal dealings without proof.”
“I understand, your honor,” McAdams said picking up a clicker and flashing a photo of Chaney in a bikini and high heels on the large television screen for all to see. “Miss Daniels, were you forced to dress this way during your abduction?”
“Yes. Every. Day. I. Was. Held. Against. My. Will.”
“Objection, your honor,” Felty said.
The judge shook his head. “Overruled.”
“Thank you, Miss Daniels, that will be all,” Adams said, going back to his seat.
“Your witness, Mr. Felty,” the judge said.
“Thank you, your honor.” Felty walked over to the witness box. He smiled at Chaney. “I appreciate you taking the time to come here today to testify, Miss Daniels.”
“I didn’t have much of a choice,” she said. “I had a civic duty to fulfill, besides, those monsters couldn’t go free.”
Felty winced. “Is that how you see all men? As monsters?”
“No. Not good men. Just those men,” she pointed at the defendant’s table.
“Please, Miss Daniels, let’s refrain from theatrics,” Felty said.
“It isn’t theatrics, they human trafficked me. They tried to dehumanize me by how they made me dress and then they tried to auction me and several others off on the black market. You should be ashamed for representing them. And for representing their boss, Leland Warshafsky.”
The courtroom erupted with applause as people stood in the gallery. The judge banged his gavel several times to quieten them down.
“I’ll remove the gallery if there is one more outburst like that!” The judge warned.
Felty turned, looked at the gallery, and then back at the witness box. “I have no further questions for this hostile witness.”
Chaney stood feeling weak in the knees, but she stepped down from the witness box without falling. She walked out of the courtroom, not wanting to linger to hear any more of the testimony.
The double wooden doors opened a few moments later and Rawlins came out.
Chaney rushed to Rawlins, and he hugged her. “You were wonderful up there. I knew you’d do great,” he said.
“I can’t stand Felty,” she grumbled, pulling away from him when the double doors opened again, and her parents came out of the court room. “Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?”
“We didn’t like the way we left things, kiddo,” her father said. “After your mother’s little meltdown, we saw a therapist and she advised us that maybe we were being a little overprotective.”
You think?A little voice inside of Chaney’s head screamed.
“You went to counseling?” she asked.
“We did,” her mom said with a bright smile on her face. “And she was wonderful. We don’t want to lose you, Chaney. We love you.”
“I love you too, Mom,” Chaney said. “But threatening to withdraw my financial support when you’ve refused to allow me to get a job, or even learn to do basic skills to take care of myself is cruel. You know.”
“We have seen that with the sessions we’ve attended,” her father said.
“You must have gone to daily if you’ve made that must progress in such little time, Chaney said.
“Twice a week since we last spoke,” her father said. “But it has been worth it.”
