Page 32 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part Two
Court was called back into session, and Aviva reached up to stroke my face. “No matter what happens, you always have me, Hendrick Kenley. Now and forever, no matter what it looks like. I’ve got your back.” She looked over her shoulder at the guys. “We’ve all got your back.”
I strode back in there with my head held high, giving my father nothing. Hewasnothing; he didn’t deserve my fear or my shame.
Tobias was at the long table already when I walked in, and I tried to judge his expression. He looked calm, but still neutral, giving nothing away about what had just happened in the judge’s chamber.
“Everything okay?”
Tobias nodded. “Everything is fine. I got spanked a little about this not being a criminal trial, but our evidence gets to remain. Also…” Reporters suddenly appeared in the courtroom, and there was a slight curl of his lips. “I argued that this didn’t need to be a closed case, and that it was indeed in the public's best interest for it to be open.”
I swallowed hard, but this was what I wanted. I wanted the man ruined. I could block this attempt at a conservatorship, but that was nothing in the big scheme of things. No, it wasn’t this court of law that would hold him accountable. Nothing would ruin him more than the court of public opinion.
The judge cleared his throat. “Despite the fact that I agreed with the defense about the beneficiality of having the court open, I will not have this courtroom turned into a circus. Defense, call your first witness.”
The other lawyer stood first. “We’d like the previous evidence struck from the record, Your Honor. It wasn’t provided during discovery, and therefore should not be admissible.”
The judge heaved a sigh. “Mr. Lecter?”
“We weren’t able to obtain the records until the last moment for fear of reprisal, Your Honor. It was a matter of safety.”
What the hell did that mean?
The judge seemed to know what he meant though. “The evidence stays. Call your witness, Mr. Lecter.”
“Your Honor, we’d like to call Hendrick Kenley.”
I sucked in a deep breath. This was it. I stood up and walked to the witness box beside the judge. The man’s expression gave nothing away, and I clenched my hands into fists on my knees.
The bailiff came over and swore me in, and then Tobias was in front of me. “Hendrick, what's your first memory of abuse committed on you by your father?”
Clenching my teeth, I calmed my heart. I didn’t look at the man in question. Instead, I kept my gaze focused on Tobias. I could see him willing me to have strength, and I steeled my spine.
“I couldn’t tell you how old I was. But I was playing with matchbox cars in his den and knocked over his drink. He backhanded me. It sent me flying across the room, so I guess I was pretty young.”
“Was this an isolated incident?”
I snorted. “No. Backhanding me is basically his favorite pastime.”
“Not that it should matter, but when was the last time your father hurt you?”
I shrugged. “I’m going to assume you mean physically, and not emotionally, because when someone attempts to have you abducted from an airport and committed to a mental institution, that's pretty hurtful.”
Tobias’s eyes warned me to not be flippant. All mirth left me.
“A couple of months ago, before I left for Europe. He wanted me to be home for the campaign trail. I said no, and he smashed me in the head with his scotch glass. I swore then I’d never go back.”
“Why do you think your father wants conservatorship?”
“Objection, Your Honor. That’s conjecture at best.”
“Sustained.”
“Sorry, Your Honor. Hendrick, what would a person have to gain personally by having conservator powers over you?”
“Access to my bank balance, including the trust fund from my grandparents.”
“And how much would that be worth at the moment, Mr. Kenley?”
I shrugged, because I left that shit up to my accountants. “At last report, about 860 million?”
