Callie Raised Her Hand
Callie squeezed my hand. Then she let go. For several seconds, she stared down at her lap. Suddenly she stood. Her face had gone pale. Her little blue dress looked painfully bright in that serious courtroom. She slowly raised one hand.
“Your Honor?”
Judge Whitaker looked surprised. “Yes, sweetheart?”
Callie’s voice trembled. “Can I show you something my mom doesn’t know about?”
Everything changed.
Derek immediately straightened. “Callie, sit down. This is an adult conversation.”
The judge’s eyes moved toward him. “Mr. Hollis, please allow your daughter to speak.”
Callie reached beneath the table and pulled her backpack onto her chair. It was purple with tiny white stars and a worn zipper. She opened the front pocket. From inside, she removed a small black USB drive wrapped in a tissue.
I stared at it. “Callie, what is that?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d be scared.”
My stomach dropped.
Derek stood halfway out of his chair. “Whatever she thinks she has, Natalie obviously coached her.”
The judge’s expression hardened. “Sit down, Mr. Hollis.”
He sat. But the color had disappeared from his face.
