Cracks in the Sidewalk(50)

“Missus McDermott, how do you feel about your son-in-law?”

“At one time,” Claire said sadly, “I loved Jeffrey the same as I would a son. But now—well, now he’s a different person. He’s bitter and mean beyond belief. Liz gave him everything she had to give, an abundance of love and all of her good years. But he has nothing to give back during this last bit of her life. How would you feel about someone like that?”

Dudley gave a sympathetic nod. Then he said, “One last question. Have you or would you say anything derogatory about Jeffrey Caruthers within earshot of your grandchildren?”

“No, I never have and never would. Regardless of my feelings about Jeffrey, he’s their father and one of these days he’ll be their only living parent, so why would I say anything that could destroy the children’s faith in him?”

Dudley smiled, then turned to Noreen and said, “Your witness.”

Before Noreen could take the courtroom floor, Judge Brill rapped his gavel. “It’s getting close to noon, so let’s stop here and take a forty-five-minute recess for lunch.”

Claire breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out of the witness box.





The Trial Continues


As they left the courthouse, Noreen and Jeffrey turned to the left and disappeared around the corner. The McDermotts and Dudley went in the opposite direction. Claire was full of questions. But with the men walking at a brisk pace in long strides it was all she could do to keep up, so she waited until they’d settled into a back booth at the Crooked Spoon and ordered their lunch.

“How’d I do?” she asked.

“Fine,” Dudley said. “But the tough part is ahead of you. Noreen is a razor-sharp lawyer. Whatever you say, she’s gonna turn it around and rephrase it in the negative. So make certain to watch for that, and don’t let her lead you into saying something you hadn’t intended.”

“Like what?”

“For instance, she gets you to admit that you love Elizabeth more than life itself. Then she’ll rephrase it to sound as if your concern for your daughter will override any concern you might have regarding the welfare of the children.”

“Oh dear,” Claire said.

“Noreen’s good. She’ll make you believe she’s very sympathetic, but when she gets what she needs she’ll pounce.”

“Oh dear,” Claire repeated.

“Don’t worry,” Dudley said. “You can get around that. Just keep your answers short as possible, one word if you can. Don’t give her anything to work with. And most importantly, don’t let her get you riled. If I know Noreen, she’ll drag out that sledgehammer incident and use it to make you look like a raging hothead, so be careful.”

By the time their sandwiches arrived, Claire’s stomach was knotted with fear. Her grilled cheese grew cold as she listened to Charles and Dudley.

“I’ll call you to the stand right after Noreen finishes her cross of Claire,” Dudley told Charles. “I’m going to concentrate on the financial aspect of your relationship with Jeffrey, and I’ll ask you to tell the court about his reaction when you wouldn’t give him the money.”

“But this isn’t about the money.”

“But if we show that his actions were brought about because you refused to lend him the money he wanted, we can prove his motive for keeping the children away from you and Elizabeth is vindictiveness rather than the belief it’s in their best interest.”

Charles nodded and chomped down on his sandwich.



When they settled back into the courtroom, Claire nervously glanced at Noreen Sarnoff.

“Claire McDermott,” the court clerk called out, “please retake the stand for cross examination. Remember, you have already been sworn in.”

Noreen rose from her seat and in a few long strides stood facing Claire. “Missus McDermott, do you love your daughter?”

Claire remembered Dudley’s warning about the lawyer’s trickery.

“Yes,” she said tentatively.

“Do you also love your three grandchildren?”

“Yes.”

“Who do you love more, your daughter or your grandchildren?”

“Objection,” Dudley called out. “That has no relevance—”

“Your Honor,” Noreen interrupted, “I’m trying to establish the witness’s priorities in relationship to the wellbeing of the children.”

“I’ll allow it,” Judge Brill said. “But watch where you’re going, Counselor.”

Noreen smiled and turned back to Claire.

“I love them equally,” Claire finally said.

“Well, what if they were all trapped in a burning building and the fireman said it was only possible for him to rescue either your daughter or her three children. Who would you want him to save?”

“How can you ask a mother that question?” Claire said suddenly, forgetting Noreen’s sharp-edged tongue. “It would be impossible for any mother to choose one child over another, and every one of my grandchildren is as dear to my heart as my own child.”

“But if you absolutely were faced with such a choice?”

“My grandchildren,” Claire said. “They’re babies, just starting their life. My Elizabeth is on the doorstep of ending hers.”