Chapter 20: Under Oath

Susannah's POV

Courtroom six was full by the time the judge came in.

Pathlight staff filled the back three rows, with the young woman in the green sweater on the aisle.

Reporters had the side benches.

The old cook sat in the front row with her handbag on her knees, and the small gray-haired woman from the club sat beside her.

Kelsey sat alone by the door, in her camel coat, with no phone.

Daniel sat directly behind me, near enough that I could feel him there.

At the other table, Brodie sat with nobody.

The pages from his broken folder were stacked in front of him, out of order.

The judge was a woman in her sixties with reading glasses on a chain.

She looked down at the empty chair beside him.

"Mr. Kittredge, your counsel has withdrawn. You may ask for a continuance."

"I don't need one."

"You are sure."

"I'm sure." He straightened. "I know my own marriage, Your Honor."

"Then we will proceed on your petition. You allege adultery."

"Yes."

"Do you have evidence of adultery?"

Brodie touched his tie.

"She was unhappy for years. She told me so. And then he moved into our lives, and..."

"That is not evidence of adultery, Mr. Kittredge. That is a marriage."

Someone in the gallery coughed to cover a laugh.

"Everyone knows it," Brodie said.

"Everyone is not a witness. Do you have a witness?"

He looked at his stack of paper.

"My mother."

"Your mother is not in this room."

He did not answer.

"I will note the allegation is unsupported," the judge said. "Now, you ask for one half of the shares of Pathlight Incorporated as marital property."

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