Olivia shook her head faintly, not because she wanted him to stop, but because she was terrified. Terrified for him. Terrified of what Jonathan would do. Terrified of the way her son stood there like a tiny soldier walking into battle alone.
“I found it,” Ethan said. “In Dad’s home office.”
Jonathan released a quiet laugh.
Not loud. Not panicked.
Polished.
Controlled.
“Your Honor,” he said, “my son has always been imaginative. He watches far too many detective shows. Whatever is on that drive, I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
Ethan’s eyes moved to him.
For the first time that day, the boy did not look afraid.
“No,” he said. “There isn’t.”
The courtroom went silent again.
The judge studied Ethan for a long moment, then turned to the bailiff.
“Bring that here.”
Ethan walked forward.
Each step seemed impossibly loud against the courtroom floor.
When he reached the bench, he hesitated, then placed the USB drive into the bailiff’s palm.
Jonathan’s attorneys whispered furiously. Victoria leaned toward Jonathan, her lips barely moving.
Savannah’s phone disappeared into her purse.
Olivia noticed.
So did Ethan.
The judge called a recess, but no one moved far. Nobody wanted to miss whatever came next.
The USB was given to the court clerk and scanned on a secure computer in chambers. The doors closed. The courtroom buzzed with low voices, speculation crawling over every bench like insects.
Olivia sat frozen.
