Chapter 8 - The Trial of the Century
The King County Courthouse was packed to maximum capacity. Media trucks lined the streets outside, and millions tuned in to the live broadcast.
Marcus Mitchell sat at the defense table, looking disheveled and stripped of his former billionaire glamor. His public defender looked overwhelmed.
The prosecution called its star witness to the stand: Sarah Mitchell.
Taking the oath, Sarah sat in the witness box, now eight months pregnant, her strength visible to everyone in the room. The prosecutor, a sharp woman named Assistant D.A. Elena Vance, began the examination.
"Mrs. Mitchell, please tell the court what happened on the night of your wedding anniversary."
Sarah spoke clearly, recounting every detail—the cold air, Marcus’s false kindness, and the terrifying force of his hands pushing her off the deck.
The defense attorney stood up for cross-examination. "Mrs. Mitchell, it was a dark, stormy night. Is it not possible you simply lost your footing and, in your panic, misremembered your husband's actions?"
"I didn't misremember anything," Sarah said calmly. "And I don't expect you to take my word for it."
Elena Vance stood up. "Your Honor, the prosecution introduces Exhibit A: the continuous audio recording retrieved from the victim's waterproof phone."
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The courtroom lights dimmed. The audio played through the high-fidelity speakers. The entire courtroom listened in breathless horror to Marcus’s voice telling Chloe, “It’s done... the currents will do the rest.”
Marcus buried his face in his hands as several jurors openly gasped. The audio evidence was unassailable.
