“People always believe the calm one,” he said into the phone. “All you have to do is stay polite.”
The screen froze for a moment as the video reached its end.
The courtroom remained silent.
Harper stood beside the bailiff, looking very small in the wide room, her fingers twisting together as if she had already begun to regret what she had done.
The judge slowly removed his glasses.
“Mr. Dawson,” he said carefully, “would you like to explain what we have just seen?”
Caleb’s composure returned in pieces, like someone rebuilding a wall brick by brick.
“That video is out of context,” he said quickly. “Children misunderstand conversations. I was discussing financial planning.”
