PART 2 — THE LAWYER WHO SMILED TOO EARLY
The courtroom erupted.
Mercer rose immediately.
“Objection. This is outrageous.”
Judge Brooks struck the gavel once.
“Sit down, Mr. Mercer.”
Mercer’s jaw tightened, but he obeyed.
Judge Brooks turned back to Ethan.
“You understand that is a serious accusation.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Against whom?”
Ethan looked at Oliver.
The little boy’s face was hidden against his shirt.
Then Ethan looked across the courtroom at his mother.
Maya was shaking her head, tears pouring over her fingers, as if she was afraid of what her son was about to say.
Ethan took a breath.
“Against the hospital. Against the adoption agency.”
Then his eyes moved to the lawyer.
“And against him.”
Every face turned toward Charles Mercer.
Mercer gave a short laugh.
“This is absurd.”
Ethan’s voice cracked, but he did not stop.
“When Oliver was born, they told my mom he died. I was eight. I was outside the hospital room. I heard him cry. I told everyone I heard my baby brother cry, but they said I was confused.”
Maya bent forward, sobbing silently.
Ethan continued.
“My mom never believed them. She kept looking for him. For six years. Everyone said she was crazy.”
Judge Brooks watched him carefully.
“And how did you find Oliver?”
Ethan reached into his pocket.
Mercer’s face changed.
It was small.
Almost invisible.
But Judge Brooks saw it.
So did Maya.
Ethan pulled out a small silver recorder.
“My mom didn’t find him,” Ethan said. “Dolores did.”
Mercer stood so fast his chair scraped the floor.
“Your Honor, I demand that this be excluded.”
Judge Brooks stared at him.
“You have not even heard what it is.”
Mercer’s lips tightened.
Ethan held the recorder with both hands.
“Dolores was Mr. Mercer’s secretary. She worked for him for twenty-two years. Before she died, she sent this to me.”
The courtroom went silent again.
May you like
Ethan looked down at the recorder.
“She said if I ever had to protect Oliver, I should play it in front of a judge.”
