Why would they do this?!" Ada cried as she paced up and down the living room.
Brax, Heath and Casey's lawyer sat at the kitchen table. Casey sat on the couch, slumped forward. Marco leant against the wall with his arms crossed.
Casey's lawyer looked to her. "My guess, is that they want you to testify to Danny's character."
"How?" Ada replied. "I've got nothing good to say about him."
"That's because there is nothing good to say." Heath mumbled.
Ada threw her hands in the air and scoffed. "Great, now he figures that." She said bitterly.
"Ad." Marco cautioned.
Heath swivelled around his chair. "Eh? What did you just say to me?!"
"You were Dad's biggest fan a couple of months back. Why didn't they ask you?"
"Shut your mouth!"
"Enough!" Brax roared.
Heath turned back around in his chair.
Ada rolled her eyes.
Brax took a breath. "How is this going to help them get a conviction?"
"They'll highlight the fact that Ada was never physically abused by Danny. They'll present the idea that as he didn't harm his only daughter, he showed signs of restraint, compassion."
Brax scoffed. "Ah, you gotta be kidding me! So, what? Just because we got in the way and copped it, he's an angel?""That's how they'll try to spin it."
Ada shook her head furiously. "What if I refuse? I don't wanna do this."
The lawyer frowned. "Unfortunately, you've been subpoenaed, it's a legal requirement that you attend the court proceedings, take the stand and answer any and all questions put to you and deemed fit by the court."
"But what if I don't?"
"You'll be arrested and charged."
"This is a joke." She muttered.
"What do we do?" Brax asked the lawyer.
"The best thing we can do now is look at how to minimise potential damage. Answering their questions sharp and fast will help. Hopefully, whatever Ada says will be forgotten by the time the jury decide their verdict."
Heath turned to the lawyer. "So, what are they gonna ask her?"
The lawyer turned to Heath. "I expect mostly questions about your upbringing. Whether Ada remembers abuse in the home, whether she can describe what abuse she was witness to and whether she can recall a time when she was subject to such abuse."
Ada shook slightly. She took long, deep breaths. She placed a hand onto her chest and felt her heart beating through her sweatshirt.
The lawyer checked his watch. "I'm sorry, it's late, but we can discuss this more in the morning."
He stood to his feet.
"Yeah," Brax said, walking him to the door. "Thanks for coming over, eh."
The lawyer offered him a sympathetic smile. "Of course." He marched out of the door.
"Case," Brax called from the door. "Don't worry, mate. It'll be alright."
Casey nodded gently but stared straight ahead.
Ada slunk out of the room and down the corridor. She closed her bedroom door with a slam.
Ada watched Casey emerge from the surf.