Cold Hard Courage

[26] - Testimony

[Tobias Eaton]

The trial drones on and more and more witnesses go to the stand. After Max, the witness from the Defense was Jayne Harper, Michael's mother, Richard's Ex-Wife. She was a great witness against the defense. She spoke about how every single one of her sons has wound up just like their father--arrested for their crimes, all of which will now be in prison except for the one. She spoke about how their father raised them to always have a chip on their shoulder and to seek revenge for any wrong-doings against them. After her, was Zeke. Zeke spoke of the torture that happened within that warehouse. He spoke about our attempt to escape and how our punishments were to be shot. Zeke has one large jagged scar on his left cheekbone where Peter took a pocket knife to his face to make him squirm. After Zeke was Michael, the defense's last witness. He spoke about how he went to Canada after I disappeared and went swimming. He came down with a cold and had to take some time off.But, in reality, I was there when he made the phone call that he was "going up north to Canada for a few days". After he made that call, he beat me senseless until I passed out. The large scars from the gashes of the brass-knuckles against my ribs over and over show the brutality he hid behind his smile. Then, as Peter was dragging Zeke's limp, bloody body into the warehouse, he made another call. "He caught a cold and needed to take some time off to recover."

"I call my last witness, Tobias Eaton, to the stand to testify." Amar says.

I stand from my seat and approach the swear-in box. I am sworn in then approach the stand, taking my seat. I pull my suit jacket tight around my arms, now cold in the sight of everyone.

"What happened the night you disappeared, Tobias?" Amar asks.

I look up at him, an eyebrow raised.

"The night I was abducted, I was quite distracted. Beatrice and I were in an argument and hadn't spoken for a few days, except in passing as we took turns in the NICU or with any urgent news of progress with our son, Graham. That night, Peter and I were called to respond to a car accident--a head on collision with a Semi out at the art gallery." I say.

Amar raises an eyebrow and looks intently at me.

"Was everyone okay upon your arrival to the scene?" He asks.

I shrug and shake my head slowly.

"I don't know, to be honest. Peter and I never made it to the accident." I say.

Amar raises an eyebrow, shaking his head.

"What happened then? Where did you go?" He asks.

I look over at Peter, swallow down my nerves and look back at Amar.

"There's an old, abandoned warehouse on the corner of third and pine. Peter drove us there. And that's where I stayed until Max and everyone else found Zeke and I." I say.