Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I paused, feeling Matteo’s eyes on me, though I was looking straight ahead. I turned to face him. “I brought you here today because when I found out I had a sister, I ran straight to you. When I went to meet her and learned my dad had been living a secret life, I ran straight to you. I didn’t run away because I knew I could count on you.”
Matteo’s face softened. “You can, bellissima. It’s an honor, and I will always be here, for as long as you want me to be.”
I reached for his hand and laced my fingers with his. Resting my head on his shoulder, I sighed. “That means so much to me.”
His thumb brushed against my skin. “I have a confession to make. I think I lied to you at your secret wall. I said I was falling for you…but the truth is, I’m already there.”
Chapter 32
Allegra
I ROSE SLOWLY, buttoning my jacket as I stepped toward the witness stand, and smiled. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Ellington. How are you today?”
“Fine. Thank you.” Nina Ellington lifted her chin high.
“So, you testified earlier that you purchased a property in the Bahamas six years ago, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
I nodded. “In the signed asset listing you provided, you indicated that the value of that property is approximately four hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“And to the best of your knowledge, that is what the property is worth?”
She shifted in her seat. “Yes.”
“And you purchased that property for what price?”
“I believe it was three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.”
I picked up a paper, glancing down for effect only since I already knew what it said. “Three hundred, twenty-five thousand and five hundred, to be exact.”
Mrs. Ellington rolled her eyes. “I stand corrected.”
“And how did you come to the value of the property?”
“I had an appraisal done.”
I lifted another packet of papers. “This one? Signed by Marcus Pratt?”
“It’s in your hand,” she said. “Maybe you can tell me.”
I smiled. Her arrogance was going to make this so much more fun. “Actually,” I said. “I don’t need to look. It was indeed signed by Marcus Pratt.”
She shook her head. “Great. Thanks for confirming.”
“Mrs. Ellington, how did you come to hire Mr. Pratt?”
“How did I come to hire him?”
I nodded. “Yes, that’s the question.”
In my experience, it was common for people who weren’t being truthful on the stand to repeat the question—buy some time to think about where I might be heading and if the answer they might give could trip them up later. Essentially, it was like playing liar’s chess, trying to figure out each other’s next move before they made it.
“I…I don’t really remember. I think I got his name from a neighbor.”
“A neighbor?”
I walked back to counsel’s table and lifted a stapled packet of canceled checks. Turning to the galley, I saw that Cass had come in and winked at her before returning my attention to the witness stand and clearing my throat. “I’m going to change subjects for a bit, but I’ll come back to Marcus Pratt shortly.” Nina Ellington’s brows furrowed, and I continued. “You did some construction on the property in the Bahamas, is that correct?”
“Yes, I fixed it up so I could flip it.”
“And who did the work?”
“The work?”
I smiled. She was starting to squirm now. “Yes, the construction work at the property. What was the name of the contractor?”
“Umm…I don’t remember.”
I walked back to the stand and extended a piece of paper. “Your Honor, this is a copy of a canceled check. I’d like to show it to Mrs. Ellington to help refresh her memory. The bank statements and checks were included as part of discovery requests.”
The judge gestured for me to give it to her. “Fine, get on with it.”
I gave Mrs. Ellington a moment to look at the check, then asked, “Can you tell me the name of the contractor now, Mrs. Ellington?”
“Coral Bay Construction, Inc.”
“Great. Thank you. Would you mind turning the check over, please? I’d like you to read the name of the person who endorsed it. The bank in the Bahamas requires the name of the person who deposits the check to sign the back.”
Mrs. Ellington’s lips pursed together to form a straight line, and she very slowly turned over the paper. It was clear she wasn’t excited about doing so. She read the name on the back, and her eyes widened.
I gave her a minute to answer my question, but she stayed silent. “What is the name of the person who endorsed it?”
She swallowed. “Michael Pratt.”
“Huh,” I said and looked over at the jury. “Same last name as the appraiser, Marcus Pratt. Do you happen to know if they’re related?”
“I…I’m not sure.”
“It’s okay.” I smiled. “I can tell you they are. They’re actually brothers. Isn’t that interesting?”
She clenched her teeth. “Not really.”