Chapter 37 #2
Mitchell shot to his feet. "Objection! This wasn't disclosed in our exhibit list."
"The footage was obtained during our preparation, Your Honor, but we hadn't planned to introduce it," Victor said calmly. "However, now that Ms. Walsh has made specific assertions under oath about this encounter, we're offering it to directly address the credibility of her testimony."
Judge Weston considered this. "You had the footage but chose not to disclose it as an exhibit?"
"Correct, Your Honor. We hoped it wouldn't be necessary, as I had no idea that the petitioner would take her testimony in such a direction as she has. But now that Ms. Walsh opened the door with her sworn testimony, it's directly relevant to the court's assessment of her credibility."
"I'll allow it," Judge Weston said. "But Mr. Caldwell, in the future, I expect even potentially relevant evidence to be disclosed even if you don't plan to use it. Understood?"
"Understood, Your Honor."
"Proceed."
Victor set up a laptop on a cart, angling the screen toward the judge. The bailiff dimmed the courtroom lights slightly.
"Your Honor, this is security footage from Stop & Shop, October 6th, beginning at approximately 4:47 PM. No audio, but the visual is quite clear."
He pressed play. The courtroom went completely silent.
Rebecca entered alone, cart moving erratically through the store, pausing at each aisle to scan rather than shop, random items tossed in without a glance.
She wasn't there for groceries. The moment she spotted Andi already in the pasta aisle, half a cart of actual shopping done, the wandering stopped.
She went straight for her. One deliberate line.
What followed was exactly what Andi had described to me the night it happened. Rebecca inserting herself, aggressive and close, phone out to take pictures. Andi backing away, trying to leave. Rebecca advancing.
And then Rebecca walked out, leaving her cart, leaving the store, leaving Andi standing there alone in the middle of the aisle.
Behind me, I heard a soft, shaky exhale. Andi. I kept my gaze forward, trusting her family was holding her the way I couldn't right now.
The courtroom was dead silent.
Behind me, I heard Andi’s soft, shaky exhale. I wanted to turn around, to see the relief on her face as her truth was finally validated, but I kept my gaze forward. Her family would be there for her now, in ways I couldn't be.
Victor turned to Rebecca. "Ms. Walsh, that footage shows you entering the store and immediately beginning to search the aisles. You weren't shopping. You were looking for someone. Weren't you?"
Rebecca's face had gone pale. "I was shopping."
"You threw random items into your cart without looking at them. Just grabbing things while you scanned each aisle. Would you say you typically make dinner with a box of crackers, dill pickles, and coleslaw dressing?" Victor gestured to the frozen screen.
"Objection, Your Honor."
"Withdrawn, Your Honor. I don't think we actually need the answer to that one."
The judge made a soft, almost snorting sound and waved him on.
"Ms. Walsh. The footage shows that the moment you spotted Ms. Doyle, you stopped your shopping pattern entirely and went directly to her. Would you like to revise your testimony?"
Rebecca's voice was barely a whisper. "I... that's not how I remember it."
"The footage is clear. You saw Ms. Doyle, you approached, and you verbally attacked her. Isn't that correct?"
"I may have approached her, but..."
"Yes or no, Ms. Walsh. Did you approach her?"
"Yes, but she was threatening..."
"Ms. Walsh, you testified that when you tried to leave, she stepped forward and blocked your path. Correct?"
"Yes."
"The footage shows the opposite. She'd tried to exit the aisle, and you stopped her. Isn't that correct?"
Rebecca's hands were shaking. "I... she was still in my space."
"Your space? She was shopping in a public grocery store. How is that her being in your space?"
"I just meant..."
"Your testimony under oath does not match the footage. Would you like to explain? The footage shows the exact opposite of your testimony."
"Objection!" Mitchell was on his feet. "Counsel is badgering the witness!"
"Overruled," Judge Weston said, her voice sharp. "Answer the question, Ms. Walsh."
Rebecca's jaw tightened. "I was protecting my daughter."
"By providing inconsistent testimony? Which version should this court believe?"
A beat of silence. Something shifted behind her eyes, a recalculation. "I was scared. I may have remembered some details differently."
"You may have remembered differently." Victor let that sit.
"Ms. Walsh, the footage shows you entered that store looking for someone.
You went directly to Ms. Doyle the moment you spotted her.
You approached her. You took photographs of her.
" He paused. "Does that sound like a woman who was scared? "
Rebecca's hands were very still in her lap now. "I needed documentation."
"Documentation of what, exactly? A woman doing her grocery shopping?"
No answer.
"Ms. Walsh, I'll ask you plainly. Is it possible that Ms. Doyle isn't following you, but rather that you've been following her?"
Rebecca looked at him for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was controlled and quiet. "She's taking everything from me."
The words landed differently that way. Not a breakdown. A statement of fact, delivered with the eerie calm of someone who actually believed it.
Even Mitchell went still.
Victor's voice softened slightly. "Ms. Walsh, I think we've established that you're not being truthful about these encounters.
No further questions at this time, Your Honor.
We request that the court take note of the material inconsistencies in her sworn testimony.
We reserve the right to recall this witness. "
Judge Weston looked at Mitchell. "So noted. Redirect?"
Mitchell stood, but he looked shaken. And surprised. "No questions, Your Honor."
"Ms. Walsh, you may step down."
Rebecca rose, smoothed her skirt once with both hands, and walked back to her seat with her chin level. She didn't look at anyone. Not shattered. Just done.
Judge Weston made a note. "Mr. Brennan, your next witness?"
Mitchell stood. "The petitioner rests, Your Honor."
Judge Weston looked at Victor. "Call your first witness, Mr. Caldwell."