She remembered my father saying, “Dad, we’ll protect this place.”
It was almost beautiful.
Almost.
When it was my turn, Judge Price asked, “Captain, do you intend to cross-examine?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Voss leaned back, delighted.
I stood.
“Ms. Crane, you’re certain about the date?”
“Absolutely.”
“And the time?”
“Approximately 2:15.”
“You personally watched Elias Bates sign?”
“Yes.”
“With my parents present?”
“Yes.”
I opened my black folder.
“Your Honor, may I approach?”
Judge Price nodded.
I handed her a certified record from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth along with Grandpa’s hospital intake.
My mother frowned.
Voss stopped leaning back.
I faced the witness.
“Ms. Crane, at 2:15 p.m. on March 18, my grandfather was not sitting in his kitchen.”
Her face tightened.
“He was in a cardiac unit in Portsmouth, sixty-seven miles away, recovering from emergency surgery. He had been admitted at 4:38 that morning and remained hospitalized for nine days.”
