Chapter 4 - The Knock at Hannah’s Door
The courtroom looked smaller than it did in television dramas.
No soaring ceiling.
No dramatic jury box filled with shocked strangers.
Just dark wood, fluorescent lighting, attorneys arranging folders, and ordinary people waiting for decisions that could permanently change their lives.
Brooke stood beside Caleb.
She wore navy.
Caleb wore a pale blue shirt.
Neither looked at me.
Daniel placed our binder on the table.
“Don't react,” he whispered.
“To what?”
“Anything.”
Brooke testified first.
Her voice trembled just enough.
She described my ultimatum.
She said I'd been jealous for years.
She said she feared my jealousy had become fixation after Caleb chose their friendship.
Then came the photographs.
The party.
The concert.
The engagement gathering.
My old apartment.
Daniel objected where appropriate, but much of it remained part of the discussion.
Then Brooke said something unexpected.
“She kept trying to get Caleb back.”
I looked at Daniel.
He wrote something.
Brooke's attorney asked, “How?”
“Messages. Appearing places. Trying to make him feel guilty.”
I wanted to stand.
I didn't.
Then Caleb testified.
That hurt more.
He confirmed the ultimatum.
Confirmed our arguments.
Confirmed that I had been upset about Brooke.
But when asked whether I had threatened either of them, Caleb hesitated.
“No.”
“Did Ms. Pierce ever threaten violence?”
“No.”
“Did she tell you she would follow you?”
“No.”
Brooke looked at him.
It lasted barely a second.
Daniel noticed.
When it was his turn, he stood.
“Mr. Morris, at Melissa Grant's birthday party, did Hannah arrive before you?”
Caleb shifted.
“I don't remember.”
Daniel showed him the timestamped photographs.
“Does this help?”
“Yes.”
“So she did not follow you there.”
“I guess not.”
“And the concert?”
“I don't know when she bought her ticket.”
“We do.”
Daniel produced the purchase record.
Brooke's expression tightened.
Then came the engagement party.
Again, I had been invited independently.
By lunchtime, Brooke's neat narrative had become less neat.
But the anonymous messages remained.
And the photograph under my door remained.
The judge scheduled further proceedings.
Outside the courtroom, I stood beside Daniel while people passed.
Caleb emerged.
For one moment, we looked at each other.
He seemed tired.
Older.
I almost walked away.
Then he said, “Hannah.”
Daniel immediately stepped closer.
“What?”
Caleb glanced toward the courtroom doors.
“Did you really get a picture left at your apartment?”
I froze.
“How do you know about that?”
His face changed.
“I heard your lawyer mention it.”
“No, you didn't.”
Daniel watched him carefully.
Caleb lowered his voice.
“Brooke showed me a copy.”
Everything inside me stopped.
“When?”
“Months ago.”
“Where did she get it?”
“I thought you sent it.”
“Why would I send myself a photograph?”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I don't know.”
“Caleb.”
Brooke appeared behind him.
Her face was completely different from the frightened woman who had testified minutes earlier.
“Don't talk to her.”
Caleb turned.
“Brooke—”
“She has an attorney. Let the attorneys communicate.”
Daniel stepped between us.
“We agree.”
As Brooke pulled Caleb away, he looked over his shoulder.
Not at me.
At Daniel.
May you like
And mouthed two words.
Call me.
