Chapter 22 - A Witness Without a Courtroom
The prosecutor did not need Noah on the witness stand.
That was the first relief.
The tablet recordings could potentially be authenticated through device metadata, Rachel’s testimony about ownership and storage, digital forensic examination, and other witnesses whose voices appeared in the clips.
Whether every recording would be admitted remained for the judge.
Noah did not need to perform.
Jake almost hugged Melissa when she explained.
“So he doesn’t have to go to court?”
“Not unless something changes, and we would discuss accommodations.”
Rachel relaxed.
Noah kept eating crackers.
The adults had worried for forty-eight hours about something he barely knew existed.
That was another lesson.
Protecting him sometimes meant handling burdens without placing them in front of him.
Not every truth required his attention.
Victor’s defense became aggressive.
His attorney challenged the recordings.
Claimed context was missing.
Questioned Carl.
Attacked Cynthia’s credibility because she wanted leniency.
Pointed to Grant’s forgery.
Argued Evelyn had motives to blame Victor.
All reasonable defense strategies within limits.
Jake hated them anyway.
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Melissa reminded him, “A fair process protects innocent people too.”
“What if he
