But nothing more.
Jason wasn’t sure if a relationship with Chase was part of his crossing or not, but he hoped that it was.
But for now, as with his career and everything else in his life, they were on the bridge.
63
At five minutes past nine the following morning, after bringing the jury in and giving a few words of greeting, Judge Conrad announced, “The parties will now give their opening statements. Ms. Lankford, are you ready?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” she said, standing and walking with purpose toward the jury railing.
“On the Fourth of July, our country celebrated its independence. In Marshall County, there were fireworks displays, barbecues, and family get-togethers. But out on Buck Island, one of the nicest areas in all of the state, a woman was plotting to commit murder. The defendant, Jana Rich Waters, conspired with a man named Waylon Pike to kill her husband, beloved local physician Dr. Braxton Waters. She hired him to kill her spouse, and when the deed was done, she gave Pike $15,000 in cash.” Lankford paused. “While many of you as well as myself and most of Marshall County were enjoying our holiday, Braxton Waters was shot to death out by his boathouse on Buck Island, and his body was then dumped in the lake. And while Waylon Pike, who you will hear testify in this trial, used the instrument to kill Dr. Waters, it was the defendant, Jana Waters, who pulled the strings.”
Jason watched the faces of the jury as Shay made her accusations. Several were shooting stares at Jana—the “stink eye,” as his sister had called it—and Jason figured there would be a lot of that during the state’s case in chief. He scribbled a note on his pad and put it in front of Jana.
Stay calm and cool.
He felt her hand on his for a moment, and he looked at her. In his life, he’d rarely if ever seen his sister scared, but he saw abject terror in her eyes now. The fear that could only come when your fate was out of your hands.
Shay spent the next twenty minutes going through the operative facts, starting with Waylon Pike’s confession and ending with the conversation between Jana and Jackson Burns where Jana said she’d kill Braxton for divorcing her and ruining her life. The presentation was well organized and effective. When she got to the end, she was short and sweet.
“When you hear all of the evidence, I’m confident that you will reach the only verdict that justice allows. Guilty.”
“Mr. Rich?” Judge Conrad asked, once Shay had taken her seat. “Are you ready to give your opening statement?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Jason said. He stood and buttoned his jacket. “May it please the court,” he announced. “Your Honor . . .” He nodded at Judge Conrad, who returned the gesture. “Counsel . . .” He gestured at Shay. Then, as he reached the railing, he made eye contact with as many of the jurors as he could. “Members of the jury.”
Jason stopped and saw the rapt attention from the twelve decision makers who would render a verdict in this case. He’d gone to see Knox Rogers last week and asked for more advice, and the sage lawyer had said that most attorneys made poor use of their first few moments with the jury. “Don’t do that, son. They’ll never be more ready to hear what you have to say than in those first seconds. Make what you have to say important. Something you want them to remember.”
“As I was listening to the prosecutor’s opening remarks, it struck me that it is undisputed that Waylon Pike killed Dr. Braxton Waters. So why isn’t Pike sitting over at this table where my sister is?” Jason walked over to the defense table and put his hand on Jana’s shoulder. “He’s not. Instead, my sister, Jana, is here. She is here because Waylon Pike, after being arrested for this heinous crime, told Detective Daniels”—Jason pointed at the officer seated next to Shay—“that Jana paid him to do it.” Jason paused, still pointing at Daniels. “Their entire case is based on the word of Waylon Pike, who you will learn in this trial is a convicted felon. An arsonist. A thief. And yes, a murderer.” He hesitated again and let both hands drop to his side. “The only witness in this case who will testify that Jana paid Pike to kill Dr. Waters is Pike. Ladies and gentlemen, as you listen to the testimony in this case and assess the credibility of the sole mouthpiece for the state’s case, ask yourself this question: Are you going to convict my sister on the word of a man like Waylon Pike?”
He stopped talking for a full three seconds, letting the seed he’d just planted sink in. Discrediting Pike was his entire case, and he’d led with it.