“The prosecution calls Jan Minatra for redirect, your Honor.” Wally Keese glanced at his team of lawyers, all of whom appeared sleek and poised, bristling with confidence.

As Jan Minatra entered the courtroom once again, she held her head high, almost flaunting her striking good looks. She wore a pristine white dimity dress, styled with a fitted waistline and high demure lace-trimmed collar with a bodice of delicate tucks front and back. Tiny embroidered shell pink roses were scattered over the puffed sleeves and full skirt, which moved gently back and forth with the seductive swing of her hips. She had let her hair hang loose for her second court appearance and had pulled a length of it back from her forehead and fastened it at the back of her crown with a pink rosebud, giving her the appearance of naïve innocence, a direct and visible contradiction to the villain-image in which the prosecution was trying to cloak her. She assumed her seat in the witness’ stand, crossing her shapely legs slowly, enjoying the appreciative glances from the men in the jury. Her pale green sling-back patent pumps echoed the tiny green leaves of the embroidered roses and she had carefully applied kiwi-green eyeshadow and pale pink lipstick to her heart-shaped face, presenting an appearance of attractive femininity. Wally raised his eyebrows as he exchanged glances with Alex and Mark.

“Miss Minatra, I remind you, you are still under oath.”

“Yes, Mister Keese, I am aware of that.” She spoke with a hint of rehearsed huskiness.

“Fine. Now, please refresh the court with your memory of working with Leo Marconi in Canada and then later working for Serenity Haven in Conroe. . .”

“Of course. As I have testified, I worked for a lumber company in Canada as an administrative assistant and Carlo, or Leo, was one of the lumberjacks, but he wasn’t just one of the muscle boys. He was very smart and then the man from the home office, a man named Cyrus McFarland, hired both of us to work for the Haven Group. He paid for our airfare to Texas and I think also financed Leo’s education at Stanford. . .”

“Objection! This is speculation, your Honor!” Phillip Stevenson was on his feet in an instant.

“Overruled, Mister Stevenson. The witness was present when the arrangements were made for this Leo, isn’t that correct, Miss Minatra?”