Beside her stood her daughter, Emily.
Emily was nine years old.
She held a folded piece of paper in both hands.
It was a drawing.
A picture of a house, a yellow sun, a woman, a little girl, and a man standing beside them.
The man had a large smile.
Above the drawing, Emily had written three words.
"COME HOME, DADDY."
Laura looked down at her daughter.
"Are you nervous?"
Emily nodded.
"Will Daddy know we're here?"
Laura swallowed.
"I think he would."
"Will he come home today?"
Laura struggled to answer.
She had been asked that question so many times that the words had become painful.
"I don't know, sweetheart."
Emily lowered her head.
"Did Daddy do something bad?"
Laura knelt in front of her.
"No."
"But everyone says he stole something."
"People can say things that aren't true."
"Then why doesn't anyone tell them?"
Laura held her daughter's hands.
"Because sometimes the truth takes longer to reach people than a lie."
Emily looked toward the courtroom doors.
"Is Uncle Daniel going to tell them?"
Laura nodded.
"He's trying."
Emily hugged the drawing against her chest.
"Then I hope they listen."
Laura closed her eyes for a moment.
She remembered the night Samuel had been arrested.
He had been preparing dinner when two officers knocked on their door. Emily had been sitting at the kitchen table doing homework.
Samuel had looked confused.
He asked what was happening.
Nobody explained.
He asked whether there had been a mistake.
Nobody answered.
When the officers placed handcuffs around his wrists, Emily began crying.
Samuel turned toward her.
"Sweetheart, look at me."
She ran toward him.
"Daddy!"
He knelt as far as the handcuffs allowed.
"Listen to me. I love you. Nothing is going to change that."
"But where are you going?"
"I need to answer some questions."
"Will you come back?"
Samuel looked at his wife.
Then he looked at his daughter.
And although he was frightened, he smiled.
"Of course."
It was the last promise he had made in their home.
For months, Laura had held onto those words.
She had sold her jewelry to pay legal expenses. She had taken additional shifts at work. She had asked relatives for help and listened to people tell her that she should stop fighting.
Some had said Samuel must have done something wrong.
Others had said she needed to accept reality.
But Laura knew her husband.
She knew the man who worked late so other employees could return home to their families.
She knew the man who repaired broken toys for neighborhood children.
She knew the man who always left a small note beside her breakfast when he had to leave before sunrise.
He was not perfect.
He sometimes forgot birthdays. He occasionally lost his temper when he was tired. He worried too much about money.
But he was not a criminal.
And she refused to let their daughter grow up believing otherwise.
Inside the courtroom, Judge Whitmore called for a brief recess.
Richard immediately approached Daniel.
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
Daniel placed the papers back inside the envelope.
"I've heard that before."
Richard lowered his voice.
"Those records came from a disgruntled employee. You should be careful about trusting people who have their own reasons for causing trouble."
Daniel looked at him.
"Are you referring to Thomas Reed?"
"I'm referring to anyone who wants to damage a reputable institution."
Daniel shook his head.
"An institution doesn't become reputable simply because it has a famous name."
Richard stepped closer.
"You think you can walk in here with a few old maintenance reports and destroy years of work?"
"No."
"Then what do you think you're doing?"
Daniel answered without hesitation.
"Giving the court a reason to look again."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"You should consider what happens if those documents are proven false."
Daniel nodded.
"I have."
"And?"
"And if they are false, I will accept the consequences. But if they are true, everyone who ignored them should do the same."
Richard stared at him.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to find an answer.
Then he turned away.
Daniel watched him return to his table.
He knew the man was worried.
But he also knew that worry did not necessarily mean guilt.
There were still questions to answer.
And he intended to answer every one of them.
A few minutes later, the courtroom doors opened.
A middle-aged man entered carrying a folder.
He was thin, with dark hair beginning to turn gray and an expression that suggested he had not slept well.
The clerk approached him.
"Mr. Thomas Reed?"
"Yes."
"You are expected to provide testimony concerning the security system records."
Thomas nodded.
"I understand."
Daniel walked toward him.
"Thank you for coming."
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
"I almost didn't."
"Why?"
Thomas glanced toward Richard.
"Because people like him have a way of making sure you regret speaking."
Daniel did not argue.
Instead, he said something simple.
"You don't have to be fearless. You only have to tell the truth."
Thomas looked at him.
Then he nodded.
"I can do that."
The clerk called everyone back into the courtroom.
Judge Whitmore returned to her seat.
"Mr. Reed, please take the witness stand."
Thomas walked forward.
He raised his right hand and swore to tell the truth.
The judge began.
"Mr. Reed, please state your occupation."
"I was a systems technician at Riverside Medical Center for eleven years."
"And what was your responsibility?"
"I maintained the security network, electronic access systems, surveillance equipment, and internal computer infrastructure."
"Do you recognize the documents submitted by Mr. Brooks?"
Thomas looked at the records.
"Yes."
"Did you create them?"
"I created the original maintenance reports. These are copies of those records."
Richard stood.