Chapter 29 – The Trial Begins
Trial day.
I woke up before my alarm.
Adrian was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.
"Adrian?" I whispered.
He turned and looked at me.
"Good morning, wife."
"Good morning, husband."
He didn't smile.
I got out of bed and went to him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm nervous."
"I know."
He took my hand.
"Let's get ready."
We got dressed.
I chose a simple black dress.
Adrian wore a dark suit.
We had coffee, but neither of us could eat.
At 7 a.m. we left the apartment.
The courthouse was a big, cold building downtown.
Mr. Salem was waiting for us at the entrance.
"Adrian, Lila," he said. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Adrian said.
I nodded.
"Good. Samira is already inside."
We went inside.
The courtroom was large and quiet.
There were rows of seats.
Adrian and I sat in the front row.
Samira was sitting a few rows behind us.
Karim Hassan was sitting at the defendant's table with his lawyer.
When I saw him, my blood went cold.
He was the man in the police photos.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
The judge entered.
"All rise."
Everyone stood.
The judge sat.
"You may be seated."
The trial began.
The prosecutor spoke first.
He described how Nadia was found dead in an abandoned warehouse.
He said the evidence pointed to Karim Hassan.
Karim's lawyer stood up.
"My client is innocent. There is no DNA, no fingerprints, no direct evidence linking him to the crime."
My stomach tightened.
Adrian clenched his fist.
The prosecutor called his first witness.
A police officer.
He described the crime scene.
He said there were no fingerprints.
My heart sank.
Then the prosecutor said, "We call Samira Ahmed to the stand."
Samira stood up, walked to the witness stand, and raised her right hand.
"Do you swear to tell the truth?"
"Yes."
She sat down.
The prosecutor asked her questions.
"Ms. Ahmed, did you know the victim, Nadia?"
"Yes."
"Did you see the defendant, Karim Hassan, with Nadia the week before she died?"
"Yes."
"What did you see?"
"I saw Karim arguing with Nadia. He was yelling at her. He said she was ruining his life by firing him. Nadia told him she had proof he stole 200,000 pounds from the company and she was going to the police."
The courtroom was silent.
Karim's lawyer stood up.
"Ms. Ahmed, you were on maternity leave at the time. How can you be sure of the date?"
"I remember the date because it was two days before I left for maternity leave."
"Isn't it possible you misheard the conversation?"
"No."
"Nothing further."
The prosecutor said, "No further questions."
Samira stepped down.
Adrian exhaled.
"That was good," he whispered.
I nodded.
The prosecutor called his next witness.
A forensic expert.
He said the time of death was consistent with the day Samira heard the argument.
Karim's lawyer cross-examined him.
"Isn't it possible the victim died on a different day?"
"It's possible, but unlikely."
"Nothing further."
The prosecutor said, "Your Honor, the prosecution rests."
The judge nodded.
"Defense, you may call your first witness."
Karim's lawyer called Karim Hassan to the stand.
Karim stood up, walked to the witness stand, and raised his right hand.
"Do you swear to tell the truth?"
"Yes."
He sat down.
His lawyer asked him questions.
"Mr. Hassan, did you kill Nadia?"
"No."
"Did you argue with her the week before she died?"
"Yes, we argued. I was angry because she fired me."
"Did you threaten her?"
"No. I was angry, but I did not threaten her."
"Where were you the day she died?"
"I was at home."
"Did anyone see you at home?"
"No."
"Nothing further."
The prosecutor stood up.
"Mr. Hassan, you were fired for stealing 200,000 pounds. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"And you were angry about being fired."
"Yes."
"You told Nadia you would make her pay."
"No, I didn't."
The prosecutor showed a text message on the screen.
"This text was sent from your phone to Nadia the day before she died. It says, 'You will pay for firing me.'"
Karim's face changed.
"That's not what I meant."
"Nothing further."
The judge said, "Court is adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m."
Everyone stood.
The judge left.
Adrian stood up.
His face was pale.
"That text," he said.
"Yes," I said.
"He said he would make her pay."
"Yes."
Adrian looked at me.
"I think we're going to win."
"I think so too."
We left the courtroom.
Samira was waiting outside.
"How did I do?" she asked.
"You did great," Adrian said.
"Thank you for being here."
"You're welcome."
We said goodbye to Samira and Mr. Salem.
Adrian and I walked to the taxi.
In the taxi, Adrian held my hand.
"Did you see the text message?" he asked.
"Yes."
"That's proof."
"Yes."
He was quiet for a moment.
"I'm scared."
"I know."
"But I think we're going to win."
"I think so too."
He kissed my hand.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We got home at 2 p.m.
I made us tea.
We sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for being here with me today."
"You're welcome."
He put his hand on my stomach.
"How is the baby?"
"The baby is fine."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 6 p.m.
Then Adrian said, "I need to go to my office."
"Okay."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 132 – The first day of the trial is over.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. The text message is proof.*
I closed the notebook.
I went to bed.
Adrian was already in bed.
I got in next to him.
He put his arm around me.
"Good night, wife."
"Good night, husband."
He kissed my forehead.
I fell asleep.
The trial would continue tomorrow.
I was scared.
But I believed justice was coming.