Chapter 7 - The Courage of a SonColton walked into the courtroom holding a small stuffed elephant—Mr. Peanut—under his arm for strength. He wore a crisp white collared shirt and walked straight past Dennis without giving his father a single glance.
The defense attorney tried to rattle him on cross-examination, asking leading questions to imply that Colton had imagined the warning label or misremembered the drops.
"Colton, isn't it true you were angry at your father for not taking you to the theme park that weekend?" the lawyer asked smoothly.
Colton looked at the lawyer, then turned to face the twelve jurors directly.
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"I wasn't angry," Colton said calmly and clearly. "I was scared. I saw my dad put five drops from a bottle with a skull and crossbones into Hazel's favorite strawberry juice box. He told her it was 'special vitamins.' I took a photo because my dad never gives us vitamins. I love my sister. He loved his money."
The silence in the courtroom was deafening. The defense attorney sat down, realizing there was nothing left to dismantle. Colton had spoken with the simple, unshakeable authority of absolute truth.
