‘Did the defendant subsequently ask if you would drive her home?’

‘Yes, she did.’

‘And do you remember exactly what time it was when you drove her home?’

‘I remember that the clock in my car read 9:32 p.m. It’s not far. We would have reached Janine’s house just a few minutes later.’

‘When you arrived at the defendant’s house, did you accompany her to her front door?’

‘Yes, I did.’

‘At that time, did you see Jay Ferris, the defendant’s husband?’

‘Yes, he came to the door and opened it.’

‘He was alive?’

Cindy smiled faintly. ‘Yes, obviously.’

‘Did you see or hear anyone else in the house?’

‘No.’

‘Were there any other cars in the driveway or parked near the house?’

‘No.’

‘What happened next?’

‘Janine went inside with Jay. He closed the door. I left.’

‘Before you left, could you hear any part of the conversation between the defendant and her husband?’

‘I heard loud voices. It sounded like an argument.’

‘Would you characterize this as a heated argument?’

‘I guess so, yes.’

‘Was there physical contact between them?’

‘Yes, Jay grabbed her wrist, and Janine pushed him away.’

‘Did you see or hear anything else?’

‘No, I left after that.’

‘As you left the house that night, Mrs. Stride, did you see anyone else?’

‘No. There was no one else there. I was alone.’

‘What about other cars?’

‘Mine was the only car.’

‘Did you see anything that raised your suspicions?’

‘No.’

‘Thank you, Mrs. Stride. Now is it fair to say you consider the defendant a friend?’

‘Yes, it is.’

‘Do you see her regularly on social occasions?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Has the defendant ever shared any information with you about her perspectives on the state of her marriage?’

‘She told me that she considered her marriage to be a mistake,’ Cindy acknowledged.

‘Did she express an intent to seek a divorce?’

‘Yes, she did.’

‘On more than one occasion?’

‘Yes.’

‘Mrs. Stride, in December of last year, did you ask the defendant about the status of a possible divorce from Mr. Ferris?’

Cindy didn’t want to say it. She’d known the next question was coming. They’d gone over all of it in her statement to the police. Even so, she hated having to say it out loud, in a courtroom, with the jury listening. With Janine listening.

‘Yes. We had lunch, and I asked if she was going ahead with a divorce.’

‘What did she say?’

Cindy opened her mouth, but her throat was too dry to speak. She reached for the water and drank.

‘Mrs. Stride? How did the defendant answer that question when you asked her if she was proceeding with a divorce?’

‘She said no.’

‘Do you remember her exact words?’

‘She said, “I wish I could, but Jay has me trapped.”’

*

Archibald Gale stood up to conduct the cross-examination.