“And you don’t just rely on the SEC disclosures, do you?” She was getting into the rhythm of the cross-examination now. The courtroom had narrowed to just her and her witness. She moved closer to his witness box.

“No.”

“In fact, you also get immediate news updates on all your stocks, including Popflicks?” Her glance held his.

“Yes.”

“And you received a news update on Popflicks that day, right?”

“Yes, I mean …” He looked to his attorney seated at the table.

His attorney stood up. “Objection—leading.”

“Overruled,” the judge said.

Audrey repeated her question.

“Yes.” His face crumpled.

“So, you received the news articles reporting about the CEO’s Facebook post?”

“Yes.”

“And that was before market close?”

“Yes.”

“No further questions, your honor.” She’d always wanted to say that. He had learned the news before market close so he could’ve sold the stock—but he didn’t. The responsibility for his loss was his. She turned and walked swiftly to the counsel table and sat down. Anderson grabbed her hand tightly under the table and shook it victoriously, while keeping his face looking nonplussed above.

Rapid whispering occurred at plaintiff’s table. The judge adjourned the courtroom for lunch. As the gavel hit, conversations erupted. Anderson clapped her on the back and said, “Well done.” Sometimes, Howard, Parker & Smith partners could be so understated.

Betty came over and exclaimed, “That was brilliant. You just won the case for us!”

Counsel for the plaintiff huddled with his client and then approached them. “Perhaps we could have a settlement discussion?”

“I don’t think that’s in the cards now,” Anderson said, “but let’s hear your offer.”

Betty, Anderson, Audrey, Winnie and Mohan left the courtroom with plaintiff’s counsel and stood off to the side in the marble hallway while plaintiff’s counsel outlined their settlement offer. Anderson said they’d discuss it over lunch and get back to them.

Anderson said, “I’ve reserved a private room for lunch at the Odeon restaurant a few blocks away. How about everyone meet back here in about ten minutes? Audrey, can you take Betty and everyone else over and I’ll catch up? I told another client I’d call them back at the break.”

As Audrey turned to make a discreet break for the bathroom before leading everyone to the restaurant, Mohan came running up to her. “I can’t believe you got him to admit that he got an update on the stock that day. I thought that only happened in movies. Unbelievable!”

Audrey flushed with excitement. “I couldn’t believe it either, but I had him. I’ve never seen any investor with such extensive research files. I spent days studying those. And then when I looked at the date and time of his research printouts, it just came to me that he must have programmed news updates.”