“And the picture I’m about to show the jury has been in your possession since you took it, is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Nobody else saw it until you brought it to the attorney general’s office, is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

“And it’s your testimony that the image is authentic? It has not been Photoshopped, cropped, or manipulated in any way?”

“It has not.”

Bastinelli picks up the controller. “Your Honor, State’s exhibit thirty-eight.”

Hardy jumps to her feet. “Your Honor, I again object to the introduction of this evidence as inflammatory, prejudicial, and not probative!”

“Noted, Ms. Hardy. And overruled. Proceed, Mr. Bastinelli.”

Bastinelli takes a step closer to the witness. “Mr. Donovan, is this one of the pictures you took at that event?”

He clicks the controller and a color photo appears on the screen.

Everybody gasps. Jurors. Spectators in the gallery. Me.

Dow raps his gavel. “Order!”

I cannot believe what I’m seeing. I’m looking at a blond cheerleader from the rear. She’s leaning backward. Cole Wright is in front of her, arms extended, with a shit-eating grin on his face. His hands are around the cheerleader’s neck.

Another gavel from the bench. “I said order!”

Bastinelli points to the picture. “Mr. Donovan, do you see Cole Wright in that photograph?”

“Yes, he’s the one in the blue sweatshirt in the lower right.”

“The man with his hands around the cheerleader’s throat.”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Donovan, did you believe that you were photographing an assault in progress?”

“No, sir. Mr. Wright was just fooling around.”

“Fooling around.” Bastinelli looks at the jury. “Or do you think maybe he was working out some aggressions?”

“Objection!” Hardy practically jumps across the table.

Bastinelli glances at her. “I’ll withdraw the question.” He walks slowly back to the prosecution table and sits down. “Your witness.”

Hardy is out of her chair like a shot.

I would be too.

“Mr. Donovan, we haven’t met. I’m Tess Hardy, Mr. Wright’s defense counsel.”

“I know,” says Donovan. “I’ve seen you on TV.”

“Then you probably know why I objected to Mr. Bastinelli showing that picture, don’t you?”

“I don’t think I—”

“Because it’s totally misleading.”

“Objection!” shouts Bastinelli. “Counsel is testifying.”

“Sustained,” says Dow. “Ms. Hardy, frame a question if you have one.”

“Yes, Your Honor, I do.” She takes a few steps toward the screen and taps the image of the cheerleader.

“Mr. Donovan, from this angle, the jury is not able to see the face of the individual in the cheerleader’s uniform. Were you able to identify that individual as you took the picture?”

“Yes, I was.”

“And who was it? Tell the jury whose backside we’re looking at here.”

“It’s Timmy Gervin.”