“But Diana didn’t want to call the police?”

Liza shakes her head. “She was afraid he’d lose his shot at medical school.”

I don’t buy it. If Diana was that scared, she would’ve gone to the cops. But Fleming has anticipated my skepticism.

“So, instead of reporting the defendant to the authorities, she invited him to a party?” the attorney asks. “That seems like a strange thing to do if she was so frightened of him.”

“Diana wanted to confront him. I suggested she do this in a public setting with friends nearby. I told her to tell Billy if he didn’t back off, she’d call the police.”

“The party was your idea, not hers?”

“Yes. I regret it greatly. I feel sick to my stomach every time I think about it.”

“Does Diana always do what you tell her?”

“No, not always. But I tend to be the boss in our relationship.” Liza smiles, but only with her mouth, not her eyes. She’s got a haughty quality shared by many Ivy League–educated women, one that suggests she knows more than everyone else.

“But you did encourage her to invite the defendant to a party on March 24?”

Yes, Liza says, I encouraged her. Yes, it was foolish. Yes, she had a vodka tonic. No, I’m not sure how many. Yes, the defendant drank too. Yes, I saw them go into a bedroom together. No, I don’t know what happened when they were alone. Yes, when they came out, Billy was enraged. (“Objection! Calls for speculation.”) Yes, I was worried when Diana left with him. No, they didn’t leave together. I meant I was worried when Billy followed her. Yes, I tried to stop her. Yes, I tried to stop him. Yes, I should’ve gone. No, I didn’t. Yes, I regret my decision.

Liza’s voice cracks. “Yes, of course I regret it.”

When the State is finished, DeFiore steps up. Fleming was persuasive but no match for DeFiore, who is a rabid pit bull. Moreover, Liza doesn’t see him coming, which, for a haughty Ivy Leaguer like me, is delicious to watch.

“Good afternoon,” DeFiore says, and then proceeds to drop a sheath of papers. Stumbling, he bends to retrieve them. Liza watches with a grin that smacks of arrogance.

“Ms. Franklin-Wallace, you stated in direct testimony that when Billy and Diana broke up, Billy was hurt. That he—quote—hounded her—unquote. What exactly did he do?”

“He called and texted her incessantly.”

“Did you ever hear these calls or see these texts?”

“No, but Diana—”

“You also said Billy showed up, uninvited, to her room. Again, did you see this?”

“No, but—”

“So, everything you know about their breakup came from Diana, correct?”

Liza doesn’t appreciate the way DeFiore keeps cutting her off. She appeals to the judge. “Can I finish a sentence, please?”

“A yes or no answer is sufficient,” McKay replies.