{"id":23788,"date":"2026-09-28T14:41:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T14:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=23788"},"modified":"2026-09-28T14:41:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T14:41:25","slug":"part-31-bentleys-first-court-preparation-forced-him-to-retell-the-worst-morning-but-this-time-he-chose-what-he-was-willing-to-carry-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=23788","title":{"rendered":"PART 31 \u2013 Bentley\u2019s First Court Preparation Forced Him to Retell the Worst Morning, but This Time He Chose What He Was Willing to Carry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bentley\u2019s court preparation began in November.<\/p>\n<p>Not because trial was imminent.<\/p>\n<p>Because nobody wanted his first experience with a courtroom to happen under pressure.<\/p>\n<p>A child advocate met him at the courthouse on a Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Empty building.<\/p>\n<p>No defendant.<\/p>\n<p>No jury.<\/p>\n<p>No reporters.<\/p>\n<p>Just wooden benches, quiet hallways, metal detectors, and adults deliberately trying to make an intimidating place boring.<\/p>\n<p>I approved.<\/p>\n<p>Amber went with him.<\/p>\n<p>So did I.<\/p>\n<p>Doug stayed with Maddie, who believed court was a place where judges decided whether people got dessert.<\/p>\n<p>Honestly, not the worst model of law.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley walked into the courtroom and immediately whispered:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt smells weird.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The advocate, Lena\u2014the same woman he met during his first police interview\u2014smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOld wood and stress.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStress has a smell?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn courthouses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He accepted this.<\/p>\n<p>She showed him where a witness sits.<\/p>\n<p>Where lawyers stand.<\/p>\n<p>Where the judge sits.<\/p>\n<p>What happens if he does not understand a question.<\/p>\n<p>What happens if he forgets something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if I say the wrong thing?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCorrect it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if I don&#39;t know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSay you don&#39;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if I remember later?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSay that too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#39;s it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#39;s it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo trick?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood lawyers may ask difficult questions. But your job isn&#39;t to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is my job?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTell what you remember truthfully.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That sounded familiar.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley sat in the witness chair.<\/p>\n<p>His feet barely touched the floor.<\/p>\n<p>For a moment I saw him at my kitchen table holding an empty lunch box.<\/p>\n<p>Too young.<\/p>\n<p>Always too young for the rooms adults brought him into.<\/p>\n<p>Lena asked harmless practice questions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did you eat for breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCereal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat color shirt did Miss Arlene wear yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bentley looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPurple?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was blue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He pointed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSee? I don&#39;t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly,\u201d Lena said.<\/p>\n<p>His shoulders relaxed.<\/p>\n<p>Then she asked something harder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf a lawyer says, \u2018You were scared, so maybe you imagined Travis pushing your mother,\u2019 what would you say?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bentley became still.<\/p>\n<p>Amber\u2019s hand tightened around mine.<\/p>\n<p>He looked at Lena.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI saw him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd if they ask whether you&#39;re certain?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI say yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you&#39;re certain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd if they ask something you aren&#39;t certain about?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI say I don&#39;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Good.<\/p>\n<p>Then Bentley asked:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan they say Mom is a liar?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lena did not soften the answer too much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey may question her memory or choices.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#39;s saying liar politely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bentley\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan I get mad?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan I yell?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBetter not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if they&#39;re stupid?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I coughed.<\/p>\n<p>Amber gave me a warning look.<\/p>\n<p>Lena smiled slightly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou still answer the question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bentley sighed.<\/p>\n<p>Court training accomplished.<\/p>\n<p>Later, outside, he asked Amber:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre you gonna testify?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre you scared?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked surprised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou said that fast.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I&#39;m done pretending fear means stop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They walked ahead of me.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley asked:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan fear mean stop sometimes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike running into a burning building?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike talking to Travis?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo how do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amber thought.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhether the fear is protecting you or controlling you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I wrote that down mentally.<\/p>\n<p>Useful.<\/p>\n<p>That afternoon Harris updated us on the Red Door server.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators verified current victims.<\/p>\n<p>Some had been monitored without knowing.<\/p>\n<p>Others had already reported suspicious incidents that never connected.<\/p>\n<p>The digital archive gave context.<\/p>\n<p>Several criminal investigations began.<\/p>\n<p>Names remained confidential.<\/p>\n<p>Good.<\/p>\n<p>This was no longer our family\u2019s story alone.<\/p>\n<p>It never had been.<\/p>\n<p>We had only been the place where enough threads finally crossed.<\/p>\n<p>Elaine\u2019s negotiations deteriorated.<\/p>\n<p>She wanted guarantees prosecutors would not give.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas provided more evidence.<\/p>\n<p>Megan provided calendars.<\/p>\n<p>Kayla authenticated data structures.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel identified old language conventions.<\/p>\n<p>Marcus explained account codes.<\/p>\n<p>Cross and Crewe contradicted one another about who initiated specific protections.<\/p>\n<p>Everybody\u2019s testimony was being tested against documents.<\/p>\n<p>No single narrator controlled the truth.<\/p>\n<p>That mattered.<\/p>\n<p>Travis\u2019s case involving Amber moved toward sentencing.<\/p>\n<p>The larger charges remained unresolved.<\/p>\n<p>Then Robert Keene\u2019s case shifted.<\/p>\n<p>Forensic analysis found Travis\u2019s DNA on an old jacket recovered from the burial area.<\/p>\n<p>Not surprising if the site belonged to him.<\/p>\n<p>More significant was a blood trace inside Travis\u2019s old Trevor Hale property.<\/p>\n<p>Keene\u2019s DNA.<\/p>\n<p>That tied Keene to a location Travis controlled.<\/p>\n<p>Still not the full event.<\/p>\n<p>But stronger.<\/p>\n<p>A former Hawthorne employee came forward after seeing public reporting.<\/p>\n<p>He remembered Travis arguing with Keene two days before Keene disappeared.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors reopened timelines.<\/p>\n<p>Amber watched from a distance.<\/p>\n<p>She had stopped asking for every detail.<\/p>\n<p>Healthy.<\/p>\n<p>I had not.<\/p>\n<p>Less healthy.<\/p>\n<p>Harris told me to get a hobby.<\/p>\n<p>I informed him I had tomatoes.<\/p>\n<p>He said winter was coming.<\/p>\n<p>Rude.<\/p>\n<p>The duplex sale completed.<\/p>\n<p>New owners moved in.<\/p>\n<p>Lena\u2014the buyer, not the advocate\u2014sent me a photograph.<\/p>\n<p>Tomato bed cleaned.<\/p>\n<p>Stakes stored for spring.<\/p>\n<p>The porch replacement looked slightly too new beside Ray\u2019s old railing.<\/p>\n<p>Life continuing without us.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley stared at the photo for a long time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou sad?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLittle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMe too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you think they hear stuff in the basement?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou sure?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe tunnel is concrete.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPipes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not fear.<\/p>\n<p>Just curiosity.<\/p>\n<p>Progress.<\/p>\n<p>Amber started therapy with a trauma specialist.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley saw a child counselor.<\/p>\n<p>He hated the word counselor.<\/p>\n<p>Preferred \u201cDr. Nina.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maddie drew pictures.<\/p>\n<p>Apparently three-year-olds conduct therapy mostly through glitter and snacks.<\/p>\n<p>One afternoon Bentley came from Dr. Nina\u2019s office angry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe said I&#39;m not responsible for Maddie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I understood the problem.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don&#39;t like that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am responsible a little.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amber sat beside him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs her brother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot as her parent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf she needs a snack and I&#39;m in the shower, you can help.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I disappear for nine days, it is not your job to raise her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked down.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat does not mean you should have had to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bentley rubbed the edge of his sleeve.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen what am I supposed to do if something happens again?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Call.<\/p>\n<p>Ask.<\/p>\n<p>Tell.<\/p>\n<p>That was the answer.<\/p>\n<p>Not carry.<\/p>\n<p>We wrote it on a card.<\/p>\n<p>Not because he needed a rule.<\/p>\n<p>Because fear shrinks thinking.<\/p>\n<p>The card said:<\/p>\n<p>IF SOMETHING IS WRONG:<br \/>\nCALL MOM.<br \/>\nCALL ARLENE.<br \/>\nCALL DOUG.<br \/>\nCALL 911.<br \/>\nTELL THE TRUTH.<br \/>\nDO NOT HANDLE IT ALONE.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley added:<\/p>\n<p>FEED MADDIE IF SHE IS HUNGRY.<\/p>\n<p>Fair.<\/p>\n<p>We kept it.<\/p>\n<p>A week later, school had a fire drill.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley froze.<\/p>\n<p>Alarm sound.<\/p>\n<p>Too similar to the rehabilitation-center emergency.<\/p>\n<p>He did not panic publicly.<\/p>\n<p>He stopped moving.<\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Alvarez noticed.<\/p>\n<p>Walked him outside.<\/p>\n<p>Stayed beside him.<\/p>\n<p>No shame.<\/p>\n<p>No lecture.<\/p>\n<p>Later he told Amber.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hate that stupid alarm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can hate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI knew it wasn&#39;t real.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour body didn&#39;t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked frustrated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow long until my body stops being dumb?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amber said, \u201cIt&#39;s not dumb.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I expected Bentley to reject that.<\/p>\n<p>Instead he said, \u201cFine. Annoying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Good enough.<\/p>\n<p>That evening we ate at Doug\u2019s house.<\/p>\n<p>His relationship with Amber had become strange in a nice way.<\/p>\n<p>Not romantic.<\/p>\n<p>Not paternal.<\/p>\n<p>Something like mutual repair.<\/p>\n<p>He helped with credit disputes.<\/p>\n<p>She called him when rental plumbing failed.<\/p>\n<p>He charged her one dollar for labor because she insisted free work made her uncomfortable.<\/p>\n<p>She paid in coins.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley tracked invoices.<\/p>\n<p>Maddie believed Doug\u2019s garage existed solely for her entertainment.<\/p>\n<p>At dinner Doug announced he had sold the old property-management company.<\/p>\n<p>I looked up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou did what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSold my share.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He shrugged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t like it anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat seems drastic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat will you do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBuilding inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I laughed.<\/p>\n<p>He looked offended.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat&#39;s funny?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou spent this entire year learning inspections can be corrupt, and now you want to become an inspector.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That answer surprised me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to do it correctly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amber nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPaperwork shouldn&#39;t win twice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He pointed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#39;s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d she said. \u201cIt&#39;s ours now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bentley asked, \u201cDo inspectors make more than landlords?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Doug stared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCareer research.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinish fifth grade.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harris had infected everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Then Nathan Cole called me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo hidden documents,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRay\u2019s estate received something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My stomach tightened anyway.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA refund.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I blinked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOverpayment from an old insurance escrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I started laughing.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan waited.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#39;m serious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The idea of ordinary mail from Ray\u2019s estate felt miraculous.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFour hundred twelve dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExtremely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I used it to buy a bench for my garden.<\/p>\n<p>Small brass plaque:<\/p>\n<p>PEOPLE, MOSTLY.<\/p>\n<p>Bentley chose the wording.<\/p>\n<p>No dates.<\/p>\n<p>No explanation.<\/p>\n<p>Those who knew would know.<\/p>\n<p>Those who did not could sit.<\/p>\n<p>By December, Bentley\u2019s school hosted a winter concert.<\/p>\n<p>He had no solo.<\/p>\n<p>Thank God.<\/p>\n<p>He played percussion.<\/p>\n<p>One triangle strike during a song.<\/p>\n<p>He practiced for two weeks as though performing at Carnegie Hall.<\/p>\n<p>Amber cried before he even walked onstage.<\/p>\n<p>I told her to behave.<\/p>\n<p>Then cried too.<\/p>\n<p>Doug filmed the wrong child for the first thirty seconds.<\/p>\n<p>Maddie shouted Bentley\u2019s name during a quiet section.<\/p>\n<p>Normal family disgrace.<\/p>\n<p>Afterward Bentley ran toward us.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou sure?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne ding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was not a ding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat was it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA triangle tone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Then Harris appeared near the back of the auditorium.<\/p>\n<p>Not in uniform.<\/p>\n<p>That worried me.<\/p>\n<p>He had promised not to bring work into family events unless necessary.<\/p>\n<p>He waited until Bentley joined friends.<\/p>\n<p>Then approached.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTravis changed his plea position.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amber stiffened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my case?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. Broader conspiracy matters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat does he want?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo cooperate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I laughed once.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody cooperates after getting caught.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harris did not disagree.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is he offering?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDirect testimony against Elaine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thomas already had that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy useful?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause Travis claims Elaine ordered Gerald\u2019s death.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That changed the air.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe thought Travis killed Gerald.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe still believe he delivered the fatal assault.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe says Elaine instructed him to \u2018resolve Gerald permanently.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amber\u2019s face hardened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes he have proof?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe claims an audio message exists.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRed Door server.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Investigators had not found it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFilename?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Travis knew.<\/p>\n<p>MERCY_FINAL.<\/p>\n<p>Charming.<\/p>\n<p>Technicians searched.<\/p>\n<p>Found deleted fragments.<\/p>\n<p>Recovery began.<\/p>\n<p>If genuine, it could directly connect Elaine to Gerald\u2019s killing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWill Travis get a deal?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo promises.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Good.<\/p>\n<p>Amber looked toward Bentley across the gym.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn&#39;t need to know tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Agreed.<\/p>\n<p>Not secrecy.<\/p>\n<p>Timing.<\/p>\n<p>There is a difference.<\/p>\n<p>The recording was recovered two days later.<\/p>\n<p>Elaine\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n<p>No explicit words \u201ckill Gerald.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Instead:<\/p>\n<p>He has chosen against us. I don&#39;t want another Samuel problem. Resolve it permanently before he hands them anything.<\/p>\n<p>Ambiguous enough for defense.<\/p>\n<p>Damaging enough for prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>Travis answered:<\/p>\n<p>Understood.<\/p>\n<p>He still chose the violence.<\/p>\n<p>Orders did not erase agency.<\/p>\n<p>Elaine\u2019s instruction did not make Travis less responsible.<\/p>\n<p>Travis\u2019s action did not make Elaine more innocent.<\/p>\n<p>Both could be true.<\/p>\n<p>Ray would have liked that phrasing.<\/p>\n<p>Then something unexpected happened.<\/p>\n<p>Travis withdrew his demand for a reduced sentence in Amber\u2019s assault matter.<\/p>\n<p>His attorney stated he would accept the existing plea outcome and focus cooperation elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>No message to Amber.<\/p>\n<p>No explanation.<\/p>\n<p>Fine.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe acceptance.<\/p>\n<p>Did not matter.<\/p>\n<p>Amber\u2019s life was moving away from his choices.<\/p>\n<p>That was what mattered.<\/p>\n<p>On Christmas Eve, Bentley came at 7:10.<\/p>\n<p>Of course.<\/p>\n<p>Carrying a wrapped box.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOpen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Inside was a water bottle.<\/p>\n<p>New.<\/p>\n<p>Blue.<\/p>\n<p>On the side he had written with permanent marker:<\/p>\n<p>FOR WATER ONLY.<\/p>\n<p>I laughed.<\/p>\n<p>Then saw the smaller writing beneath:<\/p>\n<p>NOT EMERGENCIES.<\/p>\n<p>My eyes burned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVery funny.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He grinned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou like it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He filled it at my sink.<\/p>\n<p>Drank.<\/p>\n<p>Sat at my table.<\/p>\n<p>Then asked:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you think I have to testify?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He sighed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStill hate that word.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I sat beside him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you do, you&#39;ll tell what you remember.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if I get scared?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen you&#39;ll be scared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd tell the truth scared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He considered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was all.<\/p>\n<p>Not fearless.<\/p>\n<p>Not fixed.<\/p>\n<p>Ready enough.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=23797\">Click here to continue reading: PART 32: Months After Bentley\u2019s Secret Morning Routine Ended, One Final Hearing Gave Amber the Chance to Speak Without Travis Controlling the Room<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bentley\u2019s court preparation began in November. Not because trial was imminent. Because nobody wanted his first experience with a courtroom to happen under pressure. A child advocate met him at &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23788"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23849,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23788\/revisions\/23849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}