SURPRISE WITNESS

Randall Dickens spent the break working deep into the night, poring over Mr Cyrus's evidence like a forensic archaeologist. He meticulously sifted through the accumulated evidence to unearth any inconsistencies or potential landmines that could weaken his case. His client, Mr Cyrus remained stoic but emotionally drained. Having his family dragged out into the glare of public scrutiny had been agonising enough, even though he wanted to teach Marcus a lesson. But to endure the coming trial-by-fire of dissection on the stand promised to inflict a whole new brand of psychological problems.

For Marcus Royale's defence team, however, the break amounted to little more than a brief opportunity to find lies and excuses to weave on their case. From the outset, they'd been outdone, and thoroughly routed by Dickens's withering arguments. Their only realistic hope was to gain some miraculous traction in the crucible of cross-examination. And they were not exactly big on miracles. They were lazy,