Judge Harrison took the bench, banging his gavel. "Court is in session. The prosecution has rested. Mr. Cross, does the defense have any final witnesses or evidence to present before we move to closing arguments? And I remind you, I will not tolerate any more procedural deviations."
Elijah stood up. He didn't bring his notes. He didn't bring his legal pads. He stood perfectly straight, his voice suddenly carrying a deep, resonant authority that silenced the murmurs in the gallery.
"Your Honor," Elijah began, his articulation flawless. "The defense calls its final witness."
Dana Pierce rolled her eyes. "Oh, for heaven's sake. Who is it this time? The neighborhood postman?"
Elijah turned his head slowly and locked eyes with the prosecutor. "The defense calls lead prosecutor Dana Pierce to the stand."
A collective gasp echoed through the courtroom. The bailiff dropped his pen. Judge Harrison leaned forward, his eyes wide.
"Mr. Cross," the judge stammered. "You—you cannot call the prosecuting attorney as a witness. It's highly irregular and almost entirely prohibited under the rules of professional conduct."
"Objection!" Pierce shouted, her face flushing with sudden, uncharacteristic anger. "This is an outrage! It's a stunt! I demand he be held in contempt immediately!"
"Your Honor," Elijah countered smoothly, pulling a single piece of paper from his pocket. "I am invoking Illinois Compiled Statutes Section 115-14, which allows the calling of opposing counsel if it is established that the attorney possesses crucial, non-privileged information that cannot be obtained by any other means and is central to a claim of prosecutorial misconduct."