"Withdrawn," Maya said, but the damage was done. The gallery was murmuring.
She returned to her table and pulled out a laptop. "Your Honor, I'd like to present Defense Exhibit A."
"Objection!" Crawford shouted. "We haven't had time to review—"
"It's security footage from the building across the street," Maya interrupted. "Publicly accessible, timestamped, and directly relevant."
Judge Whitmore considered. "I'll allow it."
Maya connected the laptop to the courtroom screen. "Mr. Hutchinson, this is footage from the Meridian Bank building, which has a clear view of Whitmore and Associates' employee entrance. Can you identify the person entering at 11:28 p.m.?"
The image was grainy but clear enough. A figure in a security uniform was visible.
"That's... that appears to be me."
"Nineteen minutes before you claimed to clock in. And who's that with you?"
Hutchinson's hands gripped the witness stand. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Maya zoomed in. "That's Richard Whitmore III, isn't it? The same Richard Whitmore who filed the complaint against my father."
The courtroom exploded. Crawford was on his feet, objecting. Richard Whitmore stormed toward the front, shouting about slander. Judge Whitmore hammered her gavel repeatedly.
"Order! Mr. Whitmore, sit down or be removed!"
Maya waited calmly for quiet to return. "Mr. Hutchinson, why was Richard Whitmore entering the building with you at 11:28 p.m. when he told police he wasn't there that night?"
"I... he... we just happened to arrive at the same time."