“Positive.”
“Objection,” said Destiny.
“Sustained,” said the judge.
“I’ll rephrase,” said the lawyer. “Did Samuel ever say anything directly to you regarding his opinion of his wife’s advice on Coast Eagle?”
“He told me she knew nothing about business. He said he never discussed it with her.”
The lawyer gave a satisfied nod. “Did Samuel Henderson indicate to you that he wanted his son to one day take over the business?”
“Yes. Samuel loved his son deeply. I’ve never seen him so happy as when Zachary was born. He talked about keeping the airline in the family for another generation. It was his fondest wish that Coast Eagle be protected and preserved for his son.”
Destiny rose again. “Objection. The witness is not in a position to know Samuel Henderson’s fondest wish.”
“That’s what he said to me,” said Roth.
“Overruled,” said the judge.
“Did Samuel ever speak to you about his wife having any kind of a hand in running Coast Eagle Airlines in the event of his death?”
“He did,” said Roth, and an odd expression flicked in his eyes.
Cole found himself doubting Roth’s honesty on the question.
Roth answered, “He said the only people he trusted with Coast Eagle and with his son were Dryden Dunsmore and me. He said someone needed to control Coco because she had the decision-making ability of a twelve-year-old.”
“He said that directly to you? Those were his words?”
“Yes. And they’re supported by his will, which included both Dryden and I in guardianship or controlling positions in Coast Eagle.”
“A little too convenient,” Cole whispered to Luca.
“I can’t tell if the judge is buying it or not.”
Destiny cross-examined but wasn’t able to poke holes in Roth’s story. Cole and Luca slipped out at the lunch break, picking a restaurant several blocks away to avoid being seen by Amber or Destiny. By late afternoon, Amber was the only witness left.
Roth’s lawyer started with Amber’s competence at Coast Eagle. It went as expected. There was no getting around her lack of experience, but Cole thought she held her own, particularly on yesterday’s decision to ground the Boonsome jets. Yes, it was a financial loss, but risking passenger lives was too dangerous.
Unfortunately, it then came to light that their closest competitor had not grounded their Boonsomes, and Amber’s decision had, at least in the short term, put Coast Eagle at a competitive disadvantage. The lawyers successfully framed her decision as emotional and even brought Cole into the equation, accusing Amber of taking advice from a competitor on a confidential corporate matter.
It wasn’t going well for Amber’s side.
“You were ten years older than your stepsister?” the lawyer then asked her.
The question obviously surprised Amber, and it seemed to take her a moment to regroup. “Yes.”