Whitfield approached first for questioning.
“Mrs. Brennan,” he said, voice warm with artificial sympathy, “would it be fair to say you are still in deep grief over your daughter’s death?”
Dorothy looked at him. “I should hope so.”
A few people shifted in their seats.
Whitfield smiled tightly. “And in that grief, have you perhaps become overly focused on replacing Colleen in the children’s lives?”
“No.”
“You don’t wish to become their primary maternal figure?”
“I wish to keep them alive, loved, and away from liars.”
Whitfield glanced at the judge, then changed course.
When Emmett questioned her, Dorothy answered plainly. About the parking garage. About the card signed V. About the removed photographs. About Colleen’s instructions to check the nursery closet.
Then Emmett asked, “Why are you here, Mrs. Brennan?”
Dorothy held the rail of the witness stand and looked straight at the judge.