Page 92 of Broken Silence
What kind of question was that? “Yeah,” I replied.
What child didn’t play?
He nodded and swiftly moved to his next question. “Did you play make-believe games?”
“Yes,” I replied cautiously, knowing this couldn’t be leading anywhere good.
Jasper, Cole, Mia, and I used to play all sorts of games, pretending we were our favourite TV show characters fromPower Rangersand programmes like that.
“Mm. And when you stopped talking, you liked the attention you got, didn’t you?”
My face fell. That was where he was going. “No, that’s not how it was.”
“You said you liked to play make-believe games.”
Keeping calm was almost impossible when I felt myself getting hotter and hotter.What kind of a person would make up something so evil?I hated that anyone could even suggest that I was lying about it. All I’d ever wanted was a happy, normal family. I never wanted any of this.
“I didnotmake that up.”
Keep calm.
John turned on his heel and took a few steps toward the jury. He had been walking around the whole time. He seemed so at ease here, as if this were his house and we were guests.
Stay still, fucker.
“Miss Farrell, you state that, from the first time Mr Glosser accompanied you and your father, he would be there every occasion after that. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Did he meet you at your house?”
“No. My mum and brother were never aware he was with us on the trips.”
“He was waiting for you?”
“No, he always came after we’d set up and been to the local shop.”
Being on the stand meant that I was slightly higher than John, so I used that to my advantage and straightened my back, forcing him to look up at me.
“You said your father took payment from Mr Glosser?”
“That’s correct.”
“Could that have merely been Mr Glosser paying for his half of the food bill? You said he showedafteryou’d shopped.”
“No,” I growled through my teeth.
Linda looked up and widened her eyes, warning me to remain calm. I needed to, but I couldn’t help it. He was twisting everything I had said to make it look like I was lying.
I took a long breath in and out until I felt that floaty feeling in my head.
“How did you know what the exchange of money was for? Were you told?”
“No, but—”
“So, it could have been his share of dinner. Miss Farrell, you’ve also alleged your father took photographs during the abuse even though no pictures of you have been found.”
“That doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
