Page 40 of Exacting Vengeance

“And is that your signature at the bottom of this document?” Again, she nodded. “Yes or no, Mrs. Kolbayev?”

She swallowed and choked out, “Yes.”

Victoria could practically hear the smile on Lazovsky’s face. “Please read the sentences I’ve highlighted in yellow.”

Aly picked up the piece of paper. “On the night of October 25 of last year, my husband, Boris Kolbayev, and I were at home all night. When I woke up the next morning, he was still asleep in bed.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Kolbayev.” He placed another document in front of her. “Exhibit D is another signed statement taken by the FBI from you three months ago, in which you state that your husband was not at home that night and that he came home the next morning.”

Lazovsky shook his head and picked up both documents, holding them up for the jury. This time, Victoria could clearly see his face, scrunched up to exhibit phony confusion. The man was a good actor and playing his role like an Academy Award-winner. But Aly and the AUSA had rehearsed this line of questioning, so she should be okay.

“These two statements can’t both be true, can they? Can they, Mrs. Kolbayev?” He waited for her answer.

“N-no.”

“So, in at least one of these formal, signed and sworn statements you made to the FBI, you lied.” He paused for effect, turning to the jury first, then back to Aly. “Isn’t that true, Mrs. Kolbayev?” Aly bit her lower lip. “You are, in fact,” Lazovsky added, “a liar. Aren’t you? Aren’t you, Mrs. Kolbeyev?” he repeated when she didn’t respond.

Victoria jumped to her feet. “No!”

“Objection, Your Honor,” AUSA Washington said. “Counsel is badgering the witness.”

“You may be correct,” Judge Whittaker said. “However, these are important questions. Overruled. The witness will answer the questions.”

Aly slumped in her seat. Tears streamed down her face. The woman wouldn’t last much longer. Boris Kolbayev would go free, Aly’s life would be in jeopardy, and the government was about to lose their case. On top of everything else that was going downhill fast, Brad Evans Psychology’s reputation was at stake. So was hers. They’d all come too far to give up now.

She had to do something to help. Not sit on her ass, sequestered in this holding room. Aly had done so well when Victoria had been with her during rehearsal questioning. The woman had to see her in person.

Victoria grabbed her briefcase and tucked it under her arm. She put her hand on the doorknob. She’d made a deal—a promise to Kyle—that she’d stay out of the courtroom. It was a promise she couldn’t keep.

She flung open the door. The uniformed officer jerked in surprise. “I have to get to the courtroom. Now!”

Chapter Seventeen

“I’m not a liar. I’m not.” A fresh river of tears streamed down Alyona’s face, and there was nothing Kyle could do to stop the bloodbath. The government’s case was going down the crapper at light speed.

He swore inwardly as Boris Kolbayev sat there smirking at Alyona, one hand fisted, the other rubbing his knuckles. To anyone else it would appear as a harmless gesture. To Alyona, it was his way of letting her know that if she told the truth, he’d beat the hell out of her.

Lazovsky, the Bratva’s well-known snake of an attorney, got in Alyona’s face, doing his best to lean over the witness but not quite tall enough to accomplish it. “But you are a liar, aren’t you?” He held up both documents.

Alyona shook her head, staring at her clasped hands.

The courtroom was packed, standing room only. Kyle’s team was peppered strategically throughout. Reporters from every news outlet were there, along with Kolbayev’s supporters—low-level Bratva who worked for him and Nikolai Lebedev. Kyle recognized one of Lebedev’s men from Chicago, Ivan Asimov, the prick who’d once tried to shoot him.

Some in the gallery started whispering. Kolbayev’s buddies were the only ones smiling. The jurors watched silently, some of them shaking their heads.

He caught Greg Washington’s eye. Why wasn’t the prosecutor doing something to end the carnage? If he didn’t, it would all be over fast. Instead of being the evidence to lock Kolbayev away for good, Alyona’s testimony would be his get-out-of-jail-free card.

That would mean Kolbyev and Lebedev would get away with murder. Again.

“These statements can’t both be true,” Lazovsky repeated. “Can they?”

Without looking at Lazovsky, she shook her head.

The judge sighed. “Answer the question, Mrs. Kolbayev.”

“No,” she said, still staring at her hands.

“Mrs. Kolbayev,” Lazovsky said, huffing as he shook his head, then indicating the jury, “how are we to believe anything you say, when you just admitted lying to the FBI? That’s a criminal offense, by the way.”