The same voice came again, sharper now. “Daniel… answer me.”
Judge Carter slowly stood up, his confidence gone. “What did you just say?”
Gasps broke out across the room. The bailiff turned toward him, unsure of what he was hearing.
The little girl didn’t blink.
“You said call anyone,” she said quietly.
The judge’s voice cracked with anger. “Turn that off. Now.”
But the girl didn’t move.
The phone stayed on speaker.
The voice returned, colder than before.
“Tell her the truth. Today.”
Silence hit the courtroom like a shockwave.
The judge looked around—at the people watching, at the girl, at the phone.
For the first time, he had no control.
And everyone could see it.
