Vance moved toward the front then, his face darkening, reaching for command.

“Valerie, stop this.

This is a ridiculous, humiliating display, and you’re waving around private documents that don’t prove anything.”

“You’re right that they’re private,” I said.

“Let’s make them less so.” I reached into the box and took out the printed transcripts — the text messages Daniel’s attorney had secured through proper legal channels, certified, admissible.

I read them into the microphone, in my clear analyst’s voice, the voice I use for reading numbers to a board.