“Call your first witness, Mr.

Vance.”

Marcus turned toward the back of the room.

“We call Denise Vance.”

Denise walked down the center aisle, holding her handbag against her vest with both hands.

She took the oath, pushed her tortoiseshell reading glasses up the bridge of her nose, and sat down in the wooden witness chair.

“Ms.

Vance,” Marcus said, standing near the counsel table.