Murmurs rippled across the courtroom.
The prosecutor's head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "Objection, Your Honor—we have not been notified—"
"Your Honor," Ethan cut in smoothly, "this witness only made contact last night. Her testimony is firsthand, directly relevant, and could materially impact the outcome of this case."
The judge raised an eyebrow. "Name?"
Ethan turned to the rear doors.
"Call her in," he said quietly.
A court officer opened the double doors. The room held its breath.
In walked a tall, slender woman, mid-30s, with dark hair pulled into a tight bun and a noticeable limp in her right leg. She wore a plain blue dress and no makeup. Her eyes scanned the courtroom once, then found Maria.
Maria's lips parted in silent shock.
"State your name for the court," the judge said.
The woman's voice, though clear, was heavy with an accent. "Elena Araya. I was Daniel Lewis's fiancée."
A gasp swept the room.
