Margaret shook her head.
—Is confused.
Idan started crying again.
—I’m not confused!
Then he looked at Clara.
—Grandma put
the box in the closet in her room.
The judge asked everyone to remain silent.
—How do you know that?
Idan replied:
—Because I was playing with my cars under the table.
He paused.
—I saw her take out the box.
Margaret stood up abruptly.
—That’s a lie!
The judge hit the table.
—Silence!
Then Idan said something that made Adam go completely white.
—Dad saw her too.
Clara looked at Adam.
—That?
Adam didn’t respond.
The boy continued:
—Dad said not to say anything because grandma was angry.
Theroom was frozen.
The judge looked at Adam.
—Mr. Hamilton, do you have anything to say?
Adam lowered his head.
For several seconds he did not speak.
Then he looked at Clara.
—Yeah.
His voice broke.
—She didn’t steal the jewel.
Margaret looked at him horrified.
—Adam!
He closed his eyes.
—Mom told me Clara had to go.
—Because she stole!
—No.
Adam shook his head.
—You told me you needed me to disappear from the house.
Clara felt her legs tremble.
—Because?
Adam looked at her.
And finally hetold the truth.
—Because the jewel never disappeared.
The lawyer remained motionless.
—That?
Adam continued:
—My mother hid it.
Margaret began to cry.
—You don’t know what you’re saying!
—Yes I know.
Adam looked at the judge.
—And I helped her keep the lie.
Clara felt tears begin to fall down her cheeks.
Not because I had won.
But because finally someone had told the truth.
Then the judge asked:
—Where is the jewel currently?
Adam looked at his mother.
Margaret didn’t respond.
And that’s when Idan, still hugging Clara,pointed towards the door.
—Is in the house.
Everyone turned around.
The boy added:
—But not where she said.
The judge frowned.
—Where is?
Idan looked at his father.
—In the place where mom kept the things she didn’t want anyone to find.
Adam closed his eyes.
Because he knew exactly what place he was talking about.
And when he finally revealed where the jewel was hidden, the truth about Margaret came to light in a way that no one in that room could have imagined.
