“Miss Katie White, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?”
“I do.”
“Be seated.” I sat.
“Miss White, you’re the victim in this case and we intend to see justice to the perpetrator,” said Mitchell questioning me. “Is that correct?”
“Yes sir,” I replied politely.
“Miss White, could you possibly tell us how many times have you been cornered by the defendant? Assaulted, humiliated? Do any of those words fit?”
“More than three times but less than six,” I replied.
“Why didn’t you speak up the last few times then?”
“I thought it would go away, the drinking and assault only got worse and worse.” I said.
“How is it you’re able to undergo severe questioning reliving the experience Miss White?”
“I am an intelligent person, Counselor. I can be objective as well as factual in an ongoing investigation.”
“Why did you decide to say something this time?” Mitchell asked.
“The security at the hospital were taking Chris and Marcus away in hand cuffs, and they didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Do you know for sure?”
“In my lab results for the rape kit, they found Zack’s fallen hair with tiny bits of strands of DNA on my clothing; no spermicidal or lubricant anywhere on my body.”
“Miss White, you’re having an easier time with this than I thought,” said Mitchell.
“When it comes to facts I can spit them out in a heartbeat, but when it comes to something more personal, then it’s quite a bit harder to say the facts.”
“Do you remember what had happened that night in the basement?”
“I remember some things.”
“Why only some things?” he asked.
“Because some of the pain killers for my broken nose and the fracture in my leg,”
“Miss White, could you tell myself, the defendant and the jury what happened to your leg?”
“Sir, when we were in the basement of what I later learned was Zack’s house, he had that expression. You know the ones where in the movies where they turn a dark or neutral color and they want something from you? He was throwing me around and kicking me…” He cut me off.
“Forgive me Miss White for interrupting you. He was kicking you too?”
“I have serious fractures on both sides of my rib cage and the fracture in my leg from the defendant.” I explained.
“Do you have anything else that Zack did that you may be able to show the jury?”
“Yes I do.” I said.
“Will you please?” I took a deep breath in, exhaled and took my jacket off. The sweater I was wearing covered up most of my major bruises. It was extremely painful to take off.
“For the bruises that you can’t see through her cashmere sweater, we had a female CSI agent take pictures of Katie’s back, sides, chest and genital area. We have censored the areas that are inappropriate.”
While he was showing them, I did my best to not cry. I had to keep a public bearing.
“Miss White,” said the judge. “Are you alright that they are inappropriate.”
“Miss White,” said the judge. “Are you alright sweetie?”
“I’m fine.” I said. She handed me a big box of tissues. “Thank you Ma’am.”
She just nodded at the jury. Half of them were staring at me, attempting to see how well I composed my expression. I wasn’t doing it half bad until I had thoughts stuck inside my head from the incident.
“We also have a tape that is extremely vivid and maybe offensive to people, some more so than others.”
“Katie, just answer me one more question.”
“Yessir?” said to him.
“Who did this to you?” Mitchell asked me directly.
“The defendant, Zackary Michaels is guilty.”
It took a top of twenty minutes to come out with a verdict.
“All rise for the verdict.” Said the judge.
“For the attempted murder of Katie White we the jury find the defendant, not guilty. For the attempted rape and sexual harassment, we find the defendant, Zackary Michaels, guilty in the first degree. For the verbal and physical abuse of Katie White under the influence of alcohol and child pornography, we find the defendant, Zackary Michaels, guilty in the first degree.”
“Zackary Michaels, you are sentenced to twenty-five years to life in the state penitentiary without bail. Who may not receive chance of parole. Case closed.” The judge relaxed in her chair and took a deep breath. I stood up on my left foot to make sure it was perfect and then took off hobbling down the center aisle.
“Wait Mitchell, what about Chris and Marcus?” They were so quiet in the back that I forgot they were there.
“They’re off the hook. They’ll go back to the penitentiary and get their stuff and be let out to go home.”
“What’s going to happen to Zack?” I asked.
“Why would you want to know?”
“Because I care a little bit, I said. He gave me this “you’re weird for even asking.” Type look. “Okay I care less than that.”
We laughed all the way back to my car.
Chapter Fourteen: Fight
A week after the trial, I asked my dad for a job at the golf course. I needed something to keep me busy and out of trouble with Chris. So I went home every other weekend to spend time with my family. It would keep me busy and out of trouble and I’d get paid at the same time.
I was sitting at the first hole and Emily Little was right beside me with her miniature of $30,000 golf set. The spoiled little brat.
“Katie!” her miniature hands yanked on my tennis skirt.
“Emily,” I began. “You can’t pull on my skirt.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s rude,” I said. Okay, like I could go into detail with a five year old.
“Why is it rude?” she asked. “What is rude?”
“Rude is not acceptable.”
“What is acceptable?”
“Acceptable means ‘okay’.”
“Really?” she said. “Why does everyone say OK instead of acceptable?”
“Because no one likes to use big words,” I explained. I knew from studying a little bit of developmental psychology that when kids ask questions you need to feed them the answers instead of just insisting that they’re annoying.
“Katie!” That voice wasn’t Emily’s. It was Chris’s.
“Chris?” I looked up and saw his Dodge Neon pull up into the lot. It looked out of place compared to the $50,000 Porsche and $1,200,000 Mercedes F1.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him, trying to be nice in front of the little kids.
“I need to talk to you.” He said.
“You have my number.” I said.
“I’ve tried calling your house, your cell, texting you, email, everything but you don’t answer or respond to anything.” Chris explained. “Please hear me out.”
“You have five minutes.” I said, collecting my golf clubs and straightening out my hair. I made sure that everything was perfect for the next class.
“Katie I love you.” He said. “I want to be with you. Its hard waking up everyday knowing that you’re not mine. I want you to forgive me. Even if this is the last time, I’ll still love you, I’ll always be here for you. I’ll always be there, no matter what.”
“Where are you going with this?” I asked him
“Will you go to prom with me?”
“P-prom?” I stuttered.
“Yeah.” He said. “I love you, Katie. Be mine. Please.”
“Yes.” I said. “Thank you. I’ll text you later. Maybe I’ll stop by. But right now I’m working.”
“Ok.” He said.
“How did you know how to find me?”
“I talked to Ella.”
“I’m going to kill her.” I was enraged but happy at the same time. I wanted to know wh
y Ella would tell him, unless he threatened her, but I doubted that. Ella could defend herself and Chris was too much of a nice guy to do something like that.
“Why would you kill her? Ella knew you loved me. She said you talk in your sleep and that you’d say my name over and over again. Even those nights you spent over at Blake’s house. She said she was worried that Blake would overhear but he was always out cold.” He explained.
“Chris.” I stopped him. “I have to get back to work. I’ll talk to you later about this.” I insisted. I didn’t need any distractions right now. This week I was learning the clarinet for the solo in Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from the opera Lohengrin. I needed no distractions from my art, including a boyfriend. The concert was in three months and I had to learn a complete different instrument. I didn’t have to. I did it to impress my mother. She played the clarinet in high school and let’s just say she was good.
“I’ll talk to you later.” He said. “Later Katie.”
And that was it. He left. I had a prom date but no dress. That meant that Ella and I would go shopping here in the next couple of days. That is if she didn’t already have a dress.
During my twenty-minute break they gave me half way through my shift, I called Ella.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hey Ella, its Katie.”
“Hey Kate what’s up?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go dress shopping with me sometime soon.”
“For?”
“Prom.” I said.
“Really? Who asked you? Was is Jake from orchestra?”
“No it was Chris,” I said.
“Really?” she sounded curious. “How did he know you were working?”
“You,” I said. “You’re the reason he knows Elle.”
“You should have seen the way he begged me. Katie he loves you and he cares so much for you. I think you should give him a second chance. Especially after getting my number and tracking me down to find you.”
“Ella you don’t understand.”
“Katie,” She stopped me. “He loves you, he’s not going to leave you.”
“What if he does it again Ella?” I tried to deny her the pleasure of putting us back together. “What if he leaves me again and acts like it’s no big deal?”
“Katie, he loves you with every strength in his being. How can you go wrong with that?”
“OK, fine. I will, but I won’t enjoy myself,” I insisted.
“Alright then. I’ll call you after your shift. We’ll set up plans for shopping this weekend.”
I hung up the phone. I realized that maybe Ella was right about Chris. Maybe she was right and he wouldn’t ruin it this time.
After work I went back to the dorm and meet up Ella.
“So when are we going dress shopping?” Ella asked me.
“This coming weekend.”
“Where?” she asked. “All the dress shops are closed for spring break.”
“I could ask to take a trip to Europe.” I said, knowing that would never happen.
“Really?” her eyes lit up.
“No Ella,” I said, serious this time.
“Awe, come on Katie, you can’t just do that to me!” she got her hopes up.
“I’m sorry Elle. That would be pretty cool though.”
I kicked my shoes off and changed into my polka-dot pajama pants and a sky blue camisole. I took my hair down and lay down to catch some Zs.
That weekend I had to choose between the purple evening gown and the periwinkle semi formal knee dress. I liked them both; it was just hard to choose. I tried them both on. I liked the purple number but it seemed too much of a poufy dress. Yet, the periwinkle one was kind of clingy and I didn’t want that kind of thought thrust upon me.
The purple one was a Jessica McClintock original. The most perfect dress I had ever seen. In the store, Ella told me that I could afford more than a $150 dress and I should hang it up and find something more expensive. I declined.
Getting ready for prom was a fricken nightmare. Marcus made it that much harder to actually wise up to going. Yes I was going because I wanted to see Katie in a dress and not that uniform that she had to wear out of my house every day except Saturday. That weekend was ours. Did they name king and queen where Katie went to school? Prince and princess? I didn’t know and I was pretty sure since Katie didn’t go last year, she didn’t know either.
“Dude.” Marcus got my attention when we were at the counter. I was putting a down payment on a rental tux and he was bugging me.
“What?” I asked.
“You don’t even know what color her dress is.”
“Actually I do.”
“What color is it then?”
“It’ll be purple. She doesn’t even have to tell me.”
“That’s a smart move Dude.” Marcus said sarcastically.
“Yeah it is because I know that’s the color her dress will be. Trust me I know.”
“Uh huh, right?” Marcus didn’t believe me but I didn’t blame him. I just knew Katie. We had been dating for like the length of time it took to grow a baby.
I put sixty bucks on the counter and the guy there, who was undoubtedly gay, touched my hand and it kind of freaked me out a little but I kept my fear hidden. Marcus stood in silence as the guy handed me the receipt I’d need to come get my tux.
I turned around and walked out of the tux shop and hung a left. Marcus followed.
“So how do you know that her dress is purple?” Marcus asked again.
“Dude, I already told you. Katie’s favorite color is purple. There’s a seventy-five percent chance that her dress is going to be that colour. Do you have to ask so many damn questions?”
“What if the color of her dress is in the other twenty-five percent?”
“Then I’ll change the color of my vest. Not that difficult.” I pointed out.
“Dude, where are you going?”
“I don’t know.” I said. I was actually going to go find Katie a necklace that she could wear. She made it obvious that she hated gold so I made it a point to buy her silver. And although it wasn’t an actually real silver necklace with real diamonds I did get her a really real pretty necklace. “Over here.”
“Which one do you like better?” I asked Marcus. I had brought him over to a jewelry desk and showed him the three I had debated between. The one with the three diamonds straight down, the one with the pearl shaped diamond, or the one with the pearl one that I semi-liked. I wasn’t sure if Katie would wear it or like it period but I considered it because Katie looked good in everything.
“Why would you buy Katie pearls?” he asked me, as if I were a dumbass.
“Um, because Katie looks good in everything.”
“Not that one.” I thanked God silently.
“Which one do you think is the better of the two?”
“Which one is cheaper?” Marcus asked, always the cheap skate.
“That’s not what I asked Marcus.” I said.
“Well I don’t know Chris Sheesh!”
“I like them both.”
“So buy both,” said Marcus.
“That’s a good idea.”
“Wow.” He said. “I can’t believe you’re going to buy her two things.”
“I don’t know.” I said. I didn’t know why I wanted to buy her both. Probably because I knew I owed it to her after breaking her heart. And it wasn’t like I couldn’t afford both of them so why wouldn’t I buy both of them?
On the way home from the mall with Marcus, my cell phone rang. It was Katie. She went shopping for her dress today with her roommate, Ella I think her name was. Ella was going with Jake in our group. Jake had already graduated from Lightstaff but he was still entitled to go. Even though I know he loved Katie as much as I did and tried to hide his admiration in her. How could he not? She was smart, funny, beautiful, and loved life just as much as the next carefree person that I knew. I needed her to know that I was hers though, forever.
I would never let her go ever again. I learned that without Zack’s help, who was going to die soon by the way anyway. Even though we weren’t official right now I was pretty sure that Katie was mine too.
“Hello?” I answered her call.
“Hey. I wanna show you the color of my dress. Are you on your way home yet?”
“Yeah we are now.”
“Who’s we?” she asked curiously.
“Marcus and me,” I said.
“Oh is he going to be going with us too?” she sounded excited for a positive answer.
“No he just came with me to get my tux.”
“How could you get a tux not knowing the color of her dress?”
“I just know you.” I replied. “I know that your favorite color is purple so I’m doubting your dress is any color but…” I stopped.
“Chris?” she said. Marcus knew what I was talking about. The apartment building was on fire. It was the one that we hung out by all the time, the one Zack took Katie to and I met him there pretending to be family. Unfortunately we really are related, blood by my aunt and uncle’s marriage.
Only we all knew that it was a vacant building. The problem was even though no one lived there with their families, I knew people still went there.
“Katie I gotta go.” I hung up on her midsentence.
I dialed 911. “Nine-one-one operator.” Said the operator. “How may I help you?”
“Can I have the fire department and the hospital please?”
“Where are you sir?” she asked.
I gave her the address and got out of the area. I couldn’t be here when they showed up especially with Marcus on probation.
I drove up to my house rather fast and passed the cops on the way there. Good thing they were already busy or they’d have stopped me on the way to my house.
“Dude! The building was like, on fire.” Marcus said obviously.
“Uh. Duh! I was there. I called it in! I saw the flames. I know what happened, I-” I stopped realizing what happened. “Zack wanted to let us know.”
“Dude, Zack is in jail. There’s no way that he could have done this.”
“Not him.” I said. “His friends.” I said friends like it was a bad thing. I was pretty sure Marcus caught it.
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