by G. E. Mason
But she didn't think the trial would continue after today. She didn't think it would continue after this hour.
"You look like the cat that ate the canary," Brad said behind her.
"Just the person I need to see. Let's find a room."
One eyebrow of his shot up. "Oh?"
She rolled her eyes, then she feigned punching him on the arm. "Get your mind out of the gutter. I have some test results to show you," she said, leading him to a room down the hall.
When they were settled, she pulled the file out of her briefcase.
"This is what I didn't want to talk about."
She opened the file then slid it across the metal table. Staring out the window at the sunny day, she waited. She tapped a fingernail on her chin.
Brad flipped back and forth through the two page report for a few minutes before closing the file. He drummed his fingers on the table. "So you've matched the DNA that was found on my client."
"Yes."
She swallowed. His face remained impassive so she had no idea what his reaction was. Her anticipation shifted her to the end of the seat.
"Okay. You've never tried to prove she wasn't raped," Brad said.
"No, I've never disputed that. I've only disputed who," Lauren said. She tapped the file. "This tells me who."
"This tells us that you've found a match for the DNA. It doesn't tell me who."
"Only one person's DNA was on that bottle," she said. "Only one person drank from it."
"But the report doesn't tell me who that is."
She waited a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I took that water bottle from Ethan's desk."
Brad leaned back in the chair as if she'd pushed him. His gaze went to the ceiling. Lauren had never seen him this out of control. His polished veneer slipped for a moment.
"So how do you want to proceed?" he said finally.
"We put Claire back on the stand."
"Why? Can't we just go to your boss?"
Lauren shook her head. "Ethan will think he can deny it if he isn't faced in court with it. Besides, doesn't it appeal to your dramatic flair to do it that way?"
Brad grimaced. "Okay, I get it. I need to prep my client. I don't want her ambushed. Can you see if you can get a half hour delay from Ethan?"
"Oh, thanks. Let me go into the lion's den."
***
That's exactly how Lauren felt when she knocked on the door to Ethan's chambers. As if she were entering the lion's den. And she was an unarmed Christian.
"Come in," he said.
His smile lit up his face. "Lauren, so glad to see you."
His reaction puzzled her, but then she remembered, he had no idea what was about to happen.
"Thanks for seeing me Ethan. Brad and I would love to postpone the trial for just a half an hour."
"That must be some great evidence you've uncovered."
He had no idea. Did he really think that not one of those twelve jurors that he tried to convince would tell on him? He'd never stopped being the quarterback, the star of the team. He expected everyone around him to do his bidding.
"Yes and Brad just wants to prep his client a little better."
"You're being awfully understanding," he said from behind his desk.
Lauren had never bothered to sit. She stood a foot away from the desk.
"I'm a big believer in due process, Ethan. Everyone gets their day in court."
"How righteous of you. You haven't changed a bit since college. Still that strong sense of right and wrong," he said.
He was probably mocking her. She didn't care. That smug smile would be wiped off his face soon enough.
"A leopard doesn't change his spots," she said. She turned towards the door to leave. "See you in court."
***
Claire was escorted into the room Brad had met Lauren in. Lauren had just made it back from talking with Ethan.
Claire eyed Lauren.
"What now?" the girl said.
She possessed her bravado today. Lauren stole a glance at Brad who shrugged.
"We've found some new evidence," Brad said.
Claire's eyes widened as her gaze bounced from one to the other. She leaned her elbows on the table. Her suit jacket sleeves rode up her arms, but the outfit still didn't fit her.
"The kind that will get you off this murder charge," Lauren said.
Claire chewed on her lip, brushed an errant hair out of her face. "What's the catch."
Cynical?
"No catch, except that you need to tell the truth under oath," Brad said.
Claire crossed her arms. "I've been telling the truth."
How were they going to get through to this young girl that couldn't seem to get out of her own way? Lauren wondered if Sasha would ever get this stubborn.
"No, Claire, you haven't," Lauren said.
Brad put a hand on her arm as if to say he could handle this.
"Claire, we know who raped you," Brad said.
The young girl flinched, but her gaze didn't waver from the table. She then picked at her nails as if the two lawyers were not in the room.
"I've told you who raped me," she said finally.
"So you want to stick to that story? When we know the truth and as they say the truth shall set you free?" Lauren said.
What as this girl's problem? Lauren stood, then paced in the room her thoughts a jumble in her head. They had a deadline here.
"Claire, please. We have DNA evidence of who raped you. Incontrovertible evidence," Brad said.
The girl's shoulders slumped. Her head slumped onto the table. Brad patted her arm.
Enough, thought Lauren. She leaned on the table, getting close to Claire. "Enough. Tell us the truth."
When Claire raised her head, tears streamed down her face. To Lauren, she looked even younger than she had all trial. How did this young woman get mixed up with a judge old enough to be her father?
Claire sniffed. "Okay. Ethan raped me."
Lauren let that sink in for a moment. "Did he kill Sheffield?"
"Yes," Claire said as if she was now interested in telling her story.
Brad leaned back in his chair. "Tell us the whole story."
"Can I have a glass of water?" Claire asked.
Lauren fetched her one, and then sat down to take notes.
"How did you meet Ethan?" Brad began.
"He's a friend of my father's."
Claire sipped her water then wiped tears from her face. Her relief was written on her face. For the next fifteen minutes she told her tale. Both Brad and Lauren took notes.
When her words no longer came, she placed her hands on the table. "Can you help me?"
Brad and Lauren looked at each other. "Yes," Lauren said.
***
Armed with the DNA evidence and the knowledge of what had transpired between Claire and Ethan, Lauren felt a little surer of herself. Waiting for Ethan to appear, she didn't fidget, just watched the door to his chambers. His charges for harassing her would only add to his jail time.
Claire had cleaned herself up. She'd tied her hair back in a tidier bun and freshened her make up. Her eyes had a little more brightness to them as if she knew this was the end of a long journey.
Lauren understood. The trial had started only five days ago, but this week had been long and arduous. She would be glad to get things back to normal.
"All rise," the bailiff said.
Claire just about jumped to her feet. Lauren chose not to look at the juror she spoke to. She didn't want to make him nervous or give away any of what was about to happen in this courtroom.
Ethan entered with his usual swagger, making his robes flow behind him. He sat down then nodded to the jury then the audience. "Be seated."
Everyone sat, but no one really settled. The noise of the crowd indicated they knew something was about to happen. But how could they?
Ethan looked over his courtroom his brow furrowed. He must have sensed the electricity in the air also. "Who's calling
a witness?"
"Defense, your honor. Remember, the prosecution rested," Brad said.
Ethan looked at him through hooded lids as if he was unamused by Brad's correction. "Then call one."
"Actually Claire Smith was still under oath. I'd like to call her back."
"Didn't prosecution already cross-examine her?" Ethan said.
Lauren stood. "I'm okay with this your honor."
The judge waved a hand to tell Brad to proceed.
Claire rose, and not looking at Ethan, strode to the witness box.
"Remember Miss Smith, you are still under oath," Brad said.
Claire nodded.
"I'm going to ask you some of the same questions as I did last time."
Ethan looked at Lauren. "No objections?"
"None, your honor." Lauren just about choked on the last part.
Brad turned back to his witness. "Did Mr. Sheffield, the deceased, rape you?"
"No, he did not."
The crowd gasped. The jurors shifted in their seats. Lauren's gaze went to Ethan. He didn't react other than to bang his gavel. "Order."
The audience settled down.
"Why did you say he did?" Brad said.
"And that would be lying under oath, Miss Smith," Ethan said. "You can be held in contempt of court."
"My client understands what she's done. I think we can deal with the contempt part later, your honor," Brad said.
Ethan looked at Lauren. "You're okay with this?"
"Yes, your honor," she said.
Ethan frowned. "I don't like you making a mockery of this court, Miss Smith."
"My client understands that. She will reveal her reasoning in a moment. May I continue?"
Ethan waved a hand at him.
"So, Miss Smith, you say you weren't raped by the deceased. Are you still saying you didn't kill him?"
"Yes, I did not kill him," Claire said in the strongest voice Lauren had heard out of her yet.
"Then tell me what really happened," Brad said.
Ethan's gaze went straight to Lauren. "You're okay with all this? No objections?"
"No objections."
Brad ignored the judge. "Please tell us the story of that day."
Claire took a deep breath, not looking at Ethan. She looked down at her hands then back at her lawyer. "I was in a relationship with John Sheffield."
Now it was Ethan's turn to gasp. No one paid him any attention.
"I can still find you in contempt of court," Ethan said.
"Please let my client finish," Brad said.
Ethan sat back in his chair, obviously cowed. He frowned and looked down.
"Proceed Miss Smith."
"I was in a relationship with John, but he wasn't my first. I was in a relationship with someone before him. That person is the one who killed John out of jealousy. Then he raped me and convinced me to take the blame for the murder."
"Who would that be?"
Ethan banged his gavel. "Enough. Why should we believe the defendant this time? She'd lied under oath."
"She was under duress," Brad said. He looked at the jury. "This will all make sense in a moment."
The jury foreman nodded for him to keep going.
"Miss Smith, continue."
"No, she cannot. This is a circus and I will have none of it," Ethan said.
"Your honor," Brad said. "My client deserves her day in court and she will have it."
Ethan stood. "I won't stand for this."
"You will or I'll have the bailiff make sure you stay here," Brad said.
Ethan looked around as if looking for an ally.
Claire continued. "Before I fell in love with John Sheffield." Now she turned on the water works, tears streaming down her face. "I was in a relationship with Ethan Grogan."
"That's a lie," Ethan said.
Brad held up his hand. Lauren thought this was all the best theatre she'd ever seen.
Ethan turned his steely gaze to Lauren. "You put her up to this. To get me back for college."
"Ethan, the truth hurts, but let her say it," Lauren commanded.
Ethan's face turned red and he clenched his fists. Claire, looking at him for the first time, stared at him wide-eyed. "I'm not lying. You found out about John and I and I watched you stab him. Then you raped me."
"You can't prove that."
"Yes, we can," Lauren said. She held up the file with the DNA evidence. "We have proof."
Ethan opened and closed his mouth like a fish trying to get air. "I will not be a part of this miscarriage of justice."
"Bailiff, please detain Judge Grogan," Brad said.
The bailiff, an older gentleman, probably a former cop, studied Brad for a moment before approaching Ethan.
"Don't you dare," Ethan said. He backed away, but was wedged into a corner.
"Now, judge I think you need to come quietly," the bailiff said.
"I will not," Ethan said, but the fight had gone out of him.
He slumped back into his chair, holding his head in his hands.
"Can you get a cop in here?" Brad said to Lauren as the bailiff stood over Ethan.
She snagged one in the hallway and explained the situation. She returned with him in tow.
"Please arrest Judge Grogan for the murder of John Sheffield," she said.
"I love you," Ethan said to Claire making her lean away from him.
"Ethan Grogan, I'm arresting you for the murder of John Sheffield." The officer went onto read him his rights.
Brad turned to the jury. "I'm sorry for the theatrics, but you are dismissed. This trial is over."
The jurors exchanged glances then trooped out of the jury box.
A cop led Ethan out of the courtroom. The press stormed out to file their stories.
Claire still sat on the witness stand. "Am I free?"
"Well, there's some paperwork that has to be filled out which I'll do as soon as I get back to my office," Lauren said. "Then you'll be free."
The young girl smiled. "Thank you."
"If you'll take some motherly advice? You need to pick a better class of man to date," Lauren said.
Brad nodded in agreement.
The End.
About The Author
G.E. Mason is an avid adventurer who adds a contemporary twist to his fiery thriller novels. Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.
Living in South Boston, but a Californian at heart, G.E Mason finds plenty of inspiration for his books from his purposefully exciting life. Mason has always loved the arts and as a young boy, took oil painting classes and spent the summers buried in books from the Boston library. Mason started writing stories and later took Creative Writing classes in High School and in college. Mason graduated from The University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in Journalism and an MBA of Entrepreneurship.
G.E. Mason would love to hear your thoughts on the novel. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter
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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H4NSM2Y
Other Works by the Author
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