Speak No Evil
Page 27
He scowled. “You’re not going anywhere this time. No more running away from me.”
With his other hand, he cupped my face.
I turned away from his touch.
He gripped my jaw and turned my head back toward him. “Knock it off.”
This couldn’t be happening. We were in church. How could God allow this in his house? Knowing the futility of my prayer, I prayed anyway. Please God, don’t let this happen to me. Not again.
Troy dipped his face to mine and kissed me, forcing his tongue in my mouth.
I gagged.
He smacked my face and knocked me against the counter. “Will you relax? We’re just gonna have a little fun. I’ve wanted you for a long time.”
As he kissed me, I found myself falling back into the old habit of Hatchet. If this was going to happen and I couldn’t help it, then going along with it was the way to get it over with the fastest.
Except I couldn’t do it anymore. Self-loathing overwhelmed me. I’d sworn when I told Miss Prescott about what Hatchet had done to me, I’d never let another man touch me without my consent.
Troy rubbed my breasts and slid his hand inside my dress. His fumbling touch ignited a fire in my belly. He wasn’t going to do this to me.
While he groped and stroked me, I ran my hand along the countertop, hoping to come into contact with something to hurt him with.
I shuddered as he pressed against me and his hardness dug into my thigh.
Spring 2015 – Melody, age 16
Melody stopped and buried her face in her hands. She couldn’t relive what happened next. Not one more time. No one should have to live through it once, let alone multiple times.
“I appreciate this is difficult for you, Miss Fisher. Please take a moment to collect yourself.”
At least Judge Grainger sounded sympathetic. But Melody couldn’t find her voice. She felt like she had in the hospital ... like she may never talk again.
“Your Honor, may I approach?”
“Please.”
When Roger reached her, he handed her a tissue. She hadn’t realized she was crying. Mopping her face, she tried to stem the flow.
Roger leaned in and whispered. “Have you lost your voice?”
She nodded. It had happened a few times when Roger had taken her through her statement.
“You’re going to get through this. I know you can do it. You’ve done a great job so far. I’m proud of you.”
She wanted to smile, but her face twisted at the thought of continuing.
“Can you sing it?”
Sing? Melody shook her head, but a song welled up in her heart. A prayer to help her get through this moment. She nodded.
“You’ve got this, Melody.” Roger returned to his seat.
She smoothed her hair back. Would she really be able to sing?
“Sing the song of your heart.” Daddy smiled across the gallery at her.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and lifted her voice in song.
In Your name Lord
In Your name I pray
In faith and love
I come to You today
May this not be
My final breath of air
In Your name I pray
The rattlesnake prayer
Down on my knees
You humble me
As the venom spreads
I will soon be free
Nothing for You
I cannot bear
In Your name I pray
The rattlesnake prayer
Not of this world
Do I want to be
With the devil wrapped
All around me
In You I’m strong
No worry no care
In Your name I pray
The rattlesnake prayer
December 21, 2014 – Melody, age 15
He grunted and ran his hands up under my dress. When he touched my panties, I gripped his arms to try and stop him.
He smacked my hand away. “What did I tell you about that?”
He slid his hands back under my dress and tugged on my underwear.
I crossed my legs.
“You wanna be that way? Fine.” He stopped trying to pull them down and ripped them off my body. “We can either do this easy or hard, it’s up to you.”
When he moved in closer, I tried to knee him in the nuts.
He turned and took the blow on his thigh. His hand closed around my throat, cutting off my air supply.
I grabbed his wrist with both hands and tugged, but he squeezed tighter. My lungs felt like they’d burst if I didn’t get air soon. Darkness descended and he loosened his grip.
While I gagged and coughed, taking in gasps of sweet air, Troy unzipped his fly and dropped his pants. He grabbed my shoulders, pulled me upright, and pressed me back against the counter.
He spread my legs and entered me with a forceful thrust.
I disconnected and escaped into music.
Stole my spirit ... but not my soul
In faith and strength ... I’m in control
Thought I’d never ... get up again
Now I’m stronger ... than I’ve ever been
No! Not again. Not ever again.
Troy grunted as he pumped away.
My hands scrabbled on the counter and my fingers finally touched something metal and cold. Scissors. I gripped them, brought them over my head and plunged them as hard as I could into his back.
Spring 2015 – Melody, age 16
Troy jumped to his feet. “That’s a goddamn lie. Are you going to sit there and listen to her lies?”
Mama, Daddy, and Quatie Raincrow dissolved and reappeared, standing before me in a protective shield.
Mama’s voice sounded musically in my head. “Don’t worry, baby. We will stay with you.”
“Bastard!” James stood and punched Troy on the arm. “You raped her?”
James? He was Troy’s buddy? Melody felt like she was going to throw up.
“She came on to me.” Troy’s face twisted into a snarl.
“No.” James pushed him. “She would never have come on to you.”
“Order in the court.” Judge Grainger banged his gavel. “Gentlemen, please take your seats or you will be found in contempt of court.”
James had stuck up for her? Why was he here?
They took their seats, though James still glared at Troy with something like hatred.
Judge Grainger smoothed his hair and faced her. “Miss Fisher, what did you do after you stabbed Mr. Alexander with the scissors?”
She had to finish her statement. “He let go of me when I stabbed him, so I ran out of the classroom and straight to the main church building. I raced to the kitchen and crawled into the cupboard under the sink, hoping he’d never look for me there.”
“Did he find you?”
“No, Your Honor. He didn’t come after me.” She had stayed under the cupboard for about fifteen minutes. When he hadn’t shown up, she had crawled out and meant to go straight home.
“What happened next, Miss Fisher?”
“After I came out of the cupboard, I went back to the classroom and Troy had collapsed on the floor. I went into the church office and placed an anonymous 9-1-1 call. Left the phone off the hook and ran home.”
Judge Grainger finished making some notes. “Why did you call for help?”
Troy stood, but the judge glared at him and he sank back into his seat.
“I called because I didn’t want to be responsible for taking a human life. Even his.”
“Do you have anything to add to your statement, Miss Fisher?”
“No, Your Honor.”
He gave a nod. “Thank you. Please take your seat.”
When she rose, her eyes met Vince’s. He sat next to Kelly. He raised his hand in a half wave. She choked back tears. She had missed her friend so much.
When she took her seat, Rebecca hugged her. “I’m so proud of you.”
Chapte
r Forty-Six
Spring 2015 – Melody, age 16
Judge Grainger studied his notes for a moment. “Troy Alexander, please take the stand.”
Troy rose and slowly made his way to the witness stand.
When he had re-sworn to tell the truth, he sat.
“I’d like to clarify a few points of your statement before I make a decision to send this case to trial.”
Troy remained silent but looked uncomfortable.
“You stated you had returned to the church because you had left your phone and went to retrieve it.”
He faced the judge. “Yes, Your Honor. I wanted to call a buddy of mine and realized my phone was missing, so I went back to church.”
The judge flipped through some papers. “Then how do you explain the fact that your phone was used multiple times both during and after church and prior to the 9-1-1 call?”
Troy squirmed in the chair. “Melody Fisher must have used it. She had it and the reason I went into the classroom was she told me she had my phone.”
Judge Grainger straightened. “How did she let you know she had your phone? She spoke to you?”
“Yeah. She taunted me with having it. Told me she wasn’t gonna give it back.”
Judge Grainger held up his hand. “Wait a moment.” He shuffled his papers. “Dr. Kane, no need to come up here, but in your professional opinion, is it remotely possible for Miss Fisher to have spoken on December 21, 2014, when she had not spoken to anyone for any reason since April 8, 2013?”
Roger stood. “Your Honor, based on my sessions with her, in my professional opinion, it would have been impossible for Melody Fisher to have spoken in such a capricious manner.”
“Impossible or improbable?”
“Impossible, Your Honor. Miss Fisher could not have taunted anyone over an electrical device. She had been highly traumatized over a successive period of time and the probability of her speaking to anyone, let alone a random classmate, is so astronomically improbable, it trends into the realm of impossible.”
“Thank you, Dr. Kane.”
Judge Grainger peered over his glasses at Troy. “You’ve heard what Dr. Kane had to say. If she would have been unable to taunt you over the phone, the statistical improbability renders the idea of her using the phone ludicrous.”
“She didn’t have to talk to use the phone. They were text messages.” Troy puffed out his chest.
“Young man, I knew they were texts, but since your phone had been surrendered for evidence at the scene, and you have not had it in your possession since that time, you could not have known unless you were the sender of the text messages.” Judge Grainger permitted himself a small smile. “And you might want to remember we know what those messages stated and who the recipients were.”
“She wanted it. The part about me forcing her is a lie.”
Judge Grainger raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Alexander, at no time during your statement had you mentioned having sex with the accused. I think we’re done here.” Judge Grainger looked at her. “Miss Fisher, the court thanks you for your testimony. We appreciate the hard work you have put in to make your statement possible. I am dropping the charges against you.” He raised his hand to summon the bailiff. “Please escort Mr. Alexander to processing. I presume Miss Fisher will be pressing charges against him.”
Melody slumped against her seat, tears of relief flowing down her cheeks. She raised her face toward the glowing images of her loved ones. They smiled as they turned to mist and disappeared. Had she imagined them because she needed them so much?
Rebecca engulfed her in a hug. “We’ll go home in a few moments. I have a few things to discuss with Dr. Kane and I’ll join you outside.”
Melody exited the courtroom and leaned against the wall in the hallway.
Kelly burst out of the courtroom and raised his arms in victory. Then he swooped forward and hugged her. “I always knew you had a reason for stabbing the prick.” He kissed her cheek. “I have to run, but I had to be here to support you. I’ll see you at school.”
“Thank you, Kelly.”
Vince came out next and hung back as if unsure whether to approach her.
Melody opened her mouth, but her throat seized up. Not now. She needed to make things right with Vince.
Vince reached her in two steps. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”
He must have seen my panic.
He took her hand. “I need to apologize to you and hope you can forgive me for not being a better friend.”
Same here. But her tongue kept her mute.
He stared at the ground. “At school after everything happened at the mall, I avoided you because I was embarrassed I had been such a bad friend.”
My tongue finally loosened. “Don’t ... you were the best friend I’ve ever had, and I thought you were disgusted with me.” She held up a hand to stop him from protesting. “I was disgusted with myself and thought everyone else was, too.”
“Hey, Mel.” James stood about ten feet away shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
When her gaze met his blue eyes, James took a step forward. “I’m sorry. For everything. I didn’t understand. I didn’t know what you were going through at home. Sadie told me after Troy—” He stopped.
“I know. I couldn’t find the words to tell you.”
Vince shook his head and crossed the hallway.
James stared at the floor. “I’m sorry for what I put you through when I broke things off. I was an asshole.” He glanced into her eyes. “I swear I never told Troy about the cabin. He heard about it from one of the guys.” He looked away. “Maybe one day you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Over James’s shoulder, Vince’s face fell. He shouldn’t worry so much. She was done spending time with guys who didn’t care for her when a friend who did stood so near.
“I forgive you now, James.” She hugged him. “If you hadn’t been so harsh, I may not have put a stop to what Hatchet was doing to me. Not then anyway. So, in a way, thank you.”
“I came today because the things Troy said didn’t match the girl I knew.” He squeezed her tight and whispered in her ear. “You always meant more to me than the other girls. When you froze up, it hurt me, and I turned into a gigantic ass to cover my hurt. Thank you.” He kissed her on the cheek, then released her.
Vince kicked the ground, then turned and walked down the long hallway.
Melody broke out of James’s embrace. Vince’s slouched shoulders and shuffling stride broke her heart.
James put his hand on her shoulder. “If you care for him so much, don’t let him go.”
Vince reached the door before she could get the words out. “Vince, wait.”
He stopped and faced her.
James smiled. “You can’t let the good one get away. Thanks again, Mel.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and strode off.
How could she tell Vince how much he meant to her? The emotions overwhelmed her and she lost control of her words again. Something in her brain clicked and she knew what Roger would tell her. Sing. “In Love With an Angel” had all the words she wanted to say.
He stood by me
When he shouldn’t have
Lifted me up
When life was bad
Around every corner
His smile I’d see
No matter what
He was there for me
What I thought I wanted
Wasn’t worth a damn
The lie who kissed me
And held my hand
But the truth was there
Picked me up when I fell
I’m in love with an angel
He saved me from hell
Vince walked slowly toward her, then picked up his pace and ran.
When his eyes spoke to mine
Nothing I couldn’t do
Said our bond is forever
And I’ll support you
Turned away from him
And I don’t k
now why
But life makes a fool
Who falls for the lie
When he reached her, he scooped her up and swung her around. “I have loved you for a long time and I’ll prove I can be your best friend.”
What I thought I wanted
Wasn’t worth a damn
The lie who kissed me
And held my hand
But the truth was there
Picked me up when I fell
I’m in love with an angel
He saved me from hell
As they clung together in the middle of the hallway, she sang the last verse with all her heart. Happy at last.
Never judged me
For all I’d been thru
Told me every day
I love you
Not realizing what I felt
Was with me all along
The guy in the shadows
Is where I belong
A Note from the Author
Dear Reader,
I always felt my characters come to me with their stories to tell, and I am the mere journalist whose job is to breathe life into them on the page. That could not be any truer than in the case of Speak No Evil. This was Melody’s story from the outset, and my responsibility was to document it in the most compelling way and share it with the world.
I have always believed it important to write stories such as this. Women are more empowered to speak up today than ever before, but far too many remain silent—for good reason. Speaking up about abuse is not always met with support. Too often victims are met with ridicule and judgement, blame and shame.
I, along with many women, have personal experience with this. I chose to go to the police, though felt nothing would be done. I spoke up so the next victim might be believed. I spoke out because he took liberties with my body that he had no right to. I wasn’t about to let him take one ounce of my self-worth. I did not ask for it, it was not my fault, and no one would say otherwise.
Not everyone has a Miss Prescott and Dr. Kane ... I was fortunate to have a strong support network. For those who don’t, for those who remain silent, it is not your fault. You are not to blame. My greatest wish is that one day you will find your voice and, with it, peace.
Acknowledgements