"Due to the specious and contradictory statements of the Prosecution's star witness, the defense requests a directed verdict of not guilty, your honor." Nora said.

"In my chambers both of you." Judge Fitzwater replied.

"Your honor you're not seriously going to consider th-." Hank said.

"My chambers." Judge Fitzwater says and begins to rise. "The court will take a half hour recess." She adds.

Nora and Hank head toward the door leading to Judge Fitzwater's office. Once inside, Hank turns on Nora before the Judge enters.

"I can't believe your requesting a directed not guilty verdict." Hank says barely controlling his anger.

"You heard Marty's testimony." Nora replies.

"Yeah I heard it which is why I'm shocked that you can still think your boys aren't guilty. When Marty described the details of the rape on that stand, I was ready to rip those boys apart. But you felt nothing?" Hank said, his eyes burning through Nora's.

"I was disturbed by it, but I wasn't swayed by it. Hank were you listening? When I cross-examined Marty that's when the truth came out. I showed that she is a pathological liar. Whenever she gets in a crisis she lies her way out of it. That's what came out in court today."

"Oh come on Nora!"

"Marty is deliberately putting Todd, Zack and Powell and their families through hell."

"I don't believe it. You really do think they're innocent. I don't-." Hank stops when the door opens and Judge Fitzwater walks in.

Nora and Hank take the two seats in front of the Judge's desk.

"I'll make this quick. I think it is the best interest in the court, the tax payers, and all those involved in the trial to end it now." Judge Fitzwater says.

"Judge you can't. Marty Saybrook has a right to have the chance to see if justice will come through for her. By letting those guys walk, it would be a devastation to her as well as the legal system." Hank pleads.

"Mr. Gannon save the "we are the world" speeches for a future closing argument. Ms. Gannon has a point, as far as I can see, your star witness has loss most, if not all her credibility, and she was all you had. You have no other proof to back up her story. And I will not waste anymore of the courts time." Judge Fitzwater says

"Please, just hear me out." Hank tries again.

"What do you think is going on in there?" Marty asks.

"I don't know. But the DA didn't look to happy when he walked in there." Suede answers. "No, don't worry Marty." Suede adds when he sees the worried expression on Marty's face. "I'm sure everything will be fine. Here they come now."

Marty could sense right away that something terrible was about to happen. When the Judge's door opened, and the trio walked out it suddenly seemed as if time slowed down. She didn't remember seeing Hank sit down in front of her, or seeing Nora or the Judge return to their seats. When the Judge began to speak she tried hard to concentrate but it was hard to understand. At first, she just saw the judge's mouth moving but no words were coming out. But then she did hear them. That horrible phrase. "A directed verdict of not guilty." She didn't see Suede, Andrew, Cassie, or Jason jump up and begin to scream words of protest at the judge. She didn't see Todd, Zack, and Powell jump up in an expression of joy. She couldn't get pass those words "Not guilty."

They were going to go free.

That thought woke Marty from her stupor, but with it came the overwhelming feeling of fear. Marty was absolutely terrified now. She wasn't thinking of how everybody in town was going to think of her as that lying slut who cried rape. She was thinking of what Todd was going to do to her now that he was free to do whatever he wanted. She didn't want to, but she looked over toward the table the three boys were now standing behind, all smiles, happily hugging their families and giving hi fives to their friends. But sure enough, Todd's eyes were locked on Marty's.

Marty began to shake uncontrollable as a lone tear slid down her cheek.