'The judge denied my request for a second autopsy. I don't know how we're supposed to prove this woman's innocence. Maybe because she's not innocent.' Annaliese ranted throwing her red leather bag on a office chair. They were given a conference room to use in between recess.
'You need to calm down.' Frank said leaning back in a chair closer to the window. Staring out of the bustle of city hall trying to come up with some inspiration for his next move in the case. Even as he was bathed in sunlight.
'What the hell are you even still doing here? Isn't It about time you went back home and checked on Laurel or any of your repeat offenders.' Annaliese yelled pacing back and forth. Her small heels clicking on the hardwood floors. She ignored the pain in her leg that was telling her that she was over exerting herself.
He wondered who they were offending, but he pushed the thought out of his mind. 'Annaliese, I'm right where I belong.'
'You're supposed to be here helping me release this criminal when you're really just dragging the case down.' She picked up her purse. 'You know what it would have been better if Bonnie were here instead of you.'
He wet his lips ignoring the pain in his heart that her words caused. She really knew what to say to sting a person. But he wasn't going to fall into her trap. It was a defensive mechanism and she was running scared. Her mom gave her this case and despite her protests she needed to prove to her mother that she was good at what she does. That something in her life had turned out right. Even if it was just her career.
She was expecting him to run and hide with his tail between his legs. But he still had some making up to do. Even as he drapped the quilt over her last night. He realized that he wasn't going home without her. And he wasn't sure what that meant yet if she decided never to return. Being here even at work just felt more natural than anything he had going on at home. He hadn't even bothered to call Laurel.
He pulled the phone out of his back pocket and glanced at his caller ID. Some call's from his grandmother and Bonnie, but nothing from Laurel. He pocketed the phone and glanced at his watch. A few days ago not seeing her name on his caller id would have bothered him. But now the only thing he worried about was getting back to court on time.
He ran down the hall and nodded to the security gaurd out front. 'I'm sorry I'm late can I still get in? I'm with Ms. McKay's defense team.' He held up his badge.
'Sure, but don't make a habit of it.'
The gaurd opened the door and Frank slipped into one of the seats in the back. Not wanting to disturb Annaliese questioning of the prosecuter's medical liason. She turned to her table and picked up a file and caught sight of him in the back. He winked at her teasingly. He could have sworn he saw a smile before her game face returned.
'Dr. Schwartz you reported that the wounds on Jillian's neck coincides with those of a strangulation.'
'That is correct.' He nodded adjusting his round glasses.
'With what?' She asked flashing a close up photo of Jillian's neck to the jury. 'I mean you're the expert was it hands, a sheet, rope. You tell us?'
'I would say that it was more of a rope.'
She nodded and picked up a choker from off her desk. 'This is Exhibit D a silver choker of the same prototype that Ms. McKay bought her daughter.' She handed the choker to Dr. Schwartz. Could you examine the necklace and give us your best professional opinion if whether such an item could be used to choke someone.'
He turned the necklace over and over in his hand. 'Yes, I would say so.'
'Objection, Dr. Schwartz isn't a jeweler. He can't attest to the necklaces hold.' The prosector stood up slamming his pin on the desk.
'The question wasn't whether he thought the necklace was strong enough. Just if a necklace could cause the same types of bruises as rope. And its relevant to the case since this was the necklace that Ms. McKay purchased for her daughter.'
'I'll allow it and if you doubt this line of testimony from your own witness. Feel free to cross examine him.' Judge Roberson nodded for Annaliese to continue.
'Could it be possible that her injuries were sustained by something other than rope?' Annaliese repeated.
He seemed to hedge a bit looking at the prosecuter for confirmation.
'Do you understand the question?' Annaliese asked pressing him harder.
'Yes, theoretically her injuries could be caused by something other than rope like a necklace, but. . .'
'No further questions your honor.' She took the necklace from his hand and placed it back inside a ziploc bag. That he had already labeled that morning and handed it off to the judge.
'Counselor would you like to cross examine?' Judge Roberson asked.
The prosecutor stood up with a quick glance at his partner. 'No, sir.'
The judge picked up the gavel and banged it on the desk. 'Case is adjourned until tomorrow.'
Annaliese gathered up her things while the room slowly filed out. 'Stay strong this is only step one.' She told Ms. McKay as the security gaurd slapped the cuffs on her and pulled her away.
'Good job Ms. Defense Attorney.'
She smirked. 'You aren't on an airplane home, yet.'
'Couldn't resist trial was just getting to good to miss.' He said holding the door open for her as he glanced back at the rosectors who were chatting nervousy.
She pushed opened the gate and stepped out into the hall. 'The only thing I've suceeded in doing is giving the jury another murder weapon. Besides some imaginary rope that was never found at the crime scene.'
'So what's our next move?' He asked.
'My next move is to convince the jury that she made the marks herself. Injuring her neck so throughly that she dies from the wounds later.'
He stopped in the hallway and looked at her wearily. 'No jury in the world is going to believe that. That sounds far-fetched even to me.'
'Doesn't matter she's guilty as sin anyway. My conscience will certainly sleep at night if we lose this case and she goes away forever.' She stopped at a small coffee booth and picked up a small coffee. Paying with the little cash she had left in her purse. 'If you're sticking around find me a jeweler willing to attest that the choker is strong enough to kill someone with.'
He looked on in disbelief. She couldn't possibly be tanking the case on purpose. The Annaliese he knew has gotten murderers and blue collar criminals off on less than what this lady has anyone found out she could lose her license. It would be insane if after all they had done she finally goes down for tanking some hicks case in Georgia. He had to talk some since into her, but he wasn't even sure where to start.
XXXXX
'Goodnight, sweetie. Good luck on your case.' Her mother replied kissing her on her forehead before she cut the tv off and headed upstairs to her room.
'I was still watching that, you know.' Annaliese replied reaching for the remote on the coffee table.
'No you weren't. You got a long day tomorrow just like I do. So the bed should be calling your name too.' Her mother paused on the middle step and leaned over. 'I don't want my tv on all night.'
She rolled her eyes, as she flicked through the channles trying to find that movie again. Pressing the volume button down so that it was as low as possible. 'Yes, mother.'
Her mother continued up the steps and called back down. 'And don't roll your eyes at me.'
Her cell rang and she looked around trying to remember where she had left it. She slipped on her white fuzzy slippers and slinked around the living room looking for the offensive sound. That was driving her nuts. This had be better be important. She found her red bag and searched the bottom for her phone. 'Hello.'
She looked at her phone annoyed that she went through all that and they hung up. No it was still connected. 'Hello.'
'Hello.'
'Frank?' She asked a bit surprised, but she shouldn't be since he had been checking up on her pretty regularly since he got into town. And it hadn't stopped even after he had given her the money back. 'How are you fairing finding me my expert?'
'It's coming along fine.' He said having more than a few experts with money problems lined up in this town. It was only a matter of figuring out who would be the most reliable. 'I actually called to see if you had eaten yet?'
'My mom cooked something earlier, but I wasn't much in the mood for food.' She slapped her forehead she sounded so childish. My mom cooked my food. He must think that she's so dependent on her. 'I mean I wasn't hungry. I could've fixed myself something.'
'Cool, I haven't eaten yet. How about I fix you something? I could come over in ten.'
She looked towards the stairs. Her mother would not like anyone messing around in her kitchen after eight o'clock. She shook the thought from her head. She had definitely been here too long. She was grown if she was hungry she could eat. 'Sure, but we have to clean up afterwards.'
'I fixed most of it already. I'll just warm it up when I get there.'
'Oh. Okay. See you in a bit then.' She should have been asking herself why she was having dinner with Frank for the second time. Or analized what it meant that he had actually cooked for her when she didn't even know he knew how to cook. Instead she threw the cell phone on the couch and marched up the stairs. The pain in her foot strangely absent. How much make up was too much makeup. She had to look presentable when he got here.
