Speaking for Stephanie
Part 1
Melissa Dorrier was a confident woman. It was apparent in the way she dressed, in the self-confidence that became more and more apparent in this slaughter of Joe Morelli. He had admitted to the crime on the stand, just like everyone wanted him to do. He had given no thought to what he had said. Melissa had him so agitated by blocking him, so he couldn't see his victim, hell he stood up and admitted what he had done to everyone.
She moved to the podium and faced the Judge and the audience, with all the self-assurance of a seasoned professional. She felt good. Her black hair was French braided; her shirt was very fetching, matching her green eyes. Most of all, her man Lester Santos showed his appreciation this morning over breakfast, making sure 'everything matched.' Just thinking of that had her catch his eye, seeing him wink, gave her a shot of power she needed to get through this. It was going to be a slugfest in court. Something she excelled at and this would NOT BE HER FIRST LOSS.
Vinnie looked transfixed knowing his statement asking for mercy would be laughed out of court, but he had a duty to uphold, so he was prepared to try to ask for mercy while feeling the heat of Frank Plum and Manoso and company starting at him.
Even Joe Juniak stopped by to watch this performance. The city of Trenton had offered her the deal of a lifetime to join the district attorney office, and there was an opening on the bench for Judge Sharpton as well.
'Ladies and Gentlemen of the court, I speak for Stephanie Michelle Plum, a sixteen year old woman, and why is she a woman and not a little girl you ask yourself? Why we are even here in the first place is a good question as well. Let me tell you a story,' Melissa continued.
'A little girl, a daddy's little girl, Still a young sixteen-year-old girl had gotten up that morning, washed her face, brushed her teeth and got dressed for school. Just another day at Trenton High School; she kissed her grandma good-bye and left. Why didn't she kiss her momma you ask?'
'Because according to Helen plum," Stephanie needed to get married and settle down." Never mind that she was still sixteen years old. It had become the daily battle. One that Stephanie just gave up on I'm afraid, she would never have her mother's support no matter what she did, so why bother?'
'This is the stuff legends are made of I'm afraid. It has been confirmed by numerous people that the accused took little girls into his daddy's garage and played a game called 'choo choo' with them. Then, he sexually molested them in that same garage.'
'When this happened to Stephanie by the accused, her mother and grandma were told of it. Stephanie was grounded, her daddy never knew about it. Her mother told her not to bother daddy," He has enough to worry about with you always getting into trouble,' why can't you be like your sister Valerie?'
Melissa continued ontelling Stephanie's story for the enthralled courtroom. The only sound you could hear was the court reporter's keys, getting all the words down.
She continued, 'When Stephanie tried to fly off the roof and broke her arm, naturally Helen made this all about being such an ungrateful child and she was grounded for weeks. Never asking if she was all right, she didn't care, she wasn't like her older sister Valerie, so why bother.It was her daddy and grandma that raised Stephanie to be the wonderful little girl she was, but it was the accused that had her grow up that day.'
Melissa was grateful for the documentation that Jennifer Brown gave to her after a subpoena was hand delivered to her office. Knowing she knew the real Helen Plum, not the legend, like Helen thought she was.
'She would walk to high school with her friends from the neighborhood. Stephanie was well liked by kids her age. She never had a clue that on that day, it would be the last innocent day of her life.'
Melissa paused and looked over at Stephanie to see how she was doing, earning a wink and a faint smile from her in encouragement to keep going,
'She went to classes that day, had lunch with her friends, she even had a sleepover planned with her best friend for that very weekend.'
Weaving the story together of her client, she kept on going. 'Stephanie worked hard at school and had wonderful grades. She was a fun girl, never getting into trouble. When she was a year or two younger, her and her daddy decided she would get her first car, a 'Buick', her daddy's favorite car. So Stephanie got a job during this school year, working at the local bakery. She was helping her daddy save for her own car, her paychecks she would give them to him right away. She loved giving them to him, she knew she was helping pay for her very first car and was excited about that. They had their own bank account together, just for the car. She only kept ten dollars from every paycheck; the rest went into the bank. Fun money, every teenager had fun money right?'
Walking over to her table, taking her time, Melissa studied Stephanie's face; she could see lines of worry on her forehead, tears ready to fall down her face.
Melissa gave her time to compose herself before starting the story back up once again. She saw Stephanie had her hand clutching her daddy's, they both knew what was coming. It was the worst night of their lives.
Judge Sharpton knew this attorney well, she was giving Stephanie time, time she needed desperately. So he let it play out, all while watching Vinnie Plum and Joe Morelli look sick to their stomachs. They knew what was going to be said and were cringing at the thought of hearing it over again.
Angie was beside her husband and Edna was on the other side of Stephanie. Her arm around her neck, pulling her head down to rest on her grandma's shoulder, gently stroking her hair, Carlos was directly behind his babe, his fingers caressing her neck. Leaning in he said, 'it's ok Babe, I'm here.' He had to give some type of comfort to this woman he loved with his heart and soul.
Joe Juniak was sitting directly behind Frank Plum, knowing what was coming. He had to hear this for himself, from the best district attorney he has ever heard of. He put his hand on Angie's shoulder, knowing this was hurting her as well. Frank had hold of her hand, supporting his wife.
AS Stephanie heard Melissa talk, she couldn't help but think back to that awful night. She had to force herself to think of Carlos instead. He was her 'Rock', getting her through the trial. She thought about the house they were building, hoping to be able to finish college, now that she had graduated early from High school.
She still wanted to be a researcher and hoped with all the media attention she was getting; it wouldn't hinder her from getting a job. Carlos had told her in no uncertain terms, that she already had a job. A job at Rangeman. Hector; after he was done with his current assignment could help her. He was a Microsoft Certified Instructor after all.
She had already done some searches for him. Carlos was finding the searches she had done, were much better than the ones from the guys he had hired. She had an uncanny ability to find things and 'step outside the box' much better than his guys.
Stephanie shook the thoughts from her mind and continued listening to Melissa.
Melissa picked up the story as if not a break was had. 'After school, Stephanie had stopped by her locker, looked in her mirror, finger combed her hair and set off for work. She only worked a few hours here and there. She was never late. That night was the first night that she would be in charge of closing the bakery. Added responsibilities she gladly took on, a raise had been included and while there used to be someone always closing up after Stephanie's shift was over, she was on her own for the first time. She just had to call her 'daddy' to pick her up when she was done with work. That was the night, her life changed for the worse, not for the better, for that night. Her nightmare had begun. Every women's and little girls nightmare was about to happen. When THAT MAN,' pointing at Morelli. 'Walked into the bakery.'
'All with evil on his mind.'
a/n not ours…damnit.