The trial began. Any deal that Connie and Amanda could have thought of that would have still been acceptable, Galinet had turned down. She was determined to have her day in court. The good things was that so far, Rebecca wouldn't have to testify…yet. A small bit of good news in the midst of everything else.
The side of the courtroom that was behind the prosecutor's table was full. Elizabeth Donnelly had banned the media from her courtroom, but that didn't stop a good number of people from coming anyway. They weren't looking for media attention anyway. All they looked for was a conviction.
They sat in a row, too. Danielle had handed her case off to another associate in her firm. Jamie had cleared her calendar just to be able to be there. Trevor's beginning date hadn't been announced, and Kelly hadn't taken up a new case, officially. Anna didn't have a beginning date, either, and Jack was stuck somewhere in between wanting to work and not wanting to.
This, Erin Fallon mused, was the problem. As Amanda finished making opening statements, she got up as the other woman sat down.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," she said. "I ask you one question. Where is the evidence?"
In the gallery, Jack looked at Anna, frowning. "She's doing it again," he said, quietly. "Damn it."
"Doing what?" Anna asked. He sighed.
"Erin's favorite game to play is making the jury think that even with a confession, the prosecutor has no case," he said. "In this case, she wants to make it seem like there is no evidence, but there is."
"It just points to you," said Anna. "So, what d'you think will happen?"
"Hopefully they tune her out, but odds are that they won't, which pretty much means we're in for a long ride."
Silence fell. Jack said nothing more and Anna knew better than to push. So they left it at that, and listened to Erin. When she was finished, the first witness was called.
"Character witness," said Danielle. "They'll try and dirty everyone involved except Galinet."
"Of course they will," said Jack, dryly. "What matters is whether or not it actually works."
"Well, even if there's no physical evidence now, the confession is still in. SVU and the two-seven are still working, so something might turn up." said Jamie. She was looking at Erin with an annoyed expression on her face. "She's just like Neil is."
"Well, they're partners in the same firm, no wonder," said Trevor dryly. "Who is this witness, anyway?"
"One of Galinet's former colleagues from the school she used to teach at," said Kelly. "Amanda mentioned it."
The only one missing from the proceedings was Rebecca. None of those currently involved in conversation could blame her, but the truth was that Jack and Anna had left her to sleep in on Staten Island. She had informed them the night before that barring her having to testify, she didn't want to be there, and so they had come without her. It almost made it easier to talk, Jack thought, and felt guilty. It shouldn't have been easy. Honestly, it wasn't.
"What else did Amanda mention?" Danielle asked. Kelly sighed.
"Not much. You all know how it works. She can't tell us much until the trial is over." she said.
"Sometimes I wish the rules weren't so strict, otherwise we might get something out of Elizabeth," said Jamie, more to herself than anyone else, though they all agreed.
"…and in all that time, have you ever known Ms. Galinet to be a violent person?"
Erin's voice broke into their conversation and all of them turned to look at the witness on the stand. She hesitated. Erin turned back to look at them and scowled.
"Your Honor, I object to the blatant intimidation tactics that our dear prosecutor and her friends are using," she said bluntly.
"I resent that implication," Amanda said icily, "I am doing no such thing, and neither are they."
"Then why, pray tell," said Erin, evenly, "Does my witness seem afraid to answer the question?"
"Ms. Fallon, if you honestly think that being looked at by Mr. McCoy or anyone else is your witness's problem, then maybe you should have blindfolded her."
"That's enough." Elizabeth's voice broke into the conversation, but she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as she went on. "Counselors, approach."
They did, both of them glaring at each other. Erin was the first to speak.
"If Ms. Fellowes and her colleagues can't keep from trying to intimidate witnesses, I move that she be removed from the case," she said.
"Is it a crime to look at people now?" Amanda asked sarcastically. "Your Honor, we're doing none of what Ms. Fallon would like to think we're doing. There is no need to remove me from the case."
"This case has been all over the news for quite some time. Ms. Fellowes and the entire row behind her are obviously here for one reason," said Erin.
"Of course they are," said Elizabeth, "And it's not to intimidate your witnesses. The motion to remove ADA Fellowes and/or ADA Rubirosa from the case is denied. Step back."
After the first day, they split up and went their separate ways. Most of them, anyway. Danielle and Kelly and Trevor were the only ones that went off on their own. Amanda and Connie walked off with Jamie, and Anna went with Jack.
"You all right?" The silence between them was grating on Anna's nerves, and so she spoke to break it. Jack gave her a sideways look.
"I don't know," he said. "I just…Erin can talk a good case, and if she gets the jury to believe that there's reasonable doubt…"
"The police are still looking for physical evidence. They're bound to find something."
She had a point, and Jack knew it. The police were still looking. But it didn't really help, knowing this.
"You know, it's almost easier to talk about all this when Becky's not around," he remarked after a while. "It…doesn't feel right."
"No, I can't imagine that it would," said Anna. "You want to head out to the island?"
Jack shook his head. "No," he said. "No, not yet. I just…I want to walk."
In all honesty, Anna didn't, but she ignored this fact and shrugged. "Fine by me," she said. "Anywhere in particular?"
No answer came. She waited, but when Jack still said nothing, she decided it was pointless. When he turned, suddenly, she followed, and knew where they were going.
"District Attorney's office?" she asked, quietly, and he sighed, nodding.
"Been away too long," he said. "I know I left, but…"
"It's almost like you didn't," said Anna. "I get it."
Jack stopped in his tracks, then, and turned to look at her. "You know, I've spent my whole life trying to uphold the law, and then something like this happens, and I…I don't know what to do anymore."
Silence. For once, Anna didn't know what to tell him, and then she reached for his hand.
"Well, I'll tell you one thing. Giving up is not an option."
"I know."
"Then what do you want to do?"
"I'm not sure."
Listening to him, Anna thought, one could almost tell that something inside of him had snapped, and he was struggling to hold onto what little seemed to be left. She let him tug her gently to stand beside him rather than in front of him, and both of them ignored the people walking around as he slid an arm around her waist. They started walking again.
"You think you'll ever go back?" Anna asked after a while and Jack looked down at her.
"I'm not sure," he said. "Part of me wants to, but at the same time, I just want to stay away."
"Could always try playing on my side of the aisle."
"My prosecutor side begs to differ."
Anna laughed. "I figured."
They continued to walk. Soon, they had reached the building that housed the District Attorney's office.
"Now that I'm here, I'm not sure I want to go in. I was just here this morning," said Jack.
"Well, Amanda says the office is open anytime," said Anna. Jack sighed.
"I know," he said. "I guess it just doesn't feel right, knowing it belongs to her now."
Anna gave him an amused look. "Any more rumors about her being replaced?"
"Well, I heard they're looking to have Michael Cutter come in when this trial is over."
"Sending Amanda back to her own bureau, then?"
"So I've heard." Jack pulled the door to the building open and walked in after Anna. "I've also heard Branch is still thinking to retire."
"Well, of course he is. Heaven only knows the man wants time with his wife," said Anna, nonchalantly. Jack looked at her with raised eyebrows as they headed upstairs.
"What do you know about all that?" he asked. Anna shook her head.
"Nothing."
"I'll bet."
"Taylor Galinet." Olivia's voice startled Elliot out of his concentration and he looked over at her.
"What?" he asked. She gave him an exasperated look.
"Remember that little theory we had about switching letters around?" she asked, and when he nodded, she went on. "I just finished. Ryan Taglien is Tara Galinet's older brother."
"Her accomplice?" Elliot asked, Olivia nodded.
"I'm thinking he is. Sure fits the description Rebecca gave us."
"You let the two-seven know?"
"Just about to. I figure that they should be in on it."
"I do, too." Elliot leaned back in his seat and went on. "Two-seven talked to him; he said he had nothing to do with anything."
"Of course he did. Place where Rebecca was found, it's still sealed. We might be able to find something to nail him."
"Well, then, let's go pick him up."
They did. And the first thing that Taylor Galinet did was lawyer up, which meant that they couldn't touch him. At least, not until counsel appeared, in the form of Neil Gorton, and the first thing he did was ask exactly what evidence they thought they had.
"Evidence means nothing in this case at the moment, Mr. Gorton," said Casey, "I'm sure you're aware that we're considering this all premeditated."
"I am, Ms. Novak, but I'm sure you're aware that if this goes to trial, I intend to prove that my client is a victim of his sister's insanity," Neil replied.
Casey snorted. "Your client was a willing participant in not only helping his baby sister set a DA up for murder, but in kidnapping Rebecca McCoy. You can't possibly tell me that Tara was the one who raped her."
"What you have, Ms. Novak, is no evidence, and a witness too traumatized to testify." said Neil.
"You have got to be kidding me," Casey said incredulously. "It isn't up to Rebecca whether or not to press charges; whether she testifies or not means nothing."
"It means everything; if you don't have evidence or a witness, you have no case," said Neil, evenly. "I'm assuming my client is under arrest?"
"He is," said Casey, "He'll be arraigned in the morning."
"Who is the arraignment judge, then?"
"Jamie Ross."
Startled, Neil looked over at Casey with raised eyebrows. "You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure," said Casey, looking over at him suspiciously. "Why?"
"Let's just say that things should get interesting. This meeting is over."
Casey got to her feet. "Let me know when you come to your senses."