Alexis stood up with a snap. "Objection to this witness your Honor. The DA has sprung a surprise on the defense, and to be only fair, I am asking for the court to indulge us some time to acquaint ourselves with this witness?" she argued.
"Your Honor, Dr. Lewis was not subpoenaed to be here, he volunteered to testify. I as well as Ms. Davis have not had the chance to question this witness outside of this courtroom, so I don't see how it is unfair to the defense." Ric replied as Zander sunk lower in his seat knowing that Ric had outsmarted Alexis this time.
"Mr. Lansing, ..." the judge began, but Alexis interrupted him.
"I'm sorry, your Honor, may I have a few minutes with my client?" she asked after Zander leaned over to gain her attention.
"You have a few, Ms. Davis." the judge agreed.
Alexis sat down at the table and whispered quietly with Zander about the man who sat in the chair as a witness. "How long has it been since you've seen him, Zander?" she asked wondering what else Zander hasn't told her.
"About 10 years, I left home and I haven't seen him till now." Zander replied as he eyed his father sitting in the witness box a few feet from him.
"What kind of doctor is he? Ric announced him as Dr. Lewis." Alexis asked.
"Got me? But 10 years ago he was a heart surgeon. I have no idea what he is now."
"Ms. Davis? Are we ready to proceed?" the judge asked as Alexis stood up from her seat.
"Yes we are your Honor, and I still object to this witness." she still argued the point of Dr. Lewis testifying at his son's hearing.
"On what grounds?" Ric snapped.
"On the grounds that my client has not seen this man in 10 years, that's on what grounds!" Alexis fired back.
"Mr. Smith, can you tell this court how you know this man, Dr. Lewis?" Judge Williamson asked Zander.
Zander cleared his throat and sat up straight in the chair. "He's my father, sir." A gasp could be heard from those in the courtroom observing.
"And you have not seen him in 10 years, is this correct?" the judge questioned.
"Yes sir, that's true."
"I'm sorry Mr. Lansing, but this witness has no bearing on this case before this court. Dr. Lewis may be the defendant's father but he has not been in contact with his son in 10 years, I would have to say that Dr. Lewis would hold no current observations about his son." the judge ordered and then asked Zander's father to step down from the witness box.
"With all due respect, your Honor, Dr. Lewis is a licensed psychiatrist and can certainly lend his expertise to the prosecution's case." Ric argued a new direction.
"How? He has not met with Mr. Smith, he doesn't know the case we are arguing here, Ric." Alexis spoke up trying so hard to deter Dr. Lewis from testifying against Zander.
The judge seemed amused by their volleying of legalities and smiled. "Ms. Davis has a point, Mr. Lansing. Care to try something else?" the judge cracked.
"No your Honor I do not." Ric said and handed this victory to Alexis with a smirk. Alexis smiled at her win over Ric, it was one of many battles they had in the courtroom that day, and one of many Alexis won.
"Do you have anymore witnesses, Mr. Lansing?" Judge Williamson asked.
"No, your Honor. The prosecution rests." Ric replied as he took his seat.
"Ms. Davis ... you have the floor." the judge said and Alexis stood up and smiled.
"Thank you, your Honor. The defense calls the defendant, Zander Smith."
Zander was unsure of what he was going to say, but he knew Alexis and knew that Alexis wouldn't put him on the stand if she didn't think he could help the case against him. He rose from his seat and walked to the witness box, still unsure of all this, since his father was now introduced, he wondered if Ric could or would bring him up in his questions.
Alexis smiled as Zander sat down in the seat. She nodded some re-assurance to him as she stood up and buttoned her jacket and approached the witness box.
"Just relax, okay?" she said quietly to him, she saw he was overly nervous about being in the hot seat.
"Zander, please tell this court what happened the night in question." was Alexis's first question. Alexis hoped he'd remember all she told him about answering the questions with directed and precise answers and that he wouldn't elaborate on anything.
"I was walking back to my loft apartment, the alley is a short cut for me. And as I walked down the alley, I was hit from behind and knocked out. I don't remember anything after that until I heard the sirens of the police cars." Zander replied hoping he said the right thing.
Alexis smiled at him to let him know what he said was okay.
"What happened prior to the walk back to your apartment?" Alexis asked.
"I was working ... across town. I met my employer on the docks and then walked home." Zander answered not being specific as to who his employer was.
"According to the medical examiner's report, Mr. Corinthos was killed an hour or so before the police got there, Zander where were you an hour prior to speaking with your employer?"
"I told you, I was across town working." Zander said again.
"Do you carry a weapon, Zander?"
"No I don't .. never have." he answered ademantly.
Alexis saw when she mentioned the gun specifically, his body stiffened in his seat. She didn't push the issue about the gun and moved on to another line of questions.
"Mr. Corinthos, the deceased ... did you know him?" she asked
"No I didn't. I've only been in Port Charles a short time." Zander kept his answers short and to the point, something Alexis had told him while she was drilling him on how to answer and not to give the DA any ammunition to use against him.
"Thank you, Zander. Your witness, Mr. Lansing." Alexis said as she sat down at the defense table and Ric rose from his seat.
Ric stood up from his seat and buttoned his jacket once again. He approached Zander slowly and studied him, as if trying to read him and what he was thinking. Zander looked over at Alexis and she cracked a smile of re-assurance.
Zander took in a deep breath and released it as Ric stood before him. Zander stayed strong and tried to answer Ric's questions the best he could, not telling him what he didn't need to hear.
Ric's only question regarded his employment with Mr. Alcazar and Zander answered him honestly trying not to land himself in jail for things he's done for Lorenzo. After he answered it, Ric excused him from the witness box.
"We have nothing further your Honor." Alexis spoke up as Zander sat back down at the table. She hadn't given Ric much to work with, which was in their favor. The less Zander spoke about that night, the better for their case, it gave Ric less ammunition.
"We are going to take recess while the jury deliberates." Judge Williamson ordered and struck the gavel to close his court.
"Nice job, Ms. Davis. Do you want me to concede now or later?" Ric asked as he put his paperwork back in his briefcase and Alexis did the same.
Alexis gathered her things and as she passed Ric she fired in return ...."Conceding now could be less embarrassing for you Mr. Lansing ... less witnesses."
