The night of the court date came. I rode with Portia to Shreveport for moral support while Pam and Eric went seperately. "Judge Allen Stone is an honest good man. We are lucky to have him," Portia said.
"So there is no media allowed in the courtroom for this," I asked.
"No, I'm happy for that. There will still be cameras to detect to see if the vampires behave themselves. There will even be vampire baliffs."
"The jury has had no exposure the media whatsoever?"
"Yes, they were pretty much locked up on a floor of a hotel. Of course they did get some luxeries aside from television and internet."
Portia and I made small pleasant talk while she drove. The steps of the courthouse had several camera crews and news reporters standing around in wait. "Don't worry, Sookie. We are taking the back way inside," Portia said. She parked in the back of the building where two vampires stood guard. Portia pulled out a laminated plastic badge and told them that I was her assistant. I don't think they believed her, but they let me pass anyway.
We were in some sort of dark dimly lit corridor. It felt like we were underground. It was some sort of annex that led to the main courthouse. In the lobby stood Eric and Pam with a group of other people. Eric wore a simple black suit and white shirt. His long blond hair was pulled back in a tight braid. It made his usual mane of hair look like a short haircut. Pam had on a floral skirt, white short sleeve blouse and pearls. Both looked very appropriately dressed. No one from the planiffs side was there.
Right when we were ready to enter the courtroom, the front doors opened to flashing bulbs and ranting reporters. The reporters couldn't enter the courthouse, but Amber Sue Smith could. There she stood wearing sunglasses, black skirt and matronly white blouse. They love me. This should be easy money. I read her mind. Amber Sue Smith is a grifter. She smiled for the cameras and gave the reporters what they wanted.
"Ms. Smith, we need to get inside," said the fat rat like looking lawyer. Amber Sue gave the reporters a final wave before ducking into the courthouse. The petite little woman walked next to her lawyer. The lawyer was very concided and confident. I found out that he had been working with Amber Sue on her grifts.
Albert Finkenbind is a shyster. I read his mind and saw pictures of the lawyer following ambulences and pulling over for traffic accidents. He wore cheap suits and lived the lawyer sterotype. I tapped Eric on the shoulder and motioned him to a quiet spot in the lobby. I told him everything I could pick up from Amber Sue and Albert. He patted my shoulder. "Good work, Sookie. I seriously doubt we can use any of this information against them," he said. He gave me a smile. He was right, it would be my word against theirs. Besides, this is not my battle.
Albert Finkenbind ogled me from a distance. I was conservatively dressed in a pair of black pants and silk shirt. He was checking out my assets. Eric noticed and let out a low growl. I grabbed his arm. "This is not the place to be all possessive. Last thing you need to do is cause a blood bath here. Just be calm," I whispered. Eric looked at me blankly.
"If he lays one hand on you Sookie..." he said.
"I can handle it myself. I'm a big girl," I said and he gave me a smirk.
"Time to go inside," Portia said from behind us. Eric and I both nodded. We followed Portia to the wood paneled room.
The judge came out. He had an otherness to him. His thoughts were red. Judge Allen Stone happened to be a shapeshifter. He was a small built man with black hair and a big nose. He reminded me of a hawk with an intense gaze. Steely blue eyes behind silver framed glasses. He motioned for the lawyers to take the stand. Judge Stone quietly discussed a few things to Portia and Finkenbind. Then he made an address to the courtroom.
"As long as you are in my courtroom, I reserve the right at anytime to charge you all for contempt if I have any outburst. I want this to be a fair and just trial. I have not allowed the media to enter because this is a courtroom and not a circus. I will give both sides a fair amount of time to present their sides. Let us get this trial started," said Judge Stone. Judge Stone had a strong voice for a man who appeared to be in his middle forties.
First he called Pam to the stand. Pam leisurely sat up on the podium. Instead of a bible, the vampire just made an oath. "You do understand that I require the truth from you, Ms. Ravenscroft," Judge Stone said and Pam nodded. "Good, just so you understand. Mr. Finkenbind, you may ask Ms. Ravenscroft your questions," Judge Stone said.
"Ms. Ravenscroft, did you intend to harm my client?"
"No sir, I was merely doing my job," Pam said in a calm voice.
"What may I ask are those job duties?"
"To maintain order within the walls of Fangtasia and to appease my master," she said. Albert Finkenbind gave her a strange look at that last comment. Judge Stone understood that Pam was Eric's vampire child. I could read that much from his snarly red thoughts.
"This master of yours? Are you referring to Mr. Eric Northman?"
"Yes sir," Pam said. She listened to Portia's advice. She behaved despite the human asking her questions. Pam stayed calm.
"You claim that my client was making advances at your master. Is that why you broke her arm?"
"She was making advances and my master didn't like it and so I intervened."
"Did Mr. Northman tell you this?"
"In a sense, yes."
"Did he say, Ms. Ravenscroft, get this woman away from me?"
Pam didn't know what to say. Judge Stone pounded the gable. "Irrelevent, Mr. Finkenbind. If you had done your homework on vampires, you will understand that Mr. Northman doesn't have to say a word to Ms. Ravenscroft. She knows what Mr. Northman is thinking because she is Mr. Northman's sire. I will not accept that last question. Ms. Ravenscroft, you may go back to your seat now. I'd like Mr. Northman to take the stand," Judge Stone said.
They did much of the same when Eric took the stand. There was no oath over the bible. It wouldn't be appropirate for a Viking to swear upon the bible anyway.
"Mr. Northman, was Ms. Smith bothering you," Albert Finkenbind asked.
"Yes, very much so."
"Did you ask her to leave?"
"Yes and she refused. Ms. Ravenscroft intervened on my behalf."
"Did you tell her to harm Ms. Smith?"
"There are certain risk one takes when entering my establishment. I have a list of rules posted throughout the bar."
"Answer the question, Mr. Northman," Judge Stone said. Judge Stone didn't seem to like Albert Finkenbind much. I read it right out of his thoughts.
"No, I did not," Eric simply said.
"Very good. You may step down, Mr. Northman," Judge Stone said.
Next it was Amber Sue Smith's turn to take the podium and Portia's turn to question her.
"Now Ms. Smith, is it true that Ms. Ravenscroft told you three times to leave Mr. Northman alone?"
"The music was so loud, I couldn't hear her," said Amber Sue.
"Is it true that Mr. Northman had to remove your hand from his person?"
"Yes. I thought he wanted to play rough."
"Ms. Smith, when a person doesn't want you to touch them, you should leave them alone," Judge Stone said.
"He's just so beautiful! I couldn't help myself," she sobbed.
"Beautiful or not. Don't you think you should have left Mr. Northman be," Portia asked.
"Why should I! He isn't even a living person! None of them are! They're evil and mean! They hypnotis people! They hypnotised me! I was a fool! The Lord Jesus shall save me!"
"Enough Ms. Smith! I'm going to charge you with contempt if you don't get ahold of yourself," Judge Stone said.
"So what Ms. Smith is saying, Mr. Northman and Ms. Ravenscroft do not have the same rights as a living and breathing person does. Please let the court note that vampires have the same rights under law," Portia said, addressing the jury who happened to be a happy mixture of humans and vampires. The jury whispered among themselves.
"Duly noted, Ms. Bellefluer," Judge Stone said.
Judge Stone called a recess and the jury diliberated. Eric, Pam and I sat in the lobby while Portia got called to the judges chamber. Pam worried that she would be in trouble for revealing one of the vampires secrets. Eric assured her that it would be okay. Amber Sue kept giving us the stink eye. She had brought a few Fellowship members along to give her support. They looked like your clean cut typical church goers. Two men and an older woman.
We all waited...