Chapter fourteen
Eventually the Judge asks me to hand up the email and slowly reads it out to the rest of the court. I wish he wouldn't. This whole thing is sordid enough and I know Richard will be embarrassed by this whole scandal, despite the fact he's done nothing wrong.
The reactions seem to be mixed, some appalled, some seem to find it romantic, even if it is in a twisted way. A lot of them are glaring at Julie who refuses to make eye-contact with anyone; she might be crying, but it's hard to tell.
"Mr. Wright," the Judge begins, "It's understandable you'd draw those conclusions from reading this, but never does it plainly state about their affair."
I nod, reasonably, "True, but I think a glance at the witness will speak for itself. Give her a chance to deny it."
Julie's crying and doesn't seem to want to look at anyone. She says nothing.
"Is this true, Mrs. Savage?"
A single nod is given and whispering ensues.
"As scandalous as what you've just revealed is, Mr. Wright," Payne sneers, "I must point out that this gives yet another motive to the defendant. It seems rather obvious why this crime was committed, don't you think?"
How very predictable . . . "I can see how, in your eyes this creates a perfect, if not stronger motive for Mr. Savage to murder Mr. Sav- for Richard to murder Roger; however, I think it's also important to point out that this also gives motive to Richard's wife-"
"Objection! Hardly grounds to kill-"
"By that logic, neither is the affair-"
"She might have wanted everyone to know! For all we know this saved her the job of telling her husband she loved his brother instead-"
"I didn't love Roger instead-" a small voice pipes up, but I ignore it.
"Does she look like she wanted everyone to know!" She looks positively mortified; as though she'd be perfectly happy is the ground opened up and swallowed her. Quite suddenly she speaks very quietly.
"Mrs. Savage is unlikely to have been the one who murdered Roger if she loved him instead of her husband-" Payne says, clutching at straws somewhat.
"I didn't love Roger instead." She says it much louder this time.
Payne pauses and look at her, "What was that Mrs. Savage?" his voice is careful and he's clearly intrigued.
She coughs slightly and speaks again, slightly louder, "I said, I didn't love Roger instead. I loved them both so much and-and now R-Roger's d-dead and R-Richard's going to jail and it's a-all m-my fauuuuuult." Apparently this is the final nail in her emotional coffin and she breaks down into large, loud sobs and I'm quite certain no one's quite sure how to react. If the collective courtroom feels anything like me they want to comfort her, but are also aware that she's right; she has done a terrible thing.
I can't stop; I have to finish this.
"You're right Mrs. Savage," she instantly stops crying and looks at me, tears swimming in her eyes and she looks tragically intrigued by what I might have to say, "Richard is going to jail because of you . . . but you can fix this, Julie."
She opens her mouth slowly and I wait with baited breath before-
"Objection!" Payne yells, "I can see exactly where you're going with this, Wright." he spits, "What you're insinuating is absurd; as if poor Mrs. Savage, who, by the way, is an innocent witness who came up all the way down here to testify-"
"But that's just it, Payne. She came down here to testify against her own husband, who, let's face it, was already quite certain to be going to jail as it was. Don't you find that a bit . . . odd?"
He looks utterly confused and also rather irritated, "How is it odd; we're talking about a woman who-"
"Careful there; it's not your place to judge . . . in fact, really, it's not anyone's place to-"
"It's mine!" The Judge pipes up.
I fight back a sigh, "Well, yeah, I guess it is yours. What I'm trying to say, is . . . " and then I have an epiphany, "I think Mrs. Savage came down her to testify, not against Richard, but against herself . . . you wanted to get caught, didn't you?"
She swallows and widens her eyes, "D-don't be ridiculous!", but she sounds unconvinced.
"You're not a horrible person Julie and I know you don't want Richard to go to jail for a crime he never committed, especially when he only found out about you affair little more than two days ago. I'd say that'd be pretty rough on him."
"I didn't. You're being foolish, it wasn't me!" She shouts, looking quite unhinged now.
I know I'm right; even if she doesn't realise it herself, she isn't going to let Richard go to jail for this. However, apparently it's going to take a little more coaxing to get her to confess.
"If it was me then why are his prints all over the weapon?" She yells, frantically.
I present the knife, "Because it was his knife, so it's only natural his prints would be all over it. Also. Richard informed me that he found the discarded knife outside of the scene of the crime and picked it up, explaining the prints."
"M-my prints aren't on it, though."
Apparently it's now Julie's own job to defend herself as Payne seems to be a drawing blanks.
I shrug, "Well, that would be because they're not on it and why would they be? You're wearing gloves. You have been since the say I met you . . . and finally the real truth behind the black costume."
"I'm afraid I don't follow you Mr. Wright." the Judge says, shooting me a quizzing look.
"Mrs. Savage is dressed as though she's in mourning, much the way a widow would be. However, she told us when we questioned her that it was because she's a fashion designer and "blacks very in at the moment". The actual reason is that she wore the gloves when she stabbed Richard and by carrying on wearing them she didn't have to worrying about destroying them-"
"That's all very convenient, Mr. Wright, but you have no actual proof." Payne says, snapping back into action.
I shake my head and look over at Julie, who's shaking slightly and staring at the floor as huge crocodile tears fall onto the tiles. "Do I need evidence? Look at her; she's terrified. I'm amazed she was even allowed to testify. So much has happened to her in the last few days; a man she loves dearly found out she'd been seeing his brother for 20 years and-"
"I can't take it-" her face is scrunched up, her speech is barely audible, through all the crying, "I don't want to lie a-any more. I-I've lied too much, everyday for so long and I-I don't want to do it any more." and then she's silent for a moment and she stares up at the Judge. "I killed Roger."
"I-I didn't mean to; it was an accident. I-I- h-he-" and she trails off into a loud wail.
"I can give you details about what took place as she confessed everything to her husband yesterday. I don't think she's in a very good state to testify at the moment."
"Ah, right, of course." The judge answers, looking a little troubled. It's hardly shocking; this is one messed up case.
Maya takes my hand and smiles weakly at me, "You did it." she whispers, as I shiver slightly, but hide it well and turn my attention back to the court.
"Well, obviously Mrs. Savage will have to testify at some point, but until then . . . I suppose I can pass a verdict . . . The defendant Richard Savage, is not guilty of the charges and may be set free." There's a certain sadness in his face as he pounds the gavel. Can't say I blame him. The only comfort I can find is that an innocent man has escapes jail.
I barely feel no true satisfaction in watching them take Julie away at all.