Chapter 20 - The Trial Pt 2

Flashbacks are in italics

Previously on Love Behind Bars…

"Very well, counselor who is your next witness?" the Judge asks.

"I would like to call Spencer Carlin to the stand."

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My eyes immediately go to Paula's lawyer. This is what I have been dreading all day. One of the officers walk over and escort me to the podium. I glance around the room and notice that the room is dead silent and all eyes are on me. My feet become heavy with every step, but it's too late to go back. I step onto the podium and sit down. The bailiff comes to swear me in.

"Spencer Carlin. Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?" he ask.

"I do." I respond.

"Ms. Carlin you may sit down." the bailiff says and walks away.

Paula's lawyer slowly walks up to me making every step he takes look intimidating. A sly smile crosses his face as he looks at me.

"Ms. Carlin, how are you doing this lovely afternoon?" he ask.

I roll my eyes. How the fuck do you think I'm doing? "It's not one of my best days." I answer.

"I would think so, since you're on trial for murder."

I sigh shaking my head.

"Judge, badgering the witness." Patrick states not looking up from his notes.

"I agree. Will you get on with the questioning?" the judge ask

"Certainly. Ms. Carlin were you angry at your dad for marrying Paula McCall?" he ask

"Yes. She was never good enough for him."

"Bur your father loved her, shouldn't that be enough?"

"My father was blinded by that love. He could not see what I clearly saw the moment she stepped into our lives."

"And what was that?"

"She never loved him. All she wanted was my father's money." I sneered

"Please state what you think happened."

"Paula shot my father and framed it on me."

He walks to the table and takes a piece of paper from his briefcase. "The will clearly states that Michelle Carlin's inheritance will be passed down=2 0to her children. Clay Carlin and Glen Carlin will receive 25 percent while Spencer Carlin receives 50 percent." he says talking to the jury. "What would Paula need your father for if he can't touch it?" He ask turning toward me.

This question has me stomped. Clay never told me about the will he just said it was forged. I think back because all of this sounds familiar; not the question but the answer. Suddenly a memory I had long forgotten pulls me back in time. I was nine and I had just got done playing outside…

"Mom guess what? The boys down the street challenged me to a race and I won!" I say breathing hard. "Clay told me I beat them by a mile."

"That's great dear. I'm glad you won. Mommy needs some peace and quiet right now." Michelle says.

I take off my shoes and sit on the couch. My eyes glance around the house I grew up in and linger on the doorway that has my height measurements on there. Pretty soon the quiet starts getting to me.

"What are you working on?" I ask.

Mom smiles and beckons me over. She guides me over to her lap and I sit down. "Sweetie do you now how much mommy and daddy love you?" I nod. "Well we love you so much that we want you and your brothers to live securely in case something happens t o us."

I frown not understanding where she is going with this. She notices the change in my mood and gives me an Eskimo kiss. My mood brightens immediately.

"This piece of paper I'm writing represents what I want you and your brothers to have."

"What is it mommy?" I ask.

"All will be revealed in time muffin, but please remember that in order to get this gift you have to keep being the good girl that you already are." She says touching my nose

"Mom, what will happen to my gift if I'm not a good girl?"

She smiles loving how intuitive I am for my age. "If that happens the money will automatically be given to your father. He will give it back you once you're a good girl again."

"Where will you be? Why won't you get the money?"

"Sweetie, mommy is sick and I don't seem to be getting any better. The doctors say I only have a short time to live, but I'm gonna live every second of my life loving you and your brothers." She gives me a tight hug and I bury my face in her neck sniffing her sweet perfume.

"I love you mom."

"I love you too baby."

My dream world fades away and brings me back to the present. I smirk and look the lawyer in the eye. "There was also a clause in the will that you may or may not remember. It states that if I were to get into any trouble with the law my share of the inheritance goes to my dad, which makes her plan perfect. She kills two birds with one stone." I say smugly, very satisfied with my answer.

I look to Clay and see that he has a full blown grin on his face. I smile brightly when I happen to catch Paula's reaction. Her face shows no sign of emotion, but when our eyes meet I instantly see a twinkle in her eye.

I imagine us playing poker and I'm looking at four of a kind in my hand. I raise the stakes by putting more chips in and now I wait for her move.

"Ms. Carlin I have the will with me and no where on it does it state that the money would go to Mr. Carlin if you were ever in trouble with the law." he chuckles while handing the evidence to the judge.

My mood alters drastically. I know I did not make up that memory. The memory was so vivid it had to be real. I know this is exactly what happened. That's the forged will! That's what clay was talking! I start to protest when I'm interrupted by the judge.

"Ms. Carlin I've looked this will over several times and there is no such thing in here."

The jury gasp. Oh no. This i s all wrong.

"Ms. Carlin, you have quite the imagination, but if you don't watch yourself you'll be charged for perjury along with your murder count." he says chuckling. "I'm done with questioning your honor." he walks to his seat and sits down.

I glance at Paula and see that her twinkle has grown into half a smile.

I'm back at the poker game. Paula looks at her cards one more time. "I see your bet and raise you 100." she says raising one side of her face into a half smile. I sit there doubt seeping in all of my pores and try to think about my next move.

"Mr. Jacobs, would you like to cross-examine Ms. Carlin?" the judge ask

"Yes sir I would." he answers.

He quickly gets up and meets my eye. He winks at me and I squeal inwardly. The secret evidence that I have been waiting for this entire time is here. This is my ticket to end this stupid trial.

I flash back to the imaginary poker game and smile brightly laying down my four of a kind. "Beat that Paula!" Paula loses her half smile. Finally the game is going my way.

"Ms. Carlin please tell the jury what really happened the day your father was killed."

I recount the events that happened that day telling them how I came home from=2 0school to see him being held hostage, to Paula stooping down to my height to shoot him, to when she forced the gun in my hand. I tell every single detail to the jury to make them see I am telling the truth.

"Thank you Ms. Carlin. After that heartfelt explanation from a little girl," he says looking at the jury. "The only way to finally end this trial is to give you the evidence that will finally set this girl free. I have in my hand a tape that has Paula Carlin confessing to the whole murder." he says smiling.

I can already taste the freedom in my mouth. The bailiff goes in the back room and comes out with a black cassette player. Patrick puts the tape in and pushes play.

You hear someone stumble then Paula's voice.

"Spencer you scared me. I didn't hear you come in. What is that in your hand?"

"I'm sorry your honor this is not the tape I planned on using. If you would let me take..."

"Leave it!" The judge says sternly signaling the bailiff to turn the volume up.

"Paula I'm tired of all the things you've put this family through. I've decided to take it upon myself to stop you since nobody else will do it."

That voice. It sounds just like me. It can't be me because I don't remember this happening at all.Oh my God Glen has a voice changer. He used to play tricks on me all the time.

"Spencer please, you don't have to do this. I love your father and I only want what's best for you." Paula says a desperate shrill in her voice.

"This is the only way I can set us free from you Paula. Believe me, you won't be missed."

"Spencer please!!"

Bang!!

The tape stopped. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All of a sudden everyone started talking at once. I was hysterical to say the least and then I saw it. When no one was paying attention to Patrick and Paula, Patrick nodded at her and smiled. Paula started laughing and I could hear her evil cackle over the whole room. The judge tried to get everyone to settle down by banging his gavel, but that was it for me. I knew that after that kind of evidence the jury had already decided my fate, so there was only one thing I could do.

I quickly ran over to one of the officers, adrenaline pumping throughout my entire body, and grabbed the gun from his holster. I pointed it straight at Paula who was still laughing just as loud as ever. Just as I was about to pull the trigger I'm knocked to the ground hard. The gun has already been knocked out of my hand and now I'm struggling against three fully built officers. I know there's no use, but my voice will be heard.

"Paula's the one who killed my dad! She killed them not me!!" I scream as loud as I can. I see someone rush toward me, then I feel a slight prick in my arm. My world instantly drizzles away as I close my eyes.

I'm back at the poker game waiting for Paula's move when the biggest smile appears on her face as she lays down her cards. Why is she smiling? The only way she could have beaten me is if she had…

"A straight flush Spencer." Paula says calmly with a sadistic smile

My clothes instantly change into my jail attire and my arms and legs are chained. I look around shaking my head.

"I win again." she says cackling as I'm being dragged off into the darkness.