Chapter Twenty-Five
The ordeal with Lionel Dell frightened Sara so much that she was uneasy about being alone.
"Sara, he is in jail, you have nothing to worry about."
"I know I'm just a little traumatized."
"Are you able to get Baby Gil into that babysitting service?"
"I have an appointment to see the head caregiver later today. Why the rush?" Gil seemed anxious to her.
"Ecklie needs us on Grave"
"Gil…"
'Sara you will be in the lab helping the techs"
"Why does he need us?"
Gil sighed. "Wendy and Hodges are taking a six month leave of absence. Greg offered to stay inside and cover but then we'd be short in the field…"
Sara nodded. "Call on you to fill in and me to cover inside while Greg switches back and forth from lab to field. "she shook her head with a smile.
"I'll do it" she said after a moment.
"Great, I'll call Ecklie and tell him. Meanwhile we have Lionel Dell's prelim later today.
"His lawyer is going to plead insanity." Sara muttered.
Grissom and Sara, later that day went to Lionel's prelim and Sara took the stand.
"How did you feel when he broke in and came after you?"
"Terrified. I knew what he did to Wendy and I knew that I was his actual target. I wanted to protect my baby and myself."
"She threw a frigging shoe at me. She assaulted me." Lionel piped up.
"Keep your client quiet." The judge said.
"To address that - my life was in danger. I found the only thing I could to defend myself." Sara replied.
"My client lost a lot of blood" Dell lawyer muttered.
"Quiet counselor or I will find you in contempt."
The prelim continued and then they had a break before Wendy and David testified.
But in the hall Lionel approached Sara who was emerging from the ladies room.
"Stay away Lionel." She said.
"Or what? You gonna hit me with your shoe?" he taunted.
"Leave me alone Lionel" Sara warned.
"I'm going to be walking the streets soon, then watch out." He threatened.
Sara walked back into the ladies room and locked the door behind her.
All this time, she wondered why Lionel wasn't in cuffs nor by his lawyer's side.
She dialed Grissom.
"Sara where are you?"
"Ladies room, Lionel threatened me!"
"He's sitting in the room beside his lawyer now" he told her.
Sara hung up and went back to the courtroom visibly shaken. Lionel snickered.
"Ok. For the 2nd half we will bring in the victim of the assault. Wendy Simms." The judge said.
David wheeled her into the room and they were both sworn in. The prosecution asked questions first then the defense had her turn.
"Miss Simms are you in any way attracted to my client?"
Wendy looked at her. "How is that relevant?"
"Answer the question." the lawyer demanded
"No I am not. I have a boyfriend."
"Ok. Were you or were you not wearing this outfit on the night in question." The lawyer asked showing pictures of lacy clothes.
"Yes but…" she began.
"So you admit wearing this. So when my client approached you wearing this outfit, well he's a man, you were asking to get hit on in that outfit were you not?"
"NO! I was not and that is not what happened!" she said angrily.
"She's got a fiery temper – becha she's a fireball in the sack eh David" Lionel said with a sneer.
David knew what they were doing – trying to upset them so David would retaliate and hit him.
"Calm down, Miss Simms. Please state the facts." The judge said.
"Those clothes are my under garments. I was wearing this on the night in question." She said and produced photos of her in 'action' in her lab with the photo date stamp on it. I was walking to my car and he assaulted me because he thought I was Sara sidle."
"Prove I did it" he sneered trying to somehow trip Wendy up.
Wordlessly Wendy's lawyer handed the judge the DNA results plus all the photos of her injuries.
This is appalling." The judge said. "This matter is going to be held over for trial."
'What" Lionel demanded.
"Bail denied!" the judge added.
"Come on judge you can't do that" the defense lawyer said.
"I can and I did! Take him away!"
The judge told them the trial would be in two weeks and all would have to be present including Gil and Sara.