"Are you sure you want to do this? You aren't obligated to do anything for them, you know that right?" Addison waited for Spencer's response.
"I am sure."
Addison opened the door to the courtroom. Spencer was called to the stand by Roman, Seth and Dean's attorney.
Spencer spotted her parents. They wanted her to send her teachers away. Spencer knew things would be different from this point on.
"Miss Jackson," the lawyer began "Was the intercourse between you and the three parties consensual?"
Spencer nodded, "Yes, it was."
"And you have no qualms about your actions?"
Spencer glanced at Dean. It was always nice to see him in a suit. "No qualms, sir."
The lawyer working for her parents approached the stand next. She had red hair and intense brown eyes. "Spencer, how many hours did your parents work on average a week? From preadolescence up to now?"
The judge asked, "How is that relevant to this case, Miss Gates?"
She stated, "I'm getting to that." Miss Gates looked back at Spencer.
"Usually about fourty hours. Sometimes more."
"Spencer, when you resided with your family, your parents paid for certain activities for you to participate in, correct?"
"Yes. Singing, ballet and piano."
"How many hours a week did you do that?"
"Maybe about twelve."
"Please elaborate."
"I did singing after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours. I did ballet Monday and Wednesday for two hours. Piano was Friday and Sunday for two hours."
"Did you see your parents in the early morning or evening?"
"No, not really."
Miss Gates turned to the judge. "Your Honor, Spencer never got much attention from her parents. When those three men took advantage of her, she didn't care. It was a form of affection, at least."
Spencer immediately looked to Dean, Seth and Roman. They were asking their lawyers questions.
"Well, they countered with a strong argument. They are convincing the judge that Spencer hasn't received affection and you took advantage of a neglected teen."
Seth sighed, "You can fix this, right Zayn?"
Sami Zayn replied, "There is a slim chance that the jury an judge will look in your favor. If you are lucky... Other than that, I am afraid we have lost."
Later...
"Did he say.." Dean mumbled.
"He did. But how?" Seth replied.
The judge dismissed the case due to lost evidence. They couldn't find the texts or pictures or call log documents. By law, they can't receive new evidence.
Sami stated, "It doesn't matter how they lost the evidence. What matters is you aren't going to jail."
Addison and Spencer were walking to his car to go eat lunch when her mother approached.
"You little bitch! You didn't go to the stand and say anything I told you to!" Her mom continued shouting until Derrick found her.
"C'mon Claire.. I am sorry about her.." Derrick apologized to Addison and Spencer.
Spencer had been mostly silent during the drive to the restaurant. She only spoke when the waiter asked what they were ordering.
"Spencer, cheer up." Addison begged. "You've been so quiet and I can't stand it."
"I thought I was doing the right thing by helping them.. But now my mother is upset.." Spencer laughed humorlessly. "When isn't she upset?"
Addison stood up. "I have to go to the restroom. Be right back."
Spencer sipped her cup of water and pulled out her phone. She texted Dean, Seth and Roman the same message.
You're welcome ;)
Addison's phone went off and Spencer read the message he was sent.
Need u in San diego at 8. Mary from Tijuana coming over.
Spencer read the message and was confused. Who was Mary? A relative? "Addison doesn't look hispanic..." Spencer thought.
Addison came out of the bathroom. "I'm back."
"You got a text." Spencer passed him the phone. He read the message.
"Spencer, I can explain.."
"Please do."
Addison leaned in and whispered, "I only became an officer to disguise what I really do."
"That is?"
"I help transport 'Mary' from Mexico to the US."
"Who is Mary?"
Addison stood and tossed some money on the table. "I've told you enough. You'd better be quiet and keep what I did say a secret."
Candace and Ted decided to spend their weekend by looking for their own place.
"You know the only reason my parents let me come back home is because they assumed you were pregnant? I guess I said something that confused them.. Well, it is not a lie now." Ted explained.
Candace laughed, "Wow." She passed Ted her phone. "Look at this place. We could move here.."
Four bedroom condo. Renovated kitchen and bathroom. Rent is $1. Open House
He sighed, "Candace, you know nothing about the real world. It isn't a dollar, it is a thousand dollars."
"Why put one dollar then?"
"As a joke, I guess." Ted grabbed his car keys. "Lets go look at this place.."
Spencer knocked on the door timidly. She was standing in a dim lit alley trying to gain entrance to an underground rave.
Spencer sighed with relief when someone finally opened the door. "Who are you?"
The older girl had a black tank top, a sleeve of tattoos on her right arm, a nose piercing, and blood red hair.
Spencer muttered, "I'm Armani's friend. I came to speak with him."
The girl snorted as she got a full look at Spencer. "Come in, princess."
Spencer frowned at the nickname but entered regardless. The tattoed girl led her through the crowd of various people and flashing lights and loud music to a room near the back. Armani was sitting at a table with two guys playing a card game.
"Spencer? Finally decided to experience a real party?" Armani smirked. He had dirty blonde hair that covered one of his big brown eyes. "Lindsay, do you mind shutting the door?"
The tattoed girl, Lindsay, shut the door and it was silent again due to the sound proof walls.
Armani motioned for Spencer to sit. Spencer fumbled with her hair. "I am done partying and drinking. I came to see if you could help me."
"With what?"
"I know someone, and I think they're doing something..illegal. He won't say exactly what though." She remembered Addison's exact words. "He said that he transported mary from Mexico to here. Who or what is mary?"
Armani, Lindsay and the two guys playing cards giggled. "Spencer, mary is short for marijuana. Ya know, like the drug people smoke. Do you know what drugs are?"
Spencer rolled her eyes. "That's what I thought but I needed to be sure. How have you been anyway?"
He shrugged. "My club is getting more and more popular. Police haven't busted us yet so... I guess everything is all good." Armani was known for being only twenty years old and running an underground rave. By day, a college student; by night, a party animal.
"Your associates ever get caught for killing that girl?"
"We are all close friends now, the few still alive. The police haven't found out anything yet."
Armani sighed. He thought of Spencer as a younger sister. Armani felt Spencer was better than the streets, she just lost her way. "I was hoping you would say that you don't talk with them anymore and is aiming for something greater than a life of crime and drugs and a whole bunch of other bs."
"Spencer, get away from this. Your life is full of drama. T-"
"You run a club that offers illegal drugs! I know there must be some drama with selling drugs."
"I want to be a club owner. I am gaining valuable experience. This isn't about me though, it is about you. You could do so much more-"
"I know that, I know. I plan on getting away from here, one way or another."
Candace huffed. Ted went upstairs to see the condo while she was at the restroom. She got on the elevator and went upstairs.
Emily came out her apartment just as Candace exited the elevator. She smirked and proceeded forward. Candace just held her still-flat stomach protectively.
Emily cocked an eyebrow. "Scared? Candace, so bold and tough, scared of me?"
Emily leaned forward. "Don't worry. I have other things to do for now. When I'm done, you and your friends will be dead."
Emily pressed for the elevator and Candace walked away as fast as possible.
