A/N: THANK YOU for the reviews and support. You all deserve this update. Finally it's here...
Also sorry for mistakes, long day.
Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Twenty-Five
Erin POV
"Erin, what are you doing here?" Jen frowns at me, before stepping aside to let me in her apartment.
"I fucked things up."
"With what? The case?" She stands in front of me awkwardly, before moving to close the door, assessing this isn't a quick drop by.
"No, Jay. I think I just lost him." She softens her expression.
"Did he find out what you're planning?"
"No." I whisper feeling the sobs build up in my chest.
"Then what?"
"He found out I called his army buddies before he said it was okay to include them."
"You're kidding." She deadpans, never really knowing how to handle people without some grey in their life.
"No, he said I betrayed him."
"Jesus Chris, this guy. What's his problem?" Her face shows regret the instant I start sobbing.
"I'm sorry, come here." She pulls me into her embrace, awkwardly comforting me.
"Fuck I hate crying. I don't handle emotional well Erin." I can't help but chuckle and pull away.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. Drink?" She asks heading to the scotch.
"Please." I collapse on the sofa as she pours generous amounts and comes over.
"This is the only comfort I know. Well, this and violence." I crack a smile at her joke.
"I told him if he can't handle me putting myself as his lawyer first then we'd have to break up."
"You did the right thing. Your relationship can be fixed later, but you only have one chance at the trial."
"I know, but it still hurts."
"If it's any consolation, if he can't handle this – he was going to lose it in a few days when he realizes exactly what you have been working on."
"Fuck, I know." I gulp down more scotch, taking reprieve in the burn.
"I really don't understand how someone can be so glued to their morals, even when it's their life on the line." I scoff, before nodding.
"That's Jay for you."
"I'm sorry Erin… want me to kick him in the nuts?"
"No, I think he's been through enough." We both try to keep the smirks off our faces, before we can't anymore and collapse into giggles.
"Want to stay here the night?"
"Please."
"Erin?" My eyes close at the pain in Jay's voice as I enter my apartment.
"I've been worried about you." He pulls me into his embrace.
"Where have you been?" He continues still not allowing me to talk.
"I texted you. I said I was fine and had to focus on the next witness I'm calling."
"Erin, where were you?"
"At Jen's, I thought we could use some space." I shrug out of his embrace moving through the apartment.
"For two days?"
"Jay, I have to shower and get ready for court. As do you. We can talk tonight, okay?" There's no room for negotiation in my voice.
"Erin…"
"Please Jay."
"Okay. But promise me we'll talk tonight, because we have a lot to discuss."
"I know." I whisper painfully.
"Don't be all doom and gloom babe, I'm going to apologise."
"We'll see." He frowns at me in confusion.
"Promise me something." I quickly cut in before he can ask another question.
"Anything." He nods, stepping closer.
"Today is going to be tough, no matter your thoughts or feelings. Don't lash out. Sit in your chair as if your life depends on it. Because it does."
"Okay." He finally nods.
"How was it seeing Jay this morning?"
"Like a punch to the stomach." I reply turning back to look at Jen.
"Are you sure you didn't want to go home and have spent the last couple days happy?"
"No, because I couldn't handle making up to just have him push me away today."
"You don't know he will." I glare at her and she raises her hands nodding her head.
"Yeah, I didn't believe the words coming from my mouth either."
"I may need to just move in with you." She frowns at me, and I smirk.
"Aren't you worried he's going to look betrayed in front of the jury?" Jen asks quietly, taking advantage of Jay not yet seated.
"No, I'll know his betrayal is directed at me. But the jury? They'll just think he looks appropriately betrayed by the person on the stand."
"You ready for this."
"Not really."
"You'll do great. Remember what's at stake."
"Gee, thanks. That helps." She smirks at me.
"Just pretend this is like any other case, where you're about to put the screws to some fucker on the stand and take satisfaction in watching him worm, and feed the jury feel that doubt you need."
"You speak my language."
"I know." She gives me shoulder a squeeze before nodding at Jay as he passes to take his seat.
"Mr Halstead, can you please tell the court your relation to the defendant?" From my power suit and stance to my tone of voice, everything about me shows strength as I stand in front of Will.
"I'm his brother."
"Why are you here today?"
"You subpoenaed me." The distaste is obvious, I move past it without hesitation.
"Did you know Allie Johnson well?"
"I guess."
"You guess?" I tilt my head, brows furrowed in mock disbelief.
"Yeah, I did."
"Did you see her the night she was murdered?"
"Yes, at the party."
"What was the last thing you spoke about?" He clears his throat before answering the question.
"She was upset, about the future that much was obvious, but she didn't get into specifics."
"To your knowledge, was there anyone else with a motive to kill Miss Johnson?"
"No." I raise my eyebrow and hold his stare, feeling his gaze waver under mine.
"Isn't it true that you had a motive?"
"No." he scoffs at me.
"No?"
"Your honor, asked and answered."
"Miss Lindsay." The judge shoots me a warning shot.
"Getting to it your honor." I open the folder in my hands, placing sheets in front of Will, watching long enough for the colour to drain from his face before fiving a copy to the judge, and finally prosecution.
"Can you tell the court what it is I just gave you?" I can almost feel the jury sitting up straighter, curiosity getting the better of them.
"How did you get these?"
"I'm asking the questions Mr Halstead. What did I give you?" I make sure not to obstruct Jay's view of Will.
"Copies of my text messages."
"Dates?" I ask prying for more information."
"The months leading up to her death."
"Who are you texting?" There's silence.
"Your honor."
"Mr Halstead, answer the question."
"You can plead the fifth, I'll happily share them with the jury. This one is my favourite." I lean over and point one out.
"Allie." He's quiet, eyes downcast.
"I'll ask again, isn't it true you had a motive?"
"No, I didn't do it."
"But you were sleeping with her." My accusation cuts through the courtroom, causing a gasp followed by charged silence.
"It's not like that."
"It's not like that? 'Baby I missed you tonight, I hate when I don't get to fall asleep with you in my arms.' 'Al, close one tonight we should slow things down.' 'Will, grab some condoms and meet me at mine after school, I told Jay I'm not feeling well.' Shall I continue?" I wave the documents in his face.
"No." He whispers.
"Were you sleeping with Allie Johnson?"
"Yes." The jury gasps at his confession, even after hearing the text messages.
"Doesn't it then stand to reason, you had motive to kill her that night?"
"No."
"She was upset about the future, about the fact she was pregnant. Was the baby yours? Remember lying on the stand is perjury." The tone of my voice is gaining strength and momentum, not pausing to consider anything but the witness in front of me.
"I don't know."
"Did your brother know you were sleeping with his girlfriend?"
"No."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because he would have made it known. He hasn't said a word in all these years. Even at her funeral, he didn't notice I was mourning her death too." I pause for a moment, allowing that to sink in before moving to the killing shot.
"What can you tell me about the Y chromosome in relation to DNA matches between men in a family tree?" Will's eyes are disbelieving as he looks back at me.
"You're kidding me."
"Not at all, if you won't I can have an expert testify, but I assume you learnt this at medical school." I send him a small but fake innocent smile.
"The Y chromosome DNA passes from father to son virtually unchanged, it can be traced back ten or more generations in some cases – unless there is a mutation."
"So in theory you and Jay could have almost identical DNA?" He chances a look at the jury before looking back at me.
"It's possible. As would our father."
"If Jay Hallstead's DNA was on a murder weapon, and he gave a sample to test against – wouldn't you expect a 100% match?" I wait for an objection to the leading question which doesn't happen.
"Not necessarily."
"It's fine, I'll have an expert in forensics to testify that generally it comes back at 98.9% or higher."
"Objection. Counsel testifying."
"Withdrawn." I attest, knowing the knowledge now sits with the jury.
"Isn't it true that a 96% match could indicate it's a male in the same family?"
"That's a possibility. But I'm not an expert in DNA."
"Isn't it true that your DNA could come back as a 96% match to your brother?"
"I-" He stutters before looking behind me, to catch Jay's gaze I assume.
"Is it possible you share the same DNA strand as your brother? Yes or no." My voice is forceful, stepping in the line of sight to Jay.
"Yes."
"Did you leave the party the night Miss Johnson was murdered?" With the jury equipped with the knowledge of the DNA it's time to shed doubt on the Will's whereabouts and his motive.
"I don't remember."
"You don't remember your actions the night she was murdered, but you remember a conversation you had with her?" The exaggerated disbelief in my voice is obvious.
"Yes."
"You remember your brothers movements at the party that night?"
"Mostly."
"But not your own?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I was drunk."
"Too drunk to remember what you did, but not what your brother supposedly did?"
"Objec-"
"Withdrawn." I move right along to the next question.
"Is it possible you followed Allie to the park? Saw her break up with Jay, and thought this was your chance?"
"No." His anger is obvious, his glare full of fire. It's hard not to celebrate at the image of Will the jury is seeing.
"It wasn't your chance to convince her to get rid of the baby?"
"No."
"Flip those pages over. Tell the court what it is." The sound of pages being turned is heard throughout the court.
"An appointment for Allie at the clinic."
"For what?"
"An abortion." I pause again, allowing that information to sit.
"She never showed, so you tried again that night – but she wouldn't budge. You saw your fancy medical degree vanish before your eyes? She was ruining your life." I move closer, standing right in front of Will, daring him to break further.
"No."
"Would you be willing to provide a sample of your DNA to match against the murder weapon?"
"Your honor. Please." The prosecution calls behind me.
"Do you have an objection or argument? Or just a whine for the judge to save your case?" I turn and ask the prosecution with a smirk.
"Your honor, Miss Lindsay doesn't hold the right to force DNA."
"I wasn't forcing DNA. I was asking a question which is my prerogative. He could agree and I'd send it to an independent lab – unless of course your lab would like that honor. Or he could say no, allowing the jury to ascertain what they may from that."
"Mr Halstead you may answer the questions."
"Uh. No." I turn to watch the jury shake their head, brows raised as they regard Will.
"No further questions." I feel smug at the torn apart look on Will's face, and turn to see the prosecution taken down a peg.
All that vanishes the moment I look into Jay's eyes, the betrayal and hurt are obvious.
The jury may think he's reacting appropriately given the information that has been told, learning of the deceit – but I know part of it is directed at me.
It's a long day in court that follows, my forensics and DNA expert up directly after Will. Not even the prosecutions cross could undo the damage his testimony did to their case.
Jay's been radiating anger all day, when there's finally a recess for lunch he pushes up from his seat fast.
"Jay."
"Don't talk to me right now Erin. Just don't." I nod, letting him storm from the court room.
I don't know how much time passes before I get up and find something to eat.
"Here." I look up to see Jen hand me a sandwich motioning to the seat beside her on the courthouse stairs.
"Thanks."
"And coffee." She slides one over.
"He's never going to forgive me for this." I stare down at my sandwich, knowing my secret is finally in the open, and not having the energy to regret my actions.
"Yes he will." I scoff at her.
"One day he will realize that this was the ultimate declaration of your love."
"Oh yeah, how do you figure?" I look over to Jen, begging her to comfort me.
"You were willing to fight for him and believe in him, when no one else thought he was worth it. More than all that, you were willing to sacrifice your relationship with the man you love, in order to save his life and his freedom."
"Maybe."
"No, not Maybe. He's one lucky son of a bitch to have you glance his way. When he realizes all you did, why you did it, he's going to grovel at your god damn feet for you to take him back."
"I hope so." She squeezes my hand.
"You did the right thing, and one day… he'll realize it."
Jen POV
"Do you know Erin?" I turn to see a group of muscled men ask, I raise my eyebrow.
"That depends."
"On?" The smallest, most awkward of them asks.
"What you want with her?" I shrug, holding his gaze.
"We're friends of Jays."
"Ah. Military, makes sense."
"How so?" One with dark hair asks.
"Well… you know. The muscles." I gesture at me, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh. Yes. We were hoping you knew where to find him."
"He's off being an ungrateful idiot." They all raise their brows in surprise.
"That was a tough day in court for him." The guy with light hair defends him.
"Sure. But my loyalties to Erin, and he's been a jerk to her so I have rage coloured glasses on, and until he realizes his mistake I'm team Erin."
"Do you mean rose coloured?"
"No." I deadpan.
"You're just as scary as Erin, has anyone ever told you that?" I smirk at the one who defended Jay.
"She was terrifying in there. But amazing."
"Seeing her in action might have been the hottest thing I've ever seen." I raise my brow at the boy talk.
"Did you want something? Besides objectifying Erin." The small one smirks at me.
"Sorry about them. I'm Mouse, and this is Miles, Marcus and that's Jake."
"It's fine. I'm Jen." I shrug.
"So, Jay still being an idiot that Erin called us?" He asks.
"He was, now he's angry she cracked his brother on the stand."
"But that gives the jury doubt right?"
"Yes. Correct."
"I thought Will and Jay didn't get along?" Miles asks.
"He's your friend, why are you asking me?"
"You seem to know more than us." Jake shrugs.
"That's not untrue." I wait for that comment to hit them, and not fly over their heads before I smirk. Mouse is the first to laugh.
"So uh, what do you do?"
"I'm a private investigator. Erin's firm uses me for their cases."
"Cool." The others look between Mouse and I not so subtly before excusing themselves to go find Jay.
"Aren't you going to go with them?" I raise an eyebrow at him.
"Nah. Doesn't matter if it's three or four of us, Jay's stubborn."
"I've noticed."
"Yeah, he grows on you." He jokes before motioning down the court house hallway, gesturing for us to continue our walk back to the court room.
"We'll see."
"So, were you the one who got all that information Erin used?"
"Some of it. Not all of it."
"How did she?"
"That's not my secret to tell. She has other sources."
"Uh huh. Right. You're worried I'll run and report back to Jay."
"Basically."
"Fair."
A/N; Don't hate me! Jay and Erin fallout next chapter. As well as finding out Erin's mysterious source ;)
So, this is her secret. Finally out, we're certainly at the part of the story where shit gets real.
Please review - and I'll get an update before the week finishes for you - maybe even 2...
you know what to do
stay safe :)