A/N: Thanks again for the reviews!
I wasn't going to update this long weekend but caved at the last minute hahah I should be in bed. So this chapter could be longer and better hahah
Also I checked my outline again and it is probably going to be more than 10 chapters. But we are certainly not far off the end.
Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Twenty-Eight
Erin POV
"Has Jay thawed any?"
"No." I push my glasses onto the top of my head as I turn to look at Jen.
"I'm sorry." I shrug, eyes moving to focus on Jay speaking with mouse.
"We aren't fighting anymore."
"That's good."
"Because he's not speaking to me."
"Oh. Well, Mouse isn't having much luck talking sense into him either." I turn to raise my eyebrow at her, a small smirk on my lips.
"What?" Her tone is blunt which isn't unusual.
"Nothing."
"Uh huh."
"You and Mouse huh?" She rolls her eyes at me.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She crosses her arms across her chest.
"Thanks for being here Rebecca." I smile at the witness who is shifting anxiously on the stand.
"It's okay."
"Can you please tell the court what your relationship with Allie Johnson was?"
"She was my best friend." Her voice wavers.
"I don't want to have you up here longer than needed, I'll jump right in. Were you aware Allie was having an affair?" My tone is gentle, body angled between her and the jury.
"Yes."
"Did you know with who?"
"Yes, Will Halstead."
"Did you tell the detective on the case she was having an affair?"
"Yes, I thought they should know." I watch the jury frown at that information.
"Did they follow up?"
"No."
"Did she ever express concern to you about her safety?"
"Yes." Her whispered answer follows a brief hesitation.
"Did she tell you who?" Her head is shaking before she replies.
"No, I could only guess who."
"Did she ever tell you why?"
"Yes, she was scared to tell him she was pregnant."
"So you were you aware she was pregnant?"
"Yes."
"You mentioned she was scared of his reaction, to your knowledge was the father Jay Halstead?"
"No, not Jay. She actually told me she wished it were his, because he would do the right thing. I…" She trails off looking down in shame.
"Go on."
"I told her maybe she should just lie, and tell Jay it was his. If she was that worried." She shrugs before shooting Jay what appears to me an apologetic look.
"What was her relationship with Jay like?"
"On and off. They fought, only ever verbal. She kept lashing out, in guilt because she was cheating, and I think… deep down he sensed she was pulling away."
"As far as you know, was Jay aware she cheated? Or about the pregnancy?"
"No, if he knew. It would have come out before now."
"How did Allie know it wasn't Jay's?"
"They were on a break when she fell pregnant, she knew it wasn't his."
"What did the detective tell you when you told him all this?"
"That Jay must have found out." Her tone displays her disbelief.
"Interesting he never perused that line of questioning, almost like he was just admitting facts that didn't fit his narrative."
"Objection." I smile happy the prosecutor is slow on the uptake today.
"Apologies, withdrawn."
"Did you ever try and tell Jay?"
"Yes, but he was so clueless to it. I didn't see the point in hurting him. She didn't deserve to die, I begged her to end things with Jay… or stop cheating. He's always been such a good guy, it wasn't fair. But she didn't… she still didn't deserve what happened to her. He really loved her." She seems a little unfocused, her longer answers all over the place.
"The prosecution are going to question you, make out Jay found out and killed her because of it."
"I'm telling you, he had no idea."
"How can you be sure?"
"I overheard their fight that night, it wasn't about any affair. In fact she chickened out telling him she was pregnant. Besides, I saw his face the other day in court, he looked betrayed when he found out about his brother."
"Why didn't you ever tell anyone she was pregnant?"
"It didn't come out… and I didn't want her parents to live with that."
Jay POV
"Jay?" Mouse frowns at me, eyes dropping to my bag.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too." I hit back with a small smile.
"I didn't mean that, you know it."
"Sorry, rough day in court. I feel like such an idiot." I sigh in frustration, embarrassment not escaping me, I should have known.
"I've been saying that all along." I narrow my eyes at the sound of Jen's voice and spot her behind Mouse in his living room.
"Huh." My shock is obvious.
"She didn't mean it like that buddy."
"Yes I did. He's being an idiot." She walks around the couch and comes to join Mouse at the door.
"Jen." He sends her a look.
"Fine, I mean, yeah tough time at court." She shrugs.
"But he's still hurting my best friend, and needs to wake up to the fact she's almost single handedly saving his life." The words sends a jolt of pain through my heart, unwilling to admit she's right.
"You know I'm standing right here, and I can hear you."
"We know." She deadpans, eyes narrowed on my bag.
"So, you two huh?" I raise my eyebrow.
"Uh, sorry, did you want to come in?" Mouse offers, as I smirk as they don't answer my question.
"What's with the bag Jay." Jen's tone is almost scary.
"I was hoping to crash here for a bit."
"Fuck, Jay." Jen reaches for her phone straight away.
"What? I won't intrude on whatever is happening between you two."
"Do you think I care about that? I need to call Erin." She leaves the room.
"Jay, you know I owe you my life. But I just need to understand why you're making this so hard for Erin?" Mouse's voice is quiet, trying to get me to open up.
"She betrayed me. She went after my little brother." My voice is fierce with protection.
"Jay, your little brother isn't faultless here."
"He's family. If only she trusted me enough with the truth."
"So you are going to throw away the best thing that's happened to you?"
"Mouse, please, I'm sick of rehashing this." I drop my head into my hands.
"You saved my life Jay, dragged me back here. Hell, stopped me from killing myself with pills – this is my way of trying to return the favor."
"By being on her side?"
"No, by trying to snap some sense into you. She's saving your life, and she loves you – and you love her. What kind of life would you have in prison? Or without her in it? Not one worth anything." Before I can reply there's a loud knocking at the door.
I turn to watch Mouse open it, frowning when I see the police there.
"Jay Halstead. We need you to come with us." Jen walks back into the room sighing.
"I've just left a message for Erin, I'll try her again. Jay keep-"
"Keep my mouth shut, yeah I know."
Erin POV
"What the hell is my client doing here officers?" I wait for the door to slam closed behind me before staring them down.
"He was caught breaking the conditions of his bail."
"Oh yeah, how do you figure?" I jut my hip out, hand resting on there.
"Are you going to take a seat?" They ask, ignoring my question.
"I won't be here long enough to need one. How did he break his bail conditions?"
"He was caught at an address not listed on his bail."
"He was at his friends house, he isn't under house arrest." I fire back quickly, glancing at my phone to check the time.
"He had a bag on him."
"I'll alert the media. I too carry a bag with me when I leave my home." The sarcasm is dripping from my tone.
"He has clothes, toiletries and shoes on him."
"You searched his bag?" I raise my eyebrow.
"Yes mam."
"First off, don't call me mam. Second, did you have a warrant to search his bag?"
"No mam."
"Probable cause?"
"We suspected he was breaking bail conditions."
"You've said that. What probable cause did you have to search his bag?" They look at each other but don't reply.
"Silence, does that mean none? Jay, did you give them permission to search your bag?"
"No."
"Didn't think so. Besides, maybe he was just returning those items to Mouse. There are many possibly ways I could get this thrown out, so how about you save yourself some paperwork, and embarrassment and process my client for release." I drop my bag onto the table from my shoulder, causing them to jump.
They look at each other for a moment.
"Do either of you have the authority, or do you need to go bother your Sergeant?"
"We'll get started on that release."
"Great, I'll have a moment alone with my client." They get up and move towards the door, my anger is barely contained when the door closes.
"Are you god damn kidding me Jay? I'm too busy to have to run around and do all these extra things. In case you forgot, I'm trying to save your life." My eyes are like fire as I stare him down.
"I'm sorry, it was a hard day in court." His usual anger is numbed.
"Then tell me that!" I snap at him, pinching my nose.
"You can go and vent to Mouse, but don't pack up. Whatever our problems are… I put up the bail for you. So don't be caught breaking the rules."
"How did they know I was there?"
"They were waiting for you to screw up, with things turning our way in court, they want to find a reason to pull your bail."
"Oh."
"I've literally put my entire life savings on the line for you, please stop this nonsense."
"Mouse, Jen. Thanks for the call." I join them waiting for Jay.
"I tried telling him he was being rash." Mouse tells me quickly.
"And I told him he's an idiot. But nothing new there." I raise my eyebrow at Jen, wondering when she had a chance to tell him he was an idiot.
"What are you doing here anyway? How did you know he was here?" I raise my eyebrow at her.
"I could say that one of my cop friends tipped me off."
"But you'd be lying." I smirk.
"Yes. And I'd be okay with that."
"I knew there was something between you and mouse." I point my finger at her, narrowing my eyes.
"You know I'm standing right here ladies?"
"We know." I answer with a smirk.
"So you were with him when Jay got arrested." It's not a question.
"Yes. And when he turned up. I think he was more surprised than you." She smirks at me.
"I'm not surprised."
"So then it's not hard to be more surprised then you." Jen quips with a smirk.
"He's also been a little self absorbed lately." We both look to Mouse with a raise eyebrow.
"Oh no I'm not gonna dispute that."
"Why?"
"Because you're right."
"And?" I coax further.
"Because you scare the living hell out of me."
"Smart man."
"Is jay getting out?" He asks, bringing the conversation back around.
"Yes I pulled some of that lawyer magic that Jay apparently thinks I can't run out of. But I can." The frustration is back in my tone.
"I'll talk with him."
"Haven't you tried?"
"Well yes but again. Your place isn't worse than jail."
"No, and I'd prefer he not jeopardise my life savings but ignoring his bail conditions."
"Wait you put up his bail?"
"Yes." Mouse's eyes narrow and we turn to see Jay walk out, Jen and I hang back as Mouse approaches him and escorts him out of the building.
Jen and I look at each other before following quickly.
"Jay what the hell?!" Jen and I jump slightly at the sound of Mouse's raised voice.
"Mouse, please. I'm not in the mood."
"Shut up! I'm sick of hearing you aren't in the mood. We get it; your life is shit right now. We're all trying to be here for you, but no more excuses. What aren't you getting Jay?"
"What?"
"You're fighting for your god damn life. That woman is risking everything for you. Stop acting like a victim! You're not the man I know, the man I served with." Jay opens his mouth but closes it again quickly, dropping his eyes to his feet.
"Go home man, get some sleep and get your priorities straight."
"Wow that kinda did it for me." I close my gaping mouth to turn and shake my head at Jen.
"Lets just hope it worked." I sigh out frustrated.
"Well yeah, but I mean. That was hot. It worked for me." She shrugs with a smirk.
"I meant talking sense into Jay, but I'm glad that did wonders for your sex life." She bumps my hip with hers, shoots me a wink and heads over to join Mouse.
I turn to find Jay leaning against my car; I close my eyes briefly before I join him.
A/N: I know Jay is seeming like a jerk etc and I agree, but it's all part of the story.
Shout out to the couple people who noticed Jen and Mouse from the first meet... and mentioned it again the second time lol
Please review and let me know your thoughts. :)
Review and I just may update again tomorrow night ;)
Stay safe