A/N: Thank you to all those still reading, I might just focus on this story and Fate for the time being. This one is approaching the end.
I am not a lawyer, nor an expert at the criminal justice system especially in America. I do my best but... just go with the flow it's fiction after all lol
Enjoy :)
Reasonable Doubt- Chapter Seventeen
Erin POV
"What the hell is this?" I'm startled awake, squinting around me. As I sit up on the couch, I note someone has covered me in a blanket. My heart warms knowing it must have been Jay.
I turn towards the commotion at the front door.
"What?" Jay asks, stumbling back from Will's force as he barges in the apartment.
"You're calling me to the stand?"
"Yes." I rub my eyes, moving to stand up.
"Why?"
"Because I can." I raise an eyebrow in challenge.
"Erin?" Jay's voice is confused.
"Well, I was hoping by the time you're called you'd act like a decent brother and provide insight to the night Allie went missing. Oh, and be a character witness for Jay."
Jay nods slowly, believing me; I turn to Will seeing he's searching Jay's eyes before nodding slowly.
"Okay. Fine." He huffs and turns to leave.
"He's a piece of work." I roll my neck, glancing down as my phone buzzes.
"Where were you?" I ask Jay noticing the time on my phone.
"I had to cool off."
"Where?"
"Boxing gym an ex army buddy manages."
"Okay." I frown at the text.
"What?"
"We're being issued with a gag order. Unbelievable."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you got your wish, you don't have to speak to the media. You can't. Yet when I fucking asked for it… no of course we don't get that. Let's protect the prosecution and not the defendant."
"You are the ones trying your case in the press. We don't need a muzzle." My voice is controlled, my eyes flashing in anger.
"Not yet anyway." He fires back with a smirk.
"I recall asking for a gag order when all this started. So we could at least have a chance at finding a jury – twelve unbiased peers to try the case in front of."
"Well, you shouldn't have gone running your mouth." I smirk at the prosecutor.
"You worried?"
"Miss Lindsay. Reign it in before I find you in contempt."
"Your honor, we can't afford for this media circus to spiral further." The prosecution jumps in, redirecting the matter.
"Perhaps, we should be able to conduct the same amount of press conferences and interviews and youtube worthy clips as the DA's office."
"Miss Lindsay. I won't warn you again." The judges eyes are piercing, wanting us out of her sight.
"In effort to uphold the pursuit of justice, I place a gag order on both prosecution and defence."
"What does this mean for us?"
"That they're worried." I'm tapping my finger against my lips before biting my nail gently.
"I need to work on my opening statement, the trial will be here very soon." He's looking at me, I can feel it on the side of my face but I don't turn.
"We should get dinner on the way home." I'm shaking my head as I turn the indicator on.
"Can't. I'm just dropping you off and running off."
"Where?"
"Just to follow up on a lead." I shrug a shoulder, listening to him sign in frustration.
"What lead?" My head shakes gently.
"You've been following up on a lead everyday since the press interview. Are you avoiding me?"
"You're living at my place, how could I possibly be avoiding you?" The words sting him I'm sure, but the more distance between us the better. When the trial begins, it's a fight for his life and he won't like the way I've chosen to approach it.
The words have surely stung, as when I tiredly shuffle into my apartment a few hours later there is only the soft glow of the kitchen light on. I rub my eyes as I walk to my room, pulling off my jacket and heels.
"Jay?" I whisper as a quietly enter the room.
My eyes widen when I see he's not in bed, I frown when I turn back towards the living room. I move quickly through the apartment until I find the spare room, the room I've set up as Jays. I open the door to find him asleep inside; I feel tears burn my eyes as I will myself not to cry.
I close the door softly, moving to the kitchen for a drink when a tear slips down. I drop to the dining table, swiping away the tear and throwing back the scotch.
My glass is full again when I dump out the contents of another discovering box, still searching for anything we can use.
"So, jury selection?" Jay asks quietly the next morning, I meet his eyes for the first time since he's left our bed.
"Voir Dire, yep."
"Who are we after?" In response to his question, I look to Jen in unjustified annoyance, hurt by him choosing to sleep alone last night.
I tuck hair behind my ear as I review my questions, and a list of the possible jurors.
"Well, we want those who can see the world as grey not just black and white." Jen replies before taking a sip of her coffee.
"Why?"
"Because they can be easier to sway, this isn't a case based soley on facts. It's emotions, and character witnesses…"
"We want those who have served before. They will know your sense of honour and duty. Those who believe in conspiracy theories. That perhaps the cops or the government set this up…" I throw in looking up at him again.
"Right."
"Who here has seen the case on the news?" I look at the jurors as the prosecution asks their question.
Knowing we only get so many strikes each.
"Have you formed an opinion from the latest round of news clips?" I narrow my eyes knowing that's my interview.
"He's striking those he feels were swayed by my interview." I whisper to Jen behind me and she nods.
"He's wasting his strikes if he doesn't dig deeper than that." I only nod, surveying the jurors who weren't swayed to work out which to cut after I ask my questions.
The questions proceed for some time before I stand up.
"Who here believes everything they read or hear on the news?" I watch the ones who don't raise their hand.
"Why sir?"
"Because it's fake news. Anyone can say anything and unless you have proof then it may be a believable lie."
I send a thumbs up to Jen behind my back, knowing she's writing it down.
"You mam?"
"If there is no scientific proof on something, then how do you know?" I nod, sending another thumbs up. Knowing it may be a risk if the DNA comes up at any point, however willing to take my chances.
The questions continue until we are both satisfied as we can be, turning in our strikes and the twelve jurors are confirmed.
"You nervous?" I whisper quietly joining Jay in bed.
My heart warms, grateful he's back in our bed still too much of a coward to address the tension settled between us.
"Terrified." His blue eyes are shining as they turn to me.
My palm gently cups his cheek as I lean down and press a kiss to his lips. His fingers find my hair as my face presses against his neck.
"I've got you." My lips kiss his jaw, fingers gripping his shirt tightly.
"Thank you." He swallows a lump in his throat, the emotion so strong in his voice.
"I know I've been tense, and distant and… wrapt up in the case. But that's just how I am when I've got a big trial coming up. Especially when the outcome weighs so heavily on me… what happens to you, well that affects me more than it ever has. I can't live with you suffering behind bars… I can't live without getting the chance to live my life with you." Tears slip down my cheeks, scared we may not get our chance.
"I believe in you." His lips find my forehead.
"Do you trust me?" I look up, eyes searching his.
"With my life."
"Good, then remember that during the trial. It's going to get… tough in there. The things you hear and see, there will be a lot going on. But just know that I've got your best interests at heart. I've got you…" I'm clinging to him, hoping he can hold onto these words terrified he's never going to forgive me.
"You ready?" He swallows nervously, adjusting his tie.
"I know it's hard but try and not react to what they say, look sad and anguished but don't look angry. Don't keep your head down too long and don't write notes. Don't fiddle." He's nodding, taking deep calming breaths.
"I've got you." I whisper again, wishing I could join our lips but settling for giving his arm a comforting squeeze.
We stand for the judge to make her entrance, Jay standing tall beside me, posture rigid as my hands sweat.
"Be seated." We sit at the judges' instructions waiting for the prosecution to begin with opening statement.
A/N: Sorry it's short, I'm beat after work this week. If anyone is any good at this law stuff... I'd love ideas for the opening statements haha
I have most of the trail set out in notes with some of the cross examination written but anyone who has ideas send them my way please! lol
Please let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
Happy friday!