A/N: I'm back! I'm very tired so sorry if this doesn't make sense lol
Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Twenty
Jay POV
"You remember me?" I'm desperately hoping her reaction isn't from the news coverage.
"You broke glass on front of my steps all those years ago. Poor kid, I must have given you such a fright." I blink in shock for a moment.
"Mam, we were hoping we could speak with you." Jen steps in.
"Oh honey, please call me Jan. Come on in, Callie fetch them some tea would you?" She welcomes us into her home, settling us in the living room.
"You really remember me?"
"Yes, you looked so upset that night. I was mad when I heard the trash can get knocked over… but a look at you young man, and I felt your pain. I wanted to come down and see if you were okay, but you ran off so fast."
"Thank you… I appreciate you wanting to check on me. I really am sorry for the mess, and disrespecting your property."
"Oh hush honey. Don't give it a second thought."
"Do you remember the time he was here?"
"I do, it was 12.30am, I remember because my guilty pleasure was listening to this trashy advice show on the radio."
"Miss-" She pins me with a look, "Jan, sorry. We're here to ask a favour."
"I've seen the news." I look down feeling disheartened.
"How can I help? It's not like I saw you with her."
"No, but I came here after we broke up. I was out front for the time of the murder. I hurt myself here, but they think I did it… I didn't hurt her. I loved her."
"I believe you dear."
"You do?"
"Yes, Callie dear haven't I been saying all along he's innocent?" She turns to bring the younger woman into the conversation.
"Yes grandma."
"That really means a lot."
"You served our country, that's a true sacrifice. It's a damn shame what you are going through. Anything I can do to help, it'd be an honour. Thank you for your service." I blink back tears, nodding once.
"I- uh, thank you."
"We'd like you to testify. About seeing Jay that night."
"Just tell me the time and the place."
"So productive day?" Erin's settled on the couch, with her files and a glass of wine when I get home.
"Very. Jen fill you in?" She nods, biting her lip.
"I'm so glad she remembers you, and will help us… and was so kind to you." The sincerity in her gaze is so genuine I fall in love with her a little more.
"Me too," I sit on the single chair leaning back with a sigh, "Jen's nice."
"Yeah, she is." Erin narrows her gaze at me.
"Said some interesting stuff." Her eyebrow rises, waiting to see if I will continue.
"She usually does," Erin takes a sip of wine, "so where were you?" She asks, eyes dropping back to her notes.
"Met some of the guys."
"Ahh, good. When can I meet them?" She glances up at me, with a soft smile.
"You want to meet my friends?" I feel warmth fill me at the suggestion.
"Oh, well, I meant to prep them… for trial. They can speak to the type of man you are."
"Oh, right." I look down, feeling the frustration.
"Jay…"
"It's fine Erin." She drops her files to the coffee table, getting up to slide into my lap.
"I'm sorry." She whispers, pulling me closer, her smell overwhelms my senses as I lean into her embrace.
"I love you, I want to meet your friends, everyone important to you in this life… but right now I'm in the fight for your life. So that's where my focus is." Her fingers caress my face, pulling my eyes to meet hers.
"I get that, but I feel like we're getting lost in the process. We're neglecting us and our relationship."
"There won't be an us if I can't get you off." I smirk over at her watching her smirk back briefly.
"And not like that." She kisses me gently.
"I want that life with you, but you need to let me continue with my process to get that. This is how I win a case, I get immersed in it."
"What will happen when you take the next case?"
"Well, what happens when you become a detective, and work late… or get wrapped in a case?"
"Ahh… the lives we have chosen to lead."
"Yeah, but they won't be so personal to us. So we'll have that alone time. That us time." The promise in her voice is fierce.
"Okay, I'll stop getting on you about it… but just promise me something?"
"What?" She whispers, eyes looking into mine.
"You'll be honest with me, always."
"Jay." She moves to pull away, my arms pulling her back.
"The fact you can't promise me that has me worried. Who were you prepping today?"
"Don't ruin this moment, we were going to have some us time. But now, I'm going to tell you where to shove it." She moves to get up, my arms around her waist.
"Don't."
"Then don't ruin this. You don't have to be involved in every aspect of this, just know I've got your best interest at heart and I'm looking our for you." There is a threat in her voice, and I have to decide if I trust her enough to let this go.
"Okay." I pull her back, my lips finding her forehead choosing to cherish this moment and hoping she'll share with me soon.
Erin POV
"Thank you Jan Marshall for being here today." She smiles prettily back at me.
"My pleasure dear." I smile, knowing she will help win the jury over with her charm.
"Can you tell the court when the first time you saw my client was?"
"Of course. It was the night that poor young girl was murdered."
"Allie Johnson?" I ask, turning to survey the jury.
"Yes, her. Poor dear."
"Where did you see Mr Halstead?"
"Out the front of my home."
"Is this your address here?" I point to the home marked on a large printout.
"Yes, that's it."
"Do you walk to Lincoln Park often?" I indicate the distance to the park on the map.
"Yes, always. Takes me a good half an hour, and I'm not as fit as a young guy." I smile in thanks.
"What time was it, the night you saw Mr Halstead?"
"Oh, that I remember it was 12.30am."
"Great memory. Can you tell me what he was doing when you saw him?" I walk towards the prosecution, watching him scribble down some notes.
"Crying… poor young man. I heard this crash and came out to see my trash has been knocked over. I think… I think he might have kicked it. But he looked so heartbroken when I stuck my head out." Her gaze is soft and sympathetic as she looks over at Jay.,
"What did you do next?"
"I started down the stairs, I could see he was trying to clean it up. The broken glass cut his hand. He mumbled his apologises, and I was coming down to comfort the poor boy… but he just left."
"Did you clean up the mess?" I wait, expecting an objection.
"Oh no Dear, it was too late and dark out."
"Did you clean it up the next morning?" I catch a glimpse of the prosecutor looking bored.
"I went to, but it was already done."
"Would you be surprised to learn Mr Halstead came back early the next morning to clean it up, feeling bad?"
"No, I wouldn't. I'm a good judge of character and that young man is good and kind hearted."
"I agree."
"When you saw Mr Halstead, did you see any other blood on him?"
"No, none."
"Was he carrying anything?" I shrug turning towards the jury.
"No."
"You were sure of the time you saw him?"
"Positive. Why?" I'm grateful she asked, just as we practiced.
"That was Miss Johnsons time of death."
"Ahh. I have been telling everyone who would listen he was innocent."
"Objection!" It takes all my strength to hide my smirk at the sound of his chair scraping back.
"Sustained. Miss Marshall, please just stick to the questions and facts."
"I feel it is a fact." Her whit is quick.
"Miss Marshall."
"Sorry your honor."
"No further questions, thank you." I nod at her in thanks before turning to take my seat next to Jay.
"Prosecution, your witness."
"Miss Marshall, hello."
"Hello."
"You say you are sure what time you saw Mr Halstead?"
"Yes, very certain."
"You haven't mis-remembered, or maybe confused?"
"Young man, my memory is sharp."
"I understand Miss Marshall, but if you could just answer the questions as asked."
"I am not confused."
"Do you wear glasses?"
"Yes, I do."
"Were you wearing them that night?"
"No, bu-"
"So it's possible it wasn't really Mr Halstead you saw? Or you couldn't see the amount of blood, or even how he injured his hand?"
"Objecti-" The words aren't even out of my mouth before he's smirking at me.
"Withdrawn. No further questions."
"Redirect." The judge nods.
"These glasses you wear Miss Marsall, why weren't you wearing them?"
"Because they're reading glasses, and I wasn't reading a book. I was going to aid a young man."
"Do you have trouble with long distance vision?"
"No, just with reading."
"So if Mr Halstead was to stand at the back of the court with a few other men, and the lights dimmed- you should be able to identify him?"
"Well, I'm not the spring chicken I was back then but such a handsome man? Sure I could manage it." The jury rewards her comment with a chuckle, and I feel some tension melt away from my shoulders.
"Your honor?"
"This is ridiculous." The prosecutor scoffs.
"I'm tempted to see this. I'll let it play out."
"Jay." I nod to him, and the guards escort him to the back of the room, where a few other men are standing.
I nod and the lights dim, the guys shuffling around.
"Now Miss Marshall, this is much further back then the trash can to your door, but care to give it a go?"
"Of course dear," her eyes scan the guys at the back, and despite the prep my heart is beating wildly.
"Ahh, there he is." She raises her hand and points to the guy on the left, my breath releasing.
"Can you tell us which one?"
"The guy on far left."
"Great."
"Your honor, I'm sure that's well practice."
"Please, shuffle them around." I offer the prosecution.
"Yes, I can do it again. This young man served our country, and he deserves to be treated with more respect than you have. He sacrificed so we didn't have to." Throat cleaning pulls her attention.
"Sorry your honor." She turns in her chair and the judge briefly smiles.
"Well, shuffle them around, I don't have all day." She calls out, continuing to look in the judge's direction.
A few minutes pass by, until he calls out he's ready.
"He's still on the left," I feel my heart drop for a moment, "second from the left."
I turn to find Jay's eyes; happy to see he is indeed second from the left.
"Excellent, no further questions."
"Okay, so another great day. When are these bad days coming?"
"Tomorrow won't be good. They are getting the detective on the stand, and the coroner. We have to be very careful."
"Of what?"
"The prosecution mentioning the blood test."
"Right, they can't but they will." He drags a hand through his face.
"Worst case is if they get it admitted into evidence."
"How would they do that?"
"If we accidentally walk into the trap, ask the wrong question and he pleads to the judge that we opened the door to it."
"I'm really not going to like tomorrow." He groans, rolling his neck.
"No baby, you aren't going to like the rest of the trial. Until hopefully the not guilty plea."
Tomorrow is going to be tough, the following days even tougher.
At least tomorrow night we can snuggle up after the witnesses present, and I can comfort the man I love.
Not long after, he's going to need comfort about what I've done.
"Where did your mind just go?" His lips press against my forehead.
"Hmmm?"
"You're worried."
"Worried I'll lose you." My whisper is trapped between us.
"Never going to happen, even if the unthinkable happens." He promises me, pressing a kiss against my lips.
A/N: Okay, we are getting close now to the drama for the trial!
Please let me know your thoughts! :)