******
It's the day of the trial. The courtroom is filled. Judge Barker enters.
"Court number 227, Halliwells vs. the State of California," says the bailiff as he hands the file to the judge. "Please be seated," he concludes to the crowd. The shot zooms to the girls who sit nervously as they prepare themselves for the trial.
"Mr. Clark, Mr. Turner, have you your witnesses?" asks Judge Barker as he settles in his chair.
"Yes Your Honor," they both reply.
"Very well, you may proceed," answers the judge.
"We call Inspector Darryl Morris to the stand," begins Cole.
The bailiff walks over to Darryl as he takes a seat in the witness chair. "Do you swear to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth so help you God?"
"Yes," replies Darryl as he nods his head. He adjusts himself in the chair.
"Inspector Morris, is it true that you have been acquainted with the Halliwells?" asks Cole as he walks towards him.
"Yes, that is correct. I've known the girls for about four years now."
"And you have been acquainted with the child in question?" Cole asks.
"Yes, the girls contacted me immediately when they took Serena in from the streets."
"So you have seen the child in the care of the Halliwells."
"Yes."
"Inspector Morris, could you please describe the…the demeanor of the child during the time you witnessed her foster care with the defendants."
Morris adjusts himself in his seat as he starts to motion with his hands. "You know, she took to them pretty well. From what I could gather, she felt protected and loved."
"Now, when young Serena came home from the hospital she was left in the temporary foster care of the Halliwells. But it was temporary; therefore, Child Services had to take her back. Were you present during this?"
"I never took part in anything, but yes I was there. They normally appoint an officer just in case there are any problems. However, since I have become acquainted with the child, we felt it might be better if I was there as opposed to any other police force."
"Could you describe her demeanor then?" Cole squints his eyes a little.
Darryl takes a deep breath before he starts. Pausing between each thought he begins to describe that day when Serena was taken from the girls. "Very solemn. There were tears - from both parties. She didn't want to leave - protested actually. When Child Services came to pick her up, she hid in the attic until the girls calmed her down a little and brought her down."
"And you obviously have heard of the most recent escape action. Tell me, Inspector Morris, did the police receive a call about Serena running away before?"
Darryl chuckles a little. "A call? We had tons of calls from the foster parents. We documented 15 attempts of Serena running away."
"Fifteen? Wow!" says Cole surprisingly. "Now, were you present in the return of the child after all of these runaway attempts?"
"Most of them, yes. Normally if an officer found her roaming the streets, they brought her to the station and then we contacted Social Services."
Cole shaking his head a little begins to ask, "Now, did you converse with her once she was brought to the station?"
"Numerous times," replied Darryl as he nodded. "I asked her, after the 5th time she had run away why she continues to do so. She would tell me she needed to get to the girls, that they were supposed to be a family and she had to make it to their house."
"And what did you say to this?"
Darryl sighed. "Well, I tried to explain to her that it wasn't that simple and that it was dangerous for her to keep running away, that her foster parents are worried sick and miss her. And basically I tried to reason with her…as best you can with a seven year old."
"And did she respond to any of this?"
Darryl shook his head. "No. Her favorite and most frequent phrase was, "I don't care, I want to live with the Halliwells!"
Cole purses his lips together as he raises his eyebrows. "No further questions Your Honor."
Clark gets up as he proceeds to his cross-examination. "Inspector Morris, is it true that the Halliwells recently had a murder in their home?"
Darryl's eyes widen. He sighs and clears his throat a little. "Well --"
"Their sister, WAS murdered in their home isn't that correct Inspector Morris?"
"OBJECTION!" Cole yells as he stands up. "Irrelevant information. This case is about Serena, NOT about their deceased sister OR how she died!"
The girls stare in shock. They didn't realize this was the type of information which would be used against them. They stare in shock and anger. How dare he bring Prue into this!
"Your Honor, we are just trying to show the court what kind of life we may be bringing this little girl into. We want to see how safe this environment and these people are."
"Are you implying that the GIRLS had anything to do with Prue's murder?" yelled Cole.
Clark glared at Cole. "All I'm saying is that TWO murders occurred in their home. Two murders in which the assailant has not been found. Who knows that the girls are not involved? Even if they aren't, have we looked into their past? Maybe the attacker will come again…this time, for Serena." Clark pauses, then begins again. "I'm just trying to show the court what kind of lifestyle these girls lead." Clark pauses again. "We ARE talking about the welfare of a child…"
The judge thinks for a moment. "Over-ruled. I'll allow it! But Mr. Clark, please stick to the subject. I don't want this to turn into a wild goose chase. Inspector Morris, you may answer the question."
Darryl looks back at Clark then reluctantly says, "Yes, their…their sister was murdered in their home."
"And another murder occurred there as well?"
Darryl, unable to lie, says, "Yes…."
Clark rests his butt on the table for a moment. He folds his hands. "Now, tell me Inspector Morris. Has this case been concluded? Was the murderer found?"
Darryl readjusts himself in his seat. "No," he says slowly. Clark turns his back and heads back for his seat. Darryl then quickly adds, "But that has nothing to do with the fact that the Halliwells will make an excellent family for Serena!"
Clark turns around and then adds, "So you mean to tell me, you feel safe placing a child in the home where two murders occurred? Tell me, would YOU feel safe living in a home knowing that a murderer could attack again? This time, getting YOU?"
"OBJECTION!! THE PROSECUTER IS DIGRESSING!" yells Cole.
"WOULD you or would you NOT feel safe in a home that has previously had TWO murders?" yells Clark ignoring Cole's comment.
"It's NOT about me, and murders happen all the time to people who don't do anything! Innocent victims --" Darryl yelled back but was then cut off.
"ANSWER THE QUESTION INSPECTOR MORRIS!" yelled Clark.
"ORDER!!" yelled the judge as he knocked his mallet.
"IT'S TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT THINGS!!!" yelled back Darryl.
"ORDER! ORDER! ORDER!!" yelled the judge as he knocked his mallet repeatedly.
The girls stare in shock. Could the "mysterious" death of Prue destroy their chances at adopting Serena? How do you explain to the judicial system that an evil demon killed their sister? How do you explain to the judicial system that they have protected their entire state and even the fate of the WORLD and that they would NEVER hurt anyone, let alone a seven-year-old child? How will ever they turn this case around to their favor?? How can they make the judge understand that, despite the evidence, they live a safe enough life…or do they??