Day In Court
Rae woke up and knew that she was alone in the bed. She had tried to stay awake until Jesse came home from talking with Steve, but she must have failed. Today was the day that she had been dreading ever since she had talked to Rose Marie in the hospital. Everybody else was certain that she would be back home again, tonight, and part of her wanted to believe that because she had put her life on hold for this day and although she had been happy to be home, she still couldn't believe that it wasn't just for a short time.
Rae took a breath, and as she did so she felt her ribs and then her neck and shut her eyes. Rae had been gradually teaching herself to put her pain into different compartments to the rest of her thoughts and feelings. When she was away from home she found it really hard, but when she was here she could normally do it. Now she concentrated on doing that, and once she felt she could at least face getting out of bed she began to speak. "I'm awake."
There was silence, and Rae felt a stab of fear. "Jesse? Honey, I'm awake."
Jesse heard a voice cutting through his subconscious and he turned towards his wife. The bed disappeared from under him, and Jesse found himself lying on the living room carpet looking up at the ceiling. He slowly got to his feet and listened. There was no noise but he knew he had heard Rae.
"Jesse, where are you?" Rae couldn't keep the anxiety out of her voice, and the relief rushed through her as she heard the door handle turn.
"Rae, I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb you last night, I had meant to sleep in the spare room, but I guess I fell asleep a little early. I was in the lounge." Jesse moved across towards his wife and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Did you speak with Steve?"
"Yes." Jesse thought it would be wise not to say anything else.
"And things are different now?"
"Oh yeah." Well, it's true, they are different, worse is different. Jesse carefully ran his fingers through Rae's hair, it felt soft and silky and he leant over and kissed her on the top of the head. "I love you, Rae."
"Jesse, if things don't go right today, I swear I didn't do anything wrong, and I love you too."
"Rae, look at me." He carefully placed his finger underneath her chin and Rae raised her eyes so that she could see him. "You will come home, with me, and we will be together for ever. Nothing or nobody is going to separate us, I promise you that." Very tenderly Jesse put his arms round Rae and held her close to him. He could feel her trying to keep her emotions inside, and he began to kiss her hair once again.
Rae leant into her husband's embrace and gradually she began to get herself under control. She had no intention of letting anybody outside the four walls of her bedroom know exactly how she was feeling, but Jesse was her rock, and her strength and she just needed him so much.
Rae had arranged for a busy morning with her family so that she wouldn't have time to dwell on what was to come. The first thing that they were going to do was to go see Sally. Just after ten the car pulled up outside the ranch style home and very carefully and slowly Rae got out of the car. Jesse had offered to help her, but she wanted to do things herself. Rae hadn't said anything to him, but if everybody was wrong about the afternoon, she knew that her life in jail would be hell, and she wanted to at least be able to move on her own, when she got there.
Sally was standing in the doorway, and when Eliana saw her she began to get very excited. Rae could see the car seat swaying in Jesse's hand as their little girl began to bounce in it, and then she heard the familiar cry of 'mamamadada' as they got closer to the door.
"Jesse, you bring that little mite into the warm, go right on through, I'll be just a minute." Sally moved out onto the front step so that the two of them could get past and then she waited as Rae made her way up the path.
"Sally, you could have gone back in, this is not the December weather I am used to, but it is still a little cold." Rae finally made it to where her friend was standing and then together the two women went inside.
The room where Sally looked after the children she sat for, was bright and airy. It was put aside especially for when the youngsters were there, and not used apart from that, so the walls were painted a soft blue and there were cartoon characters on them. There was a large playpen in the corner, which was full of toys. There were tricycles, and push toys and a large toy box, which Rae knew had things in it for the older children that Sally looked after when school was out. In an alcove off the room there was a computer and a young boy of about eight was sat on that playing a racing car game, he turned and smiled as Sally and Rae joined Jesse and Eliana and then went back to what he was doing.
"Sam, you will need to come off that in a little while. Your hour is almost up."
"Ok, Sally, when I finish this race."
Sally smiled and then knelt down next to Eliana's chair. She ran her fingers through the short-cropped hair and her smile faded. "Oh, Sweetheart, I was just so worried for you, I am so glad to be able to see you again."
"Sally, you can take her out of her seat, she won't break." Rae smiled and watched as the clasps were undone and then she saw her daughter being taken into a big hug and Rae realised just how difficult Eliana's abduction had been for her sitter.
"She is all right now isn't she? I was so worried, and I felt so guilty that I couldn't get her back from that woman, but she was too far away and too fast for me."
Rae just looked at her. She hadn't known that Sally had seen it all happen. Jesse realised that Rae was confused and so he moved a little closer to where she was standing. "Honey, Sally brought Eliana into the hospital because she was poorly, and then she saw her in the parking lot, but Louise Willis was already in the car and she couldn't stop her. Sally, you have no need to feel guilty. And now she is fine. Put her on the floor." Jesse was grinning and he watched as Sally lowered the little girl to the carpet.
For a few minutes Eliana just sat there, she banged her feet on the ground until her shoes came off, and then she leant forwards and pulled off her socks. Once she had done that, she looked around, as if checking her audience, to make sure everybody was looking, and then she squirmed into the right position and began to crawl across towards the playpen. Sally clapped her hands. "Oh my, that is just wonderful, and just in time for her to take all the decorations off your tree." Sally lifted the child up and put her in with the toys that she had been aiming for. "Now would you like a cup of tea?"
By the time that Jesse and Rae were ready to leave at eleven Eliana was fast asleep in the playpen, with all the toys around her. "You can leave her here and pick her up on your way home from court."
"No, Sally, thank you, but I need her with me, just in case." Rae watched as Sally, with an ease of movement that she envied, leant into the pen and picked up the sleeping child. She carefully put her in the car seat and then did up the clasps. Eliana didn't make a sound, and she remained fast asleep.
"You have done that before, haven't you?"
"Oh yeah. She does that to me a lot. Whenever I am ready to go out she will be asleep. She is a lovely sunny happy child when she is awake, and dead to the world when she isn't, so I very rarely wake her up."
"Sally, thank you, it's been lovely to see you, and after Christmas when I go back to work will you look after her again?" Jesse was now holding the carry seat in his hand and trying not to swing it back and forth.
"Of course, in fact I was going to suggest that maybe I could come to your house, then Rae can look after her, and I can just be there as a little bit of backup. I don't have any other children during school time. That is if you still want me to have her."
"Sally, of course, why wouldn't we? She just loves you so much, and we know she is happy and safe here." Rae looked shocked that Sally could even suggest it.
"Because of what happened at the hospital…"
"Sally, no, it wasn't your fault, it was nobody's fault, and we all have to realise that." Rae smiled at her, and they moved towards the front door together. "She has to have an asthma preventative with her now, just in case. That will be all right won't it?"
"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
"I just wanted to check." Rae began her long journey down towards the car and then watched as Jesse overtook her and began to put the car seat in behind the driver. Sally came down and looked at the sleeping form through the window.
"Thank you for bringing her to see me. I missed her so much."
"We know, and thank you for loving her so much." Rae carefully got into the car and then closed her eyes for a moment as she let herself relax into the seat.
Jesse and Rae arrived back home at half past eleven, and spent a quiet hour together in the living room. Eliana was happily bashing the life out of the musical console in her playpen and Rae snuggled up as close as she could get to her husband, she had once again felt the strength from him going into her, and she knew that whatever life threw at her, and in the last two years its aim had been pretty good, as long as Jesse was with her she would cope with it. Rae must have nodded off for a second because she felt Jesse running his finger down her cheek, and then he kissed each eyelid, and as she opened her eyes she saw his wonderfully handsome smiling face looking at her.
"I guess we had better get you ready to face the world." Carefully Jesse helped her to her feet and they headed to the master bathroom together. While the water was running Jesse undid all of Rae's braces and then once he had undressed her he helped her into the bath. "What smelly stuff do you want in it today?"
"Is there any mint up there? That is energising, I think I need to be energised."
It was just after half past twelve when the three of them were ready to head for the courtroom. Rae had to be there for two o'clock but she wanted to get there and have some time to collect herself and her thoughts together.
Jesse pulled up outside the gates to their home and waited for the guard to come over. "Hi, we are out this afternoon, and then we will be home a little later. We are expecting no one, and no one should be let in unless I say so, ok?"
"Yes, Doctor Travis, that is no problem."
By the time that Jesse pulled into the parking lot at the courthouse part of Rae just wanted to turn tail and run, but she knew that she needed closure on this, and it was because of that fact that she was here at all. Rose Marie had explained to her that she could get the case dismissed because of the new evidence that had been accumulated, but it was because Rae had wanted to be seen to be innocent that it was being dismissed in this way.
"Honey, are you ok? You need to get out of the car now." Jesse had the wheelchair next to the passenger door. They had decided between them that Rae would stay in the chair, no walking because it would take too long, it was also much easier if Eliana was, at least for the time being on her mommy's lap in her reins. The courthouse, like most other public buildings was wheelchair friendly and so it didn't take them long to get to the room where Gilbert Sholte was waiting for them.
"Mr. Sholte, you are here early." Rae smiled. Now that she was actually in the building she was surprised to find that she wasn't anywhere near as frightened as she had been.
"I am pleased to see you up and about, Mrs Travis, and your beautiful daughter with you, too. Are you sure that she should be here though?"
Rae kissed the head of her daughter before she spoke. "Maybe not, but I needed her here, just in case."
"Honey, did you want anything to eat? Only we missed lunch, and … well I am starving."
"No, but you go and get yourself something. There is sure to be a deli nearby." Rae chuckled to herself. If there was one thing that Jesse never lost it was his appetite. No matter what situation they were in you could count on him to have his three square meals a day.
By the time Jesse had bought his lunch, pulled off some of the bread to feed to Eliana and then eaten the rest himself, it was time for him to take his daughter and find himself a seat in the public gallery. As Rae found herself without her family around her she had to begin once again to push all her fears down so that she could show the world that Reagan Yeager was innocent, and that whatever had happened to her since she was arrested she wasn't going to be beaten by any of it.
Gilbert pushed Rae into the courtroom and over towards the table where they had sat when Rae had been in this very room for her preliminary hearing. That time Rae's position had seemed very bleak, and if he was honest Mr. Sholte hadn't believed that he could do any better for his client than a long spell in a secure psyche ward, but now in a few minutes she would be walking free and he hoped that her life would become a little easier for her.
Rae looked carefully round as she was wheeled across the room. She could see Texas and Steve sitting together with Michael and Mark. Amanda and Ron were in the two seats next to them, Martin was there, and to Rae's surprise, so was Cheryl. The eight friends were all together behind where Rae would be sitting. Jesse was the other side, behind Rose Marie Moreau, and Rae knew that when she was in position she would just be able to see him.
As Rae came into view in the courtroom her daughter caught sight of her and began to babble. Rae knew that she would have to sit quietly with her daddy when the proceedings started, but she guessed that the odd mamadada would be allowed at the moment.
Jesse leant over and picked up the soggy giraffe from the diaper bag. He remembered how pink, soft and cute it had been when he bought it, now it was no longer pink, and definitely not cute. It was still soft and obviously very well loved, and Eliana was instantly silenced, as one of the ears became her target.
At exactly two o'clock Judge Friars came into the room, and everybody stood up. Rae was determined to stand with everyone else, and she was equally sure that she was going to show as little pain in her features as possible. She felt Gilbert place his arm around her, and slowly, and she had to admit painfully, Rae rose to her feet.
By the time Rae was completely upright the bailiff said, "be seated" and she had to do the whole thing in reverse. Rae had her arm and neck braces on but not the one on her knee, and so she was able to sit right under the table. But because of the collar she couldn't actually see what was going on around her.
Once again Rae's name was called, and so she let Gilbert help her up for the second time. The charges were read out and when Rae was asked how she pleaded, in a voice that was clear and strong she replied, "Not Guilty, Your Honour." Rae was extremely grateful for the arm behind her as she sat down and then she saw Mr. Sholte stand up.
"Your Honour, in light of recent events and new evidence that has been presented to me, I would request that the charges against Detective Reagan Yeager be dismissed."
Judge Friars looked over towards the assistant District Attorney. "Ms Moreau, would you and Mr. Sholte please approach the bench."
As the two lawyers did as they had been requested, Rae could see Jesse and Eliana quite clearly. The soggy giraffe was keeping her daughter quiet. Rae smiled to herself. Ever since the day Jesse had bought the toy it had been called that. In fact for as long as Rae had been aware it had also been soggy. Jesse had Eliana with her back to her mom so that she wouldn't begin to babble, and Rae could see her short hacked hair. They had taken her to where Rae got her hair cut, and it had been gently neatened up, but more than anything else her little girl's hair made her eyes fill with tears. She just wanted it to grow back into its curls as quickly as possible.
Rae suddenly realised that she was letting her mind wander and she averted her gaze from her family and watched the backs of Mr. Sholte and Ms Moreau instead. The Judge was deep in conversation with both of them, and Rae could see Gilbert shaking his head. The fear came up inside her again, and this time she wasn't able to push it away. She felt as if her eyes should be able to bore holes in the back of her lawyer, but she couldn't pull her gaze away.
As Rae watched the two lawyers returned to their respective tables, and Gilbert leant over. "The Judge wants to hear the evidence, so this isn't going to finish as quickly as we thought. Rose Marie is going to call Detective Banks."
Rae's heart sank. She had hoped that she would be on her way home very soon, and she had also hoped that Cheryl was here as a friend not a cop. As Rae sat there she heard the proceedings start up again and saw Cheryl take the stand.
"Please state your name for the record." Rose Marie's voice was businesslike and firm, but her accent put a slightly different slant on things.
"Detective Cheryl Banks, LAPD."
First of all the prosecution went through the evidence that had been given at the preliminary hearing and then after just over an hour Rae heard a different type of question.
"When Doctor Martin was attacked at Community General was the weapon the same as in any of the other attacks?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Cheryl sat up a little straighter, maybe now she could get her friend out of the nightmare that she was in because of her. "The knife was the one used to murder Helen Baxter and Cameron Posner, and to stab Doctor Mark Sloan."
"I see, and that has been determined positively now has it?"
"Yes, the forensic team at the LAPD labs, as well as Doctor Amanda Bentley at Community General Hospital have both confirmed that."
"And do you know who this knife belonged to?"
Cheryl looked a little anxious for a moment, but knew she had to answer the question. "Yes, it belonged to the defendant, Detective Yeager, and her husband, Doctor Travis."
"But you are not convinced any longer of Detective Yeager's guilt, are you Detective?"
"No, we have gathered other compelling evidence to show that there was a third party involved in this, and that it was she alone who carried out these attacks." Cheryl's anxiety had receded again now.
"I see, but the evidence against Detective Yeager was also compelling, and she was seen at all the murder sites."
"It was arranged that way. Detective Yeager was set up by the murderer, Louise Willis, and then she was attacked by her and her child was abducted." Cheryl recited the things that had happened. If she thought about them for any longer than the time it took her to say them the guilt began to eat away at her.
"Can Ms Willis be placed at all the murder scenes?" Rose Marie was determined to get everything out into the open.
"Yes, she worked at Community General where Lee Tennant, Helen Baxter and Cameron Posner were killed, and she was in possession of Detective Yeager's smart card which gave her access to the Travis home. We believe, although we will never be able to prove it conclusively, that whilst Ms Walters was speaking with Detective Yeager in the front of her home, Ms Willis was inside and it was then that she took the knife and the earring."
"I see. And Doctor Sloan, do you have any witnesses that place Ms Willis at the scene of that crime?"
"No, Ma'am, but we do have Doctor Sloan's testimony that it wasn't Detective Yeager who attacked him."
"What witnesses do you have to the attacks on Doctor Martin and Detective Yeager herself?"
"Both of them thankfully survived, and they have positively identified the woman as the attacker, and Detective Yeager has also said that Ms Willis told her that she had committed the murders whilst she was in the room with her."
"I see. What happened to Ms Willis, Detective?"
"Louise Willis abducted Eliana Jessica Travis from Detective Yeager's hospital room. She fled Los Angeles and was finally apprehended in Fresno. Unfortunately she made a bid for freedom and was killed in the attempt."
"And the child?" Rose Marie's question came across with just the right amount of concern.
"She is sitting on her father's lap." All heads turned towards Jesse then and he instinctively protected his daughter from the eyes of those around him. Being squashed did not impress Eliana and she began to cry. Jesse had to release his hold on her a little so that he could comfort her and he felt distinctly uncomfortable as he realised that every eye in the room was on his daughter.
Rose Marie had turned herself for a moment and she smiled at the little girl. "Thank you, Detective, I have no further questions."
Rae watched as Cheryl left the stand, and she realised, rather belatedly, that a lot of the evidence just given could, she thought, be classed as hearsay. Rae wasn't sure, but she had a feeling that both Gilbert and Ms Moreau were trying to speed things up a little by not calling separate witnesses and she was very grateful for that as it would mean that Mark wouldn't have to give evidence.
Gilbert stood up and faced the Judge. "Your Honour, in light of Detective Banks evidence surely now we can have the charges against my client dismissed."
"Mr. Sholte, that is for me to decide. Do you have any questions for Detective Banks?"
"No, Your Honour."
"Well then, please would you approach the bench once more?"
Rae could hear the sigh that emanated from her lawyer as he moved again to the front of the courtroom. This time Rae didn't allow herself the luxury of looking at her daughter, and she kept her eyes on the Judge instead. The discussion didn't take as long this time, and then Gilbert with a shake of his head came back towards her.
"The Judge wants you to give evidence, Rae, are you prepared to do that?"
"What sort of evidence?"
Gilbert smiled. "Evidence that can clear you. I think it would be wise for you to do this."
"Ok, but someone is gonna have to help me to that chair, and holding the Bible in my right hand is going to be a worry."
Gilbert smiled, "The clerk will hold it, you just place your hand on it, ok?"
"Sorry, I guess I'm just a bit out of the loop. You would expect me to know that wouldn't you?" Since she had arrived in LA Rae had been in court swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, more than once at the conclusion of various cases she had investigated.
"Don't worry, now just relax and you will be fine." Gilbert stood up and began to speak. "I call Detective Yeager to the stand." There was a gasp that ran round the room, and then it descended into hushed silence as Rae was pushed across the room. Once they got to the witness stand, Mr. Sholte very carefully and gently helped Rae out of her chair, and then made sure that she was securely and safely seated before he returned to his own seat.
The bailiff came across. "Please take the Bible in your right hand and repeat after me…"
Rae looked at the man and then very slowly lifted her hand until the Bible would fit underneath it.
Jesse had put Eliana back in her stroller, and now he looked across at his friends on the other side of the courtroom as he heard Rae reciting the oath. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen and suddenly he wondered whether Rae was the only one who had appreciated that this situation was still deadly serious. Jesse realised that Rae had finished speaking and he turned his attention back to her.
Mr. Sholte stood up and moved closer to his client. "Detective Yeager, can you tell me how you got your injuries?"
"I was attacked in jail."
"I see, and where were you treated for these injuries?"
"At Community General Hospital."
"And while you were there, you were attacked again, yes?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
"I was attacked by Louise Willis, and then she stabbed Alex, sorry Doctor Martin, and … and she took my baby."
"I know that this is very traumatic for you, but did Ms Willis tell you why she was doing this?"
"Yes." Rae shut her eyes for a moment, and she could see the woman standing in front of her, the knife up to her throat. Rae hadn't been able to bring herself to look to see if she had a scar, even though the stitches had been taken out a few days before.
"Detective Yeager, I need you to tell the court what happened."
Rae just blinked. She couldn't nod, and so she did the next best thing. Then slowly she began to talk.
"I was in the hospital, and I had just had my bed raised. A nurse came into my room, I guess, I didn't see her enter, my guard had gone, and she put a knife to my throat." Rae stopped talking. She could see the woman in front of her and feel the knife against her skin. "I didn't know who she was and that made her angry. I tried to move and she just got madder."
"Did you remember who she was?"
"Yes, she had been a nurse on duty looking after an injured prisoner when I had been in the hospital another time."
"Detective Yeager, who was the prisoner? It will be much easier on you if you just tell me what happened. As a police officer, you are used to giving evidence, please continue."
"Yes, Sir, I'm sorry. Louise Willis looked a little like me. The man in the hospital, his name was … Phillip Levington, had stalked me and then attacked my husband, Doctor Travis. I guess Levington was attracted to her because of the way she looked, and she was attracted to him. She blamed me for getting him killed, and said that I had ruined her life. She said that she had killed everybody that I was nice to and that she was going to destroy my life, just as I had destroyed hers."
"And did she say anything else?"
"Yes, she said that she had taken my smart card and got into my home that way, that she took the knife…" Rae went pale as she remembered the knife being drawn across her throat. "Sorry, and she took the earring as well. Then she told me that she had killed Helen, and Mr. Posner and Mr. Tennant."
"And the attack on Doctor Sloan and Miss Walters, what about them?"
"She admitted those too. She cut my throat, she kept talking to me, and I could answer, I don't think she planned to hurt me enough that I couldn't see Jesse die."
"What happened after she admitted the killings?"
This time Rae couldn't answer straight away. The memories were so painful, and, she realised that they were still very fresh in her mind.
"Detective Yeager, are you all right, would you like to stop for a break?"
It was the Judge who asked the question, and Rae tried to turn to look at her. Once Rae had moved her head a little way she shook it. The movement was extremely painful, but she couldn't trust herself to speak.
"Maybe a drink of water?" Judge Friars was very worried about the young woman in front of her, the story she had related so far had been horrific, and she knew that it was about to get much worse, but it had been the Detective who had wanted to be cleared under the watchful eyes of the world, and she could think of no other way than getting her to give evidence herself.
"Thank you, that would help." Rae's voice came out weakly and she turned back to face her lawyer. A bailiff put the glass down on the front of the stand and Rae looked at Gilbert. "I don't think I can pick that up, I might drop it."
Jesse watched as his wife had to sit and face the humiliation of being helped to drink in front of all the spectators in the room. He felt so for her, and wanted to just take her home and lock all their doors against the prying eyes of the world, but he knew that he couldn't even speak let alone move towards her, and so he sat in silence and suffered for her.
Once Rae had indicated that she had drunk enough the bailiff came and removed the glass. Then Gilbert began to speak once again. "I need you to tell me what happened after Louise Willis admitted the killings."
"Yes, Sir. She was going to buzz and get Jesse to come and see me, I don't know how, but then I heard Alex's voice, and he called out that I had a visitor… When he came in the room she took the knife away from my throat and she began to speak to him, something about going out with another girl and then … oh, God, then she stabbed him, in the chest, and …and she took my baby…" This time there was no way that Rae could continue. Her body shook with sobs and the tears poured down her face. All her good intentions of keeping her feelings in disappeared and she leant forwards onto the top of the gate in front of her and cried and cried.
Judge Friars called a twenty-minute recess and requested Rae's presence with her lawyer and the assistant District Attorney in her chambers. Mr Sholte carefully moved Rae into the chair and wheeled her away from the gaze of the people around her, but he knew that she was so lost in her emotions that she was almost totally unaware of him and his actions.
Rae was unable to stop crying for quite a few minutes once she was in the privacy of the judge's chambers, and Judge Friars looked over towards her lawyer. "Mr. Sholte, do you know if Detective Yeager's doctor is in court?"
"No, Your Honour, her physician is Doctor Martin, he is still in the hospital recovering from his attack. Her husband is out there, he is a doctor."
"I see. Bailiff." The judge didn't raise her voice, but instantly a court bailiff was at her side.
Jesse was sitting bouncing his daughter up and down; he had taken her back out of the stroller to try to stop himself worrying about his wife. He wasn't succeeding, and he was just about to get up and move over to speak to Amanda when he saw a court official coming towards him. "Excuse me Doctor Travis, but Judge Friars would like to speak with you in chambers." The bailiff put his arms out for Eliana, but Jesse shook his head.
"No, that's ok." He turned and without a word handed his little girl to Amanda, and then followed the man through into the parts of the courthouse normally closed to him.
Judge Friars stood as he entered and extended her hand. "Doctor Travis, I need your professional opinion on whether your wife is fit to continue to give evidence."
Rae looked up as she heard her husband's name. "Jess? Oh, Jesse, she took our little girl and nearly killed Alex, and it is all my fault I am so sorry." The tears began again, and Jesse was tempted to say that she was unfit and just sedate her there and then, but he knew that he had to live with her, and so it wasn't really an option.
"Honey, listen to me. Rae, it isn't your fault, she killed three people, and had her eye on at least another two. You can't fight someone like that. Now look at me, slowly, can you lift your head?"
"Mm, I think so." Rae looked into her husband's eyes, and saw the love and concern there, and she knew that she had to go back and close this chapter of their lives.
"Do you want to go and finish your testimony?"
"Yes, I do, and I am sorry that we had to stop because of me. Your Honour, I apologise."
"Detective Yeager, that is fine, now, Doctor Travis, if you would return to your seat."
Jesse went back out into the courtroom, picked up his daughter and sat down. Nobody spoke to him, and he spoke to nobody. He could see that his little girl was getting tired, and so he took a bottle of formula from the diaper bag and gave it to her. Eliana began to suck on it and while he waited for Rae to re-appear he watched the deep brown eyes slowly close.
Rae sat back in the witness box and looked straight ahead. She knew that her eyes were red and puffy, but she had nothing to hide, and she intended that everybody should know that.
"Detective Yeager, I realise that this is very distressing for you, but I need to carry on with my questioning. I have however, almost finished." Mr. Sholte placed his hand on the witness box and Rae knew that he was offering her some comfort. "Louise Willis took your daughter, do you know what happened after that?"
"Yes, Sir. When she had punched me, she had caused my cracked ribs to break, and one of them punctured a lung. My husband had to operate on me there in the hospital room otherwise I would have died. I spoke to Lieutenant Sloan, but I don't remember anything after that, I'm sorry."
"No, that's fine. I have no further questions Your Honour." Gilbert moved away towards his table, and Rose Marie stood up.
"I have no questions, Your Honour, and I also move that this case be dismissed."
Judge Friars looked over to where Rae was sitting. Until someone helped her she was unable to leave the witness box. "In light of the evidence that I have heard from both Detective Banks and Detective Yeager, I am inclined to agree with you. Case Dismissed." The gavel came down, and the sound of its banging reverberated round the room.
Gilbert helped Rae back into her chair, and he saw tears in her eyes once again, but he knew that this time they were tears of relief, and they weren't going to overwhelm her.
He pushed the chair over towards the gates to the public gallery and then Rae saw Jesse standing waiting for her, their sleeping child in his arms. Gently he laid her across Rae's lap, and with the aid of Alex's brace she was able to cradle her in her left arm. Rae smiled and she placed a kiss on Jesse's lips. Then she turned and saw Steve and Texas, and felt them both kiss her.
Gradually the people around her began to melt away, and Rae saw Cheryl watching her from the back of the room. She smiled at her colleague, and then saw Martin coming towards her. "Rae, congratulations."
"Thank you, Martin, I know you never stopped believing in me, and I can't tell you how much that means to me."
Rae looked at her friends and knew that however her life had changed because of what had happened to her, these people would always be there for her. It was a good feeling but right now she just wanted to be able to put everything behind her and spend some time with the family she thought she had lost. Rae smiled down at her daughter still asleep through all the chaos around her, and then she said, "Take me home, Jesse, please take me home."
The End … for now.
Well, this was a long story, the longest I have ever written. Thank you all for sticking with me to the end.
Once again I had the two best beta readers friendship can buy helping me with the bits I got stuck on, the legal process of America being the main one. Ladies thank you, I am glad you will be around for the next one.
I hope that those of you who have read and enjoyed my stories so far will bear with me until the next one is written. I start the second year of my university course in February, and that; work and family sometimes get in the way of my writing. There will be more from Rae and Jo though, I promise you that.
Tracy