August 10, 2004
The Courthouse
10:00 A.M.
Casey Novak, along with the other people in the courtroom, stood as the Judge entered.
"Be seated," the judge ordered. "Counselors, what have we got today?"
"The alleged rape of Nellie Rivers, thirteen, by Jeffery Grey," Casey explained.
"What is the request for bail?"
"The People request $500,000."
"That's outrageous!" Grey cried.
"Counselor, control your client," the judge reprimanded. J.D. Wynn, the defense attourney, gave Grey a sharp look and he quieted.
"Jeffery Grey is an upstanding member of society," Wynn argued. "He's never had so much as a traffic ticket."
"He also raped his thirteen year old stepdaughter," Casey shot back.
"Allegedly, Miss Novak. Innocent until proven guilty," he reminded. He hit his gavel. "Bail set at $250,000."
The Rivers' Apartment
11:00 A.M.
"What happened?" Nellie asked, opening the door before Munch and Fin had even rung the bell.
"Nothing," Munch said. "We're just here to take you to Miss Novak to be prepped."
Nellie rolled her eyes impatiently. "No! At the trial! What happened at the trial?"
"Sorry, kid, we can't tell you," Fin said.
"Come on! Just tell me if he got bail!"
Fin and Munch gave each other sideways looks. Nellie sighed.
"He did. He'll be out in an hour."
"He won't," Munch said, then thought about it and added, "Two hours, minimum."
"What if he comes after me?"
"He won't."
"I wasn't aware that you were psychic."
"It's a gift," Munch said, sarcastically. "And a curse."
"Mostly a curse," Fin added, recieving a look from Munch.
"We'd better get going," John informed. "Novak gets cranky if we're late."
Nellie followed them out to the car and slid into the back seat. Munch got into the drivers seat and started the car. On the radio was the traffic report.
"Why do you always have this on?" Fin complained.
"I like to know what's going on," Munch answered.
"It's boring," Nellie confirmed. "Can we surf, please, John?"
"You heard the lady," Fin said, his hand already on the dial.
"Fine, but if we get in a traffic jam, it's on your heads," Munch threatened.
"It's New York. The whole city's a damn traffic jam," Fin said, finally stopping on a station playing a rap song. He turned to look at Nellie. "You mind?"
"Knock yourself out."
"Literally," Munch added. "Why do you listen to this crap?"
"It's my heritage."
"Well, my heritage is speaking Yiddish and spinning a dreidle," Munch said. "Don't see me doing that, do you?"
"Not today," Fin said. "The song's changing anyways."
And it was. The D.J. came on. "That was Usher, taking us back to the streets. And now, to give you a little bit of rock, by request, One Thing by Finger Eleven."
"Ooo! I love this song!" Nellie half squealed.
"It's not rap, is it?" Munch asked, skeptically.
"Listen for yourself."
"Not a chance."
"The lyrics are pretty meaningful," Nellie explained. "You've just got your head so far up your-"
"Hey!" Munch exclaimed. Fin was laughing, and it made Munch a little more grumpy. "Why do you like this song so much anyways?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, since you're making me listen to it."
"You asked for it," Nellie sighed. "After every rape, I'd put this song on, and it made me feel better. It reminded me why I put myself through it."
"How'd it do that?" Fin asked, interested.
"Chorus is coming up. See for yourself." The detectives did as they were told.
"If I traded it all,
If I gave it all away,
For one thing,
Just for one thing,
If I sorted it out,
If I knew all about,
This one thing,
Wouldn't that be something?"
"Oh," Munch said. "That's why."
"Yes, that's why. Not all pop culture is crap, John. You just have to give it a chance."
"Okay, I'll admitt it, it's got a slight appeal to my sensitive nature."
"That means he likes it," Fin translated. Munch just rolled his eyes.
August 11, 2004
The Courthouse
9:00 A.M.
"Can you tell us, Nellie, in your own words, what happened on the night of August 6, 2004?" Casey asked, after Nellie had sworn in.
"It was around midnight. I was sleeping, but I woke up when I heard my stepdad say something."
"What did he say?"
"'Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty,'" Nellie scoffed, disgusted. "He said it like I was supposed to take it like a compliment that he was there at all."
"What happened next, Nellie?"
"I opened my eyes and he was standing over me. He was naked. He pulled back the sheets, took off my clothes and..."
"And what, Nellie?" Casey pressed.
"And he raped me."
"Did you struggle?"
"No, but I did say no. And he punched me in the eye for it."
"Why didn't you struggle? Physically, I mean."
"Jeff told me if I struggled, he'd kill my little brother and sister."
"So you were just trying to protect them?"
"Yes," Nellie said. "I love them. They mean everything to me."
Casey looked at the jury, then the judge. "No further questions."
Wynn stood up. "How old are you, Nellie?"
"Objection!" Casey called, rising from her seat. "Relevance?"
"I'm giving the jury a look into Miss Rivers's life," Wynn told the Judge, who nodded.
"Proceed."
"How old are you?" Wynn repeated.
"I'm thirteen," she answered. "Fourteen in September."
"So, you're a teenager?"
"That's normally what thirteen means."
Casey smirked to herself back at her seat. Munch had told her she could take care of herself...
"What do you like to do, Nellie?"
"Read."
"Do you take any after school courses?"
"I'm on the debate team and I've taken acting lessons for a year."
Wynn smiled. "I spoke with your teacher. She said you were a natural."
Nellie watched him, warily. "Thank you."
"Nellie, do you ever, say, use your acting skills outside of the theatre?"
Nellie smiled wryly. "You mean to I use my powers for evil, instead of good?"
"Highly amusing, Miss Rivers," said Wynn. "But please, just answer the question.
"No, I don't," she answered, still smiling a little.
"You've never been able to get out of something by acting?" At the repeat of the question, Nellie shifted uncomfortably.
"I believe I just answered that question," Nellie said, slightly annoyed.
"Do you and your stepfather ever argue, Miss Rivers?"
"No," Nellie said. "I don't speak to him anymore."
"Never?"
"Unless it can't be helped. Like to pass the salt."
"So it's a rare occasion that you speak?"
Nellie shrugged. "I've grown accustomed to not having salt."
"Could you tell us again what happened on the night in question?"
"Yes. I was asleep in my room when my stepfather came in and raped me."
"With a little more detail, please," Wynn commanded. Nellie sighed.
"He came into my room, said 'Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty,' like he always does. And then he pulled back the covers, took off my clothes and raped me. Exactly like I told Miss Novak."
"But that's not what really happened, is it?" Wynn said, calmly.
"No, of course not," Nellie said, sarcastically. "I just lied in front of God and everybody twice because I'm a teenager and an actor."
"Miss Rivers," the Judge said, warningly. "The records don't show sarcasm very well."
"Sorry, Your Honor." She turned back to Wynn. "Yes, I was telling the truth."
"You claim he's done this before. Why come forward now?"
"What does that matter? I did come forward. Does it really matter when?"
"When your stepfather and mother were first married, did you and he have a fight?" Wynn asked, calmly.
"What? I... I can't remember. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Do you hold grudges, Miss Rivers?"
Nellie shrugged. "I guess so."
"Do you have a temper?"
"What? Well... I guess I do..."
"Do you hold a grudge against your stepfather?"
"I... I don't know. Yes, I do, I suppose. But wouldn't you?"
"Why do you hold a grudge, Miss Rivers?"
"Gee, I dunno," she said, angrily. "Maybe it has something to do with him raping me!"
"Come now, Miss Rivers, that's not really why you're mad, is it?"
"What else is there to be mad about? He raped me for Christ's sake! Do I have to spell it for you?"
"No, that won't be necessary," Wynn disagreed, still with a calm sort of cockiness in his voice. "What I want you to do is tell the truth."
"I am!"
"Did you or did you not get in an argument with your stepfather?"
"No! Maybe... I don't remember!"
"Which is it, Nellie?" His voice was quiet, almost serene, and the fact that he could do that made Nellie uncomfortable.
"No! We didn't! Just stop asking me! I don't remember!" she shouted.
"You are under oath. Why don't you just come clean?"
"Objection!" Casey shouted, just as NEllie rose out of her seat.
"THERE IS NOTHING FOR ME TO COME CLEAN ABOUT!" she yelled.
The Judge banged his gavel. "Miss Rivers, sit down! There is no need for that. Are you through, Mr. Wynn?"
Nellie sat down, glaring at Wynn. His smirking eyes made contact with her and he stared at her as he responded to the Judge's question. "No further questions, Your Honor."
The Courtroom
10:00 A.M.
The trial was done for the day. Casey gathered up her things. Munch leaned over the bar seperating them.
"How could you let him ask her those things?" he demanded.
"I did object, or were you asleep for that?"
"It took you long enough!"
"John, there's no way any jury's going to believe that shit," Fin said, putting his hand on Munch's shoulder.
"I don't give a damn if the jury believes that! The fact that she had to take that crap..."
"John," said a voice behind them. He turned to see Nellie standing in the aisle, just looking at them. "I can take care of myself."
"Sorry. I was just.."
"You were what? Trying to play the hero?"
"What?"
"Just stay out of it!"
"Look, Nellie, this guy deserves to burn in hell!"
"Yeah, and you can go with him for all I care! Just quit..." she searched for the words, angrily. "...trying to protect me!"
She turned away and stormed out of the courtroom.
"What was that about?" Casey asked.
"Novak, for once in your life," Munch told her, "shut the hell up."
A/N: Hope you like this trial scene better than the other one. It's better, but I'm not sure if it's perfect yet... Any feedback is welcome! Unless it's mean and then I cry... Boo-who