monica100 - Thank you for the trivia. I've tried to make sure I've revealed all of the necessary clues. I hope nothing comes across as "deux es machina."
A/N – I'm sorry I've abandoned this story for so long. Ughh! College. You all understand, I'm sure. I'm sorry I've left you hanging so long. Anyway, let's pick up right we're we left off…
The California sky was gray on the morning the trial for Helen Carmichael resumed.
Hamilton Burger was positively smirking as Natalie Culp sat before him as a witness for the prosecution. Now that his opponent had led Helen Carmichael to confess to plotting murder, he only had to confirm what she had already said.
"I suppose that depends on your definition of plotting murder," said Helen in response to Burger's question.
"How many definitions of plotting murder are there, Ms. Culp?"
Natalie just sat in silence for a minute.
"Please, answer the question, Ms. Culp."
"Hold on a minute. I'm thinking."
The entire court room erupted into laughter as Natalie grinned wickedly.
"I don't think you understand the seriousness of this matter," said Burger, trying his best to remain calm.
"Perhaps it would be best if the Prosecution was to rephrase the question," suggested Judge Green.
"Ms. Culp, were you traveling in a train compartment with three other women earlier this month?"
"Yes, I was."
"Could you tell me who the three other women were?"
"Of course. Madonna, Britney, and Christina."
Again, the courtroom erupted in laughter. Burger's tan cheeks began to show traces of red. Before Burger could speak, Natalie responded to his glare.
"Ms. Kay Silvers and Ms. Susan Cook."
"And the defendant?"
"And the defendant, Ms. Helen Carmichael."
"While on this train ride, did the defendant make remarks about William Anders, her lover at the time?"
"That's a highly personal question," said Natalie, crossing her slender arms over her breasts. "I refuse to answer it."
Burger looked at the judge and slowly rolled his eyes.
"Ms. Culp, please answer the question," instructed Judge Green.
"We joked a little bit about Bill Anders," admitted Natalie.
"What do you mean by joking?"
"I mean making humorous statements," said Natalie. "How many other definition are there?" Now she was smirking. Again, the courtroom was filled with laughter. The judge banged her gavel to silence the courtroom.
"What kind of humorous statements did you make about Mr. Anders?" asked Burger.
"I joked that Helen should destroy Mr. Anders' collection of Barry Manilou records. Helen joked that she would shove a knife through Anders' heart instead."
"I don't find that very funny, Ms. Culp."
"If you knew Bill Anders you would have found it hilarious."
Burger groaned and rolled his eyes again.
"Your witness, Mr. Mason."
"Ms. Culp," said Mason gently as he approached her, "I would like to hear that last joke again. The joke Helen Carmichael made, exactly as she made it."
Natalie looked at Mason curiously, trying to read his thoughts. Try as she might, Natalie could find no indication of what was happening in the lawyer's head.
"I can't remember exactly," said Natalie. "Something like, 'I'll take his letter opener, and shove it through his stupid heart.' Something crazy like that."
"Humorous indeed," said Mason calmly. "Tell me, Ms. Culp, haven't you told similar jokes?"
"I don't understand."
"What was your relationship with Mr. Anders, Ms. Culp?"
"There was none. He was dating Helen."
"I mean before that."
"Objection!" said Burger. "Immaterial and irrelevant."
"I assure you, Your Honor, it is quite relevant," said Mason.
"Overruled," said Judge Green.
"Ms. Culp, didn't you and Mr. Anders once have a dating relationship."
Natalie opened her mouth to speak, but then she just bit her lip and gently nodded.
"Could you answer that audibly, Ms. Culp?" requested Mason. "So that the whole courtroom could hear you?"
"Yes!" shouted Natalie angrily. She blushed slightly, squirmed down in her seat, and bit her lip again.
"After your relationship ended, didn't you joke about having dreams in which Bill Anders died?"
"Objection!" shouted Burger. "Ms. Culp is not the one on trial here."
"Your Honor, a large part of the case against my client has been that she had motive to murder Bill Anders," said Mason. "I'm just trying to show that she wasn't the only person with motive."
"Overruled," said the judge. "But, Mr. Mason, let's try to keep this within reason."
"Of course, Your Honor," said Mason. He turned back to Natalie. "Didn't you even joke, once or twice, about taking some sort of long, sharp object, and inserting it into Bill Ander's heart?"
Natalie again sat in silence. This time, no witty rejoinder was coming to mind.
"Ms. Culp?"
"Yes," she answered softly.
"Did you not also, at some other time, make some sort of humorous statement about Mr. Anders being a creep who needed a knife shoved through his arteries?"
"Yes," answered Natalie. "May I step down now?"
"Yes, you may," said Mason. "Thank you."
> > > > > >
Hamilton Burger subjected Kay Silvers to a line of questioning similar to that of Natalie Culp's.
"Yes," said Kay. "Helen did make some sort of sly comment about stabbing Bill Anders. But she didn't mean it."
"I don't think you can safely say whether or not Ms. Carmichael meant what she said," stated Burger.
"Yes, I can," said Kay. "Helen's my best friend. I think I can tell whether or not she really means something that she says."
"Let's just have the facts, please, Ms. Silvers," said Burger. "What exactly did Ms. Carmichael say?"
"I can't remember perfectly," said Kay.
"Did she make a remark about the item she was going to use to stab Mr. Anders?"
"She wasn't going to stab Bill Anders," said Kay. "I told you, she didn't mean what she said."
"Did she make a remark about when she was going to stab Mr. Anders?"
"I told you," growled Kay fiercely, "she wasn't ever going to stab Anders."
"Did she make a remark about Mr. Anders' letter opener?"
"She did."
"Did she not say that she was going to stab Mr. Anders with this letter opener?"
"She might have."
"Did she make a remark about Mr. Anders' pajamas?" asked Burger.
"I don't think so," said Kay. "At least, it's hard to remember. She might have."
"That will be all, Ms. Silvers," said Burger.
"People make threats all the time, Mr. Burger," said Kay. "That doesn't mean they always carry them out."
Mason stepped towards Kay.
"Ms. Silvers, how long had you know Mr. Anders?"
"About one year," said Kay.
"Did you meet him before or after he and Natalie Culp started a relationship?" asked Mason.
"After."
"What was your impression of Mr. Anders?"
"I didn't care much for him. Natalie seemed to really like him, though."
"Ms. Silvers, did something happen between you and Mr. Anders? Something you didn't tell Ms. Culp or Ms. Carmichael about?"
"I'm not sure I know what you're saying."
"I'm sorry," said Mason. "That was vague. Did Bill Anders ever act inappropriately towards you?" He saw a lump rise in Kay's throat.
"He flirted," said Kay. "But he flirted with everyone. He would flirt with me right in front of Natalie while they were dating."
"I'm talking about a time Mr. Anders might have done more than just flirt."
Kay tried to keep a look of dignity and control, but emotion was flooding her face far too quickly. She looked down at her beautiful soft hands folded in her lap.
"He and I were alone together," she said. "We had been out with Natalie and Helen. Anders gave the three of us rides back to our homes. He dropped Helen and Natalie off first." She stopped and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. She failed and choked as she continued.
"Anders made a wrong turn and parked the car in some alley way. He crawled into the back seat with me. Said it would be good for us to get to know each other. He grabbed my hair and forced me to kiss him."
She stopped and jerked her head up. She then began to rub her hand. She had reacted to the odd sensation caused when warm tears hit her cold hands.
"He reached his hand up my skirt and began to rub my legs. I slapped him. Hard." She clenched her teeth. "I told him if he ever tried something like that again I'd do worse."
"Was this while Mr. Anders was dating Helen Carmichael?"
"No. He was dating Natalie Culp. I didn't tell her about this because she thought he was such a great guy and I didn't want to ruin things for her. The two broke up a little while later."
"You never told this to anyone, did you?" asked Mason. "Not even after Bill and Helen started a relationship of their own?"
"No," said Kay. "But I tried to talk Helen out of dating Bill. Both Natalie and I did. But Helen wouldn't listen. What were we supposed to do?" Kay dropped her head again. "I could have killed Anders."
> > > > > >
Susan Cook responded to Hamilton Burger much more easily than Natalie or Kay had.
"It's all true," she said. She lowered her head as Kay had done, only to avoid Natalie, Kay, and Helen's eyes. "She said that Anders would be alone Saturday night. She said the maid would be out and that she had the key to get in. She swore she was going to take the letter opener she had given Anders and run him through with it. She swore." She took a deep breath. "And I don't think she was joking. I think she meant what she said. I think she really killed Bill Anders."
Tears ran down Susan's face and soaked her curly blonde hair. She burst out of her seat and ran for the doors in the back of the courtroom. Though several tried to catch her, no one could retain the force of her passion. She had betrayed her best friends, and she was suffering for it.
Natalie slowly rose and ran to comfort her friend. Kay soon followed.
"I have no questions for this witness, Your Honor," said Mason.
Hamilton Burger cleared his throat and regained his composure.
"For my next witness, I call…"
A/N – Figured it out yet? This is your last chance. When we return, all will be revealed.