A/N: Fear-ciuil: My friend told me that the story would work better with the trial and testimony. At first I didn't have it since it was being such a long story but I like it better thanks to her. :) I decided to do it as present tense but I realize now that past tense is much easier to write so in my next story I will write past tense.
Thank you all for the reviews...Now, on with the chapter...
After he puts down his glass, he folds his fingers slightly with his elbows on the table and speaks, "Terrible. I keep hoping that some how the evidence was tainted or it's the wrong gun in the evidence." He put his hands down on his lap as he sit back.
"Yeah," Lennie said as he folds his hands and put his arms near the edge of the table, "I'm really sorry that this has come to it."
"I know. I just wish that she didn't do this or that she just…," he says then sighs.
"Jack, she hasn't been convicted yet and plus have you been watching it or following it at all?" Lennie asks at the same time as he watches a woman and a man following a waitress to a booth behind Jack.
Lennie gestures Jack to come closer to him then tells him, "Let's go somewhere else to talk about this if you want, a juror and her husband or friend just sat down behind you. I don't want them to overhear." The waitress walks over from behind Jack's booth then asks if they needed anything else; Jack asks for a check.
Lennie gets up as he turns to see two men with pool sticks bowing to each other over who should go first. A woman put her hands on their shoulders; both of the men listen then shook their heads while she takes a coin from her pocket then put it flat on her palm and flips it to her backhand. She was showing them what it was after they gave their call and the man starts to soften the stick with a pool cube at the same time Jack follows Lennie out the door.
"How did you get here?" Lennie asks while taking his keys out of his pocket.
"I took a cab; I was hoping to get drunk. Thanks to you, I won't," he said while walking to the passenger side while Lennie unlocks the door and gets in.
He uses the button on his door to unlock the passenger side; Jack gets in while Lennie replies, "We can talk about it in here," Jack closes the door and both men put their seat belt on.
"Well, I already said what I wanted to say but, I'm still not happy, I really want to see her, I don't care what Arthur, you or Danielle tell me, I wanna see her," he says as his arm falls on the arm rest of the door.
May 20th—
A manager testifies while Ron questions her as he stands near the witness table.
"How long have you known Denise?" Ron puts his hand in his pocket with two of his fingers on his lips.
"About two years," she tells him with her hands folded.
"Was she a good worker?" He puts his hand down.
"Sometimes."
"What do you mean sometimes?" Ron walks near the jury box while he is facing her.
"She would try to get away from work and when Brandy was there she would treat her like crap by not listening to her," she responds while she looks at the defendant then the prosecutor.
"Did you ever see her lose her temper?"
"Yes," she responds.
"What would the reason be for her losing her temper?" Ron takes his hand out of his pocket and scratches his cheek temporarily.
"Not being invited, when we had our spouses go with us she would want her boyfriend to come but got upset when we said no to him--."
Danielle stands up, "objection,"
She sits down once the judge replies, "overruled,"
"How often did she throw a temper tantrum?" Ron asks as he walks to his chair.
"About every two weeks or when she finds out that I and a few other people are going out, "the witness replies.
"No further questions for this witness," Ron states as he sits down.
Danielle stands up, walks with her cane up to the witness stand while facing her then asks, "Did you know that the defendant owned a gun?"
"Yes, I did," she responded at the same time she looks at the jury then back to Danielle.
"Did you know why she bought a gun?"
"Because someone was threatening her and she wanted to protect herself," the witness states again while she folds her hands on the ledge of the witness box.
"Did this person threatening her ever come near her?"
"As far as I know that person hasn't but she could have asked her DA boyfriend—."
Ron stands up then says sternly, "objection,--"
"Withdrawn. I have no further questions for this witness," Danielle says as she walks towards her chair then sits down.
Moments later the witness is excused and a few more employees testify then court is adjourned when Jack decides to go home for the day.
9pm at Jack McCoy's apartment—
Jack lies in bed, under the covers, lights off, his arm folded under his head, while he stares at the ceiling about Denise.
I really thought she was innocent and the police planted the evidence but it makes no sense that Briscoe would do that. Not with all those officers around even his partner would have called him out to Van Buren and she would have a dirty cop in the precinct. Nevertheless, I needed proof that she did the crime and well she has lost her temper on me but never showed violent tendencies when I was around. I guess I will have to see her if she is convicted or acquitted.
Jack thinks to himself while he yawns then falls asleep with his hands on his chest folded on top of the covers, head turned to the side.
May 26 closing arguments—
Ron Carver stands in front of the jury, talking about the case the jury will decide on while he looks at them as he speaks.
"She bought the gun with the sole intention of killing Brandy Crandall, not because someone was out to get her. She has no restraining orders for anyone. You have heard about her violent temper. She has no alibi for the time of the murder so find her guilty on all counts." Ron then sits down while Danielle gets up with her cane helping her.
"My client was given the right to own a gun with a permit by the 2nd Amendment to protect herself from criminals. Petty revenge couldn't be farther from my client's mind and there is no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that she killed the victim. There were no witnesses to the destruction of a detective's vehicle and the sledgehammer would be too heavy for my client to use. At the pool that day, her instincts took over, and she had to defend herself. When there are not enough witnesses or evidence linking my client to the crimes, "she then sits down.
The judge gives the jury instructions then they deliberate.
June 6—
The verdict has been reached as all parties to go court to hear the verdict as does Jack who slips in since he heard there was a verdict. The judge allows the jury in, is given the verdict paper by the bailiff, looks at it then gives it to the bailiff who gives it to the jury foreman.
"Will the defendant please rise?" The judge asks.
Danielle Melnick and Denise Betts rise as the jury reads the verdict.
Jury foreman reads, "In the people of the State of New York against Denise Betts, we the jury find the defendant--."
