Tarnished

Chapter Three

Manhattan Courthouse

8:53 AM Friday

Josephine managed to pull herself together enough to look presentable early that morning. She had to make two trips to the restroom to throw up because of her pregnancy. When she told Christian, he was truly stunned, and instead of saying anything, he pushed past her and left her on the stairs. When she woke up this morning, he didn't bother her at all, all he could do was look at her and then get ready to go to work.

For a moment, she thought that he might be considering the future and realizing that he needed to get his anger under control. But before he left, they saw each other one last time in the kitchen, and he spit in her face before leaving.

She felt so worthless and degraded; how could she possibly enforce the law when she wasn't even considered a person at home?

She made sure that her hair was in place and that her robe was pressed and clean before she prepared for sentencing. Her stomach was churning and gurgling, but she willed away the urge to vomit. The sentencing wouldn't take that long, and after that, she would be able to retreat to her office for the day.

"All rise," she heard the bailiff call. "The honorable Judge Sadler presiding."

Josephine walked up onto the bench and took her seat.

"Be seated," she called.

"Docket ending, 230571, the people vs. Trey Idleson," the bailiff announced.

Josephine threaded her fingers together and rested them on her bench.

"Mr. Idleson, a jury of your peers has found you guilty of eleven of the thirteen accounts of child molestation. This session of the proceedings is for me to hand down your sentence."

Trey had no remorse for what he did, and Josephine could clearly see that Casey Novak despised him for it. She argued hard against him, and her efforts were not in vain. She also saw Detectives Benson and Stabler present for the proceedings as well.

"Mr. Idleson, I find it necessary to sentence you to the fullest extent that the law allows me," her breath hitched and the room suddenly began to spin. She felt a sharp pain rip through her lower abdomen. She worked through it. "It would only be responsible for me to make sure that you are off the streets and to also let you know that no amount of money excludes you from the law."

She felt the sweat form on her forehead and she closed her eyes to the room. The sun shone brightly, causing an intense headache as another pain assaulted her. She took a deep breath.

Casey noticed Judge Sadler's faintness and she became concerned.

"Therefore I am sentencing you to life in prison without the possibility of parole," she finished. "The court thanks the jury for its services and all other officers of the law. This court is adjourned."

The gavel landed and everyone moved freely about the courtroom. Josephine sat for a few moments longer, trying to orient her steps, and center herself. The pain didn't stop, and she knew that she had to get to the hospital. She got up slowly and she looked carefully at where she was stepping. She skipped a step, and she felt herself tumbling.

Olivia, Elliot and Casey witnessed Josephine collapsing down the steps to the bench and they rushed over to her.

"Judge Sadler!" Someone in the court room called.

The bailiff pushed the three concerned people aside.

"It hurts," she cried. "Please don't tell my husband. Please don't tell my husband."

"Help is coming Judge Sadler," the bailiff informed, but Josephine barely heard it as she felt herself slipping into darkness. "I'm losing her!"

St. Catherine's Hospital

10:15 AM

Olivia and Elliot knocked on the door to Josephine's room, softly, and she was jarred from dozing. Her hair flowed over her shoulders and she was getting some of her color back in her face. She waved them in and Elliot opened the door for Olivia.

"Hey Judge Sadler," Olivia said quietly. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay," she sighed. "The doctor told me that it was just nerves and…my period. I thought I was pregnant because I was throwing up, but it was just my bad stomach. Have a seat."

Elliot let Olivia take the seat next to the bed.

"Detectives Benson and Stabler, right?"

Both detectives nodded.

"Judge Sadler we-"

"Josephine," she chuckled tiredly. "We're not in court, detective."

"Josephine," Olivia began again. "How long have you been feeling sick?"

"Oh, the last few mornings," she sighed. "I was sick this morning before the sentencing."

"Josephine, you told us that you knew Marissa Barlow," Elliot mentioned.

"Yes, she was my best friend," Josephine said tearfully. "I can't believe someone would kill her."

"You and Marissa exchanged many phone calls," Olivia said. "What were the phone calls about?"

Josephine's breath hitched and she looked away. "Um, nothing," she sighed, laughing a bit. "Just girl talk, you understand, right?"

Olivia noticed the sleeve on the sweater Josephine was wearing was riding up, and she could see the bruises around her wrists. She immediately knew that Judge Sadler was being abused at home by her husband. Josephine adjusted the sweater when she turned back to face the detectives, not noticing that Olivia noticed.

"My husband didn't like her, and she was his own secretary," She sighed. "Christian has specific needs that have to be met when it comes to his work, and Marissa understood that…um, I think it's best if you go, my husband should be here soon."

"Just one more question," Olivia began. "What has got you so nervous?"

Josephine's face hardened and a flash of anger glowed in her eyes.

"I think you better leave now, detectives," she said. "Please."

Olivia nodded and she and Elliot walked out of the hospital room. On the way out, Christian Sadler was walking towards Josephine's room and he looked between the detectives.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He growled.

"We were just wishing a fast recovery to your wife," Elliot smirked. "Tell me, are the bruises on her wrists old or new?"

Christian stiffened with rage, and then he calmed down a bit, not feeling the least bit intimidated by Elliot.

"She does this to me all the time," he said, gaining his composure and fixing his hair back, an aura of anger, egoism, and control surrounding him, and Elliot and Olivia did not like him at all. "She makes herself ill just to get my attention."

"And why would she need to do that?" Olivia asked, her arms crossed over her chest, and Christian barely looked at her and stared into Elliot's eyes.

"Because ever since she had our second son Baylor, she hasn't been right," he explained, turning to examine a painting on the wall. "She's very unstable."

"Mr. Sadler, do you say that about all the women in your life or just the ones you like to control and beat the shit out of?" Olivia asked.

Mr. Sadler turned to her with a small smirk on his face, then he turned to Elliot. "You've got a hand full," he chuckled mirthlessly. "I suggest you reign her in and tell her to adjust her attitude."

"No, I think I like her this way," Elliot said with a smirk of his own, his hands behind his back, getting in Sadler's face. "Listen, you're not fooling anybody. I know your type: big shot corporate exec, living beyond his means with mommy and daddy's money, insecure, paranoid, with a desperate need for control."

"My personal life is none of your business," Sadler said, turning back to the window. "You don't scare me Detective Stabler."

Elliot smirked again.

"If I hear that you've been beating on your wife or your kids, I'll make it my business," Elliot warned, looking Sadler up and down like the perp he knew he was. "I bet you hit your wife where it won't show, so yeah, I scare you."

"I'll take that as a threat, and now I am going to formally lodge a complaint with your commanding officer," Sadler said haughtily.

"Yeah, you do that," Olivia challenged. "And while you're there you can tell him how you beat the hell out of your wife and have her so scared that she collapses in court."

Sadler looked at Olivia and then back at Elliot.

"I'll be seeing you at your precinct," Sadler said before going into his wife's room.