Author's Note: Yes, it's the moment you've been waiting for...Dean's testimony. Sure, it may not be that long, but I think it's pretty good. But of course, you will let me know for sure!

Let me know what you think!

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Landmine

Chapter 18

"Ms. Lawson, does the prosecution have any more witnesses?" Judge Kent asked.

"Yes, you Honor," Gwen said as she stood up. "Prosecution calls Dean Sayers to the stand."

There was a mixture of confusion and surprise as the double doors to the courtroom opened and everyone turned to look at the new arrival. Nancy glanced quickly at Dom and was ecstatic to see a look of utter surprise on his up-until-now neutral face.

Dean nervously made his way to the witness stand, trying his best to keep his eyes forward and not on the dozens of people who were watching his every move.

He was sworn in and sat down, his eyes focused solely on Gwen.

"Could you please state your name for the court?" Gwen asked as she approached him.

"Anthony Dean Sayers," Dean said, his voice slightly jumpy.

"Mr. Sayers, is it true that you were Mr. Shepard's cell mate?" Gwen asked.

"I wouldn't exactly say cell mate," Dean said. "I was in the cell next to his."

"I see," Gwen said, nodding. "Did the two of you ever talk?"

"Yes," Dean said, licking his lips nervously.

"What did you talk about?"

"He talked about the women he had murdered and the other he had tried to kill," Dean said.

"What do you mean?" Gwen asked.

"He was gloating about how he had been able to do it and how proud he was of himself for doing it," Dean said. He intentionally avoided Dom's withering glare. He knew he was making an enemy out of Dom, but he had to do this, no matter what the cost may be.

"Did he ever tell you why?" Gwen asked.

"Why what?" Dean asked, confused.

"Why he killed those women," Gwen clarified.

"Because he wanted to," Dean said matter-of-factly.

"Did the two of you talk about anything else?" Gwen asked.

Dean nodded. "He wanted me to do something for him."

"What did he want you to do for him, Mr. Sayers?" Gwen asked.

"He wanted me to scare someone for him," Dean said.

"Who?" Gwen asked.

"One of his victims—Nancy Drew," Dean said.

Gwen glanced at the jury and saw they were gazing at Dean intently. "What did he want you to do to Miss Drew?"

"He wanted me to hurt her a little—just enough to scare her. He said not to do anything too bad to her because he would take care of her when he got out," Dean explained.

"Did you agree to do this, Mr. Sayers?" Gwen asked.

Dean lowered his head in shame. "Yes," he said softly.

"Could you repeat that?" Gwen asked, straining to hear him.

"Yes," he said, slightly louder.

"Why?" Gwen asked.

"Because he made it sound like she was a bad person," Dean said. "He said things to me that made me feel important."

"Like what?" Gwen asked.

"He said I would prove myself to be a man if I did it," Dean said. "He said I would be hailed as a hero."
"Did he ever say anything else to you, Mr. Sayers?" Gwen asked.

Dean nodded. "He said that he would never stop. He said that when he got out, he would continue to kill and there was no one that could stop him."

There were some slightly audible gasps throughout the courtroom. Gwen nodded at Dean and said, "No further questions."

Carson rose up from his seat immediately and pounced on Dean like a ravenous lion. "Mr. Sayers, what were you in jail for the night you talked to my client?"

"Violating a restraining order and stalking," Dean answered.

"Who pressed these charges against you?" Carson asked.

"My ex-girlfriend," Dean said.

"What was the outcome of these charges?" Carson asked.

"Objection!" Gwen protested. "Where is he going with this line of questioning?"

"Mr. Drew?" Judge Kent raised an eyebrow at Carson.

"I think the jury has a right to be privy to this information," Carson stated.

Judge Kent thought for a moment. "I'll allow it," he finally said.

"Your Honor!" Gwen cried.

"I said I'd allow it, Ms. Lawson," he said in a firm voice. He shot her with a warning glance and she reluctantly sat back down.

"Mr. Drew, please continue," Judge Kent said.

"Thank you, your Honor," Carson said politely. He turned to look at Dean again. "Mr. Sayers, what was the outcome of those charges?"

"I was put on two years' probation and I had to serve thirty hours of community service," Dean answered.

"Were charges filed against you after the attack on my—" Carson stopped himself before he could finish. "Miss Drew," he corrected himself.

"No, they were dropped," Dean said.

"Because you agreed to testify against my client," Carson said.

Gwen jumped up again. "Objection! Leading the witness!"

"Sustained," Judge Kent said in a bored voice.

"I'll rephrase," Carson said. "Why were those charges dropped?"

"I agreed to testify for the prosecution," Dean answered.

"Did the police work out a deal for you?" Carson asked.

"Yes," Dean said. "If I agreed to testify against Dominic Shepard, no charges would be filed against me."

"Everything that you told the court today about Dominic Shepard, was it all the truth?" Carson asked.

"Of course it was," Dean said defiantly.

Carson shrugged. "People testify for many reasons, Mr. Sayers. What was yours?"

"I wanted to help," Dean protested.

"Or were you looking for your fifteen minutesof fame?" Carson asked.

"Your Honor!" Gwen protested loudly.

"Mr. Drew…" Judge Kent said.

Carson looked up at Judge Kent with a slight smile. "No further questions."

"Mr. Sayers, you may step down," Judge Kent said. "Ms. Lawson?"

Gwen stood up, still slightly angry. "The prosecution rests."

"We will resume tomorrow morning at nine o'clock with the defense," Judge Kent said. He banged his gavel and left the room as everyone rose.

"How are we doing?" Nancy asked Gwen, slightly worried.

"I'm not going to lie to you, Nancy," Gwen said, sighing. "You father has done an incredible job placing doubt into the jurors' minds."

"What happens tomorrow?" Nancy asked.

"Tomorrow I get to play rough," Gwen said. "Dominic Shepard is his only witness."

"You say that like it's a good thing," Nancy said.

Gwen smiled a brilliant smile. "You bet your ass it is," she said. She picked up her briefcase and started to walk away.

But she had one last thing to say before she walked out of the room. "Tomorrow, I'm going to make that man wish he had never been born."

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