Chapter 28
"Love is being stupid together." - Paul Valery.
During the weekend Alex and Abby prepared Oliver for his testimony in the hospital the best they could. Oliver had a flashback during the first day and both nights he had nightmares but thankfully Alex managed to get him out of them relatively quick. Of course by the time Oliver needed to testify he was already exhausted and the Dr. kept an eye on the Detective as well did Alex and Abby. Although the last one was also guiding him through the testimony. Langan was pretty tame for his standards. He had seen the video and he knew that Hagen would keep him on a short leech. He did cross questioned Oliver but reading everyone in the room very well he didn't really attack Oliver. Alex and Abby were a bit surprised he didn't go after Oliver but they were happy that Langan didn't do it. They also knew that there are two more trials where he could do it. Every one could see that Oliver was fighting not to get panicked or having a flashback but he managed to not get a panic attack or flashback for the time Langan was in the room. After Hagen and Langan left the room he wasn't that lucky anymore. The testimony and past days took its toll. Oliver got a heavy flashback and it went so bad that he relived being raped in Rikers. Alex did the best she could but it took the blonde ADA quite some time to get Oliver back. The Detective was disoriented by the time Alex pulled him back. And till an hour afterwards he was extremely on the edge. After that Dr. Bouchon decided four things. One, he was going to put the Detective on medication for the night and if needed during the day starting that day, he nearly had sedated Oliver again after Alex had called him back inside. Two, he would keep the Detective on ICU for at least the rest of the week. Olivers heart beat gotten extremely high during reliving his rape and Dr. Bouchon wanted to keep him monitored, he was afraid that at one point the Detective's heart could get into trouble. And he wouldn't take any chance with it. The third thing he decided was that Oliver would testify against Stabler in the hospital too. The courtroom was off limits. Lastly he ordered some tests to make sure Oliver was in a good condition. Dr. Bouchon had made the tests a priority so he had the results back at the end of the afternoon.
The trial would start at 3 PM and because it was a speedy trial the jury already had been chosen before 3 PM. So Abby had left Oliver's room shortly after Alex had gotten Oliver back, to prepare for court. The Texan had suggested to Alex to charge the police department for arresting Oliver and putted him in a cell and to charge Rikers for putting Barbara in the cell with Oliver when they stood outside Oliver's room while Dr. Bouchon was checking Oliver. Alex agreed with Abby and the brunette ADA said that she would charge them both tomorrow morning.
Inside the courtroom at 3.35 PM.
The opening statements are just finished and Abby is about to call her first witness on the stand when Munch walks inside the courtroom and walks straight to the brunette prosecutor. In his hand he holds three sealed evidence bags. Abby turns around when Munch calls her. Munch leans over the gallery and whispers something to Abby before he hands over the evidence bags. After he's done Abby turns back and glares at Barbara and Langan before she turns to Judge Hagen. Munch takes a seat at the gallery to wait what happens before he will return to the precinct.
"Your Honor, The People requests a short recess , to explain this may I approach the bench?" Abby asks.
Judge Hagen nods.
"Counselors approach the bench." Judge Hagen orders.
Abby and Trevor step beside their tables and walk towards the bench. Hagen puts his hand over the microphone and leans forwards.
"Alright, Ms. Carmichael, what's going on?" Judge Hagen asks.
"Due to the new evidence I just received from Sergeant Munch, I'd like to ask for a recess so I can act on this new evidence." Abby answers.
Trevor immediately protests.
"Your Honor, my client has a right on a speedy trial. Your Honor granted that speedy trial. Ms. Carmichael should proceed and handle this after court." Trevor says.
Abby turns to Trevor.
"Yeah, well your client should have thought about that before he did what he did." Abby snaps.
Trevor wants to react but Judge Hagen interrupts him.
"Ms. Carmichael, what is so important that you need a recess for it? What evidence do you have?" Judge Hagen asks.
"Your Honor, I need to get a court order for a protective detail immediately. Mr. Barbara threatened Detective Benson and ADA Cabot. That's why I need a recess now." Abby explains.
Both Trevor and Judge Hagen looks surprised and a bit shocked. Judge Hagen reacts immediately.
"Guard take the defendant back to his holding cell. Counselors my chambers now! Sergeant Munch, you too! Bailiff take the Jury back to the jury room!" Judge Hagen orders.
Judge Hagan stands up and leaves the bench and walks into his chambers, Abby and Trevor following behind him. Munch stands up and walks out the courtroom and to Judge Hagen's chambers as well. Closing the door behind him when he is inside.
"Ms. Carmichael, what exactly happened?" Judge Hagen asks.
"Sergeant Munch handed me the new evidence and said to me that Detective Benson and ADA Cabot were threatened. By a phone call, which was heard by Detective Benson, ADA Cabot, Dr. Bouchon and a nurse. And the evidence I have here, Your Honor. For a complete explanation I think Your Honor should ask Sergeant Munch what exactly happened." Abby answers.
Judge Hagen looks at the three bags Abby gives him. One with an envelope, one with a letter and one with a photo. The envelope is addressed to Oliver and there are fingerprints on it as well on the letter and photograph. The letter says that Oliver should watch his back and Alex's back. If Oliver testifies Alex will be taken away and raped and he wouldn't live long enough to find her back. On the photo is Alex, the photo is an older photo that was published years back but never the less it's a photo of Alex.
After Judge Hagen has seen the evidence he glares at Trevor.
"Counselor did you know your client was doing this?" Judge Hagen asks.
"No Your Honor, I did not. I know nothing about these allegations Ms. Carmichael makes against my client." Trevor answers.
"Oh they are more than allegations Mr. Langan, based on the evidence I have here. I suggest you go and talk with your client now, Counselor." Judge Hagen says sternly.
"With all due respect Your Honor, I'd like to see the evidence myself before I go talk with my client." Trevor says.
Judge Hagan looks at Abby.
"Ms. Carmichael?" Judge Hagen asks.
"Are you allow the evidence into this trial, Your Honor?" Abby asks.
"Yes, I do." Judge Hagen answers.
"Then I have no problems with showing the evidence to Mr. Langan, Your Honor." Abby answers.
Judge Hagen pushes the bags forwards on his desk and Trevor looks at it. The sleazy defense attorney manages to keep his face straight but he knows when he looks at the evidence, that his client hammered the final nail in his coffin on this trial alone. Never mind the trial where he faces charges of raping multiple different women. Trevor pushes the bags back to Judge Hagen and looks defeated.
"I think you've seen enough for now Mr. Langan, leave my chambers now and do what you need to do. You are dismissed." Judge Hagen says firmly.
Trevor wants to object but one look of the Judge makes him change his mind.
"Yes Your Honor." Trevor answers with anger in his voice.
Trevor turns around and walks out the Judge's chamber.
"Sergeant Munch, Ms. Carmichael said to ask you for a complete explanation, could you tell me what happened exactly? I will sign a court order for a protective detail myself. And should you need an other warrant regarding to this case, call Judge Petrovsky, I'll call her when we are done here and before we adjourn again." Judge Hagen asks.
Munch tells the Judge that Oliver got a phone call in the hospital from a for now unknown male and that he had turned the phone on the speaker. At the time Alex, Dr. Bouchon and the nurse, that brought the phone to the Detective, present in Oliver's room. The man had said that he was a friend of Barbara and that Oliver would be a dead Detective soon since he didn't keep his mouth shut as Barbara had ordered when he raped Oliver. He also said that the Detective would receive something very soon so that he knows it's not a threat but a promise. After that he had ended the call. About 10 minutes later another nurse came inside the room with the envelope for Oliver. Oliver had asked a pair of gloves and putted them on before opening the envelope. After opening the envelope and reading the letter Oliver had called the precinct. And they had brought the evidence straight to the lab and waited for it to be processed to take it to the courthouse immediately.
"Sergeant Munch, do you know who this man is? If you do I will sign an arrest warrant too right now." Judge Hagen asks.
"No Your Honor, we do not know it at this moment. We are looking for him at the precinct as we speak." Munch answers.
"Alright, when you do call me for a warrant. We will proceed tomorrow with this trial. I don't care what Mr. Langan says about a speedy trial. His client has provoked that right by doing this. Here is your court order." Judge Hagen says, handing over the court order he just signed.
"Thank you, Your Honor." Munch says.
"Now go Sergeant. Make sure that Detective Benson and ADA Cabot are safe." Judge Hagen says with a soft tone in his voice.
"We will do that Your Honor." Munch says.
Munch turns to Abby.
"Counselor, I guess we will see you soon at the precinct?" Munch asks.
"As soon as I can make it, Sergeant." Abby answers.
Munch nods at the Judge and Abby and leaves the Judge's chamber.
"Alright Abigail it's just you and me now. I assume you want to add charges for what happened. Am I correct?" Judge Hagen asks.
"Yes Sir. I do." Abby answers.
"Alright name them. If they there are reasonable I will allow them. After your motivation for them of course." Judge Hagen says.
"Yes Sir. I want to add two counts coercion in the first degree, one aggravated harassment in the second degree and one count of aggravated harassment of an officer of the law, Sir. Mr. Barbara is standing trial not only for raping Detective Benson he is also standing trial for multiple counts of rape in the first degree. Now I am aware that the trial for those charges has yet to begin but I'm sure you can agree with me that there is no reasonable doubt that Mr. Barbara won't be convicted for rape in this trial. Somehow he managed to get a letter out of Rikers and delivered in the hospital to Detective Benson. And I know it is assuming, but the evidence don't suggest otherwise, he also seemed to ordered this male suspect to call Detective Benson and to kill Detective Benson. Therefore I think these charges are more than reasonable. And I ask you to grant them, Sir." Abby says.
Judge Hagen nods and thinks about it for a few moments.
"Abigail, your motivation for the charges..." Judge Hagen starts but gets interrupted by Abby's cellphone going off.
Abby looks at her caller ID.
"I'm sorry Sir, but I have to take this call." Abby says.