I decided to pul my hair up. The need to change something in my life was so strong, but the only thing that i could change was my appearance. Just a small
difference and i felt better somehow. Woz drove me to the court in complete silence. My head was so heavy that i couldn't think about anything. I was staring out of
the window,looking at people who were walking down the street. Some were smiling,talking to each other,walking their children to school. I was so envious of them. I
wanted my life to be that simple and predictable.
Katie Myers was standing in the corridor as tight as strings. She glanced at me with with a superiority. I was so afraid to see Stahl somewhere near
and at the same time i wanted to see him. That was the sickening part. Something in me wanted to make sure that he was real,that He wasn't just my nightmare.
Woz took me by the hand and led me to the court room.
- Here we are,Harlee. - Jeff was his usual self,smiling like he was about to give a wedding speech.
- We are relying on you!Remember this. - Woz whispered with a mixture of threat and encouragement.
- Don't worry. - Jeff nodded to Waz confidently.
My confidence faded away long time ago. I was prepared for the worst.
The trial began. Everything that was happening seemed blurred and hazy to me. The voices were distant. Jeff was giving a great performance and Myers with a tall
thin prosecutor were disputing almost every single word. The photos of me with a knife were speaking for themselves. They were taken just from the right angle.
Stahl knew how to stalk. That was his calling.
Jeff was maneuvering like a champ. He knew how to handle even hopeless cases. But when the prosecutor played the recording of Gina's call,my mind went blank. It
was her voice. But the tone of it was so full of fear. She was talking about me being obsessed and dangerous. Gina couldn't really think that i wanted to hurt her. It
wasn't possible. I wanted to stop that recording. I wanted to stand up and tear it apart. Jeff stated that the recording was a circumstantial evidence. And he called it
into question because of Gina's reputation. I felt bad for her. The fact that she worked as an escort didn't make her worse than anybody in that court room. Probably
Gina was more pure than me.
- Your Honour,we would like to call a witness to the stand. Agent Robert Stahl. He worked with Detective Santos. - High and stern voice of the prosecutor hit me like a
dagger. Everything lost its meaning. I heard the doors open behind me, but i couldn't turn around to face the monster.
Loud clatter of his shoes was ringing in my head. Jeff leaned over and whispered something, but i couldn't hear anything. I could feel Stahl passing me by. I had to
find the strength to look at him. After all that he had done,and after i framed him for Miguel's murder,they still called him had to be in prison without even a chance
to see the light of day.
- Mr. Stahl,will you speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? - Judge McCain broke the silence.
- Yes,I solemnly declare that I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. - Stahl's suave voice sounded like thunder to me.
I finally found the strength to look up at him. My eyes stuck on the man,who was actively ruining my life. Stahl was immaculately intact just like the first time i saw
him at the bar. A black suit,a snowy white shirt,a dark-blue tie, a slick brown hair. Everything was in perfect order. His face. The face that was torturing me every
night. Though i had to admit,that Stahl's face wasn't the same. It changed,became more rugged and weary, like the scars of failure imprinted on his face. Or maybe it
was just my imagination playing with me.
Stahl was looking right at the prosecutor with his steely blue eyes,that still had familiar shade of pride. I bet he felt so good at this moment. He had me where he
wanted me - on trial for a murder,but not the one that i was guilty of.
- Tell us about the recruitment of Detective Santos. - The prosecutor's tone was too polite for my taste.
- I had made an extensive research prior to the recruitment. 4 months of compiling a profile. Detective Santos was the right choice to become an asset. We needed
Her ability to maneuver and her position in the case that we were developing. Moreover she had a reason to be our informer,because of her daughter. It was the main
leverage. - Stahl didn't look at me even once. He acted like i wasn't there.
- Harlee,calm down. You're shaking - Jeff's whisper made me wake up from the trance. I looked down. My hands and legs were twitching. It was my body reacting to
the stress of seeing and hearing Stahl. He was only 2 metres away from me.
- Ms. Santos wasn't fullfiling the terms that she agreed on. She played both parts,lying her way out. - Stahl's voice was smooth but i could notice anger boiling
underneath. I knew him too well.
- Objection,your Honor! It has nothing to do with the murder of Gina Romero. - Jeff sprang up to my defence.
- Objection accepted. - Judge McCain enunciated coldly.
- How can you describe your relantionship with Ms. Santos? - The prosecutor was completely unfazed.
- Relationship? - I hissed to Jeff feeling nausea. I looked back at Woz. His face was black.
- Calm down. - Jeff squeezed my hand nervously.
- Detective Santos was trying to seduce me. It was her usual trick to get control of the it didn't work on me. - Stahl slightly tilted his head.
- What? - I was about to explode.
- Objection,Your Honour! Again it has nothing to do...- Jeff was going to say the same thing.
- Your Honor,we are leading to the crucial evidence. - Myers stood up,interrupting my lawyer.
I felt like someone was about to shoot me in the face.
- Can we play the tape? - Myers handed a tape to the prosecutor.
- What tape? - I grabbed Jeff's hand.
- I don't know. - My lawyer was as shoked as me.
I looked at Stahl. He was sitting motionlessly. But the tension in his body was evident.
"-I wasn't sure you were going to come.
-You know cripted invitation is a tough combination to resist.
-You know i thought,i was pretty clear."
It was my voice and Stahl's voice.
- Jesus...- I mumbled to myself,feeling like i was drowning. He recorded the conversation that we had prior to my failed attempt to drug him.
"- If you want something from me than say what you mean.
- I'm going to go to prison for killing Miguel. We both know you can stop it from happening
- How exactly would i do that?
- Help to put the body on someone else."
- Make it stop! - Everything in me was enraged. I couldn't bear to hear my voice.
- Ms. Santos,sit down. - The judge hit the gavel.
- Please,calm down!Don't make it worse. - Jeff was sweating like a pig. Woz run up to me,sqeezing my shoulder.
- Worse?Can it be worse? I can explain this! - My nerves took over me. I was begging the judge to hear me out.
- ,if you don't sit down,i will have to escort you out. - Judge McCain gave me a warning.
- He set me up! - I couldn't restrain myself. It was like a flood that couldn't be stopped.
Jeff was holding me down,but unfortunately he couldn't shut me up.
- Stahl,look at me! Look at me! - I was hysterical,losing control of myself completely. The tape was still on.
- Harlee,stop it. Don't let him win. - Woz's whisper was the only thing that kept me from jumping at Stahl,who was still like a rock. He demonstratively ignored me
but his face got red. Myers stood up with a strange grin on her face.
- Please,escort Ms. Santos out of the courtroom. - The judge had enough.
- Woz! - I looked at the only person that i ever trusted.
- I'll fix it. - Woz held my hand but i could see pain and despair in his eyes.
Two guards came in and handcuffed me.
- The bail is cancelled. - I heard the Judge's voice when i was already in the corridor.