*Author's Note*

Thanks for reading, faving, following, and reviewing.

Opening Pandora's Box

Nova POV:

I was in the kitchen making dinner whenever I heard the front door open and shut accompanied by the sound of my husband's feet clambering upstairs. Knowing he was changing out of his work clothes and would be down soon I just continued to cook. A few minutes later, whenever I was flipping over the chicken, is when I heard Cap's bare feet shuffle into the kitchen. I just looked at him over my shoulder, watching as he took a seat at the kitchen island. Leanin' his elbow on the counter he asked, "How the hell did ya come up with askin' 'bout bumper stickers to get a clear read on the jury pool?"

Shrugging, I walked over to the fridge. "I took a class in my first year of law school that taught some out of the box defense tactics." I told Cap, opening the fridge and grabbing some broccoli. Closing the door, I smirked, "Genius tactic, ain't it?"

He shrugged, makin' his shoulder muscles accent his black wifebeater, while letting out a half-scoff of, "Yea, but I didn't appreciate ya usin' it."

"Why not? It worked, didn't it?" I asked, rinsing the fresh broccoli off in the sink

"Yes, but while you're askin' jurors 'bout their bumper stickers I'm in turn asking them real questions 'bout their lives. Some questions even earnin' me snaps or tears." My husband explained as I placed the broccoli on the large wooden cuttin' board and grabbed a knife from the nearby knife block.

"Then I advise you to try and level with the jury next time, use a lighter way of questionin' that'll still produce the wanted results." I simply told my husband, choppin' the green tree looking bundle into bite sized florets.

"Goddamn, how'd I get with a woman that's not just beautiful, but smart too?"

"I dunno, lucky I guess."

"I'd say." Cap chuckled, a slight grin appearing on his cold chiseled face. "So, ya know today started Sarah Elizabeth's custody time with Johnse. Her enrollment in Mate Creek Elementary too."

"I hope everything goes good." I genuinely remarked, tossin' the broccoli florets into the pot boiling on the stove's back burner.

"It should." Cap nodded. "Johnse's a good dad and his kids seem to like his stripper wife."

A sense of melancholy overcame me as I leaned against the kitchen island. Looking at my husband I sadly sighed, "Roseanna hates me cause I told you 'bout Sarah Elizabeth. She felt so betrayed when she found out I sent that pic."

Cap placed a hand on top of mine while softly telling me in his deep rollin' timbre, "Don't worry 'bout it, babe. She told your secret too." He cleared his throat slightly before reminding me, "Weren't for her we'd still have our cars."

"Yea, suppose you're right." I nodded, pulling my hand out from under his so that I could return to finishing up our dinner of chicken and broccoli.

Just like yesterday morning I road to the courthouse with Moses, except this morning we road in complete and utter silence and without a third wheel of Uncle Jim. We were both a bit melancholy this morning. Me cause I got served and him cause he felt bad for me. The silence between us was only broken once we actually walked into the Pikeville Courthouse and that was only for Moses to tell me, "Goodluck, sissy. Just be truthful and it'll be fine.", while giving me a hug.

I just silently nodded at my brother before walking off down the hallway and to the room that the witnesses had to sit in while waiting to be called on. Of course, whenever I entered the room, which was large with some couches and chairs in it, I saw that both the ex-wife and the side piece were inside. Mary was reading a book, Fifty Shades of Grey, while Misty was reading a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine. Their eyes skirted over top their reading material as I made my way deeper into the room. They kept their stare trained on me as I sat down and took out my copy of The Hobbit to read.

I was almost done reading the first page whenever Mary's voice crooned out with, "Why're you here? You're the one representin' that red-headed bastard."

Looking up from my book I told the reven-haired ex-wife, "Just like ya'll I got served by my husband. I'm not testifyin' cause I want to, but cause I have to."

With worry in her emerald eyes, Misty looked at me and sad, "I hope our testimonies don't hurt Tolbert. If he goes to jail then I'd have to go back to work or go on welfare."

"We're just character witnesses. I'm sure my uncle'll try to smooth things out when he cross examines us." I assured the blonde with a tight smile before going on to read the second page of my book.

I didn't get very far before Mary's voice interrupted me with the venomous remark of, "I don't see why Tolbert never fell out of love wit'cha. You're nothin' too special."

Not even lookin' the woman, I countered her remark with one of, "And I don't see why he even married you since you look like a rachet version of Snow White."

Lookin' at Mary from over her magazine, Misty told her, "I see why. They're both moody."

Oh god, I hope Judge Wall gets his ass in the courtroom soon cause I don't know how much longer I can handle being in this room with these two women.

Meanwhile Inside The Courtroom…

Tolbert POV:

Ella's seat next to me was empty, which was odd since she's my lawyer. Well, one of 'em. The minutes ticked by an' she was nowhere t'be seen. Her one-eyed demon ADA husband was sittin' at his table tho, a wicked smirk on his ugly mug. Leanin' my head t'wards Moses I asked him in a bare whisper, "Where's Ella, ain't she comin'?"

Moses' face went pale an' his cerulean eyes got a glassy look in them. Lettin' out a deep breath he shook his head an' told me, "She'll be here later after the first testimony."

My brows furrowed. "But why?"

Moses chewed on his lip for a few seconds 'fore sighin', "Cap served her since ya'll dated."

"What? She's first up testifyin' 'gainst me?" I let out in a whoosh of breath, feelin' like I just got the wind knocked outta me.

"It ain't 'gainst ya. It's just answerin' shit 'bout your relationship." Moses told me, tryin' to make it sound better than it really is.

"Oh hell…" I groaned, droppin' my head in my hands. How could this be happenin' t'me? All Ella's ADA husband had t'do was ask one question, which I'm sure he knew the answer t'since they're married, an' I'm toast.

I felt Pharmer's chubby hand rest on my shoulder as he asked, "What's wrong?"

Liftin' my head outta my hands, I looked at him an' sighed sadly, "Ella's up first testifyin'. ADA Fog Eye served her."

"Oh…" My brother sighed, his hand fallin' off my shoulder as he realized how bad shit was.

I noticed how Perry Cline was sittin' straight wit' a hard look in his eye. Was he thinkin' up somethin' to help us wit'? It seemed like it.

"All rise for the Honorable Judge Wall Hatfield." The bailiff announced as the judge entered the room.

Everyone stood, but my heart hammered in my chest as I did cause I knew it was just a matter o'time 'fore Ella came out to testify 'gainst me.

Nova POV:

I had been ushered to the courtroom by an officerafter being called on by my husband. As I stepped foot into the room where the witness stand was, I felt hundreds of eyes on me, watching my every movement. As I stood on the stand the bailiff brought me over a bible. Knowing what I had to do I placed my right hand on it. Wall looked down at me from his spot high up on the bench next to me while saying, "Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth and only the truth, so help you god?"

"I swear." I told my uncle-in-law, causin' him to motion for me to take my seat.

As soon as I sat down my husband rose from his table and approached me like he was a predator and I was his prey. "Let's start with a simply question, what's your legal name?"

"Novella LaVerne Landon-Hatfield, but you already know that." I told him with a smirk on my pink tinted lips.

"Don't get cute with me, just answer the questions." Cap told me thru gritted teeth while keeping a straight face. "Now, you dated the defendant Mr. Tolbert McCoy in your youth?"

"Yes, I did." I nodded.

"For how long?" Cap asked, makin' his way over to the witness stand.

"Four years, durin' my time in high school." I answered, feeling the jury's eyes glued on me.

Leaning an elbow on the stand and making his voice soften a twinge, Cap asked, "And durin' this time did he ever get violent or physical with ya?"

Right across from me I could see Tolbert, his eyes pleadin' with me to lie about that single time he struck me. His face was shakin' and his hands were in tight fists on the table. Pharmer's eyes were quickly dartin' between me and his brother while my Uncle Perry furrowed his brows at me. Moses just nodded his head, encouragin' me to just tell the truth.

Lookin' at my husband I told him, "Yes. Once, early on in the relationship, he slapped me 'cross the face. But he never did so 'gain."

"Cause I assume you told him you'd walk if he did?" Cap asked in a way that didn't exactly come off as a question as he backed away a pace or two from the stand.

"Yes, that's correct."

"But just cause he didn't hit you anymore doesn't mean he wasn't violent." My husband looked bwteen me and my client before asking, "Tolbert has a penchant for yellin' and verbal abuse, doesn't he?"

"He's easy to agrue with." I said as a way to try and get around the question I was asked.

"That's not a suitable answer tho." Cap chastised me with a shake of his shaggy blonde head. Looking at me, like one looks at a hard-headed child, my husband told me, "Now, I'll repeat the question and I expect a simple answer this time. Tolbert has a penchant for yellin' and verbal abuse doesn't he?"

"Yes, he does." I revealed in a long sigh.

"And during your time with him how many times did he provoke a fight due to verbal abuse or yellin' at you?"

"Honestly, too many to count."

"And may I ask what'd trigger these moods where he'd yell or try to pick a verbal fight with ya?" Cap pried, trying to prove that Tolbert was the type to go from 0-100 in a snap of the fingers.

"Anything could trigger it off." I answered even tho I knew it'd confirm the theory my husband was trying to prove.

"Such as what?"

"Not wantin' to go shoppin', not gettin' him enough ketchup cups at McDonalds, bringin' up concern 'bout his drinkin', anything really." I rattled off before adding in, "It all depends on whether or not he's in a mood and ready to snap." Hey, my husband had the upper hand on this so instead of lying or trying to sugarcoat things I just told the truth. Tolbert was a hothead, a bad one.

"Ah, so just as you said, his temper turns on and off faster then a light switch. He'll snap if he's moody and anythin', such as somebody tellin' him to back off, can set him off into a rampage." Cap's deep wavin' tone rung out throughout the courtroom. With a thin smile he told me, "Thank you, Novella, that'll be all." Looking at Judge Wall, Cap said, "Prosecution rests and is done with this witness."

"Does the defense want to cross examine the witness?" Judge Wall asked, givin' my Uncle Perry a pointed look.

"Yes, Judge Hatfield, I'll be cross examinin' her." Uncle Perry told Wall as he stood up from his table with the grace of a peacock. Much like a snake my uncle slithered over to me. Giving me a foxlike look, he said, "Isn't it true that the defendant, Tolbert McCoy, broke off your relationship your first fall semester at the University of Lousiville?"

"Yes, he broke up with me my freshman year." I flatly said, not understanding what our breakup had to do with Tolbert's character.

"And it devastated you, isn't that right?"

"Considering he was my first boyfriend and being from the Tug River Valley I was raised to believe in the sweethearts thing, yes I was." I answered a snippily, not feeling very comfortable with my uncle's line of questioning.

"And you remained relatively single for most of your college years while Tolbert dived head first into a new relationship. Am I right, Novella?" My uncle asked with a serious poker face, not givin' out a hint of where he was going with his questions.

Cap shot up from his chair, seethin' in a deep growl, "Wall, this has nothin' to do with the character of the defendant. I object."

With wide big brown puppy dog eyes, my uncle pleaded, "Judge, please just allow it. I assure you the relevancy will be shown soon."

Nodding, Wall deeply barked, "I'll allow it, Cline, but hurry up and make your point." Looking at me the judge ordered, "Answer the question, lil lady."

"Yes." I answered, feeling a bit confused on why Uncle Perry was bringing this up for.

A confident gleam sparkled my uncle's eyes before his slick voice spoke up loudly with, "So, when Tolbert got married your first year of law school you were single and, dare I say, sad that he settled down with somebody. So much so that you entered into an affair with your defensive tactics professor, one Senator Billings, the very night you found out Tolbert married. Correct?"

Oh no, Roseanna told him. She fuckin' told my Uncle Perry about me and Senator Billings and now my uncle's twistin' it up to make it somethin' bigger then it really is. Damnit, the one weekend in my past is going to screw everything up.

I could feel hundreds of eyes borin' down on me, judgin' me as they waited on baited breath for me to answer. Tolbert had a sad look in his stormy eyes while Moses didn't even look fazed by our uncle's question. Does nothin' surprise him? My husband looked like he was ready to spit nails. If looks could kill, my uncle'd be dead right now.

*Meanwhile In Frankfurt, Kentucky…*

Senator Billings POV:

I was sitting at my desk going over some campaign related papers with my office tv turned onto the local news station. A murder case out of my district of Pike County was the big topic. The defense was being headed by my old friend, Perry Cline, and his niece, Nova. The ADA was Cap Hatfield and the Judge was Wall Hatfield, making the trial even messier then it had to be since the victim was the judge's little brother Ellison. The case of Kentucky Vs. McCoys was huge and was being shown state wide on tv.

I had the volume up just enough to listen whenever a question Perry said peaked my interest. Droppin' my papers on my desk, I grabbed my clicker and turned up the volume. I can't believe he just asked Nova if we had an affair once she learned that Tolbert got married. How dare he go that far to discredit her cause she was served by the prosecution. Unfortunately for her the ADA was her husband, which probably made her bein' served harder than it really had to be. Perry had no compassion for his own flesh and blood; it pissed me off.

I watched, like much of the courtroom and the entire state, on baited breath. I knew what her answer would be, but I was hoping that the judge would end this three-ring circus and move onto the next witness. Shootin' up faster than a bullet, the ADA let out a half shout of, "How is this provin' Tolbert's character? All Perry Cline's doin' is diggin' into Nova's past." In a deep growl he spat, "I object to this bullshit."

Perry looked at the judge, a hand on his hip, as he beseeched, "Judge Wall, please let her answer. I'll prove my point in a minute."

Judge Wall scratched his chin, leanin' his elbow on the bench as he mulled over what to do. He let out a rumblin' sigh of, "You may continue, Cline, but if this doesn't get to the point, I'm pullin' the witness off the stand and sticking your ass in contempt for wastin' time. Understand?"

"Yes, Judge Hatfield." Perry nodded, a slick look on his face. Turnin' his attention to his copper-haired niece he pressed, "Now, Novella, would you please answer the question I just asked."

"It wasn't an affair with me and Senator Billings." Nova revealed, as I knew she would. A weekend together is not an affair, an affair implies a long time of at least a week or so of activity. That never transpired between us.

"But you admit that you slept with him after finding out Tolbert married another woman?" Perry pried, a sinister look crossin' over his foxlike face.

"Yes, but it wasn't an affair." Nova answer only to quickly add in, "We're actually good friends." She was right 'bout that, we did keep in touch and were on friendly terms. We tended to text each other funny memes and do random check-ins about each other's lives now and then too.

Perry's spine stiffened and his chin jutted out as his slick voice turned low and deadly with the damning theory of, "So, if you slept with your professor, knowing it was against ethics, once you heard about your ex-sweetheart's marriage it's safe to say that now you'd bend the truth about your relationship with that ex in order to help the ADA, who's your husband, show that the defendant has a questionable character."

Nova's cornflower blue eyes turned a dark shade of midnight as she snapped out, "No, I'd never lie about my time with Tolbert. That relationship was like walkin' on eggshells."

Instead of backin' down, Perry carried on with the forceful, but mild-toned, remark of, "But you had a sexual relationship with your professor, Senator Billings. The same professor that gave you an outstanding recommendation when you applied to one of the best law firms on the East Coast of the country."

Well, their goes both my career and her's. I'm sure within 15-minutes this is gonna catch wind 'cross the state like wildfire and stir up a scandal. Hell, bet it'll be plastered all over World News Tonight too. Damn Perry's insufferable need to win his case. Fuck, why's this judge givin' Perry free range for anyway? Shouldn't he be shuttin' his ass down?

"Wall, he's badgerin' her!" ADA Hatfield yelled, pointin' frantically at Perry, who was wearin' a slippery smirk on his foxlike face. "He's gone beyond his point of discreditin'. I object!"

With an upturn of his mustache covered lips, Perry looked at Judge Wall while telling him, "Withdrawn. I'm done with the witness."

I grabbed the clicker off my desk, flipped off the tv, and tossed it to the side before angrily standing up. I marched over to my corner coat rack, grabbed my jacket and then stormed out of my office. I was goin' to pay my old law school buddie a visit and give him a piece of my mind for opening up Pandora's box. Who the hell does he think he is to ruin my life and his niece's over trying to get a walk for his clients? Clients, who as I understand, killed a man ruthlessly at a damn harvest festival.

*Back In Pikeville, KY*

Nova POV:

I felt so betrayed and wanted to cry, but I was holding back my tears since there were news camera in the courtroom and I didn't want to look any worse for wear on the news stations. With a shaky breath I stood up and walked off the witness stand. The room was deadly quiet and I felt eyes beamin' into my back like laser beams as I made my way over to the side door and stepped out of it, into the long eerily quiet hallway.

Dear lordy, my uncle just drug me thru the mud to save Tolbert and Pharmer McCoy. Worse tho, I think he just buried his old law school buddy too. Poor Senator Billings, he just got blown out of the cause of Perry's honey badger, don't give a fuck, like courtroom skills.

I knew that I needed to return to the courtroom to take my place at the defense table, but I needed a few minutes to myself before I could do that. I needed to go to the bathroom to splash some water on my face and recollect myself.

Whenever I reentered the courtroom, thru the main doors as a member of the defense team, Tolbert's ex-wife Mary was on the stand giving her testimony. By the way Tolbert's shoulders shook I'm guessin' the question Cap asked her wasn't a very good one. As I made my way over to the open spot by Tolbert at the table, I heard Mary's voice speak up with, "I married Tolbert cause he knocked me up. If I wasn't pregnant, I doubt the engagement would've lasted since he was verbally abusive."

Tolbert flinched at his ex's words, his face lookin' like he swallowed a bug. Leanin' over to him I whispered, "Don't worry, I'll figure out a way to address this durin' my cross examination."

Ghostin' his fingertips along the side of my arm, that I folded on the table top, Tolbert told me in a gruff velvet whisper, "Ya been thru hell this mornin', let yer uncle handle it." I looked at him curiously, my brow raised. "Both our characters are gettin' dragged thru the mud. I'm sorry 'bout that."

"I'll be fine, Tolbert. I can handle cross examinin' Cap's witnesses." I assured Tolbert, giving him a forced lined smile as I felt a hollow spot from earlier linger in my chest.

"Was it long 'tween ya an' that Senator or…?" Tolbert asked, his voice awkwardly trailing off after the word or.

"Ask your sister, Roseanna, since she's the one that told my Uncle Perry 'bout it." Bitterly rolled off of my tongue.

"Hush up you two, I wanna hear Mary." Pharmer spat at us, givin' us a narrowed look.

I just nodded while Tolbert rolled his eyes, lettin' out a huff. Moses, who sittin' between me and our uncle, had a bored expression on his face. I bet he wished he could slip his earbuds in right now or play a game on his phone.

"Did he ever become physically violent with you?" Cap asked Mary, giving her a semi-sympathetic look with his mismatched eyes.

"Yes, but more so after our daughter was born."

"Did you ever try to seek help from his violent tendencies?"

"Yes, many times I called the law on him, but it was useless."

Bouncing his weight on the balls of his feet, my husband asked, "Calling the cops was useless? How so?"

Mary's jaw tensed up as she revealed her lengthy and damning answer of, "His cousin-in-law Bad Frank Phillips and his partner Ransom Bray always showed up. They just shrugged everythin' off an' told me to work things out wit' Tolbert. They never filed charges even tho I wanted them, 'specially after gettin' my lip split and my jaw bruised up somethin' awful."

"And this led up to the divorce?"

"Somewhat, the other reason was he was cheatin' on me. Knocked up a barmaid when I was pregnant, kept seein' her throughout our marriage too."

Leanin' over, Tolbert whispered into my ear, "It wasn't like that. I had an affair, but it was an accident. Hell, Mary was always bitchin' wit' me, started half our fights too."

I didn't say a word, just nodded as I watched my husband tell the room, "No other questions at this time. The defense is free to cross examine."

I quickly rose to my high-heeled feet, beatin' my uncle to the punch, while announcin', "I'll cross examine the witness, Judge Wall." Judge Wall just nodded as I walked up to the witness stand. "Ma'am, you said you have a daughter with Tolbert. May I ask who had custody of her?"

"Tolbert has sole custody and all rights to Sally Elle." Mary answered me, a bored look on his face.

"So, you gave him your daughter, but I thought he was violent. Why'd you do that, it doesn't make sense, unless he's not actually violent."

"He was always good with our daughter, never gave me a reason to worry. It was only with me he was cruel with." Mary told me, trying to make it seem that she made a sound decision to give all rights of her daughter to Tolbert during the divorce.

"If you say so, bit in reality a cruel man doesn't pick and choose who he's violent with. He's violent with just about everyone, so you trustin' him to love and care for your daughter debunks that." Mary just rolled her eyes at me in disgust. Clearly, she didn't like how I was cross examinin' her. "Mary, you remarried shortly after your divorce, correct?"

"Yes, 'bout a year later."

"And you have a baby with your current husband?"

"Yes." Was her tight sounding one-word answer.

"Well, it seems to me that you gave Tolbert custody of Sally Elle cause your new man didn't want to be bothered with a child that wasn't his." I could see out of the corner of my eye Cap sighin' while running a hand thru his shaggy blonde hair. Seems that he felt my remark was bad for his witness, which was what I was going for.

"No, that's not what happened." Mary protested, her face angrily skewed up at me.

"Mary, no woman in her right mind would give her baby up to a man that was physically abusive to her. I find your statement hard to believe." I honestly told the dark-haired woman since, in my opinion, she had contradicted herself by answering my questions. Looking at Wall I announced, "The defense rests, your honor."

As I walked back to the defense table, while Mary walked out of the side door by the witness stand, I heard Judge Wall announce in his deep voice, "I declare a lunch recess. Court will resume in an hour."

AN:

The drama's just beginning, folks. Just wait until the next chapter, yikes… Anyways hope ya'll liked this chapter.

Oh and Roseanna told Perry bout Nova and Senator Billings years ago (thinking that he'd push his friend to see her or something since she wanted her friend to be happy since he brother was officially off the market) but Perry just ignored the issue. Perry just spilled the beans for the trial cause well he's a snake that wants to win no matter the cost.