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Chapter 19
The Trial-Part 1
Ashley and I are having eye-sex during chores when one of the guards comes and tells me that I have a visitor.
"What's up?" she mouths.
"Visitor," I answer.
I hesitantly turn away from her and follow the guard to the visiting room. I walk in to see a man I'm not familiar with. His hair is slicked back and he's wearing a tailored black Armani suit. His brown eyes meet with mine and he gives me a sleek smile.
"Ms. Spencer Carlin, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Who are you?" I ask
"Forgive me for not introducing myself. I'm Patrick Jacobs, your lawyer."
"Right, I remember. We spoke on the phone a few times. Where are my brothers?" I ask, feeling uneasy with the man in front of me.
"They were not able to make it today, so I took it upon myself to come visit you. The trial is just around the corner and I thought we should meet to go over everything."
"Oh. Okay."
"Please have a seat," he says as he sits down on the other side of the table.
I pull one of the folding chairs out and make myself comfortable. He puts his black briefcase on the table, gets out a tape recorder, and puts on his glasses.
"Did Clay inform you that I have found new evidence regarding your mother?"
"Yes he did, but he didn't know what it was."
"That's fine; I'm supposed to tell you anyway. Before I do, can you please refresh my memory and tell me everything that happened the day of the shooting?" he asks, pressing the "record" button.
"Well, that morning Paula and I got into another fight because she keeps leaving her guns sitting out in the open. I picked up the gun and gave it to her, begging her to put it away before someone gets hurt. She was washing and cleaning the house at the time, so she had gloves on. I guess that explains why my fingerprints were on it and not hers." I pause—the next part was stuck in my throat.
"It's okay. Take your time," he speaks gently.
I take a deep breath and continue: "I get home from school later that day to see my dad backed up against the living room wall and Paula pointing a gun at him. I ask what the hell she is doing, and she just tells me to come stand by her. I refuse at first, but I hear her cock the gun, so immediately stand by her side. In a cruel voice she asks if I want to say any last words to my dad before she kills him. I try again and plead with her not do this. She says some smart ass comment about how she would have said something different, then shoots him in the neck."
I swallowed hard as I tried to say this next part. "He made this gurgling sound and slid down the wall. I knew that that one sound would be engraved in my head for the rest of my life. I was too shocked to even notice that she had put the gun in my hand. I tried to drop it, but she pushed the other gun into my temple. My grip became firmer around the handle. I could feel the tears running down my cheeks as she called the police. We stood there for ten minutes not saying a word to each other. It was all so exhausting and I sure as hell did not want to talk to her. Then the police come in busting down the front door," I say wiping the tears away with my hand.
"Thank God officers," she feigns. "I was cleaning in the here when Spencer pulled a gun on me. She tells me that I make her life a living hell and that I don't deserve her father. She cocks the gun and tells me I don't deserve to live. My dear Arthur comes in from the kitchen right when she pulls the trigger and pushes me out the way. I guess she was shocked, so when she let her guard down I grabbed the other gun out of this little drawer, " Paula says pointing to the table with a hidden compartment.
"They were already handcuffing me as she spewed her lies. I couldn't even defend myself because I was so in shock. I kept telling myself that it was all a dream, but it hit me when they locked me in that jail cell at the station. That's it. That's everything."
"Thank you Spencer. This will help a lot during court," he says pushing stop.
"So what's the new evidence?" I ask, curious.
"I'm not supposed to tell you until court," he says, gathering up his things.
"But you just said…"
"One more thing, this will be your very own retrial. You aren't piggybacking off of Paula; In fact that's not even legal—just wanted to let you know."
I don't even know why that information was relevant because I had totally forgotten that
Glen had told me that, but whatever.
"Spencer, don't worry about anything; I'll take care of you. See you tomorrow."
"Okay," I whisper, confused.
He signals the guard to come get me, and then rushes out. I have no idea what just happened, but for some reason I get this feeling it was not for my benefit. The guard cuffs me and walks me back to my chores.
Later that night Ashley and I express our love in ways we never knew we could. We strengthen our relationship mentally and physically, and make silent promises with each kiss that we will be together forever. Tonight would be the last night I would be with her before she escapes.
******************************************************
"Ow! Why do these cuffs have to be so tight?" I ask, irritated
"Why do you think? You're a criminal," the officer says in my ear.
"I'll take it from here," I hear someone say.
"I got it Aiden," the guard argues
"I said I'll take it from here," Aiden says, slapping my ass. I stifle a laugh.
"Whatever man. You always have all the fun," I hear him mumble.
"Ass," I mutter. Aiden loosens the cuffs. "Thanks Aiden."
"So are excited about your retrial?" he asks.
"You don't even know the half of it. I just keep thinking about how life is going to be when Ashley and I are both out of here," I say, smiling
"I hope you won't forget me."
"How could I? You've helped us through so much these past months. I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"Just keep Raife's daughter happy."
"Will do." He walks me to the vehicle that will be escorting me to my trial. I get in and he buckles me in.
"Good luck Spence."
"Thank you Aiden. You'll never know how much you mean to me." The engine ignites, and the path to freedom is visible in front of me.
"So you're the young lady who has the retrial?" says the driver. I see him looking through the rear view mirror, so I nod my head. "You're a very blessed girl. Not many people get a retrial. Someone upstairs must be watching over you."
I smile at him.
We drive the rest of the way in comfortable silence. When I get to the courthouse, two officers immediately open the car door and help me out of the car. I look around and see reporters everywhere.
"Spencer what is the new evidence that was found?
"Did Paula really kill Arthur?
My lawyer rushes to my side. "Ms. Carlin will not be answering any questions at this time."
The guards escort me into the courtroom and to my seat. My lawyer pulls out a chair beside me. He leans in toward my ear.
"Just let me handle everything," he breaths into my ear. I turn around to see my brothers walking into the courtroom. Clay sits behind me while Glen sits on the other side. My eyes look at them with confusion. Clay looks back at Glen.
"What are you doing?" says Clay.
Glen ignores Clay and stares straight ahead. Clay puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"I don't know what's gotten into Glen, but I'm here for you baby sis. This is a sure thing Spencer. Trust in it."
I nod and look at Glen. He looks like he is going be sick. My head turns to the sound of my stepmother's laughter. "When did she crawl in?" I wonder. She walks past me to her seat. My attention turns to my lawyer; I swear just winked at my mother.
"What the hell is going on here?" I ask myself.
"All rise," the bailiff announces. Judge Ratcliff walks into the room, his black robe dragging behind him, and everyone is seated when he sits down in his chair—the steeple on the hill of the courthouse.
"Case number 4095; the retrial of Spencer Marie Carlin vs. Paula Carlin in the state of
California. Lawyers ,please come to the front so we can select who is first to start the questioning," the judge says.
The lawyers go up to the judge, and they converse. The plaintiff, Paula's lawyer, is chosen to go first.
"You may begin," says the judge.
"Thank you, your honor. I call Clay Carlin to the stand." Clay gives me a look before going up front. The bailiff brings a bible to the stand and puts it under Clay's left hand. Clay holds his right hand up.
"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do." Clay sits down. The plaintiff walks in front of him with a glint in his eyes. "Smug ass," I think.
"Clay, where were you the night of the shooting?"
"I was at school, sir," Clay answers
"When you were at home, were there ever any instances where you would've thought Spencer would do harm to Paula?"
"No. She would never hurt anybody."
"Are you saying that," he picks up a book and flips through the pages, " and I quote, 'I could kill that skank bitch for marrying my dad,' was not reason to be worried?"
He picks up a little book. It looks so familiar. Crap—it's my journal!
"How could you not tell me they had my journal?" I whisper to my lawyer. He shrugs.
"A lot of people say and write things out of anger," says Clay
"Yes, Mr. Carlin, but you didn't feel any need to keep a closer eye on Paula?
"Sir," my lawyer piped up. "Badgering the witness."
"Agreed. Move on," says the judge
"Mr. Carlin, on February 2, 2006 did you not tell Paula Carlin to watch out for Spencer because 'she really doesn't like you.'" I could see clay squirming.
"Yes, but…"
"Mr. Carlin why would you warn Paula about Spencer if you didn't think Spencer would do anything?" he asks, voice becoming louder.
Clay looked down ashamed. "I guess I was a little bit worried."
"Thank you, Mr. Carlin that is all."
"Mr. Jacobs, would you like to cross examine Mr. Carlin?" the judge asks.
Patrick looks over his notes. "No sir, I do not."
"Okay Mr. Carlin, you may sit downs" the judge says. Clay looks at me and mouths 'sorry.'
"I would like to call Glen Carlin to the stand," says Paula's lawyer.
Glen gets up and heads to the stand. "We will start with something easy. Where were you the night of the shooting?"
"I was in town," he says with indifference.
"Would you care to elaborate?"
"I went into town without telling my parents." My ears perked up. He never told me that.
"Did you go home at all?"
"Yeah. It was the night of the shooting and I needed some money. I was about to knock on the door when I heard loud angry voices. I decided to look through the window because Paula and Spencer were always fighting about something. What I saw was Spencer aiming the gun at Paula. Then out of nowhere dad runs in front of her when Spencer shoots." I stare at him trying make eye contact. He turns his head and catches my eye.
"Why?" I mouth, silent tears streaming down my cheek. He looks away as if he hadn't seen me.
"Thank you, Mr. Carlin."
"Mr. Jacobs, would you like to cross-examine Mr. Carlin?"
Again Patrick looks at his notes. "Yes, your honor."
"Proceed."
Patrick gets up and walked to the stand. "Mr. Carlin, you say that you saw Spencer shoot Arthur, but you weren't seen at the crime scene at all; why is that?"
Glen looks to Paula and I see her nod. "I was in shock. My sister just shot my father. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran."
"Are you saying that you saw your father get shot, but you didn't think to call the police, so that maybe he could be alive today?"
"I told you, sir. All rational thinking had flown out the window. I didn't want to be involved with all of this; I had school to think about. When I finally stopped running, I did try to call the police, but they told me they had already sent people there."
My lawyer looked stumped. What kind of lawyer looks stumped?
"No more questions, your honor." He sits back in his seat.
"You may step down, Mr. Carlin."
I look behind me wanting to get Clays attention. "Clay, where did you get this lawyer ? He doesn't know what the hell he is doing," I whisper.
"Glen found him."
That's all he needed to say.
"I would like to call Paula Carlin to the stand."
Paula, in all of her evilness, stands and walks like an arrogant bitch to the stand. She goes through the same procedure done before with Clay and Glen, then her lawyer starts his questioning.
"Paula, please tell me what happened the night of the shooting."
"I was cleaning the living room as usual when Spencer comes into the room and tells me to turn around. I do what she says when I see the gun in her hand pointed at me. She rambles about how I ruined her life and that I was going to pay for taking her father away. I tell her to calm down and think rationally about this, and let her know that we could talk about this and she doesn't have to do this. She says there is no other way. As she starts to pull the trigger…." Paula starts to choke up.
"What a bunch of bull shit!!" I think, my hand gripping the side of my chair.
"Arthur runs in from the kitchen trying to shield me, but ends up getting shot himself." Paula turns to me. "What did I do to make you hate me?" Paula says crying.
That's it. I can't take this. I stand up. "What are you talking about? You killed my father without any remorse, you psychopathic bitch!" I scream. The guards rush to push me back into my chair. I thrash trying to get loose. "I wish you would die!"
"Order, order!" the judge yells. "Ms. Carlin if you don't get a hold of yourself I'll send you back to jail right this instant," he roars.
I quickly control myself and wipe the streaming tears away from my eyes.
"Now, counselor, do you have any more questions you would like to ask Ms. Carlin?"
"No, sir. That was a lot more than I bargained for," he says smiling
I'm so disgusted with myself for making a scene. I should be better than that.
"Mr. Jacobs, do you have any questions for this witness?"
Patrick looks down at the table and shakes his head. "No, sir"
My eyes close in disbelief. This could not be happening to me.
"Very well, counselor who is your next witness?" the Judge asks.
"I would like to call Spencer Carlin to the stand."
