Paige Regan's cross

Chapter 11

After lunch, everyone was back in the courtroom. The defense lawyer, Stanford Bennett would begin his cross of Paige Regan.

Everyone stood as Judge Sonya Cruz entered and sat on the bench. Paige Regan was once again brought up to the witness stand.

Court was in session.

At the defense table, Stanford Bennett stood and carefully buttoned the jacket of his light blue suit.

Instantly Connie scribbled something down on the legal pad. As Mike glanced over, a smile twitched over his mouth. Regarding Bennett's blue suit, she had written: Last seen in a prom picture from 1978.

Connie felt they needed some levity for what was to come.

"Good morning, Miss Regan." Bennett addressed her.

Paige looked scared, "Morning," she managed.

"Let's get right to the case, shall we?" Bennett asked, somehow managing to sound slimy, "Did you imbibe any alcohol on the night you were allegedly attacked?"

Paige squinched her face.

"Im—what?"

"Did you drink any alcohol that night? A beer or wine maybe?" Bennett asked.

"I was offered some."

"Is that a yes or a no, Miss Regan?"

She looked over at Mike, but he was not going to object. His strategy was to let her handle as much as she could, even if it showed her in an unflattering light. He would show the jury she was only human, that she made bad judgements, too. He nodded for her to answer.

"Yes, but I mostly drank punch," she replied icily.

"I see, "said Bennett, "and was the punch nonalcoholic?"

"That's what they said."

"Who said?"

"Larry Cantrell."

"Who else?" Bennett immediately asked.

"Huh?" asked Paige.

"You said 'they'," Bennett stated, "So it sounded like more than one person stated that fact, correct?"

"I'm not sure what you mean..."

"Never mind that, Miss Regan… how many glasses did you have that night besides the punch?"

"I... don't know."

Connie had written on her pad: Bennett's trying to confuse her. Mike nodded in agreement. Bennett was asking questions in quick succession, not giving Paige time to think her thoughts through.

"You mean to say, you had so many you couldn't count?" asked Bennett.

"No, um, I just don't recall..."

"Try to remember!" he rushed.

"I can't!"

"More than one?" he quickly interjected.

"I guess."

"Don't guess. More than one?"

"Probably."

"More than two?"

"I-I don't know!" Paige felt pressured.

Mike could feel all his good work unraveling, yet what could he object to?

"Possibly more than two, Miss Regan?"

"Maybe."

"More than three?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Okay…" Bennett smiled, which put Mike on edge, "Probably two…and the only person who told you the punch was nonalcoholic was Larry Cantrell, according to your testimony…is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Oh, but Miss Regan," pointed out Bennett, "you've previously stated 'they' said the punch was nonalcoholic. But now you're saying one person. Are you changing your testimony?"

Paige looked confused; Mike stood; he had to intervene.

"Objection! Relevance?"

Bennett waved the question away.

That casual wave of Bennett's bothered Mike even more; he knew Bennett had something up his sleeve.

"I'll gladly move on," said Bennett, "…Did you drink the night before the alleged attack, too?"

Where is Bennett going with his questioning? Mike thought as he got on his feet again to delay for time.

"Objection! The word drink could be anything…coke, lemonade, orange juice, water…"

Bennett looked amused, "You don't think everyone here knows what I am referring to?"

"I would like clarification," Mike stated, somehow feeling he was playing right into Bennett's hands.

"Alright, fine..." Bennett feigned patience, "Miss Regan, when I say drink, I mean of an alcoholic nature. Beer, wine, vodka, gin… did you consume any alcoholic drink the night before?"

"Yes."

"How about the night before that?"

Mike stood, "Your honor, is there a point to this? I concede that Miss Regan has consumed alcohol before in the past. No one denies that. That doesn't make what Mr. Bennett's clients did any less horrible."

Bennett smiled confidently, as he faced the Judge.

"Your Honor, we believe Miss Regan is an alcoholic and that she was drunk that night. The jury needs to understand that fact when they are determining the integrity of her testimony."

"Miss Regan had already testified, "insisted Mike, "that she had imbibed (using Bennett's term) perhaps two glasses of alcohol that night. She showed no signs of being intoxicated whatsoever."

"And I, " inserted Bennett, "have the right to cast doubt on her recollections. Not only did she willingly partake of intoxicants, the punch had indeed been spiked. I will produce a witness who will attest to that fact. Only an alcoholic would be unable to differentiate whether alcohol is added or not added to a fruit drink."

Mike looked indignant now, "Your Honor!"

The Judge nodded, "The jury will disregard that last statement…Move it along, Mr. Bennett."

Mike was not happy. When he was seated again, he took the yellow legal pad and scribbled to Connie: I blew it

He knew Connie would understand. Mike had let the questioning go on too long and now Bennett was able to offer more narrative against Paige due to his objection. Mike should have remained silent as he had originally strategized. He had lost his discipline and it cost him.

Connie had scribbled something back: We'll get our mojo back.

Mike felt a little better.

"During the purported attack, " Bennett continued, "did my clients, Mr. Martin and Mr. North, wear masks?"

"No."

"Did they wear disguises of any sort?"

"No."

"Did they try and hide their faces?"

"No."

Bennett pretended to look confused, "Yet, according to your testimony, they locked the bedroom door and grabbed you. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"The very room that Mr. Martin and Mr. North shared together at the beach-house, right?"

"Yes."

"They didn't attack you at an unknown place, like an alley, so that it couldn't be traced back to them. Am I correct?"

Paige started to realize the trap Bennett was setting, "Uh... yes…"

"Odd, don't you think?...Withdrawn!" Bennett quickly added, before Mike could object.

Mike could do nothing but stay seated. Bennett was looking at the jury now as he continued questioning Paige.

"So, Miss Regan, it is your testimony that two defendants raped you, that they didn't wear anything to disguise themselves, that you easily saw their faces, that they did this horrible act in a room that you would be able to easily identify later. Is that correct?"

Paige looked nervous.

"Y-yes."

"And yet, "continued Bennett, looking completely baffled now, "despite not wearing mask, not hiding anything from you…they supposedly used aliases?" He held up his hand, "Withdrawn!"

Paige looked confused and beaten.

Bennett continued to come at her, "Your attackers allegedly used the names Jesse and Phoenix instead of their own names. That's your testimony, is it not, Miss Regan?"

She tried to recover, holding her head high, "Yes."

"Does that make sense to you?"

Mike stood, "Objection! Nothing about this brutal crime makes sense to her!"

"Oh, of course, of course, "agreed Bennett, nodding, "I was just hoping that Miss Regan might have a theory as to why they would let their faces be seen and attack her in their own room..and yet use aliases…do you have a theory to that, Miss Regan?"

"No."

Bennett started pacing again, then stopped, as if a new thought had suddenly entered his mind.

"Fine. Now, Miss Regan, do you know any rapist?"

Mike looked puzzled at the switch in the line of questioning.

"Besides your clients, no," Paige cleverly answered.

There was a slight chuckling from the gallery. Good one, Connie thought.

Bennett didn't acknowledge her answer.

"Miss Regan, I will ask you again...do you know any rapists?"

"I don't think so."

Bennett strode to his table and picked up a piece of paper, "Miss Regan, are you familiar with a man currently being incarcerated at Rikers on charges of sexual battery named Jesse Morgan?"

Paige's eyes grew wide, "You mean Jess?"

"I mean Jesse—or Jess, if you prefer…Jesse Morgan who used to reside on Green Street in Newark, New Jersey. You do know him, am I correct?"

"Uh, yeah…yes…I used to know him."

"Did you know he was in prison?"

She shrugged, "That's where he belongs."

"Nevertheless," repeated Bennett, "Did you know that Jesse Morgan was in prison?"

"You mean, Jess, " inserted Paige as she broke out in a sweat.

Bennett stared her down.

"Answer the question, Miss Regan, or the court will demand you to answer…"

Mike was up.

"Objection! Badgering the witness!"

"Overruled. Answer the question, Miss Regan, "the Judge asserted.

"I've heard…rumors," answered Paige.

Bennett did a frustrated sigh, "Yes or no, Miss Regan…did you know that Jesse Morgan is currently serving time at Rikers?"

"Yes!"

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it, Miss Regan?"

Mike shot up, "Your Honor.."

"Cut the sarcasm, Mr. Bennett…" stated the Judge.

Bennett nodded.

"Have you ever had sex with Jesse Morgan?"

"His name is Jess!" Paige insisted.

"Objection!" Mike stated, standing, "Her sex life is irrelevant to this case. The law is clear on this!"

Judge Cruz waved the two lawyers up, "Approach."

Both Mike and Bennett walked up to the Judge's bench.

"Your honor, " pleaded Bennett quietly, "I am not trying to besmirch Miss Regan's reputation by implying she is a loose woman. Opposing counsel has insisted my clients forced themselves on her. I'm merely showing this is not the first time she has made that accusation. "

"But it's highly prejudicial, your Honor! " Mike voice was low but insistent, "and Mr. Bennett knows he cannot use a witness's previous sexual history against her."

"I do not plan to cite her entire sexual history!" claimed Bennett, "Miss Regan has accused two men of a serious crime. She testified that one of the men who raped her was named Jesse. Here is a real Jesse in her life that had been accused of that crime."

Mike countered, "Mr Bennett has failed to prove the connection between two separate incidents that took place at different times, different places with different men!"

"You can always connect two disjointed situations if the victim was drunk!" Bennett fired back.

"Your Honor, that is a blasphemous remark! Defense has yet to prove that my client was even drunk that night!" Mike pointed out.

"If the prosecution would quit objecting, I could make my point!" Bennett glared at Mike.

The Judge measured each of their words carefully. She then leaned forward and addressed Bennett.

"I'll allow you a little leeway, Mr. Bennett, but you better get where you're going fast! Now step back, both of you."

Both lawyers returned to their positions, Mike looking none too happy.

"Miss Regan" asked Bennett, "you know Mr. Morgan well enough, for you had previously engaged in sexual relations with him, have you not?"

Paige looked helplessly at Mike and Connie.

"Yes."

"More than once?"

Paige looked frustrated.

"Yes."

"Were you ever drunk when you had sex with him?"

Paige looked visibly upset, giving Mike a look as if to say, why am I up here?

"Your Honor, " Mike needed to do something, 'I feel a recess is in order…"

"No recess," the Judge stated firmly before looking back at Paige, "Answer the question, Miss Regan."

Paige glowered at Bennett.

"Probably."

"And, Miss Regan, can you tell us the title of Mr. Morgan's favorite movie?"

Everyone drew a blank, not quite sure they heard right. That question threw Paige as well as Mike and Connie. It came from nowhere.

Paige blinked several times, "W-what?"

Mike needed to stop this crazy line of questioning.

"Objection! Relevance?"

"Your Honor, the point will be made quite clear in a second, "stated a smarmy Bennett, "and I guarantee you, you will not be disappointed."

"Do not guarantee anything to me, Mr. Bennett," chided the Judge.

"Yes, your Honor," agreed Bennett, "I just have a few more questions along this line and I will move on."

"Then I suggest you get there," stated the Judge.

He then quickly turned back to Paige as he repeated the question.

"Mr. Morgan had at some point mentioned his favorite movie. Please tell the court what it is. And let me remind you Miss Regan, we have spoken to him and you are under oath."

Paige looked uncomfortable, "Uh, let's see...his favorite movie?... I think it was 'Little Nikita'."

"Ah, yes, the classic, "Little Nikita'!" nodded Bennett smiling, as he looked around the courtroom, "quite a suspenseful spy movie that was! And did you enjoy the movie?"

Paige shrugged.

"I suppose I did."

He then walked up and stood close to the witness stand, smiling as if they were friends.

"Now, Miss Regan, kindly tell the court who the main star was in that movie."

"The main star? I think it was River Phoenix" she volunteered and then gasped,"—oh god!"

The courtroom exploded as she uttered the last name of "Phoenix". Immediately Paige placed her palm over her mouth, as if she wanted to stifle the words, but it was too late.

"Order! Order!" the Judge pounded the gavel.

The room quieted as Bennett gave a smug smile.

"Let's recap, Miss Regan, "said Bennett, taking control, "so during the night in question, you could have, in a drunken alcoholic state, flashed back to a different time when perhaps you were with Jesse, discussing his favorite actor River Phoenix."

The entire courtroom was held captive by Bennett's assessment.

Mike needed to diffuse the situation.

"Your Honor...Is there a question to all that nonsensical rambling by the defense?" Mike wanted to know.

"Withdrawn!" Bennett quickly said as he walked away from the stand, "I am quite done here!"

Bennett looked pleased as Paige looked devastated.

Meanwhile Connie showed Mike what she had scribbled on her legal pad, "HATE him AND his blue suit!"

They then exchanged looks.

Mike and Connie had a lot of damage control to do.

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(Thank you for all the PM's asking about the beach scene...yes, it is coming! It will be the next chapter!)

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