André and Rolf continued to watch as Paige succumbed further to the effects of the gas.

"She is becoming responsive to the treatment," commented Rolf.

André nodded. He noticed that Paige was shivering slightly, and was making a whimpering noise, almost similar to crying. He walked over to her and put a hand through her hair in what most people would consider a calming way.

"It's all right, Ludovica," he cooed. "Don't be sad. It's just a dream. Soon, very soon, daddy will make it all better."

André walked Paige into the courtroom. She was dressed in the same orange jumpsuit she had been while she was in the cell. Handcuffs were around her wrists. The courtroom was big and empty. Not very many had come to see her fate. André walked her up to her seat. An elderly man with an obviously false moustache and toupee stood and bowed to greet her. Were it not for the hair on the top of his head and face, he would have looked like Dr. Rolf. But, of course, he couldn't be.

"Are the handcuffs really necessary," the man enquired in a generic, non-regional American accent.

The warden nodded. "She is a wanted criminal. One who is noted as being a potential danger to herself as well as others.". He shoved Paige into the seat. "Sit there and be quiet unless you're spoken to, girl.".

Paige nodded. André walked away. Paige looked at the man sitting next to her.

"Y-you're my lawyer?" she asked.

The man nodded. "Professor W. R. Putnam, Attorney at Law. You hired me the morning before the incident. Don't worry, I've got it all covered."

Putnam was going to say more, but was interrupted by the bang of the judge's gavel. Paige looked up to see André sitting at the judge's bench.

"This court shall come to order," he said. "Case of Salem v. Paige Larson. Prosecution, you may proceed."

Paige looked on as Dr. Rolf stood up. "Thank you, your honor," he said. "Gentlemen of the jury, there is no doubt that my client is guilty. We have her confession on tape. She has, in fact, pled guilty. But to plead temporary insanity? That is a big stretch of the truth. Within this trial, I will show that the murder of one Jack Deveraux, Jr. was not only in her mind, but that it was meticulously calculated down to the very last moment. I shall also prove that Miss Larson was, indeed, in her right mind when she formed and executed these plans."

Rolf sat. André turned to look at Putnam. "Anything to say?" he asked.

Professor Putnam stood. "Only what I have been saying for the last few days. While the prosecution is correct, and there is not a shadow of a doubt that Paige Larson is guilty of murder, it was not as well thought out as my worthy opponent would have you believe. J.J. Deveraux's murder was not planned. It was a spur of the moment event, brought on by intense feelings of love and betrayal. I intend to prove that while my client may be guilty, she cannot be held entirely accountable for her actions, as she was not in her right mind at the time of the murder."

Putnam sat down. "Prosecution," said André, "call your first witness."

Rolf called Stefano DiMera to the stand. Stefano, a man larger than life itself. A finely dressed Italian man, clearly accustomed to enjoying the best of what life had to offer. He made his way to the stand and after swearing on the Bible to tell the whole truth, sat down.

"Mr. DiMera," began Rolf, "what is your relationship to the accused?"

"None," Stefano said. "Apart from having met with her on one occasion."

"What is your relationship to the victim?"

"Again, none," Stefano said. "I wanted nothing to do with the boy."

"I see," said Rolf. "You say that you have met with Miss Larson on one occasion. Could you describe that for us?"

Stefano nodded. "It was the morning of the 8th of September. I was enjoying a nice Merlot when one of my assistants ushered Miss Larson into my main room. I was, of course, surprised to see her. I had had nothing to do with her life before, nor did she with me. What she said to me that morning, I will never forget it…"

"I hear you do favors," Paige said, looking at Stefano as he sat at his chess board.

"I do," he replied, taking a sip of his drink. "For a price."

"I'll give you anything you want," she said.

"Anything," Stefano chuckled. "And what exactly is it that a young lady like you could offer me, hm?"

"I can offer you information. Information about the Brady and Horton family. I know you have a-a disagreement with them. I can give you insider info on them."

"Hm," Stefano said, as he nodded. "And what do you wish in return?"

"I want to kill J.J. Deveraux," said Paige in a grave voice.

Stefano chuckled. "J.J. Deveraux? Of what consequence is a young man like him, eh?"

"He...that lying bastard slept with my mother!"

"Ah," exclaimed Stefano, clapping his hands together. "So, it is revenge you are after, eh?"

Paige nodded. Stefano dug into his pocket, chuckling.

"Well, I think I can help you with that, then," he said. He pulled out a tube of lipstick. "This. This tube of lipstick contains a poison that is so deadly that it will instantly kill anyone who gets kissed by it."

"If it's so deadly, won't that kill me?" asked Paige.

"Not at all, my dear," replied Stefano. "The wearer is not affected, only the person the wearer kisses."

Stefano handed the tube to Paige. "Now," he said, "you have some information for me?'

"How exactly was I supposed to know what she was going to do with it?" asked Stefano. "I didn't even know if it actually worked. I got it secondhand from my daughter, Kristen. And, everything I had heard about the Larson girl led me to believe that she was a sweet thing who would not even harm a fly. I certainly did not think she was capable of murder."

"I see," said Rolf. "And that is the only time you spoke to Miss Larson?"

Stefano nodded. "Yes. The only time."

Rolf turned to Putnam. "Have you any questions?"

Putnam shook his head. Paige stared at him incredulously.

"No more questions, your honor," said Rolf.

Stefano went back to his seat. "Have you any more witnesses, prosecution?" asked André.

"None, your honor," replied Rolf.

"Very well. Defense, call your first witness."

Putnam stood up. "I call to the stand Paige Larson."

Suddenly, André the warden pulled Paige out of her seat and dragged her to the stand. Paige looked from the warden to the judge. They were the same person. Paige swore on the Bible, and was then forced into her seat.

"Miss Larson," began Professor Putnam, "could you please tell us what happened on the evening of September 7th?"

"I walked into my mother's house," she began, in an almost robotic voice. It was as if she had been programmed to say these exact words. "The door was open. I saw a leather jacket on the sofa. The same kind J.J. Deveraux wears...I mean, used to wear. I walked into the bedroom and found J.J. in bed with my mother."

"And your mother is Eve Donovan Larson?"

"Yes," continued Paige. "We had a discussion. It was short and loud. J.J. didn't even try to hide his intense feelings of love for my mother. I stormed out in tears."

"What about the evening of the 8th of September?" asked Putnam. "What happened that night?"

"I invited J.J. over to my college dorm room," began Paige, parroting what André the warden had told her earlier. "I said I had something to tell him. Naturally, wanting to keep up the pretense of loving boyfriend, he showed up. Once he arrived, I knocked him out. I stripped him down to his boxers and chained him to the bed. Earlier in the day, I had asked advice from one of the greatest men of all time, Stefano DiMera, on how to get rid of my enemies. In an exchange for a few favors, Stefano gave me a highly precious case of lipstick. This lipstick contained a toxin so deadly that one kiss from it is enough to stop a person's heart instantly. Of course, the wearer isn't affected by it, only the one the wearer kisses. So, I did. I put it on and I kissed J.J. However, I'm a smart girl. I didn't trust Stefano. My mother had always told me never to trust a DiMera. So, just in case, I went into my purse and pulled out a red necktie. And just to make sure his death happened, I tied it around his neck and choked what little life remained in him. Then, of course, there was the fire. I grabbed a lighter from my purse, lit it up, and threw it onto the bed. Then, the cops showed up. J.J. was almost in recognizable when they finally found him. Only his dental records could prove who he really was. The police took me into custody and I confessed to J.J. Deveraux's murder."

"I see," said Putnam. He turned to Rolf. "Any questions?"

Rolf stood. "Miss Larson," he began. "You have just admitted before a court of law that you went to the home of Mr. Stefano DiMera with the express intent of having him give you a weapon to use on J.J. Deveraux to kill him. Are those not your own words?"

"Yes," replied Paige, flatly.

"Therefore, would this not be premeditated murder?"

Paige hesitated. "I-I guess it would."

Rolf turned to the judge. "No more questions."

"What of you, defense," asked André. "Have you any more witnesses?"

"None, your honor," said Putnam.

Paige was escorted back to her seat by André the warden. André the judge banged his gavel.

"Very well," he said. If there are no more questions, then the jury may go into deliberation."

"No need, your honor," said the jury foreman. Paige turned to see a line of twelve identical men. Each one looked like André. "The situation is very clear for all to see. This woman is guilty of the well thought out murder of Jack Deveraux, Jr."

André the judge nodded. "And her sentence?"

Paige stood. "Wait," she said. "Before you say anything, I need to say one thing." She began to break down. "I-I know I did this. And yes, I planned it. But-but I've had time to think and...I can't live with myself. Every day, I have to wake up and face the fact that I killed J.J. And that-that is worse than any punishment you could give me." Tears formed in her eyes. "Please, don't just throw the book at me. Put me to death! Stone me! Give me the chair! I don't deserve to live!" She collapsed into a weeping mess.

André the judge smiled. "Yes. You shall be put to death."

"Yes," smiled André as he whispered into Paige's ear. "You shall be put to death. But, you shall be reborn, like a phoenix from the ashes."

André smoothed back some of Paige's hair. She was crying.

"Ssh," he whispered. "Don't be sad, Ludovica. Daddy will make this all better. Soon, you'll wake up and this will all have been a horrible dream."

André stood. "Rolf, if you would be so kind as to do the honors."

Dr. Rolf nodded, and pulled a switch. Two spikes came down and inserted themselves into Paige's head.