Episode 14 "Prosecution"

Chapter 3

"David, come in," Stevie greeted, as David arrived at the front door to Jack's house. It was one of her rare afternoons spending time with Carl, a welcome break from the work she had been putting into preparing for the trial. "Jack should be home from the club soon."

"Thank you," David smiled her way as he entered the living area, and came to sit down on the floor besides his would-be grandson. Despite knowing the truth, he still loved Carl immensely and would always feel like Jack and his family was also family to him. Stevie joined him, taking a seat to watch them both together on the couch and she was glad to have some casual time to chat before discussing the inevitable updates from his deposition.

"He gets bigger every day," David commented, helping Carl stack some blocks scattered in front of him.

Stevie agreed with a broad smile. "It's become a reminder to me of how long I'd been gone," she remarked, feeling a bit sorry for missing out on watching her grandson grow. "But I'm thankful to be back."

"I trust you and Amanda are making headway?" David asked after a few moments of continuing to play with Carl, and Stevie was not certain whether he meant with the trial or just overall in their newfound relationship following him divulging her true identity.

"She's very much like you, David," she replied with a nod. "Determined…incredibly smart. Honestly working on this case together feels a bit like a second chance – to be able to help you the way I wanted to so many years ago…when I was, unfortunately, at my lowest." Stevie looked down a bit into her lap but continued to keep her composure, looking on at David and Carl.

David looked up, ready to dissuade any signs of guilt she still retained. "Don't be silly, you did everything you could," he insisted. "And you're right – Amanda is a lot like me. Including stubborn, at times…"

"So she convinced you to keep to the story she rehearsed?" Stevie asked, certain now that David spoke from recent correspondence with his oldest child regarding their next move.

David nodded his head quickly in confirmation and turned his attention more readily to Stevie to answer. "I gave my statements to the defense earlier today. I kept to what we discussed, word for word," he grew serious, as if showing reverence for her. "I know this must be hard for you to fathom, considering the amount of accountability it appears to put on Jack. But I promise you – we won't let Margaux go after him. It won't come to that."

Stevie believed him without hesitation, finding comfort in previous discussions she held with Emily on what was the best way to approach the situation without giving Margaux a loophole to capitalize on. "It's clear that you've done your homework on how to earn the trust of the defense. And it wouldn't be the first time a witness recanted while the next told a different story," she assured him. "However, I am concerned with how Margaux will react once it's all said and done?"

"She'll be forced to accept the court's ruling," David responded quickly, but Stevie was still tentative. She tilted her head in reflection, mulling over her reserves.

"This Margaux is a far cry from the girl I knew last year," Stevie continued, outlining her reasons for uncertainty. "And from what I've seen so far, she's willing to go to any level to defend Victoria. There's a good chance she won't let this go without using whatever ammunition she has left."

"I'm prepared for that," David continued to assure her. He looked down at his hands, as if imagining a different future for them at some point, implying a potential return to confinement. "That's what I came here to discuss with Jack. When it comes time for him to take the stand after me, I want him to set the record straight without hesitation. If that means the world has to know the truth about the motive for Victoria's actions – so be it."

Stevie finally opened up; sensing David might not reconsider any other way. "David, I know Victoria was protecting you, and the secret you're keeping. And while I may not agree with what you did… I'd be lying if I said I didn't understand it."

David met eyes with her, realizing she knew that he was responsible for Conrad's death. He couldn't blame Emily for sharing that information – after all he had revealed her identity to Stevie in the first place. He knew his daughter was only doing the utmost to protect him in the end. His expression intensified as Stevie continued on.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn't become a topic for discussion. After all, Victoria is the one being tried here, not you. But, the truth is," Stevie took a breath, doing what she knew was her job in this profession. "If Jack's testimony reveals your own motives for wanting Officer Hunter silenced – there's not much we can do to stop Victoria from using your sins against you."

David finally conceded, accepting her warning. While he felt the design they had was foolproof he could not deny that it did have its dangers if all did not go according to plan. Yet he knew that talking at length with Jack in advance would be the first step towards covering all bases. He paused to imagine how nerve-wracking that could be for Stevie to have to cautiously question her own son on the stand with the knowledge than he risked perjuring himself or implicating the ones he cared about if he was not careful.

After taking a moment to consider, David replied. "I can't imagine how hard it must be to put your son in that kind of position," his expression softened, sympathetically. "You have to trust me though – I won't let any harm come to Jack." As memories flooded back to mind, he felt inclined to share. "You know years ago, when he and Amanda were little, I remember watching them play together, so happy, so free… like they'd known each other forever."

Stevie smiled in response, a haze coming over her face as she looked away; trying to imagine the years she desperately wished she could have been there for.

"I remember knowing then, that if something ever happened to Jack's family – I would take him in without even a thought. He was already like a son to me," David paused to draw Stevie's attention back to him. "I still feel the same way. I've been given a second chance to be in his life and that of my daughter's… and I won't let that slip away again."

Stevie nodded, completely understanding and agreed. "Me either," she confirmed. "We've both been given that chance to be a part of our children's lives… I guess we share a lot in common." Stevie began to well up a bit with emotion, suddenly feeling incredibly grateful and David instinctively placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, to which she did not budge. It had been a long time since a man her age had shown her genuine kindness, and how poetic that it would be one that had a major influence on her son.

The timing of the similarity was spot on, as not a moment later Jack walked through the door. "Hey," he called out, mildly aware that he seemed to have interrupted a tender moment between them. He was distracted quickly by his son running over to him and after scooping him up happily in his arms he finally made his way over to where David and Stevie had separated from each other.

"So, how did everything go?" he asked, prompting them to both to fill him in on the latest. While they omitted their candid reflection only a few minutes prior, it was clear to Jack that he might not be the only one growing closer to a person he could have never imagined he would see, much less be in company with this time last year.

SCENE

"So describe again what happened, was it an almost kiss… or more of a friendly pat?" Nolan grilled Jack across from their table in VIP, with Louise perched next to him.

They were all dressed to impress, Louise in an elegant sundress while both men wore crisp blazers, easily giving off the aura of high school lunchtime gossip at the "cool kids" table. It seemed like the Beach Club "August Rush" event had crept up on them so soon and despite it serving as a declaration of the middle of summer, it also doubled as a reminder that the first round of testimony in Victoria Grayson's trial was scheduled to occur the following day. A few weeks had passed since Jack had finalized the details with David of his testimony for when he was called to the stand, yet during the diversion Jack had not forgotten a few occasions that his mother and David had seemed otherwise engaged when he returned home. Since it was his night off and he was already a few drinks in, he decided he would open up to his gossip hungry cronies about the romance he suspected was in the works between his mother and Emily's father.

"I'm not exactly sure what it was…but I think it's safe to say there's something going on between them," Jack answered, taking a sip of his tall glass.

"Aww," Louise cooed in response. "I just love seeing sparks fly between grown folk, it's so romantic!" She clapped her hands together, excited and then playfully poked Jack as an idea struck her. "Imagine, sugar – you and Emily might end up being brother and sister!"

"Thrilling," Jack lamented, heavy with sarcasm. "One big happy family…"

Nolan observed and quickly motioned to change the tone. "Ah – sorry to call dibs, but when it comes to Ems, the big bro vibe is reserved for yours truly," he raised a glass in Louise's direction, trying to deflect from any leftover bitterness Jack was nursing at the mention of Emily. Just then Nolan's phone alert sounded and he added with irony, "Speak of the she-devil, and she appears – Evening, Lady Justice!" He raised the phone to his ear and stepped away to take the call, leaving Jack alone at the table with Louise.

"Honey, you don't have to try to play tough with me," Louise insisted once he was gone, rubbing the top of Jack's arm enfolded on top of the other on the table. "I can sense when an old flame is taking a long time to die out."

Jack looked at her in mild surprise, unaware that she might be filled in on his past. "Is it that obvious?"

"Oh no, I just have a sixth sense about these things," Louise assured him, and then grew nostalgic. "I remember my first love; ugh… knew him since I was 10, he was as stubborn as an ox, goodness he could make a preacher cuss!" Jack laughed, finding her candid simplicity refreshing, and Louise continued. "But lord, for all his rough edges he was softer than apple butter on the inside. A real charmer…I thought I would never move on from a simple country boy, but lo and behold, here I am!" She raised her glass, gesturing to herself.

"Married to a multi-millionaire tech genius," Jack continued for her, as she laughed lightly in response, glancing over her shoulder at Nolan over on the beach club balcony, still on his phone call with Emily.

"All as a last-ditch effort to emancipate myself from my God-forsaken family," she completed the description, shaking her head and fidgeting with the stem of her glass. "The things we do to get away from our past…"

Jack became intrigued with Louise's backstory and suddenly wondered how he hadn't seen their similarities sooner. "Is your family that bad?" he asked genuinely.

"Ugh, are they," Louise began. "My mama's stuck up higher than a light-pole, and my brother Lyman? Well he's about the biggest liar you'll ever meet. That man talks with his tongue out of his shoe," she added with an apologetic smile and Jack laughed through his nose at her way of putting things. "Thank goodness for Nolan though – if he hadn't 'a came up with the idea to save my fortune by getting married, I'd be penniless and they'd both be off wasting away my inheritance by now…"

Louise seemed to relax a bit, reflecting on her current situation and Jack found himself feeling pity for her, wishing he hadn't made a snap judgment on her being like Amanda when Nolan first tried to explain to him how much she needed a friend. "So you think they gave up trying?" he asked, hopeful.

"Here's hopin'," Louise nodded uncertainly, raising her glass as Nolan returned.

"It wouldn't be a Hamptons Party without a little interruption from the Em Reaper," Nolan rebuffed, taking a last swig of his drink without sitting down. He looked over to address Louise directly. "Sorry to dip out on the party but business calls. Last minute details before the trial tomorrow."

"Oh, that's alright," Louise shrugged it off, understanding. "I've been talking Jack's ear off over here. Can't help it, he's a great listener."

"That he is," Nolan confirmed with a twinkle in his eye. "And also the best friend ever if he doesn't mind keeping you company for the remainder of the eve?" He looked over at Jack with a pleading expression.

While Jack knew Nolan had more up his sleeve he fully understood the immediate beckons from Emily as the pending trial was set to put David on the stand the next day. "Sure, no problem," he conceded and Nolan made a 'thank-you' gesture before tapping Louise on the chin to say goodbye. "Enjoy!" he called out, making a swift exit.

There was a slightly awkward moment once he left, somewhat a realization to both Jack and Louise that they seemed to be now on a date, and Louise broke up the silence. "Gosh, it's hotter than blue blazes in here!" she stammered, loosely pulling at the bust line of her sundress to fan herself.

Jack agreed, adding, "Think we may have had a few too many of these," he gestured to their glasses. He looked around at the crowd that was filling in the club and peeked outside at the balcony stairwell that led down to the shore. "Want to walk it off on the beach?" he suggested.

"Oh, I'd love that," Louise sighed in relief, and quickly removed her heels before toting them in hand. She slipped a comfortable arm through his, and he smiled tentatively before leading her out of the club.

SCENE

Emily peered over Nolan's shoulder in her office den, watching the computer screen intently as Nolan scrolled through high security surveillance records from the Suffolk County prison footage. Thankfully he had left the Beach Club mid-summer event to come to her aid when she called, as his prowess was always priceless in the face of looking for digital evidence.

"There," she pointed, identifying the image she was looking for.

"Margaux's visit to Victoria?" Nolan observed, looking at the date stamp on the footage. "This is over a month ago."

"That's about right," Emily confirmed. "It would have been just before the arraignment."

"Ems, what are you getting at?" Nolan implored, growing a bit impatient.

"Does this have audio?" Emily asked, and Nolan complied, turning the sound up a notch. They both leaned forward to listen as the playback detailed pieces of Margaux and Victoria's conversation.

"…the true reason that Ben wanted to arrest David… is because Malcolm revealed that David was responsible for Conrad's death."

"What the—" Nolan reacted in surprise, while Emily held her steely composure, pausing the audio.

"Just like I thought," she digressed, a bit angrily. "Margaux knows that my father murdered Conrad."

"I don't understand," Nolan countered, recalling their previous discussions that they had with David as they prepared rigorously for the trial. "David said when he visited Victoria that she admitted the only thing she revealed to Margaux was your true identity – nothing else? Why would he lie about that?"

Emily shook her head, realizing. "He didn't. Victoria did." She looked over at Nolan who still seemed confused about the entire ordeal, and prepared to explain. "Before my father visited Victoria to gain her trusts he was already feeling guilty about killing Conrad. He wanted to reveal the truth and take accountability for what he did, but I insisted he stick to our plan and focus on taking down Victoria instead. If she had been honest when he went to visit him that Margaux knew the truth he would've gave up then and there. But she assured him she was still holding onto his secret."

"And he trusted her," Nolan relented in disbelief. "I guess… he still has a weakness for that?"

Emily ignored the implication and continued to break down her assessment, looking off. "I had a feeling that she might be lying but I wanted to wait until his deposition to see how Margaux played her cards. When he filled me in on it, not once did he mention her questioning Ben's motives for arresting my father. He volunteered information to her on it being centered around Captain Alvarez' death but nothing else ever came up." She returned her focus to Nolan beside her. "That's sloppy for a defense lawyer, even an unexperienced one like Margaux."

Nolan began to put the last pieces together. "So you suspected she already knew and was just sitting on the intel?"

"I couldn't be sure, but I had to find out before my father testifies tomorrow," Emily verified, moving away from the desk. "Margaux has that in her back pocket – if he tries to recant his story on the stand she's going to implicate him."

"Whoa," Nolan sighed, allowing the reality of their situation to sink in. "Catch 22… or should I say, 88. So what do we do now?" Conscious of the hour, he couldn't think of much option they had to alter the plan.

Emily folded her arms in resolution. "He's going to have to stick to his story," she determined, a bit uneasily. "And so will Jack. If either of them changes their account in the slightest, she'll go after them both, and she'll corner them into what she already knows."

Nolan bit his bottom lip in frustration. "Clever play, Mar-faux," he quipped, realizing they were essentially cornered. "She saw the fake alliance between David and Victoria coming and got ahead of us."

"She hasn't won yet," Emily sneered, her mind churning as usual. It seemed threats to her best laid plans always spurred on additional creativity in her, and she worked best under pressure. "We're just going to have to find another way."

"How—" Nolan began and heard movement in the upstairs, spurring him to cut his thought short. "Uh – do you have company, Ems? And please, for the love of God, tell me it's not another sorry torture victim, you've been doing so well…"

Emily rolled her eyes and leaned forward to close out of the computer screen at the sound. "I'm not that desperate yet… It's Daniel." She quickly closed down the computer and motioned for Nolan to follow her in exiting the room before it drew his suspicion.

"Daniel?!" Nolan gaped, lowering his voice as Emily gestured for him to be quiet. "I know the two of you are on good terms but really? Co-habiting already?"

"He's just staying here for a little while to handle the sale of the Manor," Emily rushed under her breath as they made their way into the foyer, simultaneous with Daniel walking in the overhead stairwell, pausing at the opening that viewed over the downstairs.

"Hey, Nolan," Daniel greeted him, a bit groggily.

"Danny…" Nolan returned, flailing his arms, a bit unsure of what to say. "Didn't realize you were staying here," he stammered. "Again." He looked back at Emily, still waiting for a more thorough explanation, but she had her head down, hoping he would just leave swiftly.

"It's a big house," Daniel added with a grin. "She's barely noticed I was here the past couple of weeks."

"Weeks, huh?" Nolan zeroed in on the time frame, shooting another questionable look at Emily while she folded her arms again. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he called up to Daniel. "She keeps herself busy. Even her friends don't know what she's up to…"

Emily glared at the double entendre and finally ended the exchange. "Thanks again for your help, Nolan… I'll see you at the courthouse tomorrow." She opened the large front door, eager to see her oft inquisitive friend out as quickly as possible.

"Sure thing," he replied with a shrug, extending an extra goodbye back to Daniel before disappearing into the night.

"Everything alright?" Daniel asked her from up above, squinting a bit, and Emily realized he must have been asleep before he emerged.

"Just… last minute details before the trial," Emily danced around the obvious, uncertain of how Daniel felt regarding it, as they had not really discussed it at length since the arraignment.

Daniel nodded in recognition. "Hopefully you're getting some rest soon. I'm sure my mother will make things interesting," he surmised, before turning to head back towards his room. He walked away slowly, thoughts going through his head as he anticipated what the women in his life had planned for the battle that waited.

Emily agreed to herself at his last comment once he was gone, taking a deep breath.

"You have no idea…"

END OF CHAPTER

Author's Note: Hello again my favorite revengers! Hope you're excited as I am after this chapter – things are finally starting to heat up in this trial! Tell me what you think about the latest updates in Margaux/Victoria's devious plan and what you expect our "Lady Justice" Emily will do to thwart their attempts!

In the meantime, there's more romance brewing… seems the Hamptons have found a way to kindle some more affections for some of our main characters. How do you like the latest development with Stevie/David? Are you interested in how Jack/Louise's walk on the beach went?

Thank you as always for your support and fear not, there is more Demily in the works! I needed them to have a least one quickie scene together in this one, even if it was a short one. But I can promise their next interaction at the old Grayson Manor will be a particularly good one… coming soon in the next chapter! Thanks again for all your comments and reviews, they are a great joy to read and I look forward to your thoughts! ~Love and Reven8e~ MothToANewFlame