I know it's another short one, but bear with me.
I slide into a seat at the back of the courtroom a week later, making eye contact with Alex, who has an expression of set determination on her face. She's going to send her father to jail for a very long time and nothing's going to stop her. He's on the witness stand, looking perfectly at ease. Although she appears to be just as calm as he is, I see the set of her jaw and the trembling that she's trying to hold back, but can't quite manage to. I know her too well.
She turns away from me and locks eyes with her father. "Mr. Cabot," she says sharply. "Did you ever sexually abuse your daughter, Claire?"
George shakes his head. "Of course not. I loved her."
Alex stares at him for a moment, then I suppose she realizes she's asked the wrong question. "Did you ever have sexual intercourse with her?"
He hesitates. "No."
But we all know he's lying.
"Did you ever sexually abuse any of your daughters?"
"No."
I see Alex's hands curl into fists and I can tell she's trying to rein in her emotions. Wiping her face blank once again, she says, "Mr. Cabot, remember that you are under oath. Lying under oath constitutes perjury, which is a felony."
He smiles in a manner that imitates that of a proud father. "You always did talk down to people, Lexi."
She doesn't blink. "Move to strike."
"Sustained," says Judge Petrovsky, leaning forward. "The jury will disregard."
I glance at Trevor Langan, who's representing George Cabot. He's squinting, clearly trying to figure out what to make of this.
"Mr. Cabot," Alex says quietly. "We both know that's not true."
"Objection!" calls Trevor. "If Ms. Cabot would like to testify, she can call herself to the witness stand."
The judge waves away his objection. "Overruled." She peers down her nose at George. "Sir, please consider your answers to Ms. Cabot's questions very carefully."
"I never sexually abused anyone," he says.
Alex clenches her fists even tighter. "Did you ever have sexual intercourse with your other daughters?"
He cocks his head. "Why are you asking me questions you already know the answers to, Lexi? You always did that."
"Objection!" I can tell that Alex's patience is being worn thin.
"Sustained," snaps Judge Petrovsky. "Mr. Cabot, you need only answer the questions at hand. Leave all personal commentary out of my courtroom."
"Are you sure you never abused any of your daughters?" repeats Alex.
"Objection!" calls Trevor. "Ms. Cabot can ask the same question in as many ways as she likes, but my client's answer is going to remain the same."
"Nothing further," says Alex through clenched teeth.
"The defense rests," says Trevor.
The jury deliberates for three days before coming back with no verdict. They're hopelessly deadlocked. The look of pure exhaustion and defeat on Alex's face breaks my heart. When Judge Petrovsky declares a mistrial, I know I have to act. I'm back in Olivia Benson, Everybody's Heroine mode, but I have to protect my Alex.
As the courtroom clears, I stride toward Alex's father. "George Cabot," I tell him, unable to keep the smugness from my tone as I cuff his hands behind his back. "You are under arrest."
He whirls around with a look of indignation on his face. "For what?"
"Perjury. I believe Ms. Cabot warned you about that, sir," I say as contemptuously as I can, then proceed to Mirandize him. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
As I herd him out of the courtroom, his lawyer hurrying behind us, I catch Alex's eye. Though she doesn't say a word, I can read the gratitude on her face, loud and clear.
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