Chapter 31
"Mrs. Stabler, why did you go and see Martin Price?" The Federal Prosecutor, Stephen Waterston, wanted to know.
"He claimed he had a message for me," Olivia explained.
"What kind of message?" Waterston asked.
"Price claimed that as Vivian Arliss lay dying that she stated that she was the better bed partner," she said.
"Why would that make any difference to you why she said that?" Waterston gave her a look.
"Back when I started at Special Victims Unit, Mr. Cassidy and I had a one night stand. We were both new to the job and we both needed someone who understood where we were in handling the job," Olivia admitted.
"That's all fine and dandy but what does that have to do with the case?" The prosecutor wondered.
"By the time I went to speak to Mr. Price, Mr. Cassidy had been arrested. His statement was inflammatory to say the least but the fact of the matter was, I didn't know how the two men connected. I found out later that Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Price never met. Vivian was apparently the go-between. Mr. Price believed that I would infer that Cassidy killed his lover, Vivian, in order to make sure he was never caught," Olivia suggested.
"Objection, your Honor. Facts not in evidence," Brian's defense attorney, Jamie Lowell, stood up. She was losing and she could tell. The jury was not following her defense of Brian. Mindy Smith's parents had taken her off life support and her client was fingered by a dead teenager who had been proven to be a part of a horrible scheme to rip apart the NYPD's Special Victims Unit.
"Your Honor, it is a supposition by a former NYPD Detective with more than a decade of experience. Also as testified to earlier by current Internal Affairs Lieutenant Tucker, the burner phone discovered in the defendant's apartment had lewd texts on it to another burner phone which indicated that a female was on the other end of the line," Waterston argued.
"I'll allow it. I think even if Mrs. Stabler didn't say it, the text messages spell it out," Judge Sam Briscoe said.
"Why would he kill Vivian?" Waterston asked.
"She was a loose end. If she was ready and willing to turn over Price to the authorities then it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think she would turn Cassidy in, in an attempt to save her own skin," Olivia shrugged.
"So it was the plan all along to tie up the loose ends?" Waterston wanted to know.
"Usually that's what happens," Olivia nodded.
"Now why would Vivian help Brian do all these horrible things? How do we know that Price wasn't being spiteful? After all, Price was an old boyfriend of Vivian's," the prosecutor inquired.
"Vivian Arliss was an unstable woman with whom I have had dealings with in the past. She would do anything to hurt me in order to break the bond that I have with her son, Calvin, who is now my legally adopted son," the former detective said.
"So how does Cassidy fit into all of this?" Waterston asked.
"I believe the evidence found in his apartment answers that," Olivia pointed out.
"Government Exhibit F, your Honor," the prosecutor grabbed the remote off of his desk and pulled the pictures up on the television screen.
"What is this Mrs. Stabler?" He inquired.
"These would appear to be video of the defendant's apartment depicting what the FBI techs found upon executing the search warrant," she said. The video showed the walls of photos the FBI had found hidden in a closet. Brian had been doing more than just his job it seemed. All of the photos were of Olivia. It was obvious that he had been stalking her since before William Lewis had arrived in the precinct.
The jury was wide-eyed when they saw the photos. The defense tried to object but there really wasn't anything she could object to. Brian had figured on being safe and had not hidden or ditched any evidence. The FBI had enough to nail him and even some to nail Price. At this point, Olivia wondered just why Brian hadn't opted for the deal he'd been offered. She was the last witness for the prosecution and it would seem that the nails were firmly in the coffin.
"Your Honor, we request a brief recess," Lowell said.
"We'll break for lunch. Everyone is to be back in this court in one hour," Judge Briscoe nodded. With a bang of his gavel, the jury began to file out. Cassidy was hauled out of his seat by the court officers. He had seemingly given up. They were practically dragging him when he suddenly bolted upright. The officers lost their grip and one of them lost their weapon.
"Get him!" The officers shouted for help, realizing that the tactic had been a distraction.
"Brian! Don't do it!" Olivia pleaded with him as he held the gun to his temple. He would be going to jail but this was not the way she wanted to see things end.
"It was all for you! Don't you get it?!" He asked. The statement was enough for the officers to tackle him to the ground. As they worked to restrain him, the gun discharged.
To Be Continued…