Carlos

'State your name for the record please,' Melissa said.

'Carlos Manoso' was the reply

'And what was your particular job you had on the date in question, Mr. Manoso?"

'My team and I met with the Police Chief of Trenton, Joe Juniak in conference room A on the base, at that time, we were Military Police, and had been active for an average of five years apiece.' Carlos replied, never taking his eyes off Stephanie.

'My team consisted of myself, Tank Sherman, Lester Santos, and Robert Brown. Chief Juniak had a search warrant for seaman Morelli, as well as an arrest warrant.'

Taking a sip of water, Carlos let his eyes go directly to Morelli, making him squirm under his almost hypnotic glare. It seemed to carry heat and anger with it and Morelli couldn't hold his gaze after a few tense seconds.

Melissa asked, 'how did you carry out gathering the evidence that was requested?'

Carlos replied, 'we had heard the accused liked to go to the bar on base, so we planted a listening device and had recorded him 'Bragging' about the night in question when he attacked and sexually assaulted the victim.'

Hearing that, Morelli lunged for his attorney, screaming at Vinnie, 'why didn't I know about this tape? What kind of an attorney are you?'

Judge Sharpton slammed the gavel down. Tank's hands slammed down on Morelli's shoulders. Recess was called, once again.

Melissa had told Stephanie about the recording the night before. She knew what was coming, but seeing Joe's reaction to this, well that was something else entirely. Ella had her hand on the back of Stephanie's neck, pushing her head down between her legs and telling her to 'breathe in and breathe out,' just like they had worked on in therapy for her panic attacks.

Carlos' heart was breaking watching Stephanie from the witness chair, he wanted to be able to go and hold her, but with him being on the stand and under oath, that was impossible.

He was thankful that Ella and her family was there to help her through the testimony he had to give.

They had talked about what had happened in California, not details, because Carlos knew he would have to give his version of those events. Just bits and pieces, they weren't very important to him or to the case. Every little detail had become VERY important to Stephanie.

Focusing back on Carlos, she was remembering how they had started building their house, that 'Someday' they would be a family in.

They had talked long and hard about marriage, Carlos knew that Stephanie was nowhere close to being married; he would wait, no matter HOW LONG it would take.

He loved her with all his heart and could never see himself without her. They had just shared their first "real" kiss, the night before.

Stephanie shook her head, clearing her thoughts, so she could concentrate on Carlos' testimony.

After all this time, Stephanie was still finding it hard to believe, that Joe thought he did NOTHING WRONG!

Everyone knew right from wrong, even Joe's psyche exam showed he knew. Why did he rape her? Why does he think she belonged to him? The biggest question she had was, why he had to make her relive that night, over and over again.

Angie was holding onto Frank, as if he was a life preserver and she was drowning. She couldn't believe what Joe had said, while he was in California. This was the first time she had heard the details and they had made her SICK! Bella was giving Joe the 'eye' and Edna was chanting some old gypsy ritual. This had been the first time Joe had seen his Grandma Bella, since he was extradited back to Trenton.

Joe couldn't understand why no one had come to visit him, he did nothing wrong in his mind. He only did what his father had done to his mother. His Grandmother should have understood. She had married a Morelli too.

Another thing he couldn't understand was how his own mother, could marry Frank Plum. How could his mother, throw away his fathers memory like yesterdays trash. Never mind he had been dead 10 years or more. She was too old to get married again, she should remain a widow, honor his fathers memory was his thought.

It seemed to everyone in the courtroom, that Joe Morelli was finally losing his mind.

Vinnie was conferring with his client, showing him the paperwork he had signed off on, 'it's right here Joe, listed as tape one, see that is your initials by it. You signed it in California. Now you have to listen to what you told everyone about taking Stephanie behind the counter, and how she screamed at you repeatedly, and you named her. Jesus, you have to take the stand, Joe, it's the only way.'

Vinnie pointed to where Carlos was still sitting, who now had his attention on Morelli. His 'babe' would be all right, she had Ella and her family with her.

'After he is done, then Stephanie is getting up on the stand and telling it all, then what, Joe?' Vinnie said.

Morelli shook his head, 'she won't get up there, she is too scared of me, of what I will say, don't you see?'

Vinnie sighed and gave a nod to the bailiff; their recess was over with, before it even began.

'Please continue Mr. Manoso, and remember you are still under oath,' Melissa said.

Carlos continued to testify, laying it all out, the recording and the evidence they had found. All that was bagged and tagged, down to his sheets, toothbrush, deodorant even and even the 'duffel bag.' This had Morelli's treasures in it. The can of spray paint, and everything else.

Finally, they heard the tape, the courtroom was still; 'she told me no, but she knew I liked it rough….her name is Stephanie…..' Were Joe's voice and words heard plain as day on that tape.

Listening to the tape had Stephanie in tears, along with everyone else in the courtroom.

It continued on how Morelli had been called into his commander's office, he had a military attorney present, he showed Joe the list of evidence and advised him to plead guilty right then and there and he refused. He had signed a document to that effect. It was his signature agreeing to be transported back to Trenton for a trial. He had been stripped, his pubic hair had been taken from him and he was in a new orange jumpsuit.

Tears continued running down Stephanie's face as well as Angie Plum's, both looked heartbroken hearing everything Joe had done all over again. Ella was humming softly into Stephanie's ear as her eyes never left Carlos at all, she tried to give him a small smile, but he could tell she was at the end of her rope, at this very moment.

'I have no further questions for this witness, your honor,' Melisa had said

When Carlos was getting ready to step down for the day, Vinnie stood up and said 'I have no questions for this witness' and sat back down.

The clock struck four pm; Carlos had been on the stand most of the day, barring the lunch break and recess for Vinnie to confer with his client.

The gavel came down, 'court is in recess until tomorrow morning' Judge Sharpton had decided. He glanced and saw the stricken look on Stephanie's face.

For tomorrow, it would be her turn on the stand.