Speaking for Stephanie

Part 2

Previously:

That was the night, her life changed for the worse, not for the better, for that night. Her nightmare had begun. Every women's and little girls nightmare was about to happen. When THAT MAN,' pointing at Morelli. 'Walked into the bakery.'

'All with evil on his mind.'

Melissa paused for effect, hearing the quiet of the room soothe her. It was time to lay the hammer down and crush this arrogant man finally.

She knew she had her rebuttal after Vinnie pleaded his case, but for now she would stick with the story….afterwards she would ask the judge for prison time.

'He had his duffel bag, but that didn't make a difference did it? He had put down the duffle bag, while Stephanie was busy wiping down the counters.

Joe Morelli had locked the door. In that very instant was when Stephanie Plum would stop being a sixteen year old daddy's little girl and was forced to become a woman.'

'The accused came up behind her, trapping her against the bakery counter in his arms and started whispering.'

'He had said 'you're my going away present, I've wanted you for so long cupcake and now I have you right where I want you finally. I have waited for years for you to talk to me, laugh with me and you won't even give me the time of day. Now I am going to take what I want, consequences be damned.' Suddenly Stephanie was on the floor behind the counter. If anyone had looked, all they would see was the closed sign and not pay any more attention. 'The accused,'(looking straight at Morelli and pointing to a red faced humiliated and angry man, who was on the verge of losing it) 'was ripping her shirt off, then he unsnapped her jeans, yanking them down to her feet, ripped her panties off and pounded into her over and over again.'

'Stephanie had tried to defend herself; she scratched his face, his back. With one hand he held her hands above her head, as he forced himself on her again and again, she was screaming "NO NO, STOP DEAR JESUS, NO I DON'T WANT THIS",' quoting Stephanie's testimony. Melissa was raising her voice. You could hear the passion in it, letting everyone feel the pain Stephanie was going through during her ordeal.

'JUST LIKE SHE SAID ON THE STAND YESTERDAY, STEPHANIE SAID 'NO NO NO' OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT DID'NT DO A DAMN BIT OF GOOD, she couldn't block out his grunting and sweating as he kept calling her 'cupcake 'over and over again'.

'Stephanie could feel the liquid coming out from between her legs, her priceless virginity gone, she was saving that for marriage; her daddy and grandma had taught her that, it was gone. She felt his blood drip down onto her face, running down her neck along with the tears she was shedding over being violated in the worst way possible.'

Melissa was picking up the pace now, all eyes were locked onto her figure as she was pacing back in forth in front of Joseph Morelli, staring down at him, daring him to meet her eyes; he kept his eyes on the table, veins in his neck bulging. Not on the woman in front of him, telling everyone just what his actions did that night.

'When it was finally over, the nightmare for her was just starting since he had opened that door. She saw him smile at her over his shoulder, still in a ball, protecting herself the best she could, her shirt on the floor, trembling and whimpering as he walked out that door. No, he didn't leave, not right away into the navy. Instead he took his can of spray paint from his home and wrote about it all over the walls of Trenton, in gas stations, coffee shops, PLACES EVERYONE COULD SEE that PLUM was his cupcake.'

'Joe Morelli caught his flight to California with all the evidence we have presented here to this courtroom. A man filled with arrogance and secure in his own mind he claimed his woman.'

'And THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.'

A keening sound was heard from the courtroom. Stephanie Plum needed a break. Flashbacks of his voice, feeling his arms again, remembering it all, it was too much right now and without asking for one. Judge Sharpton had said, 'court is in recess for two hours, early lunch.'

Down came the gavel, 'all rise' was heard while the Judge exited the room. Finally, Morelli was hauled to his feet. His sight of Stephanie blocked from view by Tank and Bobby Brown, back to his cell him. He needed to see his 'cupcake' again, but was dragged down the hallway instead.

Morelli was still thinking he was going to get off 'scot free.'

A masterful performance indeed by Trenton's new lead prosecutor, Melissa Dorrier, even though she hadn't officially accepted the job, everyone knew this was where she belonged, right here in this town, helping other young victims any way she could.

As soon as Morelli left the courtroom. Stephanie was scooped up into Carlos's arms, headed for the door. They needed privacy for her to pull herself together.

Up next was Vinnie's turn. The reporters were going crazy, trying to follow Carlos, Stephanie and her family down the hallway, shouting question after question at them.

'Stephanie, how do you feel now?'

'How does it feel for everyone to know what happened that night? Do you have anything to add or say?'

'What is going on between you and Carlos Manoso?'

Carlos and Frank both turned and growled at the reporters. Joe Juniak told them that if they didn't back off, they could forget about being let back into the courtroom. Carlos got on his phone and told whoever answered that if they still wanted a job, they would get up to the floor they were on Pronto.

They were finally blocked by the crew in black, Stephanie had her hands over her ears so she never heard the questions, she was living in her own mind 'cupcake' , hearing his grunts of pleasure as he violated her again and again. She was shaking in Carlos's arms again. Repeating over and over again, 'No please stop, let it stop!'

'SHHH Babe, I got you,' Carlos whispered. He was her lifeline at this time, at all times. He had proven himself over and over again never to leave her, she was his life and he was hers, simple as that.

Carlos had been carrying Stephanie's ring in his pocket, since the day he asked Frank for her hand. It was a simple platinum engagement ring with a one-carat diamond. He planned to propose just before Stephanie started College.

Carlos had found an office building down on Haywood, that he thought would work perfectly for expanding Rangeman. Talking to Frank and Joe Juniak, he told them of his plans. (Since they were silent partners) Both approved of the location and of his intentions toward Stephanie.

Stephanie had a hard time going out in public. The stares were almost as bad as the whispers.

Carlos had asked Hector if he could set something up, that could be tied back to Rangeman. He wanted Stephanie to have full access to their programs so that she could work from home, if she wanted to. The one where they now lived and their future home.

Everyone could only hope that the end was near. Stephanie, as strong as she had become, really couldn't endure much more.

Vinnie was at a loss how to rescue his client. Frankly, he didn't care, but it was his job. Now to try to pull a rabbit out of a hat. He could ask for a psych evaluation again, even though the last motion for one was turned down. Dr. Osborne had already done one. Maybe ask for mental help in an institution. He knew Melissa was asking for prison time that was a given. Hell, if it was up to Vinnie, he would send Joe to the electric chair himself.

Ella and Angie had taken it upon themselves to rent a suite at the Trenton Marriott downtown. Close enough for them to walk, run or drive to the courthouse. In this case, Frank and Lester had two black SUV's ready and running at the curb. A few minutes later, had them ensconced in their hideaway.

Comfort food had been set out for Stephanie and the family. Angie and Ella had thought of everything and having the 'Men in Black' bring it over was such a big help. It was the least the men could do for the new friend.

Carlos was working his magic on trying to give his 'babe' comfort; her panic attack was slow to ease up this time though. Images of that night were flashing in front of her eyes and she was reliving it all over again.

Melissa had told her it would take time; but it needed to be said out loud exactly what happened to her, in the sequence that it happen as well.

There was a knock on the door, she screamed in panic. Her arms around Carlos's neck, holding on tightly. It was only Melissa coming to see her new friend and to make sure she could go back this afternoon. She was needed for this one last go around in court. The final summation was vital that she was there. It was time to talk about prison for Joseph Morelli.

Carlos had finally got Stephanie settled down enough, to get her to eat something. She wouldn't leave Carlos' arms though.

Everyone had sat down to eat at the big table that the Marriott had provided for them. Now it looked like a conference room but with personal items as well. Food and drinks were set down. Everyone was watching Stephanie still trembling in his arms, Carlos holding her securely against his chest, humming in her ear. She was being anchored at the moment.

Going around the room looking at each member of this unlikely band of a family. She saw the compassion and love each had for her client. As she asked the question to Stephanie and Angie Plum as well, 'what do you ladies feel is enough prison time to ask for? The maximum I can get is 25 to life. Joe would be a registered sex offender and pedophile, and could not be released until at least 25 years are up. He would be 43 years old when he first came up for parole. I know Vinnie will try to ask for incarceration in a Mental Health Facility. However, he admitted on the stand he knew what he was doing, he knew right from wrong. He has already had the psyche evaluation and Vinnie called the States Doctor to the stand after the Judge denied his motion. What do you ladies want to happen, tell me honestly and I can shoot for the moon, but we have to be realistic here as well.'

Angie looked at Stephanie the same time her stepdaughter looked at her, they really could have been mother and daughter and both shrugged their shoulders at the same time. Stephanie said, 'whatever you can get, get.' Angie nodded her head and said 'I agree, go for the moon, he needs to accept his punishment, it's in your hands now, Melissa.'

The Plum Family was on the same page.