***The day of Jennifer's trial***
Jonathan tried to visit Jennifer every time he could after their last visit. She kept cutting the visits shorter and shorter each time. He didn't know what to do to convince her that he was still in her corner, and nothing was going to change that.
He figured the best way to show her was just to find the evidence that would free her, and be there waiting for her when she got out.
Stanley checked out all of Natalie's identities. He wrote up a report and gave it to Jonathan detailing what he found.
Jonathan took the evidence to the DA, but they weren't willing to drop the charges.
Jonathan gave everything to Mark Watson. He agreed to present it as evidence in court, and to call the ladies who had been at the party as witnesses. Everyone agreed to testify except Natalie, so Mark had her subpoenaed.
Jonathan was anxious, he wanted to see Jennifer, and he wanted to take her home.
Mark promised him that he could see her when they brought her in, so he got there early.
He was sitting directly behind her seat when they led her in. Jonathan had given Mark an outfit for her to wear, plus a bag with a comb and some of her makeup, the best he could pick out, for her to put on. They brought her in to the courtroom, and she looked absolutely beautiful.
As soon as the guard removed her handcuffs, she was allowed to turn around and hug and kiss him.
He grabbed her face in his hands after he kissed her.
"No matter what happens, I love you, I have always loved you, I will always love you, and I will not give up on you".
She nodded and kissed him again.
Mark met with the witnesses in the hallway and told them what to expect and thanked them for helping out.
Jonathan was going to be the surprise witness if they needed him. Mark didn't know if they were going to need him yet.
Court was called to order, and everyone rose, then took their seats. The judge announced the trial and then allowed the D.A. to give his opening statement. After he was done, it was Mark's turn.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Jennifer Edwards did have a car accident that day, but she was not at fault. She didn't knowingly take a sleeping pill and drive, we intend to prove that she was drugged. She was not responsible for her actions that day because she wasn't aware that someone slipped a pill into her drink. She got up that morning, put on a bathing suit and a coverup, and went to a friend's home intending to lay out by the pool and relax with some girlfriends. However, one of those women had a different agenda, and drugged Jennifer. What resulted afterwards was definitely a tragedy, however it was not a tragedy that occurred due to Jennifer's negligence or malfeasance, or bad judgement. She has always had an exemplary character, has never broken the law, and has always cared about other people and put them before herself. The testimony you will hear today will not only prove that she was drugged, but will back up all that I have told you about her".
The DA called their witnesses, which were those people present at the accident scene. They all testified that she just crossed the yellow line, and hit them. They testified to their injuries. On cross examination, they all testified that the Harts had paid their medical damages from the accident. The lady who died in the accident was represented by her mother. She testified that the Harts had taken care of the funeral expenses, which was very kind of them. She also testified that originally she was upset with Jennifer and wanted her to spend the rest of her life in prison. However, if she had truly been drugged, then she felt that person who drugged her should go to jail, not Jennifer.
The state rested, and then Mark began to present the defense.
He called all of the ladies who were there that day, and they all stated that Jennifer had brought margaritas, and that she had definitely had a couple, but they had all drank some with her, and then after the face masks, they were all sleepy. Marcy testified how she found the bottle of pills that had the name of the medicine mentioned to be in Jennifer's blood from the hospital at her house. She also testified that she found Natalie's wallet on the floor and noticed all the ID's with fake names. It wasn't exactly the truth, but nobody else was in the room that day, so there was no way to dispute whether it was on the floor or on the bed.
The final witness that was called was Natalie Evans.
Jonathan leaned forward and gave Jennifer's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. She kissed the top of his fingers.
Natalie took the stand, and it was beyond clear that she wasn't happily testifying for Jennifer.
Mark asked her questions about the face mask and how often she had used it and how long she advised the women to put the mask on.
"Typically, you only need about 15 minutes, but if you have deep set wrinkles, or if you are in the sun a long time, you should leave it on longer. The day of the party, we left the masks on 45 minutes".
"Everyone else at the party testified they were given a sleeping pill. And the sleeping pill Silenor was found in Jennifer's system. How did you feel, physically, when the party ended?"
"I was fine".
"You weren't sleepy?"
"No. But I take those pills every night, so I am used to it probably".
He held up the empty pill bottle.
"So this is your bottle?"
"Yes, it is".
"Do you always carry empty pill bottles with you?"
"No, but I was taking it that day to get it refilled".
"Well, that's interesting. You say you were getting it refilled after the party, but according to this statement from the pharmacy listed on this bottle, this prescription wasn't refilled for another 2 weeks. Now, if you say you take these pills every day, and you went without for 2 weeks, that must have been very hard on you".
She didn't respond. She just stared.
"Mrs. Evans, what is your given name?"
"Natalie Paige Stewart Evans".
"Hmmm. That's funny. Because your driver's license says your name is Natalie Walker Evans. But this license says Jessica Maryn Todd. And this one says Whitney Elisabeth Bridges, while this one says Alexandria Lauren Beatty, and this one says Alicia Brooke Prescott. So, which is it? Who are you really?"
"I am really-"
"The witness is to be reminded that she is under oath".
She nodded. "I am really Alicia Brooke Whitaker, then Prescott".
"What do you mean 'then Prescott?"
"I mean, I was Alicia Brooke Whitaker. I got married and my last name was then Prescott."
"So, why the name change to Natalie Evans?"
"Just needed a fresh start is all".
"I see. And this fresh start, would it have anything to do with your 3 DUI convictions?"
"Not entirely".
She was growing irritated. Jonathan looked over at Daniel Evans and saw that he was very, very nervous.
Mark continued.
"Mrs. Evans, Alicia Brooke Prescott was arrested 3 times for DUI, and 4 times for prostitution. And in each of the arrest reports for the DUI's, you were found to have Silenor in your system. And in each of the arrest reports on what was found on you when you were arrested for prostitution, you were found to have Silenor on you then, as well".
"There's no law against carrying medicines in your purse".
"But there is a law about crushing them and spiking other people's drinks with them. There is a law about not giving the drugs to your friends without their consent".
Natalie began to cry, and the bailiff handed her a box of Kleenex.
"Mrs. Evans, you were overheard saying that "Karma sucks" during a conversation about Jennifer and this situation. Care to explain that?"
"Karma does suck. It's common knowledge. It's retribution for what you have done in the past".
"What could Mrs. Hart have done in the past that would make you think was what she deserved?"
"She's done plenty. She's done a lot, of hurting people, putting them out of work, destroying their marriages". Mark and Jonathan noticed the icy cold glare that Natalie was throwing Jennifer.
Jennifer wrote down a note and showed it to Mark when he came back to the table.
"She's mad because I wrote an article about her and her husband left her. That's her motive".
Mark nodded, and changed his strategy.
"Mrs. Evans, have you ever read one of Mrs. Hart's articles?"
"A few. I don't like to read much. Especially not unsavory or unfavorable things about others".
"Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Hart has a reputation built on not printing anything unfavorable, and doing copious amounts of research before she writes the article".
Natalie was crying harder.
Mark softened his tone.
"Mrs. Evans, what is it that you aren't telling us?"
She looked up, and took a deep breath.
"I gave everyone at the party the sleeping pills. I gave Jennifer a double dose. I did it because I wanted to get revenge on her, and I figured if she was the only one who got the pills, it would be obvious. So, I gave one to everyone, and two to her, hoping it would make her pass out and pass away while she was sleeping. I never dreamed that she would drive home and have an accident. But she deserved it, for ruining my marriage".
"Please explain to the court how she ruined your marriage."
"Several years ago, she wrote a piece on prostitution, and the struggle that the girls go through and why they continue to do it. She used the name I created for myself in the article, but she printed a picture to go along with it, and that photo was the one that was used on the cover of the magazine. My then-husband saw it, and realized I was a prostitute, and divorced me. He took my kids from me, and I haven't seen them in 5 years. They don't even know me."
"Mrs. Evans, Jennifer Hart isn't responsible for your husband finding out you were a prostitute."
"Yes she is. If she hadn't done the story, there would have a different photo on the cover and my then-husband would have never found out anything".
"Was your husband now involved in this?"
"Indirectly. He knew that I wanted revenge, but we never talked about what I was going to do. He just asked me to wait and do it after he had a chance to buy up some Hart Industries stock."
"No further questions, your honor".
The DA chose not to question her, so she was free to step down, but was told to go to the conference room across the hall.
"We will take a short recess. I would like to see counselors in my chambers".
Jonathan embraced Jennifer.
"How you holding up?"
"Ok I guess. I want to go apologize to Natalie."
"I will ask Mark if you can speak with her when he comes back".
"I just hate that all of that led to this. I can't believe I didn't recognize her".
"Maybe she had some work done".
"Maybe. I just hate that she went to these lengths for me".
"Jennifer, you aren't responsible for this. She is".
She nodded. She knew he was right.
The judge came back and so did the lawyers.
Jennifer told Mark she wanted to speak with Natalie.
"In a few minutes".
The judge began to speak.
"In light of Mrs. Evan's testimony, I don't believe we need to go any further. It is clear that Mrs. Hart did not willingly or knowingly ingest in the sleeping pills. I find that the sleeping pills caused her to be asleep, which caused the accident. I find that since she did not willingly take the pills, she cannot be charged with vehicular manslaughter or driving under the influence. However, since it was her car that hit the others that eventually did cause a death, I find her guilty of failure to maintain control of her vehicle, and order her to pay the damages for the other parties. I am pleased to know that you have already done so."
She turned her attention to Natalie, sitting on a special pew.
"Mrs. Evans, this court is appalled that you would stoop so low as to drug women who considered you a friend, just to get back at one of them for something that caused you to be exposed for wrongdoing based on your own bad judgement years prior. That is selfish, that is greedy, and that is just plain reckless. You are hereby charged with 3 counts of contributing to driving under the influence, and one count of especially voluntary manslaughter, and I should charge you with an assault charge for each of your friends that you drugged. However, since the only one here who suffered any real damages is Mrs. Hart, I am going to let her decide if you should be charged with that".
"Mrs. Hart, please stand".
Jennifer stood up, and Mark stood up next to her.
"Mrs. Hart, would you like to press charges against Natalie for drugging you?"
She turned back to look at Jonathan. He shrugged and looked at her as if to say "up to you".
She conferred with Mark, who assured her that the other charges would net Natalie some prison time.
She took a long look at Natalie, and then spoke.
"No, your honor. But I would like a few minutes to speak with her today".
"Granted. Mrs. Hart, I hereby order that all charges against you are dropped. Bailiffs, please escort Natalie Evans to the conference room next door. Mrs. Hart, you will be allowed a few minutes to speak with her. Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, thank you for your time and your willingness to serve. Mrs. Hart, you are free to go".
Jennifer hugged Mark and thanked him profusely. She then turned to Jonathan and hugged and kissed him.
"I need to go talk to Natalie".
"I'll be right here".
She nodded and went to the conference room.
She walked in. Natalie was sitting at a table, crying.
"Natalie, we need to talk".