TRIAL VI

The drawing Mike displayed on the Courtroom overhead projector stood out like a screaming admission of guilt. It was a crayon drawing by Emma, portraying a giant and imposing Chandler, with crazed devil eyes, and a silver blade in hand, stabbing Emma to death. Emma had scribbled dramatic red streaks all over the page, signalling a violent spray of blood. She had drawn her mouth in a wide "O", depicting a scream, and bright blue tears shooting out of her eyes.

Horrified, Monica ran to the front of the court, dragging Mike to the side, "What the hell are you doing, why would you show such a horrid picture? Are you trying to send Chandler to prison? Have you forgotten which team you're batting for?" she whispered urgently.

"Is there a problem, Attorney Hannigan?" Justice Courtenay interrupted.

Mike shook his head, "No, Your Honour."

"Then please, control your client," Justice Courtenay snapped.

"Look, Mon, I know what I'm doing, just trust me, okay?" Mike reassured.

Monica stared in pain at the nauseating drawing of her husband murdering her niece, "You must be insane! I can't, for the life of me, see why this would help our case!" Monica whispered loudly.

Mike grasped Monica by the shoulders, staring seriously into her eyes, "Monica, I mean it, you need to trust me," he said seriously and emphatically.

Flashback: 20 Hours Ago…

Emma sat on her bed, clapping her Barbie doll against her Ken doll, in a kissing motion, "I love youuu Miss Barbie, I wanna marry you! Here's a diamond ring that costs a gazillion dollars!" she announced.

Carol Willick sat at Emma's desk, giggling quietly at the little girl's make-believe game. Ross and Rachel were both busy at work, Ben was at school, so Carol was babysitting Emma for the afternoon. Carol perused listlessly, through a collection of crayon drawings on Emma's desk.

There were about fifty different drawings. Some were generically sweet and innocent; depicting rainbows, butterflies, houses, fairies, and zoo animals. Others were of people near and dear to the little girl's heart. Cuddling up to her parents, playing in the park with Jack, Erica and Ben, listening to Aunt Pheebs sing, watching Dr Ramoray re-runs with Uncle Joey…

And then there were pictures of a more sinister tone. Little Emma lying in hospital, getting sliced open by a circle of surgeons, drawings of doctors, lawyers, nurses, police officers… and finally, there were inevitably, pictures featuring Chandler. Carol ran her index over the frightening image. A demonic Chandler viciously stabbing a hysterical little girl over and over… Blood splashing left, right and centre. The drawing was chilling. Carol felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end…

"Will you love me forever and ever and ever? I will Miss Barbie, you are my pretty wife! You promise? Yes! I never lie!" Emma squealed suddenly. Carol jumped up from her chair, startled by Emma's outburst.

Emma looked at Carol quizzically, "Are you okay, Aunty Carol? You look scared," she asked, confused.

Carol nodded silently, feeling a growing lump in her throat. She turned back to the picture, feeling as though something was very amiss. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. She examined the disturbing drawing closely. It featured a row of Boxes, working like a comic strip. Each box depicted Chandler stabbing Emma repeatedly, over and over, again and again.

Carol suddenly broke out in cold sweat. Hurrying over to Emma, she dropped to her knees, and grasped the little girl by the shoulders, "Emma, look at me."

Emma frowned at Carol, confused, "Aunty Carol, what's wrong?"

"Emma, why have you drawn so many pictures of Uncle Chan stabbing you?" Carol asked nervously, showing Emma the chilling drawing.

"Because he stabbed me many times, ten times. See?" Emma explained, pointing at her drawing.

Horrified, Carol collapsed onto the floor, pressing the palm of her hand against her forehead.

"Oh God, Em, you've sent an innocent man to prison," Carol whispered quietly.

Emma shook Carol's arm gently, "Aunty, what do you mean? Are you okay?" she asked, scared at the sight of Carol's pale and clammy face.

Carol stood up suddenly, grasping her mobile phone and dialling with shaky hands. The adrenaline was shooting out of her; she could hardly stay upright on her feet.

Mike picked up the phone, "Hello?"

"Mike, Chandler's innocent," she said breathlessly.

Mike stared out at the sea of faces, "Now, I will prove to you beyond all reasonable doubt, that Emma's testimony on how she received her injury is false."

Justice Courtenay raised his eyebrows, "That's a big call to make, Councillor," he muttered.

Ignoring the Judge's comment, Mike turned to Rachel, "Mrs Geller, could you please read page one of Emma's Medical Report?"

"Emma Geller admitted at 3:15 pm on the 7th of January, with a single stab wound to the abdomen."

"Thank you Rachel, you may be seated. Emma had only one single stab wound, and yet her drawing depicts Chandler stabbing her multiple times," Mike announced.

Mike turned to Carol, seated nervously in the witness box. "Ms Willick, would you repeat for the Court, what Emma told you when you asked her about her drawing?"

"She said Chandler stabbed her ten times," Carol said shakily.

And in that very moment, it was as though time stood still. In utter shock, the entire Courtroom turned to stare at the tiny girl seated in the docks. Little Emma shrunk back against the stares, burying her face in Rachel's shirt.