Innocence

Part 11

Heavy subject matter ahead Trigger Warning: pedophilia accusations

Rating is M

Apologies for the chapter 10/7 mishap.

I do not understand text lingo, please forgive the poor attempt at the end of this post

I don't own anything.

Jane sat through opening statements. She had to cringe as the A.D.A made his argument that painted Maura as a walking sex fiend who preyed on every child that walked the streets of Boston. The dark haired detective was surprised that the state was calling Nikki as their one and only witness. Not only was she still underage, Nikki was by all rights, supposedly a traumatized victim. She only hoped that the kid and her parents knew what they were doing.

Jane caught sight of Mezzler. He looked smug and victorious, that didn't bode well for Maura. She knew in her gut that Maura was innocent, but Jane also knew that truth and innocence were, at times, mutually exclusive when it came to the justice system.

Jane rolled her eyes and when the assistant district attorney called the kid at the heart of this controversy. It was a joke. Rizzoli could tell right away that the kid had been coached; from the girl next door clothes to the long, plaited hair with a ribbon.

Christ, even some of the jurors were seeing through the stunt.

The courtroom watch as a teenage girl took the stand and was sworn in.

Jane watched as the girl cut her eyes towards Maura for a split second then continued to look down at the wood railing in front of her.

"Good morning, Miss Vickers, I'm Assistant D.A. Lionel Smith. Do you understand why you are here today?" Smith looked on pleasantly at his witness.

Nikki leaned forward to speak into the mic, "Yes sir, I am here to answer your questions."

Smith turned from his witness and walked over to the jurors' box and looked each of them in the eye as he asked his next set of questions.

"Please tell us about the day indicated that she wanted you to engage in adult sexual activities with her."

"Objection, your honor, leading the witness." Tom interrupted.

"Objection sustained. Let's keep it tight Mr. Smith." The judge ruled impassively.

Lionel walked back over to the witness box and studied the young witness.

"Nikki, may I call you Nikki?"

Nikki nodded yes.

"Nikki, when you first found out that you had Ms. Isles as a teacher, how did that make you feel?"

"I felt kind of nervous, but mostly excited." She stated.

"Hmmm…nervous…excited…why those words?"

Nikki looked at Lionel like he was crazy.

"Dr. Isles is the best when it comes to AP Biology. If you pass her class, you've practically mastered the first semester bio studies of freshman year college."

The Assistant D.A. mulled that statement over.

"You referred to Ms. Isles as Dr. Isles." Once again he turned towards the jurors. "You looked up to Ms. Isles as a mentor?"

"Yes."

"Did you want to do your best in her class?"

"Yes."

"Nikki, I know that this next question must be embarrassing, but I need you to be honest and really clear on what happened the day in question; that ultimately is the reason we are here today."

Nikki looked around the courtroom nervously. As her eyes swept the courtroom she saw Haley's dad.

"Nikki, on the day you stayed after class to ask Ms. Isles about your biology quiz, what happened?" Lionel questioned gently.

"I stayed over because I wanted to talk to Dr. Isles about my grade, I wanted to do better."

"…and then what happened?"

Nikki dropped her head and wiped her eyes.

"Dr. Isles waited till the hall way was quiet and the she place her hand on my arm and slid slowly up to my shoulder."

"Could she have just been comforting you, because you were stressed?"

"No, then she tried to kiss me." Nikki stated without flinching.

The courtroom came to life with murmurs. Judge Lyster banged his gavel and demanded order.

"She tried to kiss you?" Lionel asked for clarification.

"Yes, she tried to kiss me."

"Would you point out Ms. Maura Isles?"

Nikki pointed over to the defendants table.

"Did Ms. Isles subject you to anything else, sexually?"

"Yes."

"What might that be?"

"When she didn't get my cooperation, Dr. Isles then grabbed me and tried to kiss me and…" Nikki stopped speaking and dropped head her as she started to cry.

"I know this is hard Nikki, but we have to get through this." Lionel stated emphatically.

Nikki nodded and continued.

"She tried to cup my privates!" Nikki spoke out harshly.

Maura could not believe how such a promising student could be so crude.

"Did you want her to do that?" Lionel pushed further.

"No…okay, no!" Nikki broke down further and clutched her head in her hands.

"No further questions you honor." Lionel retreated to his side of the court and sat down.

"Your witness, Mr. Burk." Judge Lyster spoke tonelessly.

"Miss Vickers, are you sure Dr. Maura Isles actually perpetrated these malicious attacks on your person?"

Nikki didn't answer right away. She kept her head bowed.

Tom studied the young woman. Going on a hunch, he stood straight and took a breath to speak.

"Miss Vickers, would you please look up at me?"

Nikki made a move to wipe her eyes.

"Without touching your eyes." Tom demanded.

Nikki slowly looked up, straight into Tom's eyes.

"Your honor, I would like it on record that Miss Nikki Vickers' eyes are dry and without any irritation."

Tom studied the witness, he didn't enjoy tearing a kid to shreds, but she accused his client of something that would be life altering if she was allowed to get away with it.

"Nikki, I'm going to give you a chance to stop all of this. Will you, of your own free will, retract the charges that you have made against Dr. Maura Isles?

Lionel leapt to his feet, surprised at his opponent's audacity.

"Your honor, counsel is badgering the witness!"

"Your honor if you will give me a little leeway, I promise this is critical to the case!" Tom begged.

Judge Lyster contemplated it for a moment. "I'll allow it, but you have a short leash Mr. Burk."

"Thank you, your honor." Tom answered respectively.

Tom walked over to the juror's box. He wanted to make sure he had their attention, not only was he going to get the charges against Maura dropped; he needed the people who made up the jury to walk out and know that Maura was innocent.

"Nikki, I will ask again. Will you once and for all, tell the truth?"

"I am telling the truth, she did those things." Her words were hollow.

Tom turned, he was sad, but this was his job.

"Your honor, I would like to enter into evidence, item number 1A, a cell phone that belongs to one Haley Watson."

Nikki started to panic, she tried to get up and leave.

"Miss Vickers, please remain seated." The judge instructed.

She sat and waited as Tom held the cell phone that displayed a text.

"Please read the text displayed on Miss Watson's cell phone." Tom commanded.

Nikki shook her head no; she knew what the text would read.

"Your honor, please instruct the witness to read the text, please."

"Miss Vickers, you are here by instructed to read the text, by order of the court."

"Mr. Smith, please help me. Don't let them make me read it!" Nikki pleaded with the A.D.A.

Lionel shook his head; this part was out of his hands. It was time for the defense to make their case.

Jane held her breath, finally; the truth was going to come out.

Nikki leaned forward and cleared her throat and began to read.

"Can you believe she shut me down!" Niknik

"Chill Nik, I know Dr. Isles is hot, but you can't be for real?" Haleycomet

"I want her, I always get what I want…" Niknik

"Stalker much?" Haleycomet

"No stalking, I just want her" Niknik

"Chick you need to chill, she's our teach!" Haleycomet

"If she don't want me, I'll ruin her" Niknik

"Damn, this is too freak for me, later girl" Haleycomet

Jane and Maura gazed at one another as the courtroom erupted into chaos around them. The truth had finally made its appearance.