Thirty minutes later, Joanne guided Danielle out into the yard and towards Michael, who was chained to his block. Immediately, he took her hand in his.

"Hi," Danielle said. "Michael," The killer squeezed her hand again. She hadn't called him Sir! That was the second time! She gave herself a mental pat on the back, knowing that was what his hand squeeze also was. "Are you ok?" He squeezed her hand twice, which she knew was the signal for yes.

A little later they were being escorted back inside when a deafening alarm cut the silence. Joanne tightened her hand on Danielle's arm, as she started in shock. "DON'T PANIC," she shouted over the alarm. "THAT'S THE RIOT BELL, BUT YOU'RE PERFECTLY SAFE!" Rick led Michael back into the block. Neither he nor Joanne were running, remaining calm the whole time. She wondered if it was to keep her and Michael calm, or because they weren't going anywhere and weren't rushing the two of them for anyone.

They entered just as another guard was locking Jefferson's door. "GOT TO GO!" he shouted to them before running out of the block. Jefferson was grinning, not caring about the wailing siren. His hand was against his crotch, Joanne saw with disgust. The guy had been admitted for horrific sexual violence and as far as she was concerned, he deserved worse than what he was getting. Death penalty sounded good… She blinked as she guided Danielle towards her cell. They'd just reached the door, when Jefferson let out a strangled cry and Joanne realised the bastard had just ejaculated. Danielle was oblivious of this of course, until a second later warm, sticky liquid hit her straight in the face.

"YOU DISGUSTING SON OF A BITCH!" Rick yelled. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST DID THAT! You…" Danielle knew what it was. His cum. The sick bastard had just thrown his cum at her. But she was used to it from Adam, she'd gone past the point of vomiting months ago. Joanne must've realised this because she pulled Danielle into a hug. "Well, as you won't let me fuck you," Jefferson jeered. "If I can't get in your pussy, then it'll be in your mouth instead, you blind bitch!"

Joanne helped Danielle into her cell and to the sink. As she did so, Rick unchained Michael then touched his shoulder deliberately turning away, pulling out his radio. "Any help needed over there?" He said casually as if nothing was happening, before she heard a scuffle of feet, then a loud crash. Joanne looked up and had to bite back a smirk. She had to at least pretend to aid the sexual prick. Michael Myers had Jefferson against his own cell bars, repeatedly smashing his skull against the metal. But Joanne ignored what was happening as she tenderly wiped Danielle's face.

…

Charlotte smiled at the officers as they loaded the last of her bags into their van. They'd brought some boxes for her to use. She still had a lease on her apartment, but Adam knew that address, so it was considered too dangerous by both her and the police to go back there.

"Thanks," Charlotte said gratefully, climbing into the vehicle. She glanced in the visor mirror and saw her black eye. Adam had inflicted this on her for some minor thing he regarded as her disobeying him. Charlotte sighed sadly. She had to text Danielle as soon as possible. She had to. Danielle deserved her on her knees for how she'd treated her over that abusive prick. She'd let her desire overshadow her so-called best friend. She should be ashamed of herself, and she was. She wouldn't blame Danielle if she told her she never wanted to see her again.

Sadly, she looked out the window as the police van drove her away from Adam's house and hopefully towards safety. She had to trust them now, she had no other choice. The officers had told her it was likely that Adam would be in custody for another night at least, but that didn't quell her fears. She knew, both from her own experiences and Danielle's, that Adam was a calculated and malicious man. He'd at least try to find her; she'd be a fool if she thought otherwise. She sighed. She was being taken to a Domestic Violence refuge. She just hoped she was as safe as they promised but somehow, she doubted it. Adam Dawson was always one step ahead.

…

Joanne left Danielle's cell door open as she ran out towards Myers and Jefferson. She touched Michael's shoulder as he continued to slam Jefferson's head against the bars. "This has to look convincing," she breathed to the killer. "Cameras. But please don't attack me. I'm not going to try very hard. As far as I'm concerned, he deserves this." She pulled out her gun and aimed it at Michael's chest. "Don't just stand there, woman!" Jefferson managed to yell, blood running down his face. "This fucker's going to kill me! Do something you stupid bitch!"

Yep, he is, Joanne thought. Good. "It's empty," she breathed to the killer, as she pulled the trigger. Click. "Shit," Joanne pretended to scramble for the bullets in her belt.

"Shit. Rick!" She yelled over her shoulder. Rick briefly caught her eye, and she knew they both understood each other. The other guard was still fiddling with his radio. "Sorry, what?" He turned and saw what was happening. "Fuck! I was listening to my radio to get an update on the riot! Shit! Um, hang on…" He too pretended to reach for his gun. He approached Michael and fired, the bullet only slightly grazing the killer's shoulder. Rick fired again, this time totally missing. He made his hand shake badly.

Joanne pretended to try and get in between them, but Myers grabbed her in what looked like a tight grip but was actually so gentle it took her by surprise. Very softly, he pushed her back. She pretended to stagger, hitting the ground. Rick rushed to help her up as Jefferson's head hit the metal twice more. CLANG, CLANG!

"Shit," Rick put panic in his voice. He pretended to activate his radio and spoke fast. Danielle heard him, but by now she'd guessed the guards were in fact doing nothing to stop Michael. Good. That was fine with her. The smell of his semen was still strong in her nose. She wanted to puke. "Help!" Rick shouted into his turned off radio. "We need help in here, guys! Now!"

This time it was Rick who got between Michael and Jefferson, or at least that's how it looked. The killer grabbed him, as he'd grabbed Joanne, by his vest. Rick raised his gun and caught the killer's eye. Holding it up, Michael's hand closed around the hand grip and pulled the trigger. The bullet slammed into Jefferson's neck, and he fell to the ground in a heap.

Rick pretended to try and restrain Myers the killer looking as if he was attacking the guard, but in reality, he wasn't putting any effort into it and Rick felt nothing. He vowed when they were in private, he'd acknowledge this and thank the killer. He could've after all seriously hurt him if he wanted to.

Joanne yelled out a warning. "DON'T MOVE, THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE!" Danielle was keenly reminded of her dream, but this was real. Next second she felt a gentle arm around her and could hardly believe who it was. Rick. She rested her head on his shoulder and finally her tears came. She felt violated, disgusting.

"Hey," Rick murmured. "It's alright," he squeezed her close to him. "I'll let you in on a little secret." He raised his gun, opened it, and handed her something. "That's a rubber bullet," he murmured. "That's what we use. Michael only has a slight graze because I had to show that we were trying to stop him."

"I… I know," she said shakily as Rick's arm stayed around her. "I… I need some air," she breathed. "That… That smell… Taste…"

"Adam?" Rick asked. She nodded.

"Guessed as much," Joanne muttered in disgust.

"I've got this Jo," Rick said as he carefully led Danielle past the blood and to the door. "You ok to…" He didn't finish and she guessed Joanne had nodded in response to his unfinished question.

When Rick led her back in about half an hour later, Joanne, Dr Loomis and Dr Stark were waiting. "Sorry Michael," Joanne murmured as she loosely cuffed him.

Dr Loomis stepped close to the killer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey Michael," he murmured. "You alright?"

Danielle knew why he was asking. Michael Myers had killed Jefferson. But she could hardly believe it. They weren't moving him from her and more to the point, the guards hadn't really helped to stop it. Moreover, the doctor's understood this and why. Joanne must've told them what he'd done. As if on cue, Dr Stark took her hand. "Are you alright?"

"I don't think I'm going to be sick anymore if that's what you mean," she gave her doctor a small smile. Dr Stark saw how pale and tired she looked.

"Joanne told us what he did," Dr Stark said. "I'm so sorry. He was going to be moved tonight."

"He still is," Danielle looked straight back at her. "To the morgue." She said cryptically.

"Well, yes," Dr Stark nodded.

Paramedics gave time of death at 2:48 PM, blunt force trauma.

Jefferson's body was loaded onto a stretcher and carried out of the block. Meanwhile, two cleaners had come in and were now cleaning up the blood.

"Do you need another session now?" Dr Stark asked, and Danielle could only shakily nod. "Joanne, will you come with me?"

Joanne immediately came to her side and Dr Stark made no objection. As they left, Danielle looked back. "Michael," she said softly. "Thank you."

They entered the therapy room and Danielle asked what she was dying to know. "What happened out there? After…"

"Michael shattered his skull against the bars," Joanne said. "We had to… You know, do our thing…"

"Pretend to try and stop him? Yeah, I know."

"What? Don't know what you're talking about!" Joanne sounded indignant but Danielle was sure she was grinning. "We had to try and stop him! We're security guards. We don't pretend anything!"

"Of course, don't know what I was thinking."

"Did Adam…" Dr Stark asked. She nodded. "I know how to swallow it and not gag," she said quietly. "He forced me."

"I'm so sorry," Dr Stark and Joanne said together. She smiled at them. The guard and doctor were becoming fast friends.

"Is Michael, ok?" She asked.

"Dr Loomis is talking to him now. Ricks with him. You may have heard Joanne cuff him, that was all an act. It was very loose and wouldn't hurt him. Ricks probably removed them already. Dr Loomis just has to check that he's ok."

"Of course, upset and angry Michael Myers equals well... death."

…

"Mr. Dawson, please tell the court how Miss Hayward was abusive to you?"

Adam stood in the dock in his best suit and tie, inwardly smirking. Danielle loved guys in suits, but he'd never let her touch him in his. He'd often tease her. 'I'm wearing my suit and tie,' he'd say before moving out of her way silently so she couldn't find him. The funniest part was he never actually was, but that blind bitch had no way of knowing it. Oh, it was so much fun being cruel to a blind person and now he would paint his picture of her to the court. Abusive, insane.

He looked down at his lawyer James Barlow sitting at the defence table, it was her who'd just asked the question. He'd come highly recommended from an associate of Adam's who'd done time in prison for similar offences. 'Domestic violence' they called it. What a load of shit. It was putting women in their rightful place. With blind ones it was even more fun. Adam didn't really like Barlow, but he had to admit if only to himself that he respected him. The guy knew his job.

He opened his mouth and began to speak, making sure to sound miserable. He could see some of Danielle's friends glaring at him from the public gallery, but no sign of Charlotte. That was a good thing. For her that was. He'd ordered her not to come and said if she did, she wouldn't like the consequences. That bitch had no place at his trial. He didn't want her knowing the truth. She was, satisfyingly enough too scared of him to disobey him. That as far as Adam was concerned was just perfect.

"Danielle would look at my phone, she made me install a speech program so she could read my text messages, if I didn't, she would start hurting herself, resulting in her many scars and would threaten to kill herself. If I came home late from work, she'd hit me and demand to know where I was. She would often accuse me of having affairs, wake me up at all hours of the night to do things for her. She even got a friend to check the mileage on my car to make sure that I hadn't travelled further than I'd said I had. She also put a screen reader on our computer so she could monitor my internet activity. I had to be really careful what I clicked on. Couldn't have any access to websites which involved money, domestic violence help and so on. She would get really angry and violent if I left the screen on too, saying it got really hot and she didn't like the feel of it when sitting at the computer. The day she tried to hang herself was because I wouldn't help her make dinner. She had been acting crazy for a while, I just didn't see it and it really hurt me because I loved her so much, still do." Adam pulled out a tissue and dabbed at his eyes. "I'm glad our neighbour acted as fast as he did, or we'd have lost her and that would've broken my heart. He heard Danielle's chair fall over and called for help. I couldn't get in because the garage door was locked. She'd locked it behind her."

Alan Goodwin, the prosecutor, stood and approached the dock. Another shrewd man. He looked at Adam with open hostility. This guy's sharp, Adam thought. I need to be cautious.

"So Mr. Dawson," Goodwin started. "I just have a few questions. Firstly, why did you if it was you on the internet, access a site for a new white cane which is a blind person's product?"

"I wanted to buy her a new cane because hers was broken."

"How did Miss Hayward's cane break?"

"She tripped over something causing it to be bent beyond repair. That devastated me. She's lost without it, literally."

"The web browser history was cleared, but the crime lab still managed to analyse it - as is shown in Exhibit G." Adam felt the blood drain from his face and just for a second, he fought not to panic. Shit. He was sure he'd cleared it properly.

"My next question is why in that case is the username on the account Danielle Hayward?"

"I simply wanted to make it easier for her, so she knew whose account she was signed into; she was of course more than welcome to use mine."

"Finally, do tell us, why is there an email in your deleted folder - Exhibit G, page eleven - in which it appears someone tried to permanently delete it, but without success. Which reads and I quote, 'Come home right now you blind bitch unless you've got lost somewhere which I hope you have. I want my dinner and then a fuck, if you want me to even consider allowing you to buy a new cane. Do as I tell you.' "Goodwin looked up at Adam. "Why, Mr. Dawson, would you send that if she's monitoring your internet and if as you say, she's in control of your relationship?"

"She sent me that. She signed in as me to do it. I told the police that in my first interview. She was going crazy by that point, insane. That's one reason she's now in Smith's Grove. But she wanted to make it look like I was the bad guy."

"Are you really a victim, the 'bad guy' Mr. Dawson, or are you an abusive, callous, cold, and manipulative liar?"

Barlow jumped to his feet with an objection which the judge upheld, but Adam could see that Goodwin was fighting a smirk. The damage had been done.

"Recess," Judge Spinner ordered. "Thirty minutes!" Her gavel hit the bench and Adam had to try hard not to think of it as the lid banging shut on his prison coffin.

…

"So, you say she checked your mileage every time you were late, or every so often to check where you'd been. Correct?" Goodwin asked.

"Yes," Adam nodded.

"Mr. Dawson, tell me, please. Danielle is totally blind, so how would she have done this?"

"She had a friend come check it for her."

"Are you saying she called her friend over every time to check?"

"Yes, that's what I said."

"What was the friend's name?"

"I don't remember his name," Adam said.

"Well, how convenient," Goodwin looked at him with cold disdain. "So, we have a totally blind woman here, who you claim, used a friend to check the mileage on your car. This friend apparently did it quite a few times and yet you can't remember his name? I for one find that very hard to believe. You also said she'd assault you if you were late. Then tell us, how is it you're not covered in bruises or scars, but Miss Hayward is?

For the first time Adam found himself hoping the judge would intervene from her bench, disallowing the question. But she didn't. She too was looking at Adam with cool hostility. This was bad. They didn't believe his story. "Answer the question please, Mr. Dawson," Her Honour Hannah Spinner said right on cue with his thoughts. Shit.

"Because I was able to see what she was going to do, which she very sadly couldn't and moved out of the way, so she didn't hit me. She got those bruises and scars from her own self-harming."

"How many times did the friend come over to check the mileage?"

"At least a dozen times, probably more."

"Do you mean that this friend came to check the mileage at least a dozen times but you cannot remember his name?"

"Yes, that's what I said. It was a friend of Danielle's, not mine. They believed every word she said about me, so they didn't speak to me. Danielle told me their name once, but I can't remember it."

"So was your statement that 'she hit me all the time' untrue?"

"She…" Adam swallowed hard. Shit. The jury would've noticed even that tiny little movement. "Like I said. She'd try but I'd move out of the way. So, she'd take it out on herself. You know, to make it look like I was responsible for the injuries."

"Do you have a new girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"Is she in the courtroom today to support you?"

"No. It was too traumatic for her," Adam said. "She and Danielle know, or should I say knew each other. She couldn't face it."

"I see," Goodwin said slowly. "So, she was close to Danielle, but is now living with the man her friend apparently abused? Must've been difficult for her to choose her loyalties Mr. Dawson."

He didn't know what to say. This wasn't looking good for him at all. Even Barlow hadn't interjected, which was very bad indeed. Did he also believe that Adam was guilty? That it was actually the other way round from what his client was claiming? Even if he did, he had to represent him, didn't he? God knew Adam was paying him enough to do it.

"Today's proceedings are complete," Judge Spinner said, slamming her gavel on the bench. "My decision is for Mr. Dawson to be remanded into custody tonight." Adam swore under his breath. Fuck. That meant they didn't believe him and knew they had him in a corner. They didn't trust him not to appear. Charlotte would be happy, the fucking bitch! She'd have his house to herself that night, but God help her if she touched any of his things or took anything from the fridge, he'd make her suffer. This changed nothing. She was his bitch and did as he said. He'd told her not to use the TV or stereo and if she did by God she'd pay. Maybe he'd make her pay just for this, even though she had nothing to do with it. He was angry and felt like a caged animal. Right now, all the confidence he'd felt upon receiving his summons, was gone. This looked bad for him and there were no two ways about it. Very, very bad.

Adam inwardly cursed in frustration as he was led back to his cell below the courthouse. This was really not looking good. Even his Goddamn lawyer, James Barlow, was turning against him. Was he that easy to see through? Well, fuck it! He was paying Barlow a lot of money, so the man would damn well see this through. He pulled off his suit jacket and slung it on to the small bed. He couldn't be bothered to try and keep it smart anymore. What was the point? It was wrinkling, just like he was. He simply couldn't face time behind bars, he just couldn't. "I want to see my lawyer," he snapped at the guard who was removing his handcuffs.

"You can call him at 7PM after dinner Mr. Dawson," the guard said, before the door slammed shut and locked. "FUCK!" Adam yelled at the wall. Anger surged through him. No way could this be allowed to happen. No fucking way! Spinner would pay for this. As he thought of the bitch of a judge, he felt his cock become rock hard in his pants. Man, he wanted to fuck her so hard she was bleeding and keep doing it over and over again until she was practically begging the jury to release him. Then there was Danielle. Oh yeah, he'd fuck her alright given the chance. This, he'd actually pull off. He was set on that. His ex-bitch would learn her lesson, they both would. No woman defied Adam Dawson. They obeyed him, end of story.

His erection was becoming painful. Damn he needed release. He tried to calm himself and consequently it down, but it wasn't working. All he could think of now was fucking Spinner until she bled, then Danielle and Charlotte until they were doing likewise. "Fuck you," Adam muttered at the CCTV camera. Let them watch. Free porn for them. He wondered if any of the guards were female. That made him, if possible, even harder. Walking over to his bed he unfastened and removed his pants and lay down, wrapping his left hand around his throbbing cock. It wasn't long before he was shooting his load against the cell wall.

…

Adam slowly climbed to his feet in the dock the next morning. He had hardly slept the night before and it showed. He'd also tried his best to hang his suit and tie up in his small cell, but it now had creases just like his face. He'd seen the wrinkles of exhaustion in the small smash proof mirror above the sink. Damn, those bitches would pay for this. He may have teased Danielle about him wearing his suit, but now it really was a mess and that angered him. It wasn't even his conscience which had kept him awake. As far as he was concerned, both women deserved everything they were getting from him. That was a woman's place. They did as they were told, end of story. People nowadays are a bunch of pussies, too afraid to put women in their place.

He couldn't sleep because the bed in the cell was hard and uncomfortable, not to mention the racket from the drunken asshole in the cell next to his.

There he was again, Alan Goodwin. Adam sighed inwardly. This guy wasn't going to relent, Adam could already see that. He was a shrewd lawyer, and although it angered him to admit, damn good at his job. Slowly, he approached the dock like a cat stalking a mouse. Just his manner of walking made Adam's heart go cold with dread. Not for those bitches, but for himself. He didn't enjoy the thought of going to prison.

"Please continue from the end of last night's proceedings, Counsellor," Judge Spinner said from her bench. Adam inwardly cursed. Shit, this is bad. He knew exactly where this was going before the lawyer had even opened his mouth. Judge Spinner didn't like him, that much was obvious. Thank goodness she had to hear all the evidence pre-decision. He had friends who were willing to lie through their teeth for him. Oath, Bible or not. He felt himself relax. He wasn't going down. Not him. Not Adam Dawson.

"Thank you, Your Honour. So Mr. Dawson. I'd like to go back to where we stopped last evening. The cane. A white cane is, as I'm sure everyone in this room knows, a blind person's product. So please tell me the following? First, if Danielle was monitoring your internet access, why didn't she just buy it herself?"

Adam took a deep breath. This was another reason he hadn't slept. He'd been rehearsing this answer all night, expecting this question. "Danielle wasn't very good with computers, so she demanded that I log-in and buy it for her and as it was my house, I was set up as the Admin."

"Second, there is an email we recovered which says, 'approve or deny transaction', A. D-Twelve Admin? This came from an email address which is not recognised. Why would you swap usernames for such a transaction, and if she was monitoring your internet access, why would you have to approve your own transaction? Especially if it's something you don't need?"

"Due to the settings, I had to approve it afterwards. Danielle couldn't do it as it was visual."

"Really? After you said just now that she signed in as you? Then how would she have gotten past the visual settings to do this?" There were a few seconds of silence. Adam knew Goodwin had immediately caught his slip. "That being the case, why didn't you just buy it on your own account?"

Again, Adam had an answer ready. "Because Danielle has a page saved with all her measurements for her cane on it and I didn't know them. It was easier that way."

Adam looked at Barlow expecting him to shout an objection! But the lawyer just looked at the table. What the fuck? Why wasn't he defending him?

"Could you have just asked her what she needed - if she was monitoring your access, she'd know if you'd bought her the right one, wouldn't she?"

"I didn't think of it at the time."

James Barlow shifted in his seat. I can't do this anymore, he thought. This man was as abusive as Danielle said in her statements. He was quitting as counsel. He needed to talk to his office.

"Excuse me, Your Honour," he said. "Please, may I have a moment?"

"My chambers please Counsellors!" Judge Spinner banged her gavel against the bench. "Fifteen minutes. Dawson, stay where you are."

…

"Your Honour, I'm sorry," James Barlow looked straight at Judge Spinner and Goodwin. "I can't do this anymore. I can't represent that son of a bitch. He's a liar! A fucking abusive liar! Excuse my language, Your Honour."

Judge Spinner smiled slightly at him; Barlow was sure of it. "I can tell he wants me to interrupt Mr. Goodwin and object, but I can't. Something about him makes my skin crawl. I wouldn't let my daughter anywhere near him. Is there any way I can get out of this Your Honour? I think I'm starting to understand why Miss Hayward tried to hang herself that day." Goodwin nodded.

Hannah Spinner had never seen defence and prosecution lawyers united before, but she did now. The sight tugged at her heart, especially for Barlow. He knew he was defending a guilty man and he just didn't have the stomach for it. "He hasn't admitted it to me," Barlow said as if reading her mind. "I almost wish he would. Then I could legally drop him as a client. But he doesn't have to! He's…"

"An abusive liar," Alan Goodwin finished. Barlow nodded to the prosecutor.

"Fuck me," Goodwin breathed. "Lock him up and throw away the goddamn key Your Honour."

"There he is in a suit and tie," Barlow continued. "We've seen Miss Hayward's statement, she said that he'd tell her he was in it because she loved men in suits, only to not let her touch him. I'll bet anything he was lying then, too." Goodwin nodded grimly.

"Please Your Honour," Barlow said softly and Goodwin was sure he was blinking back tears. He reached over and squeezed the other man's shoulder. "I can't defend him. I'm sorry. I want out of this trial. Find him someone else! I've got a wife and daughter and his loathing of women… I just can't!"

Judge Spinner nodded to him. "I will tell Mr. Dawson that you received an urgent call from your office, informing you of a conflict of interest that would prevent you from providing an adequate defence and had to be dismissed. We'll get him another lawyer. I wish you luck Mr. Barlow."

"Thank you," Barlow stood up and practically ran for the doors. Goodwin raised a hand in respectful well-wishing and was sure Barlow returned it.

…

"I'm sorry Mr. Dawson," Judge Spinner said ten minutes later. "Mr. Barlow's office has called to inform the court of a conflict of interest that could possibly prevent him from providing you an adequate defence; he had to be dismissed. He can't represent you further. So, the choice is yours. We can call in another lawyer and you will be remanded until we find one, or you can carry on and represent yourself without legal aid."

Adam had to exercise all his self-control not to glare at the bitch of a Judge. He didn't believe it for one second. That fucker Barlow didn't believe him. This was bad. Very, very bad.

"I'll do it alone then," he muttered eventually. "I have nothing to hide Your Honour." At least he hoped he could pull off his lies successfully with no lawyer.

Judge Spinner nodded to him. "As you wish Mr. Dawson. In that case, Mr. Goodwin, we're ready for your first witness."

Adam tried to hide the rising dread as the witnesses began to give testimony against him. They all said the same thing. His isolating of Danielle from them, her withdrawal, shyness, fear every time her phone rang. But he could lie. If there was one thing, he was good at, it was lying. Consistent or not, he could persuade them that these statements were not true. That was what he thought until the fourth witness walked in and he had to wrangle in his anger and yes, fear. Because it was Charlotte.

Adam glared at her, his anger rising. 'What the fuck was she doing here? He'd told her not to! She'd pay for this! She was to do as she was told, and she was flat out disobeying him!' He gritted his teeth as she started to speak, cross examined by Goodwin. Adam didn't believe for a second why Barlow had left. Conflict of interest? Adam scoffed. Bullshit! 'Fucker didn't want to do it anymore! He didn't believe me! Well, I guess he is smart, so why am I surprised?' Charlotte talked about Adam's abuse, which was similar to Danielle's, her having to call him Sir in private. Although Adam didn't know this, she hadn't seen Danielle's statement, and some of the things he'd done to the both of them, began after Charlotte had sent Danielle that text message. Well, she was going to anyway, he just… Hurried it up a bit. He wanted to smirk at the memory, until Goodwin's next words stopped him in his tracks.

"Miss Avery, I'd like to ask about your internet access in Mr. Dawson's house. Were you free to use it as you pleased?"

Charlotte shook her head. "Absolutely not! He monitored everything I did. I couldn't go on websites if they involved money or domestic violence help." For the first time since the trial started, Adam Dawson felt fear for himself crawl up into his crotch, turning his balls to ice. This was exactly what Danielle had told the pigs and Charlotte had no way of knowing this. Now he was starting to think he needed a lawyer, who didn't care that he was lying. The heat was coming down and it was very hot indeed. He needed criminal aid, and now, or he was going to be spending God knew how many years of his life behind bars. "I changed my mind," Adam Dawson interrupted. "I want a lawyer."