Chapter 76- Nelle's Evidence
Esme shifted awkwardly in her seat as she nervously watched Trina take the stand.
Spencer smiled up at Trina, then whispered to Josslyn, "Trina will definitely come through for us."
"Miss Robinson, please state for the courts your relationship to both parties," Nora said.
"I am Spencer's ex-girlfriend and Josslyn's former best friend. And I have no relationship with Esme."
Spencer and Josslyn exchanged worried looks.
"Ex and former? Please explain why you are no longer their girlfriend and best friend."
"I am no longer Spencer's girlfriend because he broke up with me," Trina explained. "But I was close to ending things with him as well."
"Why did Mr. Cassadine break up with you and why were you considering it yourself?"
"I was considering it because his obsession with his little brother was getting worse. Ever since Ace was born, Spencer's obsession with him was affecting our relationship. And recently, he's gone right off the deep end. One day he decided to break up with me because he wanted to reunite with Esme so he could be Ace's father. He ran off trying to get back with Esme. Mere hours later, when he was unsuccessful with Esme, he showed up on my doorstep and proposed to me. Not because he loved me, no. He said he needed me by his side when he takes Esme to court. I slammed the door in his face. Josslyn was my roommate and she didn't come home for a few days. When she came back, Spencer was with her. They announced to me that they had just gotten married and were planning to live with me. Spencer said the marriage was Josslyn's mom's idea so they can get custody of Ace together. I had enough, so, I moved back in with my mother. That is why Josslyn and I are no longer friends."
Spencer and Josslyn frowned.
"Wow," Nora said. "So, in your opinion, do you believe Mr. Cassadine or Miss Prince should have custody of Ace?"
"Esme has her issues and I don't think we can ever be friends. But between her and Spencer, Esme seems like the better option, especially since she's actually Ace's parent."
"No further questions, your honour." Nora returned to her seat.
Spencer crossed his arms and his nostrils flared.
"This is absurd!" Josslyn called out. "Esme is not fit to raise Ace. Trina is just mad that Spencer chose me."
"Mrs. Cassadine, you are in contempt," Judge Carson called out.
"Diane, do something," Carly whispered.
"Ms. Miller, would you like to question the witness?" Judge Carson asked.
"Yes, your honour." Diane took the floor. "Miss Robinson, how did you feel when you were told that Mr. Cassadine married Mrs. Cassadine—formerly Miss Jacks?"
"I was shocked and angry," Trina said.
"Angry, you say?" Diane asked. "Would you say you are jealous of their connection?"
"What connection? There's no connection between them, they're just married to get custody—"
"Miss Robinson, answer the question," Judge Carson said.
"I will ask again," Diane said. "Miss Robinson, are you jealous of Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine's connection?"
"No," Trina said.
"But you said you were angry. Angry enough to get back at them?"
"Back at them? No."
"Then why are you here today?" Diane asked. "Mrs. Buchanan said you requested to be here last minute. Why else would you be here if not to take revenge?"
Trina scoffed. "I am here for Ace. If he ends up with Spencer and Josslyn, they're going to control his entire being. No child deserves that."
"It sounds to me like you're taking revenge by making up lies about Spencer. That is what Ace doesn't deserve. No further questions, your honour."
"All right, I've heard enough," Judge Carson said. "We will return after a twenty-minute recess and I will reveal the—"
"Your honour." Nelle stood up and Felicia rolled her eyes.
"What now?" the judge asked. "You are in contempt."
"But your honour…." Nelle stepped into the aisle and pulled out a USB key from her pocket. "I have some very important evidence that will reveal the true nature of Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine and that will prove that Ace is better off with my stepdaughter."
Esme scrunched up her face and looked back at Felicia who was glaring at Nelle.
GHGHGH
Kristina held Avery and Donna's hands as they headed for the elevator. She pulled out her phone but didn't see any messages from her mom or Sam. "Do you guys feel like burgers at Bobbie's tonight?" Kristina asked.
"Okay," Avery said.
Kristina pressed the down button when TJ walked over to them.
"Oh hey, Kristina."
"Just getting out of work?" Kristina asked.
"Yep. Got off early. I'm surprising Molly. Scarlet's visiting her grandmother, so I thought I'd take Molly to the Metro Court for dinner."
"Aww, she'll love that," Kristina said.
The elevator doors opened and some paramedics wheeled Alexis in on a stretcher.
Kristina's eyes widened. "Mom? Mom!" She let go of Avery and Donna reached for Alexis' hand. "What happened? I'm her daughter."
One of the paramedics adjusted the oxygen mask on Alexis' face. "House burnt down. She's suffering from smoke inhalation."
Donna clung onto Avery.
A moment later, the elevator doors opened again and a paramedic pushed Sam in a wheelchair.
Kristina looked over at her when Patrick and Elizabeth rushed Alexis to a room. "Sam? Are you okay?"
Sam removed her oxygen mask and spoke in a raspy voice. "M—M—Mom's house… burned up… I—I found her…. I p—passed out… but came to in—in ambulance. But Mom…."
"TJ, can you take the girls home with you?" Kristina asked.
"Yeah, of course," TJ said. "And I'll let Molly and Dante know." He got on the elevator with Avery and Donna.
GHGHGH
"Ms. Benson, I have already called—" Judge Carson cleared her throat when Nelle shot her a look. "Please explain the evidence you're sharing, Ms. Benson."
Nelle smiled and pushed through the gate. "Thank you, your honour. But my name is actually Mrs. Chamberlain."
Whispers spread throughout the room. Esme's face paled and Felicia shook her head.
"You see, I am the owner of a fine business called Chamber's Plumbing," Nelle explained.
Carly raised an eyebrow.
"One of my employees, Herman Lemon, visited the residence of Sonny Corinthos and Carly Spencer a couple weeks ago to work on their pipes. "I had to fire him once I discovered that he committed the crime of Unlawful Surveillance." She shook her head in mock disgust. "And I am doing my civic duty by turning him in and exposing Sonny Corinthos, Carly Corinthos, Spencer Cassadine, and Josslyn Jacks-Cassadine for the neglectful caregivers that they are. It is the fault of all four of them that my son was shot in the head and that my sister-in-law was killed. This footage shows exactly what Spencer and Josslyn were doing during this double shooting that involved my son and my grandson. And it shows who shot Ava and Wiley and what happened to the missing gun, since the bullet that went into my son's head didn't match the gun that shot Ava." She handed the flash drive to the clerk.
Spencer and Josslyn's breathing sped up.
"Diane, stop them from playing that…" Josslyn whispered.
"Objection, your honour," Diane said. "Shouldn't this be played privately before being played for the courts?"
Nelle met Judge Carson's eyes and shook her head.
"I'll allow it to be played," Judge Carson said.
Nelle leaned against Nora and Esme's table and winked at Esme.
Up on the screen, it showed Avery go inside Sonny's bedroom closet and she opened the gun case. She lifted one of the guns and skipped down the hallway. The next clip showed a few minutes later with Spencer and Josslyn with a blanket over them, making out. Ava walked in and interrupted them.
The scene flashed to Donna's bedroom with the same time on the clock. Ace wailed on the floor next to Amelia.
"Okay, Avery… or should I say Dante…." Donna giggled. "Take Jordan outside with you, and after I take care of Cyrus, you can come in and try to arrest me."
"Okay." Avery picked up Amelia and went out to the hallway.
Donna pushed a chair to the middle of the room, then put a pink bag over Wiley's head.
"I can't breathe!" Wiley cried.
"It's only for a minute," Donna said, then pulled on his arm and pushed him hard onto the chair.
"Ow…."
Donna yanked the bag off his head. "Where is my shipments, Cyrus?"
Wiley's mouth hung open. "Huh?"
"You stole it from me and I want it back."
"Stole what?"
Donna squinted at him. "My Barbies."
"Eww…. I don't like Barbies."
"Wiley, you're supposed to be Cyrus."
"Oh. I mean, yeah I took them!"
"That was really mean," Donna said. "If you don't give them back, then you can never see your family again. And we will protect your kids from you too."
"I don't have kids."
Donna glared at him.
"I mean… okay, I'll give them back."
"Wiley, you're supposed to say you won't."
"Oh, okay. I won't!"
Donna reached inside her shoebox and pulled out the gun. "You are a very bad mobster, Cyrus."
Wiley stared at the gun.
Bang!
Everyone in the courtroom gasped and a few screamed.
The door pushed open and Avery walked in with Amelia and the other gun. She screamed when she saw Wiley topple over onto the floor, blood gushing from his head. Her hand jerked upward and her finger pulled down.
Bang!
Avery dropped the gun and turned around to find her mom standing there, blood spilling from her chest. Ava dropped to the floor.
Both babies screamed.
"What's going on? What's going on?" Spencer and Josslyn rushed upstairs, their clothes hastily put on. They stared at Ava and Wiley with pale faces.
Carly, Spencer, and Josslyn's faces were rigid as they watched.
Nelle stood up again and clapped. "And that is what life is really like growing up with Sonny and Carly, and how it would be to grow up with Spencer and Josslyn as parents. They scream danger danger, evil evil, and crazy-crazy for everyone but themselves. But there you have it. Their daughters think this is normal, but then they end up traumatized. They claim to be protecting Wiley and Ace from evil me and evil Esme, meanwhile, they allow children to be exposed to this and exposed to Sonny's world. And that goes for Michael and Willow too. They are also responsible for my son getting shot in the head because they knew darn well what the mob world is like yet allowed him to grow up in it. But I'm putting a stop to it. I will protect my son, stepdaughter, and grandson from that toxic life." She sat down beside Felicia and crossed her arms.