It's time to move on

Chapter 13

I toss and turn through the night. I get up early. I’m not sure what to wear.

There’s a knock on my door, I check through my peephole. I see Shirley so I open the door for her.

She hugs me tightly, “I’m so glad to see you. Sorry I couldn’t come by earlier. I had a double shift.”

“You’re here now.” I reply. I am genuinely happy to see her.

“How is Jason doing?”

“Better. He can come home in a few days. Thank you for saving him.”

“You truly are an incredible woman putting yourself in harm’s way to save the man you love.”

Shirley looks over to me where I stand frozen in place. She smiles, “Yes. Love. I can see it. You do love him.”

“I do love him.” I say out loud for the first time.

“Do you need help getting dressed?” Shirley asks, changing the subject.

“Actually I do. I have no idea what I’m going to wear. What do you even wear to a trial?”

“It doesn’t matter what you wear. The world knows what happened to you. I’m sure everyone just wants to see you’re okay.”

“This is so unreal.” I say looking through my closet.

“You’ll be just fine.”

“All those people looking at me. I’m not sure.” I start to breath unevenly.

Shirley holds me by my shoulders, “Relax.”

I breathe in and out a couple of times after a few more minutes of searching we finally decide on a black pants suite.

After getting dressed I head out the door, I’m nervous and my palms are sweating.

Jamie pulls up and I get in.

“How are you doing?” She asks.

“Nervous.” I reply as I put the seatbelt on.

“You’ll do great besides you’ve survived so much worse. The trial will be nothing.” She reassures me.

We arrive at the courthouse, I see a massive crowd of people and I want to ask Jamie to turn around.

As soon as I get out the car I’m spotted and soon more people are surrounding me.

Jamie manages to find me in the crowd and pulls me into the courthouse with the help of another police officer.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asks when the doors are closed behind us.

“Yeah. Why are there so many people here?”

“For you. The families. To see him pay. Take your pick. This is big news.”

“I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You’ll be great.” Jamie says as we enter the courtroom.

People that are already seated turn around.

I feel myself shake.

The jury is let in and then the judge. They bring Charles in, he’s been beaten.

Good.

Somehow Charles spots me in the crowd.

I can’t believe what he’s done. I’m glad I didn’t know when he took me; I can’t imagine how things would have turned out then.

Charles grins and winks at me. I shudder.

The prosecution has the first shot at opening statements. I’m surprised to see they chose a male but I guess they know what they are doing. He must be in his thirties, tall and slender.

“Ladies and gentleman, we are here today because the defendant has committed serious crimes. The things Charles MacAdams did to his victims is inexcusable. This is not the way a man should act. I am here to show each and every one of you just how this man behaves and there is no place for him in our society.”

It’s Charles’s lawyer turn, she's a female, quite attractive blonde, wearing a red skirt and top, she stands up, “Ladies and gentleman, the prosecution would have you believe my client is a monster but this is not the case. It is brought on by the delusions of a woman with serious mental problems, saying whatever she needed to make my client suffer. She has told multiple lies about my client and she is a very skilled manipulator making everyone believe her lies. I will show the jury the truth.”

What in the hell?

Is she really going to blame me?

There are whispers and the judge slams his gavel, “Order!”

The room grows quiet and the judge says, “Attorney Samuels, you may call your first witness.”

“The people call Detective Jamie Armstrong.”

Jamie gets up next to me and walks to the stand. She is sworn in and Samuels asks, “Detective, when was the first time you started to gather information about Miss Rebecca Jones?”

“Her situation was brought to my attention by a mutual friend, Shirley Allen, a couple of months ago.”

“And how do you know, Miss Allen?”

“She was a victim of domestic abuse when I first started at the force.”

“And what did you find when you looked into Miss Jones’s past?”

“That she’d been abused for years, physically, mentally and in some instances sexually.” Jamie answers.

I feel like sliding down in my chair and crawling away.

“Thank you, Detective.” Samuels says walking away. To Charles’s lawyer he says, “Your witness.”

She gets up and walks over to Jamie, “Detective, I want to ask you about the night my client was first arrested by you. When you arrived at Miss Jones’s residence in what state was Mr MacAdams in?”

“He was unconscious.”

“Unconscious by the hand of Miss Jones’s?”

“That’s correct. She had defended herself when she was attacked by Mr MacAdams.”

“So she claimed.”

“Objection.” Samuels says.

“Sustained.” The judge says.

“What I meant was at that moment you only had the word of Miss Jones to go on?”

“Objection. Is the defence asking a question?” Samuels asks.

“Miss Carlton, ask your question.” The Judge says.

“Which was more injured that night, Miss Jones or Mr MacAdams.”

“Both were injured.”

“Which was more injured, Detective?”

“The defendant was unconscious and Miss Jones was not.”

“And do you know why Miss Jones’s boyfriend taught her to fight?”

“I can only assume so she would be able to defend herself.”

“I see it does seem convenient that she’d befriend a man that teaches self-defence. What a small world?” She says looking directly at me. “No more questions.”

“Samuels?” The judge asks and he nods standing up.

“Detective. Where and in what condition did you find Miss Jones in three days ago?”

“Miss Jones was locked in a steel cage in the middle of an empty warehouse with the same clothes she had on when she was last seen two weeks prior to when she was found. She was dehydrated and had not been well fed.”

“Thank you, Detective. No more questions.”

“Miss Carlton?” The judge asks.

“No more questions for this witness.”

“Okay then. Prosecution call your next witness.”

“I’d like to call Miss Rebecca Jones.” Samuels says.

I get up, all eyes are on me as I walk to the witness stand. I’m sworn in and sit down.

“Miss Jones, I know you’ve been through so much so I’ll try and make this quick.”

I nod while knotting my fingers to try and curb the shaking.

“Before I start, I just want to ask if you’ve been prepared in any way today?”

“Objection. Relevance?” Miss Carlton questions.

“Explain Samuels.” The judge says.

“I just want to let the jury know that whatever our witness says comes right from her.”

“I’ll allow it, Miss Jones, please answer.” The judge tells me.

“No, I wasn’t prepared.”

“I want to take you back to when you first met Charles MacAdams. How long after you got together did the abuse start?”

“About a month later?”

“Do you recall what triggered it?”

As if I could forget. “One of our friends came onto me at a party, he was drunk but nothing happened. When Charles found out he was really angry and told me that I was a slut and accused me of seducing his friend.” Not sure if I could use the word slut in court but no one seemed to stop me.

“And it continued through the entirety of your relationship.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you, Miss Jones.”

“Miss Carlton.” The judge says.

“Miss Jones, did you ever report my client’s alleged abuse to the authorities?”

“No. I was too scared.”

“Only yes or no answers please, Miss Jones. Did you seek treatment from a professional for your emotional wellbeing?”

“No.”

“Was it because you were afraid that someone would realise that you have mental troubles?

“I do not have mental troubles.”

“No? So you weren’t scared of your alleged attacker?”

“Of course I was. That’s why I left.”

“But without help from anyone?”

“Someone did help me.”

“And who would that be?”

I look at the judge and he says, “You have to answer, Miss Jones.”

I turn back to Miss Carlton, “William Johnson.”

“Was he your s****l partner?”

“No, he was our neighbour when I lived with Charles.”

“I see. It just seems strange that you could ‘escape’ your prison so easily?” She says.

“It wasn’t easy. I was terrified all the time, kept my distance from everyone because I was terrified that he would find me!” I yell.

“Your honour, could we please take a break?” Samuels asks standing up.

The judge nods, “Ten minute recess.”

I get up from the stand and rush out the door, Jamie calls my name but I keep walking.

I stop just after reaching the end of the hallway.

Jamie and Samuels reach me.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asks.

“She’s putting you on trial. It’s not fair. I am so sorry.” Samuels says.

“She’s just doing her job.” I reply staring at the floor. We’re not doing what we should do.

“We should have prepared you.” Samuels says.

“It’s not that, no one is asking the hard questions.” I say.

“What do you mean?” Samuels asks.

“Okay, so our goal is to show everyone that Charles is a monster.” Samuel nods and Jamie starts smiling.

“Then let’s show them.” I say.

“How?” Samuel asks.

Then it hits me. I sit down on the bench, “Samuels, is this your first trial?”

He scratched his head, “Yes with the trial being rushed there wasn’t anyone else available to do it but me.”

“Oh no.” Jamie whispers, losing her smile.

“No hold on.” I say making them both look at me, “You’ve already won. You just need to show the jury all the facts. He killed two police officers. He beat, tortured, r***d and killed six women. Those are facts. He did hurt me, more than once. We just need to show everyone who he is.”

“How?” Samuels asks.

“Let’s make him mad.” I reply. Charles has no impulse control. That much I know.

“Hold on, Rebecca. I don’t know if this is such a good idea. I can that Carlton woman attacking you.” Jamie says.

“That doesn’t matter.” I say then smile, “I have an idea.”

“Please share, I need all the help I can get.” Samuels says.

“His lawyer wants everyone to think that I’m mentally unstable when Charles is actually the unstable one.”

“I still don’t get how.” Samuels sulks.

“Just ask the hard questions. The ones you don’t want to.”

“I don’t want to make this harder on you.”

“Stop worrying about me and think of all the families that lost the person they loved.” I reply.

“I told you she was strong.” Jamie says as her smile returns.

Samuels still look unsure. I know we don’t have much time and I need him angry so I can get Charles angry and show everyone who he really is.

“Samuels, would you ever hit a woman because she doesn’t agree with every word you say?” I ask standing up.

Samuels shakes his head.

“He did that to me.” I say and grab the thick file under his arm. I flip through the pages, the pictures of the women Charles killed nearly breaks me. I pulled out a photo of myself. “Look at this.” I say holding up the photo. “He did this to me.” I take out another photo and another. Samuels is close to tears but I keep showing him the photos. When I reach the last one I say, “He is a monster.”

“I’m so sorry.” Samuels says and I’m starting to think that I’ve made a mistake.

“Don’t be.” I say taking out the photos of the six women. I place them side by side on the bench and say, “That’s not what I need right now. That’s not what the other woman needs. We need you to take him down. To make sure he pays for what he’s done.”

Samuels nods, “I don’t have any experience though. I might mess up.”

“You won’t. You have to use them. Just have a conversation with me.”

“I’ll try my best.” Samuels says looking down at the photos of the six women. Our time is up, I collect the photos and hand them back to Samuels. We head back into the courtroom and I retake the stand.

“Miss Jones, to continue our previous conversation. I’ve heard that now you are seeing someone?” Miss Carlton says.

“I am.” I answer, seeing Charles bite down on the inside of the cheek.

“If you were so traumatised after your break up with my client why did you then so eagerly jump into another man’s bed?”

Right, now I know she is just doing her job here but I’m ready to give her a piece of my mind.

“Firstly I didn’t jump into anyone’s bed, I’ve only recently even thought of being in a relationship after what he put me through, it has taken me eight years and secondly not that it is any of your business but the man I am with now is a real man that treats me with respect and he’ll never hurt me the way that Charles did.”

I can see Charles clenching his fists when I glance his way.

I must have hit a nerve with Miss Carlton as well because her next question is, “Why did you willingly leave your residence with Mr MacAdams if he is such a monster?”

“I went with Charles to get him away from Jason. He just shot him right in front of me and told me that if I didn’t leave with him he would shoot him in the face. That is the only reason I would ever go willingly with Charles.”

“That doesn’t sound like the actions of a victim.” Miss Carlton comments.

I could have not said it but I feel I have to. “That’s because I am a survivor.”

“No further questions.” Miss Carlton says.

Samuels stands up and I hope he’ll be okay.

“Miss Jones, just a couple more questions please.” He says turning on the projector, “I would like to show the jury just what the defendant put you through.” He clicks and a photo of me pops up. I can hear gasps from the jury and the other people in the courtroom. Samuels turns to me, “After each beating you ended up in the hospital.” Samuels says, slowly clicking to the next photo as he speaks.

“Not every time, some were worse than others.” I say.

“Did the defendant offer any explanation for his actions?”

“Sometime he would apologise and other times he would say that it’s my fault for disobeying him.”

“Did he tell you that he loved you?”

“Yes.”

“Did you believe him?”

“At first then I couldn’t anymore because if you love someone you wouldn’t hurt them like that.”

Charles bangs his hands on the desk and everyone focuses on him.

“Miss Carlton, control your client or I’ll have him removed.” The judge says. She turns and whispers to Charles and Samuels continues, “When you decided to leave. What made you do it?”

Here it comes. I'm the one that told him to ask the hard questions and he’s doing it.

“I kept on pushing to get a job. He said no but I wouldn’t let it go. He hit me with a pan. When I woke up I was tied to the bed completely naked.” I start. I can see some of the jury members begin to tear up. I turn to the judge when he asks, “Do you need a moment, Miss Jones?” It looks like even he is on the verge of tears himself. “I’m okay.” I replied and continued, “He beat me with his belt repeatedly and for weeks, he kept telling me that I should learn my place, sometimes he forced himself on me. I wanted to die.” I can’t help it when the tears start flowing. I don’t think saying that out loud would ever not make me cry.

Samuels offers me a tissue and Charles loses it, “I should have killed you!” He stands up, “Just like I killed the others, I thought you were special but you’re just like the rest of them. None of you deserved me!” The guards grab him and his attorney steps away while the courtroom is buzzing.

“Order!” The judge yells.

I stand up, “You’re right, Charles, no one deserves a monster like you.”

“You’re dead!” Charles yells as he is being dragged away.

The courtroom is still buzzing, the judge keeps hitting his gavel calling for order and a few minutes later it’s quiet again.”

Samuels is doing great; he is definitely more confident when presenting the rest of his case to the jury.