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We locked eyes as Alessio walked past me towards the bench. I swallowed nervously. I love you, I thought suddenly. Even if I never get the chance to tell you – I’ll love you forever.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I hated the rough way the guard was jerking Alessio around like he was a piece of meat. I wanted to scream and cry until they left him alone, until they uncuffed him and let him sit like a normal human being. But I knew that it was futile. Alessio was being tried on both counts of first and second degree murder, and this day wasn’t likely to have a happy ending.
Detective Aberson was sitting with the district attorney and the prosecution team. I saw Douglas Bennett, Michael’s father, sitting in the first row on the other side. His wife, Gabrielle, was next to him in a skin-tight silk dress that would have looked more at home on a dance floor than a courtroom.
“Order,” the judge called. He banged his gavel against his podium. “I call this court to order!”
I tuned out as the judge droned on and on about upholding civic responsibility. It was ludicrous to me that we had to go through this pageantry – why not Alessio’s high-powered lawyers work everything out behind closed doors? I’d always respected the justice system in my country, but suddenly I felt like it was failing me more now than ever before. Alessio’s not a bad man, I thought as I watched his lawyer call the first witness to the stand. He just needed the love of a good woman to bring out his better side.
The trial seemed to fly by. By the time we were dismissed for lunch, I was so nervous that I couldn’t even eat. I choked down a few sips of water and washed my hands in the women’s room, hoping to dry my sweaty palms. The gesture was totally futile – as soon as I was back inside the courtroom, my hands were soaked through once again. The worst part was that seeing Alessio for the first time in months had reawakened my baser desires. My panties were soaked with pussy juices and my clit was as hard as a little pebble, wedged between my labia and wanting Alessio’s tongue.
Detective Aberson took the stand. He interviewed a witness who could barely speak English.
“I call Elisabeth Wilson to the stand,” Detective Aberson said loudly. He cleared his throat, then looked at me with a hardened gleam in his eyes.
This is it, I thought. This is the moment where I ruin my life.
Swallowing nervously, I made my way through the courtroom over to the judge. A man held out a bible and I repeated everything he said, swearing to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me god, I thought as I sat down in my seat after the little ceremony was over. That doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. If god were here, he’d make sure Alessio wouldn’t be locked away for the rest of his life.
Detective Aberson strode across the floor, a notebook in his hand.
“Ms. Wilson,” he said curtly. “Can you tell me where you were on the evening of March twelfth?”
“Excuse me?” I blinked. “Why?”
Detective Aberson frowned. This was a question I knew I’d be asked. But now that the time had come to do my duty and tell the truth, I couldn’t do it.
“I’m sorry,” I said. I stood up. “I can’t do this.” I looked at Alessio. “I can’t testify against this man.”
Detective Aberson glared at me. “What are you talking about?”
“I can’t do it,” I repeated shakily. Tears came to my eyes and flooded my senses as I frantically shook my head from side to side. My heart was pounding but I knew I was doing the right thing.
“Ms. Wilson, this means you could potentially face charges for obstructing justice,” Detective Aberson threatened. The jury gasped but I remained defiant.
“I don’t care,” I said. “I don’t care what happens to me, I’m sorry. But I won’t testify against Alessio.”
Armed guards began marching towards me. The tears that had collected in my eyes suddenly spilled over, dripping hotly down my cheeks as my nose and sinuses filled with wet snot. I cried out in emotional anguish as I ran, blinded by my own tears, from the witness stand and into the courtroom.
I didn’t make it very far before the guards grabbed my arms and tried dragging me down the carpeted aisle. Somehow, being manhandled by a bunch of paid brutes was enough to kick my rage and emotion into a higher gear. I grit my teeth and fought hard against the men restraining me, kicking and screaming and whipping my arms through the air.
One of the guards let go, obviously surprised by my strength. I took the opportunity to whirl around and scream at the court.
“I’m sorry!” I yelled. “But you can’t convict him! Alessio is a free man! Alessio is a free man!”
“Shut the fuck up,” one of the guards hissed. He dug his fingers into my shoulders and dragged me down the aisle. I locked my legs and refused to walk, letting my high-heeled feet. Finally, the guard sucked in a titanic breath and pulled me hard until I was gasping in pain. My heart was racing and my body was soaked with sweat
by the time the guards managed to drag me out of the courtroom.
Behind me, everyone was silent. When I glanced back inside before the guards slammed the doors in my face, I saw that everyone’s face was pale and bloodless with shock. They were all staring at me with their jaws hanging open. The one exception was Douglas Bennett. He looked murderously angry, like he wanted to rip me apart with his bare hands.
I couldn’t help it. I waved to him. If I hadn’t been so upset, it might have almost been comical.
After the guards barred me from re-entering the courtroom, I heard the judge screaming for order and the sound of his gavel banging, but that was no match for the uproar and cries from the crowd. Everyone was screaming and yelling – some were even cheering.
That’s when I saw a huge line of guards rushing towards me, hands on their guns. Shrieking in fear, I kicked off my high heels and ran out of the courthouse. The day was a sunny, warm spring one, and the hot air felt good on my face as I closed my eyes and scrambled quickly down the courthouse steps. My heart was pounding as I darted down the street. I knew that looking over my shoulder would cost me time, and I had to keep going until I managed to lose my tail.
It was like I’d completely lost my mind. I ran and ran until my lungs were bursting for air and I thought my heart was going to explode in my chest. Horrible, dangerous thoughts kept running through my mind. Now that I’d broken free and run away, what would happen to me? Would I be arrested? Would the cops put an APB out for me?
