A Fine Romance

Chapter 9

It was a brand new day, and the prosecutions turned to present their case. Riley woke up and had some coffee. Brendon had stayed over last night. Linda woke up and poured herself some coffee. She sat on the couch with Riley. "How are you feeling about today, Ry?"
"Ok, I guess. I mean, I know it's going to be hard to have to give my evidence, but I need to do it. I need to show that that motherfucker doesn't hold any power over me now." Linda nodded and patted my leg.
"We are all here for you, today more than ever. We all love you Riley."
"Thank you Lin." The 2 women hugged. Brendon padded across Linda's hardwood floor in just his boxers.
"We lookee here, now that's a sight to behold on a Wednesday morning at 6am." Linda said.
"Lin you are dating my best friend." Brendon said coming to sit down with his coffee.
"I am aware. It doesn't mean that I can't window shop still." Linda winked at Riley. "You are so lucky Ry. Look at your view. He's so pretty." Linda got up and went to take a shower.
"Yea, pretty odd." Riley said, which made Linda nearly choke on her coffee. Brendon pushed Riley playfully. "Just kidding, Bren." Riley rested her head on Brendons shoulder.
"How are you feeling about today?" Brendon asked her.
"Mixed. I will be glad to get my testimony over first, but kinda crapping myself at the same time."
"You will do fine, Ry. Don't forget that we will all be sat in there supporting you." Brendon said and put an arm around Rileys shoulders.
"I know." Riley nodded. Brendon kissed Rileys forehead, and she got up to go and get ready for court.
Linda drove the 3 of them to court. They had gotten some breakfast on the way there. Linda pulled into the parking lot and they all got out and headed towards the courts. Linda and Brendon both holding Rileys hands. They climbed up the steps and walked into the building. They waited outside their courtroom for Rileys family and Spencer. As they waited Bobby and his lawyer arrived. Bobby kept looking over at them and smirking. He said something to Dean Lewis and he looked over at them. Riley was chewing her lip with nerves. Brendon was chatting with Samantha who had been setting things up in their courtroom.
Samantha checked her watch and nodded that they could go into the courtroom. Riley sat in her usual chair. Her family and friends behind her as usual.
There had been a screen set up for some of the evidence being presented. Everyone chatted amongst themselves until it was time for court to come into session.
"All rise!" The bailiff said, and Judge Hudson entered. The prosecution case was now under way.

2 hours later and Samantha was cross examining Riley.
"What kind of relationship did you and the defendant have?"
"Very on and off. He made promises he couldn't keep. He was very controlling, and I had had enough."
"Controlling how?" Jackson asked.
"He didn't like what clothes I wore, how much makeup I had on, and who I spoke to. He didn't like me talking to any men. Which was hard not to do because of the nature of my job."
"So what happened the last time you broke it off with Mr Richardson?" Samnatha paced a little bit.
"I didn't take him back. Normally, a few days to a week, I would have taken him back, believed what he told me. But I'd had enough now. So the break up was for good this time."
"Did Mr Richardson accept your decision?"
Riley sighed. "No, he didn't."
"He wouldn't accept that it was over?"
"He didn't believe it was over."
"How did that pan itself out?"
Riley took a sip of water.
"He would sit in his car on my street. He would wait for me to get home from work and then pester me. Begging for another chance."
"So it was stalker like behaviour?" Samantha asked Riley.
"I didn't feel like he was stalking me. I just thought he was harmless. I ended up feeling a little bit sorry for him."
"And then his behaviour changed?" Jackson was leaning against her desk as she asked the questions.
"Yes." Riley said. "He started to get more aggressive." Riley told the court about Bobby trying to push his way into her house and leaving roses inside for her in the living room. "I ended up screaming at him and telling him to fuck off."
After that there was a brief recess then Riley had to give evidence about the assault. Then it was time for lunch. Once lunchtime was over Samantha called for the Dr's who treated Riley, from the ER Dr's to the surgeons.
"Dr Lincoln, thank you for joining us today. So you have done some vaginal reconstruction work, is that correct?" Samantha asked.
"Yes" Dr Lincoln answered.
"Objection! Relevance." Lewis said.
"Is there a point to this witness Mrs Jackson?" Hudson asked her.
"Yes there is your honour. Dr Lincoln can you please tell the court the reason you are giving testimony today?"
"Of course. I have been treating Ril- I mean,Miss Anderson. After she was sexually assaulted I have had to do vaginal reconstruction because of the damage that's been caused."
"What damage is that?" Samantha asked.
"Well I was asked by one of my colleagues to take a look at Miss Anderson after forensic samples had been taken. And what I saw shocked me. It looked like Miss Anderson had been brutalised. Her vagina was bruised swollen and bleeding a lot. When I looked closer there were tears and injuries that were the same type that you would see in violent rape attacks. I had to take her up to operate to stop the bleeding for one. Miss Anderson has had to have follow up surgeries to help reconstruct parts of her genitals, so that she can have a normal healthy sex life one day and hopefully give birth vaginally too."
"I see." Mrs Jackson nodded. "Nothing further your honour." She added. Hudson dismissed the Dr and asked Samantha to call her next witness. She called Linda to the stand.
Linda was sworn in, and Samantha started the cross examination.
"Miss Clarke, how long have you known Miss Anderson and the defendant?"
"I have known Miss Anderson since freshman year of college. We were roommates. And Bobby, I have known for about 2 and a half years. He was my mechanic."I see Mrs Jackson nodded.
"We have already heard Miss Andersons testimony of the nature of the relationship that she had with the defendant. Is there anything else you think is important for the court to know?"
"Miss Anderson did a really good job of summing up the relationship. She would talk to me about how guilty she felt about ending things. Bobby promised he would put more effort in, but it was just words."
Linda replied.
"Ok Linda, can you tell me the events that happened on Tuesday 5th May?" Rileys lawyer asked.
Linda nodded and began.
"I was expected at Rileys house at about 7pm. I got the spare key from under the plant pot as usual. I went into the house, and I was met with a hungry cat. That wasn't like Riley. She made sure Nicos needs were met before her own. I called out for Riley, but there was no answer. I fed Nico and texted Riley. I heard her phone go off. That's when I really felt that something was wrong." Linda shook her head, her long platinum blonde hair shaking.
" I went upstairs still calling Rileys name. I heard a noise, and then Riley called out for help. I rushed into the bedroom.." Linda tried to choke back a sob. She closed her blue eyes, and a tear escaped.
"What did you find Miss Clarke?" Samantha asked her. She put a hand over Linda's.
"Riley was....Riley was on her bedroom floor. She was barely conscious. Her face was so swollen that I hardly recognised her. Her hair had clumps missing, and she was covered in bruises. She had no bottom half on, and she was badly bleeding from that area. Rileys shirt and bra were torn." Linda was sobbing now.
"What did you do, Linda?"
" I called 911 and asked for Police and an ambulance. Riley was crying in pain, but she would also flit in and out of consciousness. I stayed with her until someone arrived. The police showed up first. They got in touch with SVU, and the officers had sense to take photos of how Riley was found. I just wanted the ambulance to hurry. It finally arrived. Riley was stabilised and rushed to the hospital."
"What did you do then? How did you feel?"
"I-i called my boyfriend Spencer and told him what had happened. I was feeling numb, and the adrenaline was still pumping through my body. I spoke to the cops, and then I picked Nico up and took him back to my house. "
"Thank you, Linda." Samantha said. Linda walked back to her seat. Brendon put an arm around her in comfort. Riley turned around in her chair and placed a hand on Linda's.
"We will have another short recess of 15 minutes," Judge Hudson said.