Let Me Put You In The Picture: Version 1

Chapter 178

           

I'd been in that seat before. Been asked the same types of questions. By the same types of people. The same person actually. I'd had so much experience.

            So why the fuck was I so afraid?

            I didn't look at him directly. My focus stayed on his lawyers and of course the prosecution. His were up first.

            Or was up first, I should say.

            It's not like she wasn't in charge.

            "So can you recount for us that evening, Miss...?"

            "Gallagher." I finished her sentence for her.

            "Gallagher?" She echoed curiously. "Is that what you're going by these days?"

            I nodded. "Since I've been married, yes."

            "But yet you toggle back and forth between names. Especially, when you're considering divorce."

            "Your Honor!" The prosecutor spoke up. "The witness' name has nothing to do with-"

            "You're right." She interrupted holding her hand up. "So tell us, Miss Gallagher. What happened that night?"

            I took a breath and then began. "Jet came to do a gig at the store in Carnaby Street. They were in the middle of their set when the fire alarms went off and the sprinklers started spraying from the ceiling. Water got on Mark's bass amp and it sparked and...everyone took off out the front doors but it was too crowded so we all got jammed up. And then someone pushed us and Liam fell forward and..." I felt tears welling in my eyes. "They grabbed me and pulled me back and into some side room and out the door. It was cold outside and they shoved me into the backseat of a car and ripped my t-shirt off-"

            "The one they, excuse me, your husband found at the shop." She pointed at the TV screen that showed a picture of my Jet t-shirt.

            "Yeah." I replied softly. It was all wrinkled but didn't look torn or anything.

            "Then what happened?" She asked.

            "There were two guys and they held me down and tried to keep me from screaming but when I wouldn't stop, they put a towel over my mouth and that's all I remember until I woke up."

            "And what happened after you woke up?"

            "I was on the floor in some house. I didn't know where I was and my jeans were gone. They chained me to the table-"

            "Who's they?" She asked firmly.

            I thought it out as quickly as I could. "I don't-"

            "If you don't know, then how could you-"

            "Because they came back!" I exclaimed. "And they brought him with them. And when I tried to break free...he told them to beat me with a baseball bat."

            "He told them?" She questioned. "You have a history of being friends with him so why would he orchestrate something as violent as what you're claiming."

            "I don't know." I shook my head.

            And I really didn't.

            There were more questions from both sides but she had to get the last word in. She wanted to grill me. Trip me up. Win her fucking case.