Carlisle's Diary

The Trial

Dear Diary: June 23, 2013

Before the trial even started I was asked not to be in the courtroom for the whole entire thing, as we weren't sure how Ashley or Carrie would react. It wasn't really known if she would behave when I took the stand, but that's a risk everyone, including me, was willing to take. I didn't think I wanted to be there, to tell you the truth. Hearing all of that from the beginning, was just way too much, even for me, to handle. None of the others from hospital were going to watch the trial either. They were going to come when it was their day to testify, and that was it.

The only one who pretty much sat through the whole trial was Rogue. After being in law enforcement for such a long time, things like that were still of great interest to her. She was with the feds for 15 years, but was apparently also a consultant to the CIA for another 20 at some point, years ago. She knows government secrets we can't even imagine. But of course, you know her . . . our enigma . . . she's not going to tell us anything. Not like we want to know the government's secrets. We have our own to keep and live with.

But I digress. I, along with Charlotte and the others, was going to attend Rogue's testimony because we wanted to see how she handled it to better understand what we would have to do. This was all new territory for me. I had never participated in the human world that much. But thanks to Ms. Cunningham, none of us immortals had much of a choice. The trial had started on a Monday, and by Wednesday they were ready to start with the eyewitnesses. So that was the day Esme and I went to court and met up with the others because Rogue was up first. We had received our order of testifying: Rogue, then Agent Kramer, then Mr. Yang—who was allowed to give a videotaped deposition since he was still in the hospital and nobody, including the judge, wanted to jeopardize his health.

After Mr. Yang, it was Bill, Shandy, Carol, Melanie, and Betsy. Followed by the 4 nurses that Ashley poisoned, and then it would be my turn. After I was done, the DA was bringing the 3 residents that saw Charlotte being attacked by Ashley in the parking lot and who ultimately saved her life. And lastly, Charlotte herself. I had spoken with the DA; the defense had very few, if any, witnesses to bring forth—other than a slew of psychiatrists. In any case it was going to be interesting.

On Wednesday Rogue took the stand. Esme and I sat in the very back row behind the DA. Just before she took the stand, the bailiff asked everyone to rise.

"Would everyone please rise for the honorable Judge Justin Hollister." Then the judge walked out of a little room and sat down in his chair before the court.

"Please be seated," he said. Everyone sat down. "Will the prosecution please call its first witness."

"The prosecution calls Rose Melanides to the stand," The DA said.

Rogue walked into the courtroom looking sharp; she had a black suit on with a red business shirt underneath. Her long black hair was done up in a French braid and she had very minimal makeup. She was also wearing low healed black shoes. She looked like she worked as a top ranking manager at Morgan Stanley or something. The bailiff walked up to the stand which she was standing next to.

"Please raise your right hand." Rogue complied. "Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

"Yes, I do," she said without hesitation. Afterwards she sat down on the witness stand. She had her now-famous poker face that betrayed zip emotion.

"Mrs. Melanides, can you please tell the court what you did and do for a living," The DA who was standing not too far from her said.

"I worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington DC for 15 years, and since then have continued to be a contract consultant for them as well as other agencies both domestically and internationally." Rogue spoke clearly.