Simply Sonny: An SVU love story

Chapter 79: Griffin

"Griffin, please tell the jury how you know Ms. Collins." Barba directs the teen now that he has taken the stand.

Griffin is looking down at his hands but looks up to Barba when he answers, "she was my youth tutor."

"And what does that mean?" He follows up.

Griffin elaborates, "she would help me with school work and talk to me about life."

"And how often did you see her?" He asks next.

Griffin hums as if he's thinking but already knows the answer since my lawyer told me he was prepped for the stand just as I was, "at first once a week for about a month or so. Then twice a week for the past month I guess."

"And what did you talk about in those sessions?" Barba inquires.

My lawyer stands, "objection!"

Barba quickly spits, "she is not a doctor or a therapist. There is no attorney, client privilege."

"Overruled." The judge says, allowing him to answer.

He does, "mostly just worked on school work. She'd mentioned how she went through something traumatic one day, told me how she was moving on and getting over it."

"Did she tell you what happened —" Barba tries to ask.

Gary objects again, "Objection your honor! My clients past has nothing to do with their case."

"Sustained. Move along Mr. Barba." The judge agrees.

Barba nods and moves on, "and you trusted her? Opened up to her?"

"Yes," Griffin says, looking at me for only a moment before turning back to look at his hands when our eyes meet.

I bite my tongue, wanting to scream and ask him why he's lying. Barba goes on, "tell us what happened the night of September 22nd."

"Ms. Collins and I met at our usual spot but she was a bit late. I uhhh, she was very distracted and when I asked her about it she just shrugged." He lies to everyone.

Barba asks, "did she tell you why she was distracted?"

Griffin shakes his head no and Barba tells him to go on. He explains, "she pulled a flask out of her bag and took a big swig. I asked if she was okay but she just said that everyone is.." he looks around hesitating.

Barba encourages, "its alright, go ahead."

"She said everyone is fucked up and that she's done with everything. I— I didn't know what she meant and wanted to ask her if she was okay again but she pushed that flask to me and told me to take a drink. I didn't want to" his voice rises as if he's about to cry, "but I felt like I couldn't say no. We worked together for months and I thought she was doing it to help me. I know that sounds stupid but I did."

Barba tries to calm his witness, "you didn't do anything wrong, Griffin. It's alright. Tell us what happened next."

Griffin takes a big breath in and goes on, "we stayed there for another 20 minutes or so before she got a call. She told me she had to go to her apartment but she could finish the lesson on the road if I wanted."

"So you went with her willingly?" Barba asks, already answering the question.

Griffin nods, "I needed help on my homework, I thought it would be okay."

"What happened once you got to her apartment?" He asks next, walking over to stand in front of the jury.

Griffin's lies continue, "she told me she would help me finish my homework once she packed a box. I went inside with her and she poured me another drink." His eye shift from his foster parents to the jury as he says, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." And he breaks down and cries.

"Are you alright son?" The judge leans down to ask him "do you need a break?"

Griffin wipes his face, takes a deep breath and shakes his head, "no, no. I'm fine. After we shared another drink together she said she had to go meet up with her boss and to make myself comfortable. I told her I would leave but she told me to stay and help myself to the booze, that she couldn't take it with her when she moved."

"So you did just that?" Barba asks, and I sit up.

I'm a bit hopeful that he's going to show some light onto Griffin and his hand in whatever twisted story he's telling. Griffin explains, "I thought she was cool, but one of those bottled was spiked and I almost died, she didn't tell me that."

"When you were interviewed in the hospital after your stomach was pumped, you didn't tell the cops the truth. Why not?" Barba asks him.

Griffin says, "her fiance is a cop, the same cops who were questioning me. I was scared."

Barba questions, "did Ms. Collins' fiancé, detective Carisi ever threaten you?"

I turn to look at Sonny who just shakes his head no, telling me to turn back around. Griffin responds instantly, "no, sir. But she made it a point to tell me he was a detective who helped her after her rape."

My lawyer doesn't say objection and I wonder why not. He objected earlier, not wanting him to talk about my past but let him just out to the entire court that was I raped. I was told so many times that I would be protected from the public, some rape shield law, but now everyone is going to know I'm a victim. Barba quickly moves on, "and you're telling the truth here today? No one is influencing you or threatening you to say any of this in court?"

"No" He quickly responds back.

Barba ends it, "no more questions, your honor." He looks to the judge, then turns to look at me and my lawyer.

Gary stands, "your honor, may we pick this up after lunch? It's been quite a long morning."

"Agreed" she nods, "we'll pick this up after lunch." She bangs her gavel and stands to leave. Everyone starts to talk and whisper with their opinions as the jury is assured out the side door.

I lean into my lawyer and ask him, "why did you let him mention my rape? Now everyone knows what happened to me."

"The jury will see you as a victim now, not just a perp. It's a good thing." He explains back to me.

I question, "but you didn't let them talk about it earlier in the questioning. Why let him get away with bringing it up at all?"

"It's all working out just fine. Don't worry, I have my questions to cross and it'll all make sense later. We're doing fine." He puts a light hand on my shoulder, "let's get something to eat."

"I'm not hungry" I mutter to him and to Sonny as I turn to see him waiting still by the front pew.

Sonny nods, "that's fine, but you should at least try to get something to eat." I nod, knowing he's right.