Law of Love

37

Lindsey had followed Stevie out into the auditorium, completely taken back by what she had said in the dressing room. He had stupidly revealed everything to her not even thinking that she was the prosecuting attorney on this case. 

"I think we were somewhere over there." Lindsey points. 

"Mhm, right there." She nods. 

"This is someplace, isn't it. It's filled with like Magic." Lindsey shrugs. 

"It is, oh my mother has a trunk like this, when she passes away she says we're getting it." Stevie points walking up to a prop on the stage. 

"What's in it?" He asks.

"I don't know...we'll find out when she dies. I was never brave enough to look in it." Stevie sighs. 

"What do you suppose is in this one?" Lindsey asks looking around. 

"I don't know but don't you dare open it." Stevie hisses. 

"Fine, you go ahead, I'm going to hang around a while." He had an idea about what was in the case and he didn't want to give her any more ammunition than he already had.

When the man popped out, he jumped about half a mile in the air.

"What the hell are you doing, the stage area is closed to visitors?" He asks.

"Oh, I'm not a visitor. I'm Daniel Fountain's lawyer." Lindsey states walking over to him.

"Oh, what do you want?" 

"Well, I'd like to ask you some questions about Rory. I understand she was your assistant at one point." 

"That's right." 

"Well, when she quit for Daniel how'd you take it." 

"Look, I didn't have any reason to kill her if that's what you're getting at." 

"Well, when she and Daniel made it big how'd you feel?" 

"I felt fine. Sure it would've been nice but It was fine." 

"How did you feel when Daniel would just show up to try a new illusion? Would your act ever get bumped?" 

"Look when Sandy went on stage that night I went on until after she was murdered." 

"is this trunk act a part of your act?" 

"Of course it is every night. Look, I've gotta get going."  He walks away. 

***

A week later, the hearing had started and Stevie was addressing the court first with her opening statement.

"In this case like any other murder case, the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. We must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Daniel Fountain, is guilty." She stops for a moment her left hand hitting the jury stand with a clank as her ring hits the wood and echos among the eerie courtroom. "Of the crime for which he's accused we must prove that and we will. Because the evidence, in this case, is so overwhelming. So compelling that we will establish Daniel Fountain's guilt beyond any doubt. Thank You."  

"Thank you, Mrs. Buckingham, Mr. Buckingham." The judge states.

Lindsey stands up as Stevie's walking to her chair and he pulls it out for her out of habit and then makes his way over to the stands.

"Members of the jury, the defense is under no obligation to make an opening statement and normally I do not. But the events, in this case, have given the prosecution a murder weapon, fingerprints, a motive and under the circumstances that evidence would lead us to an ordinary conclusion. But Rory Matthews was murdered in a house of magic. Where virtually nothing is as it seems. Women appear to float in mid-air. Men appear to be cut in half with saws. Mentalists appear to read one's mind," he walks around to Stevie's chair and just looms over her for a bit, "And this man appears to be guilty but in fact, he's not." Lindsey ends. 

Stevie was granted first witness as normal and she chose to call up the Zorro guy that rubbed Lindsey the wrong way two weeks prior while he was interviewing him.

"And did you discover the defendant standing over the victim's body?" 

"That's right." 

"What, were you doing standing in the wings on the night of the murder?" 

"The same thing I do every night before I go on, prepare. Think about what I'm going to say and do once I'm on stage." 

"Mr. Zorman, did you have a clear view of the door to Rory Matthew's dressing room from nine until nine-thirty. From the time she left the stage, to the time she was murdered?" 

"Yes, I did. And Daniel Fountain was the only one to enter the room at that time." 

"No further questions." 

"Mr. Buckingham?" The judge asks. Lindsey nods and stands up but as Stevie was walking towards him, both in matching gray suits for some reason that morning, he places his hands on her hips and whispers in her ear. 

"I've got this guy." He whispers into her ear. Stevie stiffens because he doesn't really touch her in court that often, maybe a hand grab here and there but he never pulls her close like that. And at the same time, she didn't know what that meant. When he pulls away, she slowly sits down a shocked look on her face. 

"Maybe you left for a second, and or turned your back." Lindsey addresses the witness.

"That did not happen. I know what I saw. No one else went through the door. I know what I saw." 

"Not one person?" 

"No." 

"Uh, your honor, pursuant to subpoena the defense has received numerous pharmaceutical receipts including one dated May 26, to  Rory Matthews and I'd like that identified as defense exhibit A." Lindsey pulls something out of his pocket. 

"I have no objection." Steve sighs.

"So noted." 

"Okay, sir...Showing you the receipt May 26, was the day of the murder was it not." 

"It was." He nods.

"I know, it was my wife's birthday, we went out to dinner to celebrate and then our daughter had gotten tickets to the show for afterward. She got them through school and since she didn't have a gift for her mother she thought it would suffice...Now, this delivery receipt to Ms. Matthew's dressing room shows a time at the bottom. What time does it say it was?" 

"9:08" He whispers

"Say again, louder." 

"9:08"

"So you didn't see everyone who went into that room did you?" 

"I guess not."

"If you missed one you could've missed another couldn't you." 

"I suppose." 

"Nothing further." Lindsey walks away as Stevie turns to him, her hand falling to her hip. She now knew what he meant when he said he got the guy.