The Nature of Things

Chapter 25

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE/RAPE

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"I can't tell them now, Ma." Michael tried to make Debbie understand why he couldn't unleash this madness on Brian and Justin at the moment.

"I understand that you don't want to hurt either of them anymore, but you can't keep this a secret forever, Michael. What if Justin starts to remember? What if Brian hears it from him?"

"God, Ma, I can't, not now. With all that Molly is going through, how can I just destroy the rest of their lives?"

"They deserve the truth, Michael Charles Novotny."

"And they will get it, soon. I promise. Just let them get through the rape trial first. That will give me time to talk to Ben and maybe fill him in beforehand so that he isn't floored by it."

"I hope you know what you're doing."

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The day of the rape trial dawned stiflingly hot and humid. Molly showered and dressed the part of the victim. Brian and the attorney he'd hired for her enlisted Cynthia to help pick out her clothes for court.

She descended the stairs and smiled shyly at Brian and Justin. Both men took in the sight of her with tears in their eyes. Dressed in a pale blue skirt and white tee with a cardigan, she looked innocent.

After last minute instructions from the lawyer, they all loaded up in the rental van and headed for court. The District Attorney assured them that it would be a few days before Molly had to take the stand, but she had insisted on being in the courthouse every day.

Once they arrived, they were ushered into a small witness room that had a closed circuit feed so that they could watch the trial. Since Molly was the main witness, the judge wanted her secluded until the moment of testimony. Considering the nature of the trial, Brian had insisted that she follow the judge's suggestion.

Molly gasped loudly when Casey was led into the room. He looked different from what she remembered. She remembered him as dirty and evil. The man in that room looked like a young preppy kid.

Brian cursed out loud at the appreciative glances the young women of the jury sent Casey. The boy was smart, maybe too smart for his own good. He made a mental note to visit his contact later that day.

Justin sat and held his sister's hand, trying to calm her a little. He sensed her fear and her anxiety. The longer it took for them to call her, the more nervous she would get. He worried that she hadn't eaten that morning and that she seemed to be having a tough time with morning sickness lately. She hadn't kept anything down for days and at her last doctor's visit, the doctor was concerned that she hadn't gained enough weight.

Molly was silent, but looked to Cynthia often. Only one person in the room knew what she was feeling, and she wanted Cynthia close. She knew that when it was time to testify only Cynthia would be allowed to go with her into the courtroom. The judge had closed the court due to her age and the nature of the trial.

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Two days passed before Molly was called to the stand. She walked slowly into the room and avoided Casey's eyes as she crossed to the witness stand. The handsome D.A. smiled sweetly at her before beginning his questioning.

"Can you state your name for the record please."

"Molly Denise Taylor."

"Hi, Molly."

"Hi."

"How old are you Molly?"

"Seventeen."

"Are you still in school?"

"Yes, I graduate from St. James this weekend."

"Congratulations. Now Molly I want you to think back to the night of May 15th of this year. Do you remeber what you were doing that night, Molly?"

"Yes, sir. I went to the library to study for my physics final."

"Did you go anywhere else?"

"No sir, I left the library at ten when it closed."

"Where did you go when you left the library?"

"I took the bus home."

"And what happened when you got off the bus, Molly?"

Molly let the tears flow unnoticed as she told what had happened to her. "I got off and started walking the two blocks home. I was almost there when I felt someone grab me from behind and drag me into the woods."

"Did you try to fight him off, Molly?"

"Yes, I hit him and I kicked him and I tried to scream but he had his hand over my mouth. Then I could feel the blade of his knife against my throat and I was so scared he was going to kill me." Molly tried her best to stay calm, but the fear was real and she was starting to lose control.

"It's okay, Molly. Can you tell us what happened next?" The D.A. knew that this was the most important testimony and he also knew that it would be the hardest part for Molly.

She took a deep breath, looked to Cynthia for strength and continued through her tears.

"He told me to get on my knees. I tried to beg him not to hurt me, but he just punched me and pushed me to my knees. He pressed the knife to my throat again and told me to suck him off. I didn't know how and that made him mad."

"Why didn't you know how, Molly?"

"I'd never done that before."

"Were you a virgin, Molly?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell us what happened after he got mad at you?"

"He backhanded me again and shoved his penis into my mouth. He started to move and I tried to stop him but he was too strong. He came and then he reached down and ripped my shirt open. He tore my bra off and started fondling my breasts. I kept telling him to stop. I begged him to stop. He got angry and started calling me a little whore and then he ran the blade of his knife across my left breast."

"Did he cut you Molly?"

"Yes, I was bleeding."

"What happened next, Molly?"

"He shoved me face first to the dirt and pulled my skirt up. He ripped my panties off and pushed himself up against me. I cried and asked him to please stop. I told him I was a virgin and he told me that he liked tight pussy. I could feel him against my thigh and I closed my eyes and tried to think of something else."

"Did he penetrate you Molly?"

"Yes."

"You're doing great, Molly. Just a few more questions and we're done. Did you tell him No?"

"Yes, many times. He just wouldn't stop. He kept telling me that I wanted it and that I was a slut."

"Is the man who attacked you in the courtroom today, Molly?"

"Yes," Molly answered and pointed to Casey. She looked at him for the first time and held her head high as he smiled evilly at her.

"Thank you Molly. You did great."

The judge turned and spoke to Molly. "Ms. Taylor, you understand that Mr. Adams' attorney is going to ask you questions. Are you okay or do you need a short break to collect yourself?"

"I'm fine." Molly's strength amazed everyone in the room and the judge turned the questioning over to the defense.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Taylor."

"Hi."

"I just have a few questions for you today. Isn't it true Ms. Taylor that your brother had a relationship with Mr. Adams?"

"Justin lived with him for a few months."

"And your brother is a homosexual, is that right?"

"Yes." Molly sat up straighter and shot a quizzical look at the defense attorney. She'd studied him throughout the trial and found him to be a comical little man. He was short, overweight and bald. She could see the sweat beading on his forehead and suppressed a laugh.

"Is it also true that you are currently living with your brother's former lover?"

"Yes."

"And isn't it also true, Ms. Taylor that this man you currently live with is a known drug user and promiscous homosexual?"

"No. Brian is a successful advertising agency owner and CEO of Kinnetik."

"You testified that you were a virgin, Ms. Taylor, but isn't it true that you had a sexual relationship with one of your female classmates?"

"No, we kissed once, but nothing else."

"So you're a lesbian?"

"No, I was curious."

"Had you ever met Mr. Adams before the night you claim he raped you?"

"No."

"Was it dark when you got off the bus?"

"There were streetlights, so it was fairly well lit."

"But it wasn't overly bright?"

"No."

"Are you sure that it was my client that attacked you, Ms. Taylor?"

"Positive."

"And how can you be so sure, if as you say it was dark."

"I never said it was dark, but, as I told the police, he has a birthmark on his inner left thigh."

"Did you see this birthmark when you were having sex with Mr. Adams?"

"No, I saw it when he forced me to preform oral sex on him. I never willingly had sex with him. He forced himself on me at knifepoint."

"Isn't it true, Ms. Taylor that you wanted to see what your brother bragged about for yourself? And you slept with Mr. Adams, felt bad about it and then cried rape?"

"No," Molly struggled to keep her anger in check.

"And now you are currently living in a sexual relationship with your brother's former lover, is that right?"

"No, I've never had any kind of relationship with Brian other than friendship. He's gay, that means he doesn't like women in a sexual way."

"Don't you find it odd that you somehow keep ending up with your brother's rejects, Ms. Taylor?"

Molly didn't justify the question with an answer and the defense rested. Molly was released and slowly left the courtroom to join her family. When court adjourned for the day the D.A. came to thank Molly for her bravery.

"You have been the best witness I've ever had in a sexual assault case. And you are one very brave young lady. The defense starts their witnesses tomorrow and they will do whatever they can to prove that he did not rape you. If you prefer not to be here, I can let you know when the case goes to the jury and you will need to be here for the verdict if you wish to speak before sentencing."

"I will be here for all of it. I have to see him pay for what he did."

"Very well, I will see you tomorrow then."

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Two days later the case went to the jury. Within two hours of deliberations, the jury came back with a verdict.

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