self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Lucinda Daly, prosecutor, wants to talk to her plaintiff. He's a little hard to find, but a few phone calls get her on the phone with Charlie, who suggests that Laney might be at his house, as he's friends with his daughter. Lucinda offers to come by when Charlie's home, but Charlie says she can go over now if she likes; a friend of the family she might want to talk to anyway is an adult presence there.

Lucinda pulls into the driveway and rings the doorbell.
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice answers it.

"Hi!" he says. [Bella, do you know this lady?]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[No, but she's wearing lawyer clothes. I think the standard way to find out who she is is "can I help you?"]

"Hello!" says Lucinda. "Is this the Swan residence?"
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yep," says Alice. "Why, did you want a Swan?"

It's... kind of close! A little!

He's not very good at standards.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Actually, I'm looking for Delaney Hammond, Jr.," says Lucinda. "And Chief Swan said I could look here."

[Ask her flat out if she's Delaney Hammond Jr.'s lawyer, before you even identify yourself,] Bella advises. [Even if Charlie sent her, and she could be lying.]
edgeofyourseat: Sarcastic or disbelieving. (⑺ back into your place)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[I love you,] he says. Because she is full of useful advice, even when he doesn't follow it.

"And what do you want Delaney Hammond, Jr. for?" he inquires. (And even manages not to suggest any options. She doesn't look like she'd bite, anyway.)
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"I'm his lawyer," Lucinda. "My name is Lucinda Daly. Assistant State's Attorney. Is he here?"

[Okay, swell. Let 'er in.]
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, possibly fake, mildly creepy. (⑸ playful as a pussy cat)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"You're lookin' at him," he says, and steps back out of the doorway. "C'mon in."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Thank you. Chief Swan referred to you as Laney; is that what you prefer to be called?" asks Lucinda. "And are you comfortable talking here?"
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yeah, sure," he says to both of those things.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"All right. Now, I've read over my copy of the notebook that was submitted as evidence, and the medical reports that the police retrieved, but is there anything else I should know?"
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice considers. Or, well, consults.

[Now do I talk about why we moved?]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[It's not in your interest to lie to her. She doesn't have any reason to report anything you've done to anyone who'd get you in trouble for it.]
edgeofyourseat: Thoughtful. Possibly shirtless. (⑽ I kinda like it)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Well," he says. "The reason we moved here is 'cause I got raped in New York and Dad decided I'd been hooking. So he might try to throw that at me and see if it sticks."

It's not actually a lie as such. But he wants to see how she reacts, and whether she wants to hear the rest, before he tells it.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Lucinda does blink, but only just. "Is the incident in any kind of official record?"
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Fucked if I know, but I doubt it. Official records and my dad don't get along."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Okay. I can probably get out about half a sentence about that before the defense lawyer objects, then, and it's anyone's guess if the judge will let me carry on from there." She produces some notes and consults them briefly. "The notebooks of documentation were submitted with a note saying that you have an eidetic memory, which is how you were able to remember all those events for your friend to write down; is that right?"
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yep," he says.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"We might want to prove that in court. Some simple feat of memory that almost no one could do. That will go a long way to indicating that the documentation wasn't pure fabrication. I'm sure we can think of something, but if you have a stock party trick to show it off, that's liable to work too."
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (⑻ out of the doorway)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"I don't usually show it off," he says.

[Any ideas?]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[Ask everyone in the jury to write down some random numbers and letters, you get exactly a second to look at each paper, the jury get their papers back, you read off the strings,] Bella says.
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
...he loves her. So much.

Alice repeats this suggestion almost word for word, pausing periodically as though he is thinking it up on the spot.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"That'll do," Lucinda says. "The notebooks also included several mentions of injuries serious enough to leave marks. This is the sort of thing we want to be able to provide more evidence of, but we don't want you getting half-naked in the courtroom either; photographs in advance are the best choice. I can take them, or if you have someone you're more comfortable with available, that will work too."
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Don't really care," he says, shrugging easily. "Might as well be you."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Lucinda nods and produces a camera. There is a pretty much silent photo shoot.
edgeofyourseat: Confused, distasteful. (⒀ it's been no bed of roses)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice indicates the provenance of various marks—this one from the time his dad broke his ribs in November, that one from a ruler, those ones from a cane. A nasty-looking knife scar across his left hip gets "not Dad, don't bother". As previously indicated, he exhibits no strong feelings about the process.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Lucinda makes notes about which photos correspond to which incidents, and, when she's got them all, puts the camera away. "Now," she says. "This case is pretty much going to convict or acquit based on your testimony. Do you feel able to do that - sympathetically, convincingly, for as long as it takes? If not, I can see if the defense is up for a plea bargain, but I think we can win this outright if you testify well."
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"I dunno how sympathetic I am, but I'll give it my best shot," he says. "And I'm not gonna quit in the middle, that's for fucking sure."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Well," Lucinda says. "Sympatheticness tips: hold the cursing. Possibly excepting if you're about to burst into tears - which you can do, but ideally not more than once or twice."

[Tell her about getting into fights at school and why,] Bella recommends.
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Okay," says Alice. "Oh, uh—I got into a lot of fights at school so nobody'd look twice if I showed up with bruises. Is that relevant?"
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Yes. I'll make sure you have a chance to mention that," Lucinda says. "Especially if the defense tries to paint you in a negative light for the behavior."
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, possibly fake, mildly creepy. (⑸ playful as a pussy cat)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Pretty sure the only reason I wasn't constantly getting in shit for it was because he knew I was covering for him."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"The defense attorney's going to ask why you were covering," Lucinda says, "and you want to have an answer ready."
edgeofyourseat: Sarcastic or disbelieving. (⑺ back into your place)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"I lived in his house," he says. "If I'd tried this back in New York I would be in his house, and he would not be making me tea and cupcakes."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"And now you have somewhere else to go?" Lucinda asks, gesturing at the Swan residence.
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yep," says Alice.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"All right. If I were the defense, next I'd ask you why you didn't trust the police to protect you if you went to them in New York."
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"'Cause the first thing I ever learned about cops is that enough money will make 'em go away," he says, "and it took me this long to unlearn it."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"That would probably be better presented as a story about the unlearning, rather than dwelling on the original mistrust," Lucinda advises. "Am I correct in guessing that Chief Swan was personally involved there?"
edgeofyourseat: Confused or hurt. (⑿ never been born at all)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Kinda, yeah," he says. [You mind if your name comes up?]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[Go ahead.]

"Kind of?" Lucinda asks.
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, affectionate or amused. (⑶ your wish is my command)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"I made friends with his daughter," he says. "And, you know, she believes in her dad. Which was weird on a number of levels. She brought me around pretty quick, though."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Lucinda obviously thinks this is adorable. "That's lovely. We might want to call her up to testify too, to corroborate what you have to say."
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"I can ask her," he says. [Or I could offer to go get you.]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Is she home?"

[You can come get me, yeah.]
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yup," he says. "Just a sec."

And off he goes in search of Bella, not that he expects it to be much of a search.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella meets him in the upstairs hallway, and clunks down on her crutches for the sound effect.

"Hello, Miss Swan," says Lucinda.

"Please call me Bella," says Bella.

"All right. You're comfortable testifying?"

Bella nods. "I'll have to anyway, won't I? The notebooks are in my handwriting."

"Well, it would be something of a problem if you didn't want to," Lucinda says.
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, affectionate or amused. (⑶ your wish is my command)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Should I try to not obviously have a crush on you in front of the lawyer?] he thinks to ask.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[I don't see how it'd matter,] Bella says. [Why?]

"Well, I don't mind. I've been missing school anyway, since I was hit by a car," Bella says, gesturing at the "broken arm".

"I hadn't been planning to ask, but I'm glad you're recovering, at any rate," says Lucinda.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Dunno,] he says, with a very slight shrug. [Thought I'd ask just in case.] Since it is permissible, though, he lets himself smile at her.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"All right," Lucinda says. "Unless either of you can think of anything, I'm going to go find Mrs. Hammond and speak to her."
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (⑻ out of the doorway)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Naturally, Alice glances at Bella, who between the two of them is definitely the thinker of things.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
"Mr. Hammond is reasonably likely to try to buy his way out of this," Bella says. "If there's anything extra you can do to watch out for jury tampering, please do it. My dad's pretty sure of the judge, though."
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Yeah. Things like that.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"I'll keep an eye out," Lucinda says.

"That's all I can think of right now, but perhaps we could get your phone number," Bella continues.

Lucinda nods and writes it down for them. "I'll see you in a few days, if not before," she says, and she gets up to go. "Bye, Laney, Bella."

"Bye," says Bella.
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, possibly fake, mildly creepy. (⑸ playful as a pussy cat)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Bye," Alice echoes. "Thanks."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"So," Bella says, when Lucinda has gone. "She seems decent."
edgeofyourseat: Thoughtful. Possibly shirtless. (⑽ I kinda like it)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yep," says Alice. "Man, how bad am I gonna fuck up the sympathetic thing?"
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Depends on how hard you try not to."
edgeofyourseat: Confused or hurt. (⑿ never been born at all)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"I will try really fucking hard!" he says. "But I don't know how the fuck normal people work."
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
"Well, I'll be there, I can coach you in realtime," Bella soothes, patting his head. "Just take a second before speaking aloud - and look thoughtful or emotional while you do it - to let me see what you're going to say and make corrections."
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, affectionate or amused. (⑶ your wish is my command)
Author: edgeofyourseat
He leans into her hand.

"I love you," he sighs. That is definitely the most prominent of the many emotions he is currently experiencing.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella smiles. Pat pat pat.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Purr purr," he says, grinning.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella laughs.

"I think this is going to turn out fine," she says.
edgeofyourseat: Dancing wildly, grinning. (⑹ ride it where I like)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Well, then I guess I believe you."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Meanwhile, Lucinda arrives at the place where Judith has been placed. Apparently they're just putting her up in a motel. "Mrs. Hammond?" she calls, knocking.
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Judith answers the door—begowned as usual, but with her makeup slightly less than perfect.

"Yes?"
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Hello, Mrs. Hammond. I'm Lucinda Daly, and I'm prosecuting your husband's case. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Certainly," she says. "Do you want to come in? I'm afraid I don't have much to offer as a hostess at the moment."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"I understand," Lucinda says, stepping in. She sits in one of the rickety little chairs in the room. "Do you intend to testify against your husband?"
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"If it would help—and I imagine it would—yes."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"It would, yes."
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Then I will."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"If I were the defense," Lucinda says, "I would make sure to ask you why you never came forward. Do you have an answer for that?"
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"It didn't happen all at once," she says. "He started out so reasonable... and by the time it was clear that he wasn't reasonable at all, well, I wasn't sure just how unreasonable he could get. And I didn't want to find out."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"So you thought that if you did anything, he might turn on you," Lucinda says.
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yes."

Well, it was among her reasons, anyway.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"All right, that will do. Is there anything else you think I should know?"
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"...He has a temper," she says. "You might consider getting him to lose it."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Any suggestions?" inquires Lucinda.
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
She rubs her left hand with her right.

"Well, he was awfully upset when I told him I'm leaving him," she murmurs.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Lucinda nods, and waits, in case there's more.
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"And Junior, of course. A week doesn't go by where he isn't angry with Junior. But I don't know that that will help you any."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"That's already the subject of the trial, yes."
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"He doesn't like to feel disrespected or slandered," she says. "Even about fairly inconsequential things. He is never happy to be disagreed with."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Lucinda nods.

"Thank you. Is there anything else I ought to hear before I go?"
edgeofyourseat: Lurking. (Default)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"No," she says, after considering for a moment. "I don't think so."
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
"Thank you for your time," says Lucinda, and she goes.