Empire of Sin (Empire #2)(44)

She usually works with Aspen, but she lent her to me since she has a knack for dealing with sexual assault cases.

Chris and Anastasia come in next. The latter remains near the door as if she’s looking for an escape route. Ever since I told her that Sandra wants her on the team because she feels comfortable in her presence, she’s had that weird expression on her face.

As if she’s about to faint.

Or maybe that’s because of what happened yesterday and the no-condom event in public.

Fuck.

Focus. This is work.

“You already met Lauren and Christoph,” I tell Sandra. “As you requested, Jane will also be sitting in. This is the only friendly face you’ll be allowed.”

Sandra smiles at her a little and Anastasia smiles back.

I stand and that gets everyone’s attention. “Have you read the questions I’ll be asking you?”

Sandra nods.

“No nodding in court. If it’s a yes or no question, that’s what you’ll say.”

“Yes, I read them.”

“Are you confident in how you’ll reply?”

“I think so.”

“Again, a yes or no question, Ms. Bell.”

“Yes…I can do it.”

“How about the prosecutor’s possible questions?”

“I learned them.”

“Good. Now, we’ll move on to the possible questions the opposing counsel could ask you.”

Lauren gives her documentation. “These are the points we believe they’ll focus on. Reginald Pearce is known to play offense at the first chance he gets so you need to be extra ready.”

“We’ll help you out.” Chris smiles at her and she stares at her lap again.

“From this point on, I’m Reginald.” I stand in front of her, pacing slowly like he does in court. “Ms. Bell, you said that your father has been touching you against your volition. Is that correct?”

She swallows. “Yes.”

“Since when?”

“Since I was young.”

“How young exactly? Nine? Eight?”

“I…I don’t remember.”

“You claimed it was since around eight, right?”

“Objection.” Lauren stands. “Counsel is leading the witness.”

“That would be overruled, Lauren. Counsel has the right to lead the witness in a cross-examination,” I say, still pacing without breaking eye contact with Sandra. “Now tell me, do you remember when the first time he touched you was?”

“Not really, I…”

“So, you don’t remember. You’re only placing these allegations on faulty memories that even you don’t have a recollection of in order to slander a man of your father’s standing…”

“Objection…”

“The truth is, you’ve been in a consensual relationship with him all this time. There are pictures of you wearing provocative clothes that you sent him from your phone.”

“That’s not true!” Sandra’s bawling. “I didn’t…he made me wear those and took the pictures…I didn’t…”

“Ms. Bell, there’s hard evidence that points to it being consensual, whereas the evidence of the claimed sexual assault is nonexistent.”

“Objection. Counsel is stating his own conclusions…”

“He did it…he…” Sandra stands abruptly, her whole body shaking. “He did it!”

“You can’t say that when there’s no evidence. Isn't it true that you're just doing this to slander my client's reputation? That you came up with these allegations so that you could take his hard-earned money? Are you—”

“Stop.” The low voice catches me off guard.

It’s Anastasia. She’s grabbing Sandra by the arm, tears shining in her eyes. “Stop it, please.”

“If she can’t take this, she won’t be able to be a witness in court.”

“I just need a moment.” Sandra sniffles before she bolts out of the office.

Anastasia stares at me funny, like she wants to punch me. “You don’t have to be a monster to drive a point home.”

I step closer until I’m toe to toe with her. “Didn’t you say you needed a dark warrior of justice? This is what we look like.”

Her lips purse before she releases them. “I’m going to see how she’s doing.”

And then she’s out the door, too, her orange blossom scent lingering behind her.

Or maybe I’m the only one who smells it.

I grab a file the prosecutor sent us and fall back into my seat.

Lauren rolls her chair so that she’s facing me. “Ms. Bell needs a lot of prepping and we don’t have much time before the trial.”

We don’t.

Sandra reported the charges against her father a few months back after she ran away from home and lived off the trust fund her mother left her. Since they’re paid off by Matt and his defense, the police and the DA office attempted to sweep everything under the rug, but Sandra was smart and sent the report to the media. Considering her father’s public status, the press latched onto the case like hungry sharks after smelling blood. As a result, the prosecutor was obliged to file the criminal case against Matt Bell, but he’s been carefully backpedaling and hoping this whole thing will be old news so he can drop the charges.