Chapter 15

Connor

Wednesday 11pm

I’m half dozing in my grey, depressing room in the halfway house when a text comes in on my new phone. I rub my eyes as I open a message from Travis.

He dropped the charges and settled out of court. Apparently, a girl called Amber started a social media campaign with a hashtag.

I hate texting so I call him, and he answers immediately. “Oh, you’re up? Wasn’t sure.”

“What happens now? When can I get out of here?”

I can hear him shuffling papers, then he chuckles. “You’ve made quite the impact. There are GIF’s being made with your mug shot. I’ll send you a funny meme that’s being passed around so you can see for yourself.”

I nearly growl down at the phone at him. “I don’t need to see that; I just want to know when I can get this stupid thing off my leg and get out of here.”

His tone changes to somber. “The halfway house is the closest thing to a home you have. That’s why your home detention has to be served there.”

My stomach knots at the reminder. “Yeah.”

“Of course, if you could prove you’re in a serious and permanent relationship, they’d consider allowing you to serve it out elsewhere.”

I rub my chin stubble. “It’s that easy?”

“I wouldn’t call it easy. It’ll take some doing, but as long as the homeowner has no criminal convictions and agrees to have sensors on the property and agrees to spot checks, drug tests, and you check in with Tessa, I think I can convince the court you don’t need to serve out your sentence in the HH.”

The idea is so incredibly tempting. “You sound like you’ve given this a lot of thought?”

Travis sighs. “I haven’t, but someone else thinks it’s a good idea—”

His voice goes faint before there’s a lot of muffled sounds, then a woman’s voice comes on the line. “Connor? It’s Tessa.”

I can almost hear Tessa’s smirk. “If we can get her on board, you might just serve out your parole sentence tucked up in a cozy beach house with a hot blonde.”

Travis’s voice is muffled. “Lucky son-of-a-bitch.”

I’m sure I hear a smacking sound and Travis’ protest before she asks me something I’ve been thinking way too much on over the last two days. “Is it serious enough to ask her?”

I sit up and stare at the grey wall. “It’s not that simple.”

“Yes, it is. She can come to your check-in on Friday. I just need to run it past my boss first. I’ll call him first thing.”

I shake my head. The parole department is hardly the place to talk for the first time. She’s been through enough. “Don’t call anyone—”

“And I’ll call her lawyer in the morning.”

The line goes dead.

A couple seconds go by; then a text comes through from Travis’ number.

FYI I just read through Evelyn’s video transcript. Holy crap Connor.

She aced it.

Tessa

I should find that reassuring, but I’m more interested in the transcript of Evelyn’s video testimony I haven’t seen yet about the weekend I was missing. Technically Tessa didn’t need to see it. I’m itching to read what Evelyn said in my defense, so I flick Tessa a reply.

Can I get a copy sent here?

She doesn’t even bother to reply, just sends an attachment I’m not even sure I can read on my shitty phone. It takes an eternity to open the document. I sit up in bed and don’t bother to turn a light on as I scroll past all the formal introductions of Evelyn stating her name, address, and occupation until I get to the nitty-gritty. I’ve read enough of my own reports to know Evelyn’s answers are recorded by the stenographer and listed under the court reporter.

Court reporter: He asked me for help, so I took him back to my house.

Mr. Gunson: You weren’t afraid to take a stranger back to your house?

Court reporter: He gave me no reason to be afraid.

Mr. Gunson: Did he explain why he was on the beach?

Court reporter: He said he was in a boating accident.

Mr. Gunson: And you believed him?

Court reporter: Why wouldn’t I believe him? He was clearly injured, not to mention he was soaking wet, and he was on the beach.

Mr. Gunson: Still, a woman living alone with no neighbors close by, should anything go wrong…

Court reporter: Is that a question?

Mr. Gunson: No. It’s an observation.

Ms. Kelly: That is irrelevant.

Mr. Gunson: I’m merely trying to establish Ms. Jones’s state of mind on the weekend in question.

The Court: Mr. Gunson is this leading to a question?

Mr. Gunson: Yes, your Honor, I was going to ask Ms. Jones if she intended to call the police.

Court reporter: I couldn’t call anyone. He was bleeding to death, and I couldn’t use my cell phone to reach anyone.

Mr. Gunson: But did you even try to call anyone?

Court reporter: I told you. He was bleeding. By the time I realized I needed help, the storm had started.

Mr. Gunson: And at what point did the relationship become physical?”

Court reporter: If by physical, you mean when did we have sex? Then, not until Saturday.

Mr. Gunson: So, Mr. Slade arrives injured early Friday evening, almost bleeds to death but is recovered enough by Saturday to make love to you?

Ms. Kelly: Is there a question buried in all that supposition?

The Court: Keep it moving Mr. Gunson.

Mr. Gunson: Let me phrase it differently. Is it at all possible that Connor Slade wasn’t in fact gravely injured but was, in fact, pretending in order to elicit your help?

Court reporter: No. There was too much blood. He was pale, his lips were blue, and he was stone cold.

Ms. Kelly: I’d like to remind the court that Mr. Slade was examined by a doctor, and the extent of his injury is not in question here.

The Court: I’m losing patience, Mr. Gunson.

Mr. Gunson: Is it possible that Mr. Slade manipulated you into assisting him, used personal information about the tragic loss of your fiancé, and then manipulated you into having intercourse with him?

The Court: Fine line, Mr. Gunson. Where is your question?

Mr. Gunson: It goes to establish Ms. Jones’ vulnerability, your Honor. I’ll rephrase it. Ms. Jones, you haven’t dated anyone in the three years since your fiancé died, have you?’

Court reporter: No. I haven’t.

Mr. Gunson: Connor Slade was the first man you had intercourse with since your fiancé was killed in a traffic collision?

Court reporter: Yes.

Mr. Gunson: Ms. Jones, have you heard of Stockholm Syndrome?

Ms. Kelly: Objection.

Court reporter: No, it’s fine. Yes, I’ve heard of it.

Mr. Gunson: At what time did you learn that Connor Slade was a criminal on probation?’

Court reporter: May I take a minute to talk to my lawyer?

The Court: Yes. We’ll break for five minutes.

I hold my breath as I scroll past the announcement of time the court broke and convened again. Given the way the questions are heading, it’s beyond me why Evelyn is still talking to me.

Mr. Gunson: Are you ready to answer the question?

Court reporter: I found out on the Sunday.

Mr. Gunson: Are you sure you aren’t confused?

Ms. Kelly: Objection.

The Court: I’ll allow it.

Mr. Gunson: What were you doing when you established that Connor was breaking his parole by hiding in your home?

Court reporter: We were in my bedroom.

Mr. Gunson: Why were you in your bedroom?

Court reporter: We were having sex.

Mr. Gunson: And was your bedroom the only place you had intercourse with Mr. Slade?

Court reporter: No. We had sex in the living room. And partially in the shower.

Mr. Gunson: Partially?

Court reporter: We started having sex in the shower and finished in my bedroom.

Mr. Gunson: And while you were having sex for the second time, Mr. Slade told you he was on parole?

Court reporter: It was after we finished.

Mr. Gunson: What time was this?

Court reporter: Late in the afternoon.

Mr. Gunson: And what did you do when you realized you were harboring a criminal in violation of his parole?

Court reporter: I told him I’d take him to the city first thing in the morning.

Mr. Gunson: And did you have sex with him again after you found out?

Court reporter: No.

Mr. Gunson: Why not?

Ms. Kelly: Objection. There is no—

The Court: I’ll allow it.

Mr. Gunson: Why didn’t you have sex again after you learned he was a criminal?

The Court: I was too upset.

Mr. Gunson: You were upset you had been deceived?

Court reporter: No. I was upset because I didn’t want him to leave.

Mr. Gunson: You’d developed feelings for a wanted criminal?

Court reporter: Yes.

Mr. Gunson: And did Mr. Slade try to coerce you into allowing him to stay?

Court reporter: No. He never asked me to stay.

Mr. Gunson: But you wanted him to stay?

Court reporter: Yes.

Mr. Gunson: Did he ask you for anything?

Court reporter: I’m not sure what you mean by anything?

Mr. Gunson: Did he ask you for money? For drugs? For alcohol?

Court reporter: He didn’t ask me for anything. I gave him codeine because he was in pain. He may have had some wine and maybe a beer.

Mr. Gunson: You understand drugs, and alcohol use qualify as parole violations?

Court reporter: I didn’t know he was on parole when I gave him codeine. And I can’t imagine a hospital would have withheld pain medication from him, given the sizable hole in his chest.

Mr. Gunson: Did it at any time during your weekend rendezvous with Mr. Slade strike you as odd that he managed to swim ashore?

Court reporter: Why would it? He told me he’d been in a boating accident. It made perfect sense that he swam to shore.

Mr. Gunson: And when you drove Mr. Slade back into the city on Monday morning, did you make any plans to see each other again?

Court reporter: No.

Mr. Gunson: So, by your own testimony, you met a man, spent the weekend with him and despite your growing feelings, you made no plans to contact him again?

Court reporter: I didn’t make any plans with him.

Mr. Gunson: You didn’t perhaps make plans to meet at Jack’s Bar on the night of your assault?

Court reporter: No. I had no way of contacting him.

Mr. Gunson: But you did contact him. You called him and spoke to him at length on the night of your assault.

Court reporter: I pocket dialed around four people that night. Connor was the only one who picked up his phone.

Mr. Gunson: So, you did have a way of contacting him then?

Court reporter: He took a photo of me and sent it to himself. My phone must have automatically added his number to my call log.

Mr. Gunson: You accidentally dialed the one person who had just accepted a job at the bar you were assaulted at?

Court reporter: I didn’t know he had a job at the bar. I didn’t mean to call him. I dialed him along with my friend Rosie, who was also at the bar.

Mr. Gunson: And it was Rosie Edmonds who in her original statement told police, and I quote: ‘I saw this big hulking man with tattoos getting out of Evelyn’s car.’ End quote.

Ms. Kelly: Rosie Edmonds has retracted that statement.

Mr. Gunson: Yes, of course. She retracted it after conferring with Ms. Jones.

Court reporter: She retracted it when I explained how I knew Connor.

Mr. Gunson: And how did you explain that to her?

Court reporter: I explained it by telling her that Connor had been my house guest and I had sex with him.

Mr. Gunson: You had sex with him, but you didn’t want to see him again?

Court reporter: We made no promises to each other, and I wasn’t sure…

Mr. Gunson: You doubted he shared the intensity of your feelings?

Court reporter: I wasn’t sure if he was going back to jail.

Mr. Gunson: Isn’t it reasonable to assume that based on his actions and the fact that he was with another woman on the night you phoned him that Mr. Slade used you?

Court reporter: I don’t believe he used me any more than I used him.

Mr. Gunson: How did you use him?

Court reporter: We used each other. It was a reciprocal arrangement.

Mr. Gunson: Until he left you alone?

Court reporter: I don’t look at it that way. We said goodbye amicably.

Mr. Gunson: And you didn’t see him again until the night of the attack.

Court reporter: I don’t remember seeing him that night.

Mr. Gunson: Because you were intoxicated?

Ms. Kelly: Objection. The toxicology report shows Ms. Jones was drugged with Benzodiazepines.

Mr. Gunson: But you did purchase a glass of wine and drink it?

Court reporter: Yes.

Mr. Gunson: And did you have anything else to drink prior to arriving at the bar that night?

Court reporter: No.

Mr. Gunson: You didn’t have anything else to drink before leaving your home to drive into the city? No wine while you did your make-up?

Court reporter: I was planning on having one drink with Rosie. So I was careful not to drink anything else.

Mr. Gunson: Because you knew you would be driving your car back to Sanctuary Cove?

Court reporter: Yes.

Mr. Gunson: Because drinking and driving would be irresponsible?

Ms. Kelly: Relevance?

The Court: Make it fast, Mr. Gunson.

Mr. Gunson: Yes, your honor. Ms. Jones, is it not possible that the benzodiazepines found in your system has caused enough memory loss and blank spots that you have confused your assailant with an innocent man instead of a criminal with a history of violence?

Court reporter: If Mr. Myers is innocent, why was he at a single’s night? And why did the police find date rape drugs in his car?

Mr. Gunson: My client took a wrong turn and was inside the bar asking for directions. He has a prescription for the medication.

Court reporter: Then why did he buy me a drink? Why didn’t he use his cell phone to call someone if he was lost?

Mr. Gunson: Why didn’t you call the police when you discovered the man you were harboring was breaking the law?

Court reporter: I couldn’t.

Mr. Gunson: Because of the bad reception.

Court reporter: Yes.

Mr. Gunson: Is it possible that my client suffered the same problem as you? That he ordered a drink at the bar and struck up a conversation with an attractive woman to pass the time?

Court reporter: Indecipherable mumbling.

Mr. Gunson: Isn’t it possible that my client’s only crime was talking to a woman and liking her enough to see her to her car and make sure she got home safely?

Court reporter: It’s possible.

Mr. Gunson: Thank you, Ms. Jones.

Ms. Kelly: Ms. Jones, may I ask you a question?

Court reporter: Of course.

Ms. Kelly: Have you heard the recording of the night you were attacked?

Court reporter: No. My cell phone was confiscated by the police.

Ms. Kelly: And do you remember any of what happened after you got to the bar and started talking to Mr. Myers?

Court reporter: I remember some. Parts of it.

Ms. Kelly: Do you remember talking to Mr. Myers in your car?

Court reporter: I remember trying to push him off me. I remember scratching my fingernails down his face.

Ms. Kelly: Your honor, this is a last desperate attempt of the defense to place the blame on the victim. Ms. Jones’ relationship with Connor Slade is incidental to the evidence supporting Mr. Myers as a perpetrator. Is this really the best use of state resources to put not only my client but Mr. Myers’ wife and children through a criminal trial?

The Court: Mr. Gunson, I see no good reason beyond sheer stupidity that in the current social climate your client would be best served by a criminal trial. I will ask you this one time before you waste any more of the court’s time. Does your client wish to proceed with a public trial, or does he seek to settle?

Mr. Gunson: I have instructions to settle out of court if Ms. Jones drops her sexual assault charge against my client.

The Court: What say you, madam council?

Ms. Kelly: We’re open to negotiation on the proviso Mr. Myers drops all charges against Connor Slade.

The Court: Ms. Jones, you understand that by dropping charges, Mr. Myers will serve no jail time?

Court reporter: I understand.

The Court: You understand that Mr. Slade will still be reprimanded for his actions on the night of your attack?

Court reporter: Reprimanded why?

The Court: One of the stipulations of Mr. Slade’s parole was the avoidance of any criminal activity.

Court reporter: He shouldn’t be penalized for helping me just because of our relationship.

Mr. Gunson: Are you admitting this is now an ongoing relationship?

Ms. Kelly: Apologies, your honor. This has been a difficult time for Ms. Jones.

The Court: Understandable. Ms. Jones, perhaps discuss this further with your lawyer outside of my courtroom?

Court reporter: Of course. I’m sorry. And no, I’m not admitting it’s an ongoing relationship.

Ms. Kelly: Ms. Jones, we can discuss this in private.

The transcript ends with the time the parties left the judge’s chamber.

My eyeballs are burning as put my phone down utterly astounded at how well Evelyn held it together. Either her lawyer did an amazing job coaching her or she’s incredibly unflappable. No wonder they caved and dropped the charges. Aside from the crazy weekend she spent with me, Evelyn is pretty much the perfect witness.

Whatever happens at my sign-in tomorrow, I’ll be seeing her with one month left to serve on my parole. Thinking about that and the hope she’ll wear the black bra and panty set is enough to help me drift off to sleep with a little more hope than I had an hour ago.