The Prosecutor

Rebecca stood, smoothing a shaky hand over the lines of her suit. She moved behind Ruby, giving her a smile and reassuring pat on her uninjured shoulder. Rebecca knew that the jury was soaking in her every movement and soon would be hanging on her every word.

She began quietly. “You may not approve of Ruby’s actions, obtaining then dropping multiple restraining orders. But how many of you can truly understand how she felt? Do you know what it’s like to be afraid to leave your home because there’s someone always lurking in the shadows – and yet be terrified to stay locked in your room because he always finds a way inside? Do you know what it’s like to have the person you love also be the one you fear more than anything else in the world? Because until you do, you can never truly appreciate the situation Ruby found herself in.” Rebecca whirled around, so she could face the defendant. “The situation that man created.”

Rebecca walked the jury through the crimes. Stalking. Burglary. Assault. Attempted murder. She set the scene perfectly. She wove a very convincing tale of a desperate man, one who swore that if he couldn’t have Ruby, no man ever would. He very nearly succeeded in carrying out his threat. Months later, Ruby’s dislocated shoulder was still in a sling, her arm still in a full cast and her once beautiful face now hidden behind nasty scars.

The case should have been a slam dunk. But the victim had been her own worst enemy. Rebecca knew the jury would dislike Ruby, a woman who appeared tough as nails. A bartender at a biker bar, who fell for the wrong guy. An abusive alcoholic, who alternated between being loving and brutal, moods fluctuating with no warning.

So to win this case, Rebecca had to sell the jury on Ruby. Right now Ruby was not helping her cause, glaring at the defendant like she was about to kill him, rather than playing the demure victim. Rebecca only hoped Ruby didn’t flip the defendant off mid-closing.

There was no one better than Rebecca to argue these cases. She wasn’t just a top notch prosecutor. She could relate to the victims, personally, completely. The emotion she could pour on usually put the verdicts over the top, making any close call a victory for the prosecution.

But the cases also took a tremendous toll. Years ago, she had been the victim. The fool who fell for the wrong man. One who alternated between good and bad, loving and pure evil. When she had enough, and kicked him to the curb, he began stalking her. She was the one who lived in fear all the time. Couldn’t leave her house and couldn’t stay inside. Couldn’t close her eyes without seeing that face looming in her mind, him enraged and coming for her.

Much as she had tried to keep the past firmly behind her, it kept creeping to the surface. These cases always brought the demons back. Rebecca hadn’t slept or eaten much during the trial. When she walked to her car at night, alone in the parking lot, she could hear the echo of footsteps behind her. The pace always matched hers, even when she sped up or slowed her steps. She felt like she was losing her mind sometimes…

When she finished the closing, with an emotional plea to the jury to find the defendant guilty so he could never again hurt Ruby or his next victim, she had to wipe a tear from her eye. The jury foreman caught the gesture and gave her a sympathetic nod. Rebecca turned her back and smiled, knowing she had him convinced. Rebecca watched the rest of the panel as the judge charged the jury. Her experienced eye weighed the expressions and body language of the jurors. Eight. She had at least 8 on her side. Hopefully they would do their job and convince the rest.

It only took 2 hours for the jury to come back with its verdict. Fast deliberations were never good. Rebecca squeezed Ruby’s hand as the foreman began to read the verdict. “On the charge of attempted murder, how do you find?” the judge asked. “We the jury find the defendant…not guilty.”

“On the charge of assault, how do you find?” “We the jury find the defendant not guilty.” It went on the same for each count of the indictment. Not guilty on all charges.

Ruby collapsed in Rebecca’s arms, sobbing into her shoulder. Where the hell was this emotion when we needed it? Rebecca thought bitterly while trying to sooth Ruby. The defendant approached them, grinning wickedly. He didn’t say a word, but mouthed, “You’re dead bitch.”

The signs were everywhere.

Threatening notes left under her windshield. The rock thrown through her bedroom window. The dead animal on her front porch. The odd sensation that she was being watched everywhere she went. Rebecca’s guard was most certainly up, her eyes carefully watching for the first sign of anything not quite right.

That night, Rebecca was the last to leave the office. She had other cases to prepare which she had been neglecting while getting this one ready for trial. Rebecca was about to pack up for the night when an email hit her inbox. She knew she should ignore it and just head home, but something had her instincts humming. The email was from an unknown address and the message contained just three words. Watch your back.

Rebecca jumped out of her chair, knocking the thing over as she bolted from the office. She ran to the car as quickly as her legs would carry her. Her only thought was getting inside the car and driving the hell out of this town. The door handle nearly within her grasp…

With a crack of thunder, the bullet tore through her side. Couching behind the car, Rebecca opened the door and began frantically fumbling under the seat. She withdrew the Glock as she heard the footsteps racing toward her. She slid back against the wall of the parking garage, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.

Rebecca held the gun steady into the darkness, waiting for the first sign of movement. Her breath was ragged and eyes frantic with pain and fear. The footsteps slowed to a stop and Rebecca found herself looking down the barrel of a Beretta.

Shots rang out. Sirens wailed. And the world went black...