Terri-Lee was a firecracker. That was the only word Tony could think of to describe her. From the moment she'd set foot on the ranch she was all business in her pant suit and her strawberry colored hair twisted up into a tight bun at the back of her head. This was not the type of woman who wasted time or minced words: this was the type of woman who did not belong on a ranch. He'd been called over from West Ridge to talk about Bandit, Jesse's home invasion attempt and Henry. She had brought a therapist with her who watched and observed but only ever spoke with Maisey in private: he realized he didn't even know her name. Terri-Lee, however, was like a wild horse with a bit between the teeth bucking and kicking up dust and making you think you were going to get thrown then suddenly standing calm, fooling you into thinking you were in control.
She was exactly the kind of lawyer you wanted on your side.
A search of Donovan's home had produced three videos that had been presented into evidence. Terri-Lee said she wished they'd had them in the original trial but now Jesse's lawyer had called looking for a plea. After three hours of discussion about the situation Terri-Lee had presented the offer to Maisey.
Tony watched Maisey scratch Henry on the ears, her face pale while she considered her options, "if I agree to this, there's no trial," she repeated.
"No trial," was the curt reply. She continued, "and he is out in 5."
Maisey stared into her hands, torn. Brett didn't touch her but Tony knew his cousin wished he could sooth the sick look in her eyes, that he could snap his fingers and have the whole thing over. "No," her voice was soft but sure, "He beat Bandit almost to death. He is horrible and disgusting and needs to be locked up so he can't hurt anyone else."
"You will have to testify." Terri-Lee told her. "it will be Luke's trial all over again."
Maisey's face continued to be pale but her shoulders straightened, "I can't let that stop me."
A small smile touched Terri-Lee's small mouth and she nodded curtly, "Good girl." She picked up the phone and walked out to the porch to call Jesse's lawyer to deliver the news.
Maisey clasped her fingers together and stared at one of the resin spots on the table. Brett put his hands on the back of her chair but kept himself from touching her. They were all silent. Henry put his head on Maisey's foot. Her right leg bounced anxiously. Tony stood, "I need to get back to West Ridge," he fidgetted with the cowboy hat in his hands, "call me if you need me for anything at all."
Maisey met his eyes and nodded her gratitude. Everything was moving so fast. Luke's trial seemed like yesterday: she remembered the snears and anger from his family, the courtroom made her feel clausterphobic, she felt like she was going to vomit. She hadn't left the house since the night she had gone to Slim's: she was hiding. Hiding from the past, hiding from the future, but mostly hiding from herself. The therapist had told her that.
"You okay?" Brett asked softly. She nodded but he knew that look, he knew she was scared but doing everything she could to stay in control.
Terri-Lee was grinning when she came back into the house, "He knows he's going to lose." She slid back into her chair, "the lawyer came at me with multiple offers. The videos and the testimony of the woman from the hotel room are damning. His defense lawyer doesn't lose often and knowing this is a loss has him making mistakes."
"What kind?" Brett asked, his hand resting on the back of Maisey's chair.
"The kind that tells me Maisey may never have to testify." the gleam in her eyes was predatory. Maisey's head came up. "it's not a promise," Terri-Lee Todd her, "but he's desperate enough he's willing to name names." Even Maisey knew that was good for her case.
"We need to go down to the station, and do some other interviews, I'll call you when I have more news."
The lawyer and the therapist didn't wait for anyone to acknowledge their departure.
Terri-Lee drew a shuddering breath in the privacy of the little Prius she'd rented at the airport. She closed her eyes to block out the vision of the ranch while she forced herself to swallow the bile that continued to threaten. Men like Jesse and Luke Barnes were the reason she'd gotten into law. Even so she'd been grateful to have Luke's trial over, but having Jesse in prison, finding the videos, interviewing his family and everyone else involved had brought it all back. She hated seeing the haunted looks in Maisey's eyes. She pitied the woman, and worse, she knew exactly how this trauma played out. She swallowed a mouthful of water and put the quiet car into gear, she hadn't been lying about the interviews, but she took a moment to refocus herself.
Her step father had been abusive in her childhood, and a person well respected and liked in their small community. After being questioned about some bruises on her arms he'd kept her home to home school her while her mother worked. She had learned to suffer in silence until the day she'd gotten pregnant by him. He'd tried to keep her from a doctor but a trip to the emergency room in the middle of the night for what her mother thought was appendicitis had solved that. She'd been fifteen and remembered the hateful looks when the police had put him in handcuffs. Foster care and a supportive foster family had found her in law school.
The little police station was less than ten minutes from the ranch. RCMP Sheriff Byron Curtis met her at the counter and invited her into his office: the therapist was already observing Jesse through video feed.
"So tell me Ms Carmichael," Curtis sat, "How's our Maisey?" he offered her coffee or water.
Accepting the water she raised an eyebrow, "Client privacy still extends in this tiny community," she took a drink, "I need to interview Mr Barnes now that the therapist can observe him. I will also bed access to Mr James Barnes, and his mother."
Curtis leaned forward, "Even I don't have that kind of authority," he told her, "Mrs Barnes is heavily sedated in a special ward in a Vancouver hospital, she's in no fit condition and the doctors are refusing access to her for her safety." He sipped his coffee. "Bandit is another matter, his jaw was wired shut--Jesse broke it when he was beating the man senseless; I've got the doctor's report here," he handed it over, "As well as the doctor's reports for Maisey on the condition she was in when Brett found her, the one from when she returned from the beating she got in Vancouver when you called her back for something and my report from when Jesse tried to break into the house."
Terri-Lee eyed him, "Thorough of you," she accepted the folder.
"Maisey said you didn't like to waste time so I got everything ready." His smile was gentle, "One of the other officers took the statement from the...individual that was in Jesse's hotel room. It's in there too but it won't do you much good. That particular individual is known to police, their testimony won't hold much weight." Terri-Lee raised her eyebrows, flipping to the statement and attached history then nodded, understanding. "The good news is Jesse seems to have a lot to say: his lawyer's been here almost contantly and that boy has chased him out three times today after very loudly telling him how incompetent he is. Let's go set you up in an interview room with the lawyer and then we'll bring Jesse in."
"Thank you Sheriff Curtis," Terri-Lee stood and followed him from his office.
Jesse's lawyer, Max Toren stood when Terri-Lee entered the interview room and extended his hand, she shook it and took a seat opposite to where Sheriff Curtis indicated they would bring Jesse. "I can't promise his cooperation," Max told her, "He's been beligerant and abusive in our meetings." Terri-Lee kept her disgust from her face, Max was a terrible lawyer and she wondered if the courts had appointed him.
Jesse sneered at the two lawyers when the officers brought him into the room and handcuffed him to the table. "I remember you from my brother's trial," he blatantly looked over her body as she'd stood up when the door had swung open, "I'll bet you like it rough," he told her, "I'm sure Maisey's told you just how excellent I am at helping with that."
Terri-Lee maintained a calm, unemotional face, "Mr Barnes," she sat, "Your lawyer gave me your offer this morning and I shared it with my client," his face was hopeful, "we are denying your settlement. We will be going to trial."
"You'd give up on an easy win for a hope you get more time for me?" he laughed, "Why are we here then?" he glared at his lawyer, "Are you really so incompetent that you can't even take a message?"
"Mr Toren was very thorough in our discussions," Terri-Lee told him, "but I wanted you to understand just why you're going to lose the trial," the predatory gleam as in her eyes, "Mr Barnes, your uncle is dead, your cousin as well, your aunt is in a mental institute and the cousin you beat to death, lays in a hospital bed with his jaw wired shut and your mother and sister were arrested this morning." Jesse glared murderously at Terri-Lee.
"What's that going to do to stop me from walking free?" he asked, "none of those people can help you," he gloated.
"Witness testimony does." She toyed with him, "I'm here to share with you and your lawyer discovery and a copy of three witness testimonies." She handed a transcription to Max, to his credit the lawyer blanched.
"Lies," Jesse laughed, "Circumstancial trash." He hadn't even read it.
She pulled an iPad out of her bag and turned it towards him, the video that played was every bit as damning as she had claimed. "Where did you get that?" he snarled.
"Your uncle's house." She smiled, "Thank you for your time today, both of you, we'll see you in court."