By StarbearerTM

Wearily they trekked up the stairs, after Paul parked his rental Mercedes in the lot behind her building. She joked about the police station only being less then five minutes away. He stopped the car, and opened his door, holding up his hand before she could open her door. "Allow me..."

She chuckled as he walked around the car, and opened her door, offering his hand to help her out. A chilly wind whipped his long leather coat round his legs, and she shivered in her own skirt and heels. On the KISS jet, she had changed into something a bit more formal, at Paul's suggestion. Trynia led him up the narrow hallway, lit brightly with bulbs set in the sloped passage, to the main landing on the second floor. He rubbed her shoulders as she struggled to unlock the door, and swung it open. The lights clicked on, and Paul picked up their things to carry them in.

"Shar?" Trynia asked. "You here?"

Paul walked in after her, closing the door behind them. Automatically he locked it, as Trynia took off her coat and threw it over a hanger. She took one out of the small closet for him, and he shed his coat, handing it to her.

"She left it pretty nice," he smiled, admiring the neat cozy sitting room with the television on its stand, the desk with its computer, and the bookcases on either side. Dishes were piled up in the kitchen sink, visible to their left. Along a long passageway to the right was the hall to her room in the front, and just off the living room was the door to Sharmane's room, which was closed with a note pinned to the door.

"Looks like she kept good on her promise," Trynia smiled, taking the note and showing it to Paul. "We have the place to ourselves..."

"I like her style," Paul smiled, striding up to her and throwing his arms around Trynia. His lips descended upon hers, depositing a kiss there. Strong arms gathered her close to his body, hugging her tightly to him as their kiss increased in passion.

"Why don't we go to bed?" Paul suggested, hugging her from behind. "Frankly you look like you could use the rest..."

"I just feel so drained, answering all those questions Kelly asked us, not to mention the police," she sighed. "I don't know what I could do..."

"Except sleep?" he chuckled, arm around her waist. "I think I remember the way to your room..."

"Considering you were last here oh less then two months ago," she joked. He took her suitcase and carried it toward her room, along with his own. She opened the door for him, and ushered him in. It was a bit messy, but otherwise organized in its clutter, much like he remembered it from what seemed a long time ago. A smile crossed his face when he saw the Paul doll next to her bed, on its lovegun stand. ON her bookcase was posed Gene, his arms outstretched.

"Figures," Paul chuckled, putting down his case just inside the door. He had tossed his coat into the closet when they arrived.

"I could fall RIGHT asleep..." she sighed, putting down her own case.

"Sounds heavenly," Paul murmured, automatically kicking off his shoes. "So do I have to ask where I'll be sleeping?"

She caught his light teasing, and sat on the edge of her full sized bed. "I dunno, it's a bit smaller then what you're used to. And Sharmane's bed isn't' much bigger..."

"Nice of her to leave us alone tonight," he winked, sitting down next to her and unbuttoning his shirt. She got a full view of his hairy chest as he shed it and began to unbuckle his belt.

Shyly she chuckled, and Paul stopped for a moment. He apologized, "Sorry about that if you want me to step out of the room while you change... and slip into something more comfortable..."

"It's okay," she laughed lightly. "I feel perfectly safe with you..."

"Good," he whispered. "Do you need some help, or would you care to help me?"

"I'll give you a hand if you help me," she chuckled, helping him shimmy out of his pants till he wore only his boxer shorts. He indicated she should turn around and stand before him. Slowly he unbuttoned her blouse, and pushed it aside. Then he reached to unzip her skirt, and give her a hand to step out of it. She kicked off her shoes, and he pulled aside the covers.

"I hope you don't mind me going right to sleep," she yawned.

"That's quite all right love," Paul hushed her. "I'll get the light... you make yourself comfortable..."

Trynia slipped between fresh sheets, for she had made the bed up before she had left for her trip. Paul clicked off the light, and left the door ajar. He reached out for her in the darkness, and she shifted over in the bed, lying on her side with her back facing him. Paul slid under the blankets, lying alongside her.

"Good night baby," he whispered, kissing her ear as he pulled her close to his body. Comforted by his presence, she soon fell fast asleep.

On the boundary of sleep, Paul stirred. Trynia muttered and shook against him, and he kissed her softly, holding her close. She settled down and curled up inside the curve of his body again. Smiling, he lay his head alongside hers and listened to the faint purr of traffic drifting through the open window. It reminded him of the old loft so many years ago that he had shared with one he had come to love.

The bed vibrated under him as he felt a bang through it. While his hearing wasn't the best compared to some, he could still hear the thump of something against what sounded like the front door, and the click of the lock. Was Sharmane coming back? He tensed, sitting bold awake, his heart pounding anxiously.

"Trynia," he whispered. "Wake up..."

"Hmmm?" she asked, awaking with a start.

"Do you hear that?" he asked.

"What... wait... voices... shit... who is that..."

"Were you expecting Sharmane back?" he asked.

"No... Paul... I'm scared... nobody else has the key here... except Dwight, and he is with Shar..."

"Wait here... I'll take care of it. If I need you, I'll call out ok?"

"Paul, don't do anything stupid," she whispered, grabbing his arm.

"I want to look," he said.

"There's a bat by the closet door," she said, clicking on the light. She passed him the baseball bat and he urged her to stay where she was till he called for her.

***

"I almost got it," one male voice said to the other. Paul tiptoed out, clutching the wooden Louisville slugger held over his shoulder. Two young male voices whispered, just outside the main door. He waited, wondering if they would manage to get in. Perhaps he could scare them off. He posed his hand on the light switch, bat at the ready.

"Shit Zack, this isn't frickin Fort Knox!" snapped a second voice, low.

"Chuck man, I don't know if this is a bright idea... I mean what if..."

"She's gotta be home," he whispered. "Now shut the hell up and get it open..."

A lock clicked and the doorknob twitched. Paul tensed, ready for action. He prayed Trynia would stay out of this, and that whoever it was wouldn't have a gun. The door creaked open, two figures silhouetted against the even widening crack of hall light.

Paul flipped the light on, and shouted in a loud voice, "Who's there! I've got a bat and I'm NOT afraid to use it!"

"Holy SHIT!" two men gaped. Both wore black t-shirts and jeans, one of them had a scraggly goatee and glasses, with buzz cut hair, and was gangly as a rail. The other was a bit shorter and stout, and carried a flashlight.

"Who the FUCK are you?" the first in glasses asked.

"YOU SAID She'd be alone!" the second, who had messy brown hair hanging around his face in a fringe. Both were scarcely older then twenty-five, Paul guessed.

"Get out of here now, or I'll call the police," Paul threatened, waving the bat menacingly.

"We don't want any trouble man, we just wanna talk to the chick," the second blurted out.

"Shut up!" the first in glasses hissed. "Who the hell are you, gramps? And what are you doing here?"

"I'd ask YOU what you're doing here!" Paul shouts. "And you'd better get the hell out!"

"I don't have time to fuck with you," Charlie says. "I want to talk to TRYN..."

"She doesn't' want to talk to you!" Paul says angrily. "And I swear if you step inside this apartment I won't be responsible for the consequences!"

"Don't just stand there, get the old timer!" the second cried. He lunged at Paul, stupidly with a loud scream. Instantly Paul brought the bat down, and rammed the end in the pit of his stomach. Like a lead balloon the second collapsed, gurgling.

"Shit Zack!" the first snapped. "Aww F--K!"

He turned on Paul, lunging at him. Paul stepped aside, and the guy stopped short, whirling around. The two men circled, Paul with his bat, as the second huddled on the floor.

"I'm not shitting you. Get OUT now!" Paul growled.

"Don't TELL me you're her boyfriend," Charlie laughed. "Cause you're NOT gonna scare me with that toothpick!"

"I am, and I'm gonna KICK your ass, punk," Paul snapped back, murder in his eyes.

"Zack, help me you f--in MORON!" Charlie cried.

"No way, I'm outta here!" Zack cried, stumbling out the door. "You fucking pansy!" Charlie yells at his friend who runs away.

"I'm outta here man! This is too heavy..." Zack's voice called back.

"Looks like you ran out of friends, kid," Paul laughed.

"Who the fuck are you anyway?" Charlie asks. "Some kinda cradle

robber?"

"If your name's Charlie, your ass is MINE!" Paul shouted. "C'mon Gramps you want a piece of me? Let's go!"

"Your funeral," Paul gritted.

"Shut the hell up! I want to talk to her, I gotta stop her... you have no idea what she's trying to do to me!" Charlie yells.

"You have no idea what I'm gonna do to you!" Paul cried, waving the bat as Charlie swung a few punches at him.

"Paul what on earth is going on?" Trynia asked, emerging from the bedroom. "Charlie, you mother f**er..."

"Trynia, I NEED to talk to you!" he called.

"Trynia call the police NOW!" Paul shouted to her, not taking his eyes off Charlie. She edged around Paul, heading toward the phone in the kitchen.

"You can't!" Charlie screamed, lunging at her. Paul blocked his way, shoving him back with a rude shoulder to his chest, then swung the bat at Charlie's legs, cutting them out from under him. Squealing in pain he clutched his knees, huddled over on the floor.

"Innocent my ASS!" Paul snarled, moving over to cover him.

"Hello, police? This is Trynia, at 54 Lancaster Avenue! We're being robbed!" Trynia hollered into the phone. "Get over here now! Someone's trying to attack my boyfriend!"

"You bitch, you liar I didn't do anything!" Charlie cried, rolling out of the way.

"Shut up!" Paul snarled, pouncing on Charlie. With the bat lengthwise, he pinned Charlie's arms down, pressing his knee into the younger man's stomach.

"GET HIM OFF ME!" Charlie screamed hysterically.

"You will NEVER bother her again, asshole, or any other woman!" Paul hisses at him. "GOT IT?"

"You're INSANE MAN!" Charlie screamed.

"And you're sick!" Paul retorted, pressing harder with his weight on the younger man. He struggled to no avail.

"Bite me!" Charlie spits at him. "My dad's an important man in this town and he'll have your ass for breakfast if you dare turn me in!"

"You don't know who YOU"RE dealing with punk!"

A knock sounded at the door, and Trynia rushed out to answer it. Thankfully, the two policemen behind the door stared past her, at the two men scuffling on the floor.

"Miss Merin, what's going on?" the woman officer asked.

"That guy tried to assault me!' she said, pointing to Charlie. "But my boyfriend stopped them!" Paul added, "This is the punk who tried to break in and attack my girlfriend!"

"He's CRAZY, I'm innocent!" Charlie screamed. Exchanging a look, the two police officers moved into action. One of them pulled out a pair of cuffs, and stepped up to Paul.

Paul got off Charlie slowly, while the male officer dropped to his knees, saying, "Lay still. Don't make any sudden movements..."

"Can you identify this man?" the woman officer asked Trynia. Paul moved up next to her.

"I woke up hearing this guy and his little friend breaking in," Paul said, and indicated a dropped credit card.

"His name is Charlie," Trynia said firmly. "And I know him well. I already spoke to the police about him raping me. And he used rohipnal..."

"Damn," the policewoman muttered, then looked at Paul. "I'll need your name sir..."

"Of course," Paul said. "Stanley Eisen... I was with her at the police station..."

"I want to call my lawyer!" Charlie snapped.

"You do have the right to remain silent," the policeman said. "Now if you'll just come QUIETLY with me..."

"Excuse me a moment," the policewoman said, pulling out her cell phone. She conversed quickly with someone on the other end, motioning for Paul and Trynia to sit down at the table. A quick nod to her partner, and he clicked the cuffs on Charlie, hauling him to his feet.

"That's him," Trynia said.

"Book him," said the policewoman. "And let's take him out of here... so these two can get some sleep..."

"Thank you very much," said Paul.

"You took him down pretty fast, Mr. Eisen," she said.

"I did what I had to," he shrugged, holding Trynia's hand.

"I'll need to ask you to come down tomorrow morning," she said. "But till then, get some rest... and see you tomorrow..."

Trynia released the breath she had been holding, as the policewoman finished writing her report. She strode out the door, and closed it behind her to leave them both standing side by side. Paul's arm had never left her waist, pulling her tightly to stand next to him. Still clad in only black silk boxers, she could see most of his muscular form glistening still with sweat.

"Damn, I thought they'd never leave," Paul muttered.

"Thank you... for saving my life," she said shyly.

"Are you okay..." he asked.

"Of course," she nodded, leaning up and kissing his cheek. "But I don't know if I could sleep after THIS..."

"Hmm, maybe I can remedy that," said Paul with a mischievous smile. He nodded in the direction of the bedroom, and tugged her along after him.

"Paul..." she whispered. "What if..."

"Nobody will come back I think. After all didn't you say there was a police station only five minutes from here?"

"Thank god," she sighed. He led her into the bedroom, and chuckled as he saw the flashing of lights playing along the far wall.

"C'mere and look at this," Paul said, urging her toward the window. She looked down through the lace curtain to see a squad car parked across the street, lights flashing.

"Did you have something to do with that?" she asked.

"Well, I'm sure they want to make sure we DO sleep well," Paul said, tugging her backwards. She laughed as he swept her up and lay her on her own bed, and tucked the covers around her. His long muscular legs slid to twine around hers as he shifted to get comfortable.

"This bed is a bit... small," he joked.

"Well there is the sofa," she teased back. Paul turned her over to face him, and shifted onto his back, pulling her to lie against him.

"Ouch! Just for that, you'll be punished!" he said, smacking her backside playfully. Shrieking, she tackled him by ticking his bare sides. They wrestled under the bed till Paul was on top, pinning her under his body with solid muscular weight.

"I've got you right where I want you, baby," he whispered.

"Do I look like I'm complaining?" she asked. "With someone like you around I'd hate to be the bad guy..."

"I think his little friend wet himself before he ditched," Paul laughed. "So much for working together..."

"Shh, don't ruin it," she whispered, silencing him with a kiss. "Just shut up and let the lady in distress you rescued reward you for being the big hero..."

Pushing a lock of blond hair out of her face, Kelly Pulaski tucked it behind her ear, and set down her paperwork before the assembled cast of witnesses gathered at the police station.

"I understand you had quite an eventful night," she commented of Paul and Trynia, who sat behind the desk to her left, down the table from two detective II's and several young women clustered around Sharmane.

"Pretty much," Trynia nodded eagerly. "You should have seen the look on his face when Paul turned the light on them..."

"I've just spoken with the detectives before you showed up," Kelly said. "Comparing notes. Last night after you left, I had the fortune to speak to several other victims, and their legal counsel. I think we have a good case against the suspect now. Because of your willingness to identify him today, three others have come forward..."

"How many were there?" Trynia asked slowly.

"The detective here told me there were at least six, maybe seven these suspects have assaulted," Kelly sighed.

"Oh god," Trynia muttered, shock draining her body temperature a few degrees. In Paul's hand, her own began to sweat.

"Mother f..." Paul muttered under his breath, hiding his outrage. For Trynia's sake, he hid his expressions behind the tinted glasses he sported with his slicked back ponytail. The black suit, complete with blue necktie and black leather duster coat presented the image of a sharp dressed businessman, whose real profession remained elusive. Paul wanted to keep it that way.

"Do you think I'll be called to testify then?" Paul asked her in a hushed voice.

"Well I'm going to talk to the detectives now, and confer with the legal representatives of the other victims now... so I'll be back with you in a few minutes. Just relax..."

"Excuse me Miss Merin, we want you to positively identify the suspect out of a lineup," the detective interrupted.

"Absolutely," Trynia nodded. She got up, and Kelly followed, with Paul close behind them. She saw the other girls rise one by one, and follow at a distance. They assembled in a glassed in viewing booth, before a grillwork of height lines. One by one, the suspects were trundled out, all holding their signs before them.

"Which one?" they asked. For a moment, her eyes met those of Charlie, behind his tinted glasses. He whined when the officers asked him to remove them, his pasty skin pale like that of a vampire's. He had not spent an agreeable night.

"Mr. Eisen?" the detective asked.

"That one there... number four," Paul gritted.

"Miss Merin..."

"Number four," she said.

"Will you be willing to testify to that in a court of law?" the detective then asked.

"Absolutely," she nodded. Then the detective moved on down to three other young women, one blonde, a brunette, and a young Asian girl who seemed so fragile and nervous she might break in half with the nervous exertion of her fidgeting.

However as she was asked the same question, she stood up, and firmly said, "That's him. It's HIM! Number four..."

The other two spurred on by the positive identifications were each of the same mind. Even in isolation they were each brought in with their legal counsel, they all knew that others had stepped forward.

After the suspects were collected back in, Kelly returned to find Paul and Trynia sitting in the waiting area.

"I want you to meet Lisa, Anna, and Corrine," she said, indicating the three women she had seen earlier. "They're willing to add their testimony to our case..."

"A class action suit?" Trynia asked.

"Not quite, this isn't corporate law. But let's just say if you hadn't stepped forward and pressed charges, they might never have. It's a breakthrough," Kelly said eagerly.

"When does this all go to trial?" asked Paul softly, stroking Trynia's shoulders. Trynia exchanged looks with each of the women, and noticed how each in their own way averted their gazes from hers, or from anyone who directly looked at them. As if unable to meet reality in the face, wanting the nightmare they had experienced to vanish.

However Lisa's blue eyes met Trynia's, and she nodded in slow understanding. Slowly she approached Trynia, and whispered, "Thank you. I met him my first year here..."

"As distressing as all this is, I'll have to sequester each of you till the trial. The hearing is scheduled for this afternoon, and each of you will be brought in at the appropriate time. Keep in mind he is innocent till proven guilty, and I want each of you on that witness stand to give the facts... and I am almost certain this will be open and shut," Kelly said, in a loud enough voice so the other two women could hear as well.

"We'll nail the sob," Paul said firmly. "Kelly's the best at what she does... ladies..."

Each woman looked in shock at the grim faced man sitting next to Trynia, with varied reactions. Corrine broke into tears, and her father sitting next to her in his neat business suit hushed her as she sobbed into his shoulder. Amy, the red head, glared in an almost mean triumph at Paul's words, beating her fist against the table in affirmation.

"I want to make him pay," she said in a low whisper.

"I know, girlfriend, I know," Lisa said, gripping her friend's hands. Trynia judged they must have been assaulted the same night, or at least were friends before the assault. Any story could account for their solidarity, but Corinne seemed so fragile and alone. What of the others who were not here today?

Sharmane moved over and gave Trynia a supporting hug. "Amy, Harvey was dating her just last week. She confessed to him about Charlie when she heard about you..." she whispered. "Girl, I'm so glad Paul caught the bastard..."

"I am glad you insisted that I did this," Trynia whispered, hugging her friend close.

"I started talking to everyone I knew who had any ties to him," Sharmane blushed. "You know I have a big mouth..."

"You ever thought of being a lawyer?" Kelly interrupted Sharmane. "You've got a good friend here, Miss Merin..."

"I do," Trynia nodded.

"So, what's next?" Sharmane asked.

"Well we wait for the opposite legal counsel to present their case, and we all stick around for the hearing," Kelly said. "They want this to go to trial as soon as possible. Considering they have such solid testimony... and positive identifications. That girl Corinne, she was dating him just two days ago... and when her father found her stumbling back into her room, he knew something was wrong and took her straight to the ER. Apparently the drug was still in her system, and they took semen samples..."

"She's the newest victim?" Trynia whispered to Kelly. "I think I remember seeing her in one of the chemistry classes I teaching assisted..."

"I knew her from gospel choir," Sharmane interrupted. "Somehow when she heard about your name being involved with Charlie, she spilled the whole story. Amy and Lisa here were two friends who were hanging out at a bar when Charlie and his friend Zachary invited them back to their place for drinks. Next thing they know they're waking up in a car being driven home the next day... It's only too bad that Casey and Shelly wont' come forward..."

"What about his girlfriend?" Trynia asked.

"She's totally oblivious," Sharmane rolled her eyes. "Go figure."

That secret sisterhood that had resulted from an awful set of circumstances now served to convict and condemn the accused. How ironic how what he had tried to control with fear would soon topple like dominoes into a mighty crash, or so they hoped. Would he remain smug or enter the courtroom faced full with the reality he had made horrible for his victims? That remained to be seen, Trynia realized.

The hearing convened that afternoon at the Philadelphia district court house. Past the assembled crowd of local campus reporters and news vans on the street, the legal teams flanked their clients, hustling them into the rear entrance. Resplendent in his navy blue two piece suit, Paul straightened the purple necktie that coordinated with his powder blue shirt nervously. His hand protectively closed around Trynia as he led her inside. Her suit was a simple but elegant charcoal gray jumper and blazer ensemble with an ivory colored blouse. Amy, Corinne, Sharmane and Lisa followed in single file.

"Right this way," Kelly Pulaski waved them, flanked by police immediately behind and in front of them. "The waiting area's here...."

They entered a chamber that effectively banished the noise of people milling about outside. Comfortable neutral couches ringed a low varnished table, with modern paintings on the walls. Quite unlike what Trynia expected the interior of the courthouse to resemble. A waiting room, it sequestered them from the defense counsel, and the public, or other hearing attendees.

"You can understand my hesitation in testifying," Paul said. "But if you NEED me I'm there..."

"I know it's a press thing," Kelly said, while they sat in the waiting room as the court was convening for the hearing.

"Who are they?" Paul asked.

"Not the national news. Just probably the campus papers and local rags," said Trynia, stroking his hand. "I doubt they even recognize you, Paul..."

"The security have been informed that a high profile celebrity is involved, but he chooses to remain as elusive as possible," Kelly said. "We handled this with the usual decorum..."

"Thank you," Paul sighed. "Tryn, it's not that I wouldn't take the stand for you..."

"But I think based on their testimony alone we can put them away. Even though you were the one who got him to confess over the phone, we have your sworn testimony taken down, and we have a witness who saw the suspect and an accomplice carrying Miss Merin out of the bar bodily..." Kelly interrupted him.

"Harvey?" Trynia guessed.

"Yes. He's with the others..."

"Why didn't he ever..." Trynia asked.

"He was ashamed," said Sharmane, who was also sitting with Trynia, being directly involved in the case as a witness because she had seen Trynia the morning after, in possession of the sex toy, and could provide accurate times when Trynia was last seen at the apartment.

"Ashamed? Why?"

"That he hadn't stopped them from taking you," Sharmane said.

"How was he to know... how was any of us to know," Trynia groaned. "I'd say he was showing what a hero he can be by being here now and standing up for me..."

"Another guy who' not afraid to stand up and be a man," Paul said appreciatively. "You owe him a lot..."

"You don't have to tell me twice, Hon," she nudged Paul. If she leaned to one side, she could see Harvey sitting quietly by Corinne, holding her hand and talking to her as her father looked on. For a moment, she sighed in angst, because she could have easily ended up on a safe and wonderful date with Art's brother. He always did seem to enjoy hanging around her, but when he had heard of her infatuation with a musician in LA, and then her subsequent flirtations with Charlie, he had moved into a protective brother mode. It restored her faith that the younger male generation still had a few good gentlemen amidst the jerks and pervs.

Still it was a preview and taste of what could have been hers, had fate twisted a bit differently in the last few months. Art made no secret of the fact that Harvey had interest in her, and she regretted that which she could have had in that instant she saw Harvey lean over and kiss Corinne chastely on the cheek.

"Aww damn," she sighed. Paul was not obvious to her zoning into fantasy, for he squeezed her hand in support of the reality she was now presented with. Perhaps life with Harvey would have been far safer and more comfortable then an enigmatic and increasingly complex relationship with Paul, but there was no going back now.

Pondering the might-have-beens traveled into her thoughts as she entered the courtroom, and sat beside Kelly. Corrine, Amy, and Lisa all took seats next to her in turn, presenting a united front before the high oak paneled judge's bench and witness stand. Behind her sat Paul, demure and downplayed and concealed by his movie star glasses. Frosted windows allowed light to enter the courtroom, where soft mutterings of either camp were interrupted by the entrance of the judge.

"All rise... this hearing is now in session... the honorable judge Estella Carter presiding..."

However, the drama packed sessions of the Practice and LA Law, or even Ally McBeal were a far cry from the real scene. Gone were the dramatic cries of "Your honor I object," replaced with a laundry list of events calmly recited from the prosecution and defense before calling their first witnesses. Even if on the surface of things the words seemed uttered in a calm tone of voice by the efficient Kelly, each syllable was laced with a quiet distant anger, directed with great effectiveness at the judge.

"I call for my first witness Sharmane," said Kelly. "Ma'am state your name and relation to the plaintiff?"

"I'm her roommate for the past year," Sharmane said.

"Would you be able to confirm the whereabouts of my client the night of..."

"Sure. I remember her saying at seven that she was going out with Art, Mel, Harvey, and a few others to shoot pool at Brownies."

"When did she say she would be back?"

"She said at the latest ten thirty. And then I got a call from her at nine saying she had met a guy and they were probably going to be back by twelve. I assumed it would be ok. So when I came back at around two in the morning, I didn't see her home yet... and it was really weird..."

"So, you expected her in by twelve, but she wasn't home yet?"

"Not till I woke up next morning, at around ten, and I found her sound asleep in bed."

"So, between the hours of ten and two, she wasn't in the apartment?" asked Kelly.

"Objection, leading the witness," the prosecuting attorney, Richard Keller said.

"Question withdrawn..."

"You may cross examine," the Judge said. Richard strutted up to the witness stand, and leaned his arm on it.

"Well Sharmane, for someone who is supposed to know your roomie's whereabouts, how can you be absolutely sure that she didn't come back ... between the time slot you just demarcated?"

"She WAS there when I woke up, and Charlie wasn't," said Sharmane.

"My point exactly. No further questions for this witness..." Richard said.

"Your honor, I call Harvey Weissman to the stand..." Kelly said. Harvey took the stand a bit sheepishly, his sweater and slacks combo handsome, but revealing a limited graduate student's budget in effect. He was a stark contrast to the high powered Kelly, who pushed a strand of blond hair out of her eye, and smiled calmly at him

"Mr. Weissman, what is your relationship to the plaintiff?"

"She is a college friend, sir," Harvey said nervously, twiddling his thumbs in his lab as he sat in the witness stand.

"And how long have you known her?"

"Trynia? About three years, I would say."

"All right. So would you say it was usual for her to be at Brownies on a Saturday night?"

"No, actually, she usually doesn't go out to the clubs much, from what I have seen."

"So, it's unusual then," clarified Kelly. "What time did you observe Miss Merin at Brownies? And what time did you see her leave?"

"I actually saw her arrive around 8:00, as I recall, and she left around 10:00, give or take."

"How many drinks did she have?" asked Kelly, pacing before the witness stand.

"Actually I didn't see her drink much at all. She was drinking club soda at first, then she had a glass of wine, and I think but not anything much beyond that. I know because.... Charlie skipped out on paying the bar tab," he said quietly.

"When did Charlie skip out on paying the tab?"

"Before he.... They...left, he told me he'd split the check for our table, but he never did. I ended up picking up all the drinks that night. But at the time, I guessed he had a lot on his hands. Trynia wasn't feeling too well."

"Wow. So who else was with you at the bar that night?" She asked.

"A few friends from college. People that we all know," Harvey said.

"How well do you know Charlie?"

"I've known him all my life, I suppose. We go to the same school. We don't socialize really, but we see each other from time to time."

"Is he in the habit of picking up girls?" she asked.

"OBJECTION!" Richard protested, rising from the defense table.

"Sustained," the judge said, pushing up her glasses. "Rephrase the question, please."

"Let me rephrase that. Mr. Weissman, is Charlie the sort of guy who likes to date a lot of women, or does he have a steady girlfriend?"

Harvey glanced nervously at Kelly, then at Richard. "He.... Uh...he has a girlfriend, but I see him with different women, sometimes."

"So it's not uncommon for him to be seen in the company of other women? Or to leave with them?" asked Kelly.

"No, I've seen it before."

"How many times has he partied with you, and been in the company of a woman who suddenly became ill and had to leave?" she asked.

Harvey sighed for a moment, and said, "A couple.... At least two or three."

"Are any of those other women here in this courtroom today?" she asked.

"Yes," he nodded quietly, as he eyed Charlie.

"Thank you, that will be all," Kelly said. Pushing his palms against the table, Richard sauntered up to cross-examine him.

"Well, aren't you the party guy. You go out with Charlie often, Harvey... is it?"

"I wouldn't say I go OUT with him. We just usually like the same places," Harvey said quickly, distrust in his eyes.

"So, you've seen him in the company of other women. And you've known him to date other women. What's so unusual about that? Aren't you dating one of the girls he dated?" Richard asked.

"Yes," Harvey admitted quietly.

"So why do you seem so nervous? You know my client's habits. And doesn't' it seem to you that he's pretty consistent about making sure his dates get home safely?"

"I know he takes him home. I've never disputed that!" he glared at Richard, defiantly.

"So wouldn't you say that he was just taking Trynia home in a responsible manner?" Richard asked.

"My personal opinion, sir, is that she should have gone home in the company of a friend."

"Then why didn't you take her home then if that's your personal opinion?" Richard asked. "Unless you trusted Charlie was doing the honorable thing?"

"Well, I guess.... My girlfriend was there and I wasn't ready to leave," Harvey exclaimed. "But I felt terrible about it later."

"So, you DID trust him. No further questions your honor," said Richard quickly.

"Sir..." he started, then stopped as the judge cut him off.

"Your honor, I call Corinne to the stand," Kelly said, glancing at her notepad. She gestured to the nervous Asian girl, who sat beside her father. With a glance at Harvey, she walked up to sit tentatively in the witness stand.

"You're Corinne Quon, right?" Kelly asks her.

"Yes, I'm Corinne..."

"And your relationship to the plaintiff?"

Corinne looked at Trynia for a moment, before saying, "She goes to my school. I've seen her socially before."

"What is your relationship to the defendant?"

"He was someone I met at a bar once" she glared at him for a moment.

"Can you tell me how and when you met him?" Kelly asked.

"Sure. I was going out for a night on the town with some friends. He was there and we got to talking. He likes the same sports team I do, and he offered to buy me a drink and some appetizers."

"This was about 2 or 3 months ago," she said, straightening her skirt.

"Did you recall what happened after the drink?" she asks.

"We were talking about the World Series and who would win, and he had just bought me a glass of wine...."

"And."

"And watching the big screen TV. I started to feel a little dizzy."

"You felt dizzy. What next?"

"I told him that I felt a little bit sick, and he made some sort of joke. I remember that I dropped my purse on the floor off the table, and he bent down to get it. Honestly, that's the last clear memory I have," Corinne coughed.

"And what was the next thing you remember after that?" Kelly said softly. "Just what is the first thing that comes to mind after that memory?"

"I remember waking up the next morning in my bed and the phone was ringing off the hook. It was my mom. I had the worst headache."

"Do you remember how you got there?"

"No, I don't," she said, "I couldn't find my key or anything. I couldn't even remember where my car was."

"Did you feel unusual... notice any bruises or aches?"

"I felt really sick. Very tired. And I did notice some bruises, but at the time I thought that maybe I had bumped into something at the club."

"Did you feel any other sensations? As if someone had intercourse with..."

"OBJECTION!" Richard burst in.

"Overruled. Answer the question," Judge Carter ordered.

"Yes, actually I did," Corinne said, then fell silent. "But there wasn't anyone there, so I guess I put it out of my mind.'

"Were you with any other man prior to this evening? Were you sexually active at that time?"

"No, actually, I had sort of gone to the club that night to hopefully meet some new people. It had been a bit of a dating drought for me."

"Your honor, exhibit c, one sex toy... found in the company of Corinne..." Kelly said, wandering over to the table and picking up the silver bullet, identical to Trynia's, in its plastic bag. "Corinne, do you recognize this object?"

Corinne flushed red, glancing anxiously back and forth. The judge leaned down and said, "Answer the question. We're all adults here."

"When I woke up, that was by my bedside table...and it's NOT mine."

"May I state for the record, that the plaintiff also found a similar item the morning she awakened after her memory lapse," said Kelly. "So this toy was NOT yours... and it suddenly appeared as mysteriously as you woke up..."

"Yes, I have no clue how it got there, and well, frankly, it's just not my style. I would never use one of those."

"No more questions of this witness," said Kelly. She retreated, waiting for Ralph to stride up with a smirk on his face, all set to cross-examine Corinne.

"Miss Quon ... aren't you now dating Harvey Weissman?"

"Yes.... Yes, I am."

"What made you decide to date him, versus my client?" he asked.

"He called me the next day to see how I was. He thought I'd gotten really drunk the night before...and we got to talking."

"Corrine, do you live alone or with a roommate?"

"I live alone. At least I did," she said, fingering her skirt nervously.

"Isn't it possible that the sex toy could have come from someone at the bar?" he asked. "Because there is an all night sex store up the street?"

"I don't think so, unless Charlie brought it back with us. I know I didn't."

"I don't use sex toys" she said, mildly aggravated.

"Are you just saying that to protect your own modesty? We are under oath...'

"Objection, badgering the witness!" Kelly shouted.

"Sustained," the judge said. "Answer the question, Miss Corinne."

"No, I'm not. I don't use them."

"NO further questions," Ralph shook his head. Corinne glanced at Harvey for a moment. Trynia sighed, and Paul clutched her hand under the table.

"Your honor, I call Lisa Harrison to the stand..."