On the Bench [Sequel to On the Couch]

Chapter Twenty

Quick Note: Not sure if this chapter will be liked or not. There is a lot of information and many different ways one can speculate about what is going on in this chapter from the information given. It's a bit of a reveal so enjoy and I can't wait to hear your theories. =D Sorry for the wait. Love you all!!!

*

It didn’t take me long to get to Sam Kelton’s office. I only hoped he was still there. Evan will be wondering what is taking me so long so there was not a lot of time to discuss the situation, but maybe I could get the ball rolling. I should have planned this out better, but I couldn’t help the streak of excitement that coursed through me.

Dusk was darkening the sky as I arrived. Taking a deep breath, I walked into the office. There was still a light on inside so someone was there. The receptionist was gone so Sam must be the only one left.

“Hello?” I called knocking on the door as I entered.

“The office is closed, I apolo… Oh, Sonja,” Kelton began as he came into the front waiting area. “Hello, what brings you here so late?”

“I want to testify,” I said confidently.

“Are you sure? What does Evan say?”

“He doesn’t know I’m here. I figured if I came to you directly there is not much he can do legally to stop me.”

Kelton stared at me studying my resolve for a minute before responding. All I really could do is be another positive character witness… I hoped.

“Being halfway through the trial, the prosecution might not accept another character witness, but I suppose we can try,” I beamed at him. “Take a seat, let’s talk for a minute, Ms. Winters….”

*

While I didn’t look forward to getting on the stand I was set in my course of action. Today would not be that day though. Today’s testimony would be… something else.

“Suzanne Erikson do you promise to affirm the whole true and nothing but the truth?”

I watched with detached cold as she was sworn in knowing full well most of her testimony would be a lie. She sat there with a smug smile on her face swishing her blond hair over her shoulders. I couldn’t tell if it was the pregnancy or Suzanne making me feel sick.

“Do you know the accused Ms. Erikson?”

“Yes, he was a client of Sonja Winters.”

“Did you know about their romantic relationship?”

“I suspected, but had no idea of the truth of it until after Thanksgiving last year… somewhere around that time.”

“Did you know the deceased Jerry Alston?”

“Vaguely. Sonja was involved with him many years ago and he would visit her at the office frequently.”

“What for?”

“To check on Sonja or to cause a scene. He was abusive, the whole office knew,” she sneered.

I gripped the arms of my chair holding my anger in check.

“Were you and Sonja friends?”

Suzanne laughed lightly. “No.”

“Ever?”

“Never. We don’t see eye to eye.”

No shit. You deleted my work out of jealousy you fucking cunt. Now I had a smug look on my face and pushed my chin out a little further. I blame hormones.