"You gave the police a lot less information than your step-sister did." The lawyer was wearing a well pressed suit. His cold gaze shifted around the courtroom, as if he wasn't really just talking to Eli. It was like a performance put on for the jury. 

Eli strenuously avoided eye contact with Mitch, who he could tell was watching him, trying to reign in his vexation. Trying to look like the man he'd made himself out to be all this time. He was a good fake crier. Eli hadn't gone in to see his testimony, but was sure he'd cried. 

"I have a bad memory." Eli responded. 

"It seems like your stories aren't cohesive." 

"Well-" 

"Did you know about the payout victims get after abuse settlements?" 

"No." 

"Does Phoebe?" 

"I don't know." 

"Did Mitch ever actually hurt you?" It was rapid fire. Eli was starting to get confused as to what question he was even answering. "Or was he simply frustrated that day as you tried to drag his wife away from him?" 

The sole of Eli's shoe scuffed the floor, and he could feel the eyes of the jury burning into his neck. "He was hurting her." 

"Funny," The lawyer gestured dramatically, "You were the one hurting him when the police got there." He raised a cocky eyebrow. 

"I don't know what you want from me. You saw my Mom. We both have the scars to prove it." Eli sighed, watching the lawyer pace in front of him. 

"I see here that you've been diagnosed with a Depressive Mood Disorder." The lawyer swiftly moved on, and Eli shifted in his seat, trying not to get disoriented. "Yes." He answered cautiously. 

"Ever had hallucinations?" The lawyer asked, cocking his head to the side, the shine of experience and over confidence in his eyes. Eli already knew where he was going with this line of reasoning. 

"Yes," Eli answered, and locked eyes with Mitch, "I used to whenever I got really stressed. You know, because Mitch refused to let me get any help for it." 

****

"You're a very bright young lady, aren't you?" Somehow, when he said it, it felt like an insult. Phoebe shrugged in response. "Your Father never hit you, did he?" 

"Yeah, he did." 

"Once." 

"Yes." 

"Isn't it true that you didn't go to the police until after he hit you once?" 

Phoebe's teeth gritted together. "That's not how it happened." She responded. 

"Really?" The lawyer rubbed his chin, "Why is it then, that you never called the police while all of this alleged abuse went on before? When you care about your brother so much?" The sarcasm dripped off his tongue like poison. 

Phoebe focused her icy stare onto the lawyer, hoping he could taste her hatred. "Because he had us all brainwashed. Somehow he convinced me that if he went away I would be alone. He was my Dad." She swallowed, throat dry, and looked at her Dad, who was staring at the table, "I let it happen to Eli until he almost killed him." 

A tear rolled down her cheek and she hurriedly pushed it away, embarrassed. "Don't you care?" She leaned forward. "I know I'm a cold bitch, but at least I regret what I've done." She seethed, and pushed herself to stand up, imploring him to look her in the eyes. "You almost killed him." 

As Phoebe was restrained and escorted out of the room, she continued to shout. "He strangled him! Don't you have any human decency? That man you're defending beats children and women!" The lawyer watched her smugly as she was pulled out of the room. A lot of the time, strong emotions such as anger didn't go over well in court.

Needless to say, attempting to spit on your Father is also not condoned in a courtroom. But, as Phoebe looked at the jury, she could tell that they believed her. 

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," Phoebe heard as she was escorted away, "I put it to you that Phoebe Fletcher leveraged this one act of justified violence to claim money from her Father in order to further her college education."

****

"You met Eli Davis four years ago?" 

"Yeah." Audrey decided to keep her answers short and sweet. She didn't want to ramble or get too emotional. 

"Did he tell you about all of the alleged abuse back then?" 

"Yes." 

"What is the nature of your relationship with Mr. Davis?" 

"We're dating." Audrey answered, glancing at the jury. She wasn't sure if she was meant to speak to the lawyer or to them, as every eye in the room was on her. 

"You must have felt very bad for him when he told you these stories, right?" The lawyer asked, setting up for something. Audrey nodded. "Being sympathetic is a very effective way of getting a pretty girl to like you." He continued. 

"He wasn't-" 

"He wasn't what?" The lawyer asked pointedly, "Trying to manipulate you?" He glowered at Audrey and she tucked her hair behind her ears nervously. "I bet he told you lots of pretty things, and lots of sad things. It's not your fault." 

The lawyer walked right up to the stand and peered into Audrey's eyes. "He doesn't have much money, does he? When he told you he had a way of getting money, I bet he said he would share it with you, didn't he?" He spoke softly now, trying to act empathetic.

Audrey's mouth dropped open. "I didn't fall in love with Eli because he told me sad stories." She almost laughed at the implication, "Despite everything, he is the most gentle soul on this planet. The only reason he's here is because Mitch grabbed me." 

"I'm sure that's the story the police got." The lawyer rolled his eyes towards the jury.

"Mitch grabbed my wrist so hard that he sprained it. Yes, Eli hit him, but that's the point." Audrey gave it all up and started to ramble, "He doesn't hurt anyone. Even when they hurt him. The only reason he ever hit Mitch was because Mitch tried to hurt someone he loved." 

"And that person was you?" 

"That was Phoebe, and me, and it used to be Karen." 

"Are you saying that Eli doesn't love his Mother?" The lawyer attempted a comeback.

"I'm saying that he couldn't afford to love his Mom for a while. He couldn't afford to take the beatings for both of them." She glared at him, tears running freely down her face, ruining her carefully applied eyeliner. 

****

By the end of the court case, a lot of things were said. A lot of emotions came to light, and a lot of memories were drudged up. When all of the dust settled, the lives of everyone involved were changed forever. 

(('The truth is rarely pure and never simple' - Mark Twain))