Chris's POV

I sat at the table, waiting for the judge to take his seat. 

I know I won't win this case, but I managed to guarantee that I'd get the shortest possible sentence. 

I'd managed to get a few minutes with Andy as well. He told me that they had a possible lead on Oli, and that he has sent Spencer, Danny, Maria and Remington to check it out. If he's the one that framed me, he'll fucking die. I know my lawyer had mentioned to the judge that there was reason to believe that I was being framed. He told me that the judge believed so too, as a lot of the evidence didn't add up. He said that he couldn't do anything and that the decision was up to the jury. He also said that if they could find evidence that I was in fact being framed, we could appeal the case and I would most likely go free. 

I don't really see how to could be anyone else framing me. Rumor has it, Oli wanted out. And in this life, the only way out is death. So it makes perfect sense for him to fake his own death. And I'm probably the easiest person to frame. I don't have an alibi that I can actually use for the night of the "murder". It's common knowledge now that I'd been kidnapped, and that I wasn't even in the area at that point. But there are only two people that could attest to the fact that I was really there, and one is dead. The other is high off his ass right now. He couldn't form a full sentence if he tried. 

I'm actually kinda pissed that Andy thought it would be a good idea to bring him here like that. I'm happy I got to talk to him for a few, but him being here is risky. This place is loaded with cops that are trained to spot people who are under the influence of drugs. I'm almost positive that at least one of them has figured it out at this point.

The judge came out and walked over to his seat. 

"All rise."

We all stood up while the judge sat down. I looked him in the eye as I took my seat again. 

He looked at me, but didn't acknowledge me otherwise.

This should be quick, since I technically already admitted to it.

"We're gathered here today regarding the case of Christopher Cerulli v. The State of Pennsylvania." He said. "Mr. Cerulli is being charged with the murder of one, Oliver Sykes, in the first degree. Would the prosecution please state your case."

The man at the other table stood up. "Your Honor, we have multiple pieces of incriminating evidence found at the crime scene, as well as a taped audio recording of Mr. Cerulli's confession to this murder. We have every reason to believe that Mr. Cerulli is in fact guilty of murder in the first degree."

~~~~~~~

I've literally never been more bored in my life. The opening statements and the presentation of evidence, and all the shit is so fucking stupid. I glanced back at Ricky. He was leaning up against Andy's shoulder. He seemed to be coming down a little, thankfully. He seemed a little more focused. 

My lawyer stood up and I turned my attention back to him. 

I must've spaced out at some point because the detective was now at the witness stand and my lawyer had just stood up to cross examine him. 

"Mr. Smith, you were the detective in charge of my client's arrest, yes?"

"Yes. I was."

"Okay, good. And you were the one that recorded him confessing, is that correct?"

"Yes. I recorded him confessing to the murder."

"What murder?" My lawyer asked.

I know what he's doing. The recording isn't admissible. It can't be used.

"The murder of Oliver Sykes."

"Would you be able to play this recording?"

The detective nodded. "Yes."

He pulled out his phone and I heard my own voice fill the room.

"I did it."

There was silence for a moment.

"I killed him and I enjoyed every fucking second of it. You have no idea how good it felt. His blood was so warm. You'll never understand how perfectly satisfying it is, watching someone's life just drain away. How beautiful their cold, dead eyes look. And how perfectly cold their corpse is."

More silence. 

"It's fun. It's exhilarating. It's fucking orgasmic. Tell me, detective, have you ever killed someone?"

The recording stopped. 

"Mr. Smith, was my client aware he was being recorded?"

I saw the life immediately drain from the detective's face. "Um, no. No, he wasn't."

My lawyer nodded. "If I know my laws correctly, and I know I do, that recording is not valid evidence because you violated my clients civil rights by recording him without his consent." He explained. "Not only that, but I have survellience videos of you assaulting my client, including when he said these things. I can make the assumption that my client only said what he said because he was annoyed with the fact that  you felt the need to harass him."

The detective didn't say anything. Maybe I will win this case. 

"No further questions." He said, sitting back down. 

"As proven here, this recorded confession can not be used in this trial." The judge said. 

"Defense, call your witness."

"I'd like to call my client, Mr. Cerulli, to the stand."

I stood up and walked over. The cop walked over to me. "Do you swear that you'll tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"Yeah."

I sat down. 

"Chris, is it true that the detective, Mr. Smith, assaulted you while you were held in the precinct."

"Yes. He attacked me multiple times."

We'd played this over so many times. I had to play the victim, as much as I hate doing it. 

"Was he aware that there were surveillance cameras around?"

"I don't believe so. I recall him saying something along the lines of, "There are no cameras here so I can do whatver I want to you," right before he came at me."

"And Chris, you weren't aware you were being recorded, correct?"

I nodded. "I had no idea until after I said it. I only said what I said because I wanted him to get away from me."

"Do you have those survellience videos in the court room today?" The judge asked. 

"Yes, your honor." My lawyer said. 

It seems that this case might just rule in my favor. Whether I committed the murder or not won't matter; it's the detectives actions that might've just set me free.

My lawyer grabbed his laptop and two different discs. He played the first one so the judge could see. It was when we were in the interrogation room and he grabbed me. You could see him get in my face and put his hands on me. I headbutted him. 

Once that ended, he put the other disc in. It was the surveillance tape from the holding cell. He'd said there were no cameras there, but apparently he was wrong. He took his baton out and extended it. He attempted to hit me with it, but I grabbed it. 

The judge watched the videos and nodded. 

"I do have one more. It doesn't involve this detective, but it was from the county jail, while my client was held there. I feel as if law enforcemnt officers are brutalizing my client, simply because they know his name." My lawyer said, his voice low so that only the judge and myself could hear.

"What do you mean?"

"This detective isn't the only one who attacked Mr. Cerulli. Multiple prison guards used excessive force with my client when he was doing nothing wrong. If all goes well here, we plan to sue for that."

My lawyer played the third video. I didn't think he would be able to get this. It was a few weeks after I got to county. Three prison guards attacked me and didn't give me a reason as to why. They just kept telling me I was a murderer and I deserved the electric chair. I mean, either way, I wouldn't have gotten the chair. Pennsylvania uses lethal injection. But the guards ended up breaking my nose and two ribs, on top of doing a lot of other damage. 

"This happened two other times, your honor." My lawyer said. "I wasn't able to get the surveillance footage of those though."

The judge sighed. "This case seems to have taken a turn in your favor. If you win this case, you'll win that one too. Either way, the detective and the guards who attacked your client will be dealt with accordingly."

I think I might just win this.

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Comment what you think is gonna happen

If you haven't checked it out already, I posted a preview of the sequel to this since this book only has a few chapters left. It's called "House of Glass"

~xxLux