AUTHOR'S POV

A thick silence falls in the courtroom as Delilah takes the stand. Marco watches her every step and now he's sure he's being "punk'd". He was certain she was dead when he left her. Now, she's here to take the stand to testify against him. That smirk he flashed at Larry and Laurent will take a while to come back...if it ever comes back because as the prosecuting attorney said, Delilah has more knowledge of this than Kevin ever could...

Prosecuting Attorney

Wright: "Ms. Phillips. How have you been doing since the accident"?

Delilah: "I'm doing well. I have my good and bad days but...mostly good".

Wright: "Well thank you for being here. I know it took a lot of strength".

Delilah: "You're welcome".

Wright: "How do you feel about testifying with the defendant in the courtroom? Do you feel nervous or that your life may be in danger after releasing this information about him"?

Malone: "Objection your honor! Counselor is leading the witness".

Wright: "Your honor this isn't leading the witness. Ms. Phillips has the right to speak here today and express how she feels just as her client will have his chance".

*brief pause*

Judge: "Objection overruled".

Wright: "Again Ms. Phillips. How do you feel about testifying against the defendant?

Delilah: "I'm a little nervous but I can handle it".

Wright: "Ok well let's get started". *pause* "How do you know the defendant"?

Delilah: "I've known Franco, I mean Marco, for about a year now. We met at a club".

Wright: "And how would you describe your relationship"?

Delilah: "Well at first we dated but then we realized we're better as friends".

Wright: "When did Mr. Reyes approach you about obtaining this money for him"?

Delilah: "It was about two months ago. He came by really late one night and said he had just stabbed someone and needed to leave the country to hide out for a while but he needed money to do that".

Wright: "Did he ask you for this money"?

Delilah: "No, he already knew who he would get it from".

Wright: "I see. And who would that be"?

Delilah looks over at Marco who's mean mugging her. She knows he's trying to intimidate her but she has to be remain strong and not allow herself to be intimidated...

Delilah: *clears throat* "He said he would get it from the brother of the guy he stabbed. They're pretty wealthy and he was 100% sure he would be able to get it from him".

Wright: "I see". *pause* "Now take us through the day you went to pick this money up for him".

Delilah: "Well he called me that afternoon and said everything had been set up with Larry so he gave me a time to go to the food court at the mall. I was instructed to sit down and eat, you know, act normally and wait for his friend Kevin to sit behind me. I had been there for about fifteen minutes or so when I felt Kevin behind me then whisper to me to make sure I was the person supposed to be there then the switch was made a few minutes later. Then he went his way and I went mine".

Wright: "Now Ms. Phillips, I asked Mr. Baker so I have to ask you too". *pause* "Are you able to point to the person who set this up"?

Delilah: "Yes. He's right there". *points at Marco*

Wright: "Thank you. No further questions your honor. Your witness counselor".

Defending Attorney 

Malone: "Ms. Phillips. What happened after you picked up the alleged money for my client"?

Just as she's about to answer she catches a glimpse of Marcus and she immediately recognizes him as the person who stopped her and threatened her to take him to Marco. Marcus held her gaze for roughly twenty seconds before turning her attention over to Marco. He's already giving her "you better tell them" look...

Delilah: "Well I was on my way to meet Marco at my apartment but before I got to my car I was stopped by someone who held me at gun point and said he knew I was working with him. Then he demanded that I take him to Marco".

Malone: "And who is this person Ms. Phillips? Is he in the courtroom today"?

*brief pause*

Delilah: "Yes. He's sitting right there". *points*

Nearly everyone in the courtroom turned their heads to look at Marcus who's sitting there and clenching his jaw. Although upset himself Laurent tries to keep a straight face...but Larry's face is reading worry. Even though they both have different expressions they're worried because they knew Marcus was just trying to help them. Now that Delilah has pointed to him they're afraid what will happen next...

Malone: "So what happened from that point"?

Delilah: "He told me that he knew about the switch and that Marco was behind it. Then he demanded to be taken to him because he said Marco was hurting two people he cares about".

Malone: "And you complied". 

Delilah: "I had to. I didn't want to be killed".

Malone: "So what happened next"?

Delilah: "We arrived at my apartment and this guy forced me to blindfold myself. Then he bound my legs and feet then waited for Marco to arrive. Soon after he did they had a scuffle and from what I can remember he made him sit at the computer to do something. I can't recall exactly what but shortly after that there was another scuffle".

Malone: "So the entire time this person had you both at gun point therefore you had to comply with whatever he told you or your lives were threatened"?

Delilah: "Pretty much".

Malone: "Well it sounds like the alleged money was never brought up between any of you so it would be fair to say that this person wasn't even concerned with it. He just had some "loose ends" to take care of with my client"?

Delilah: "I guess you can say that".

Malone: "I will say that. Thank you Ms. Phillips. No further questions your honor".

Wright: "I would like to re-direct your honor". *judge nods* "Ms. Phillips, as compelling as Ms. Malone's argument is, she failed to ask you what happened after that final scuffle? Would you mind sharing that with the court"?

Delilah: "Sure. Afterward, Marco untied me and I noticed that same person on the ground unconscious. Marco then raised his gun and was going to kill him but I stopped him. He asked me why I didn't want him dead especially because of what he did to me. I just said that I didn't want anyone killed but besides that he was out cold, Marco had his gun and we had the money so it was no point killing him. We left and made it to the airport to buy tickets and leave the country".

Wright: "So there was money? Was it the $20,000 in question"?

Delilah: "Yes it was".

Wright: "And can I assume this was the money you were going to use to buy those tickets to leave the country with"?

Delilah: "Yes it was".

Whispers among the crowd are now being heard throughout the courtroom. Then... 

Wright: "Thank you Ms. Phillips. No further questions your honor".

Judge: "Re-direct Ms. Malone"?

Malone: *brief pause* "Not at this time your honor".

Judge: "You may step down Ms. Phillips. The prosecution can call its next witness".

Wright: "Your honor. The prosecution would like to call Mr. Larry Bourgeois to the stand".

Larry instantly looks at his love and is trembling profusely as he gulps in fear. Laurent gives him a gentle squeeze to his hand then let him go. Larry stands up then slowly walks over to the stand to be sworn in...

Prosecuting Attorney 

Wright: "Mr. Bourgeois. In keeping with the topic about the extortion, what exactly was your role in this and how did it come about"?

Larry: "Um". *gulp* "I...I....."

Wright: "I understand this is difficult so take your time".

Larry softly nods then gulps again before looking in Laurent's direction. He sees him mouth the words 'I love you' followed by a gentle smile which of course makes him relax a little...

Larry: "Well, my brother was in the hospital because he was stabbed. Marco called me on his phone and that's when he told me".

Wright: "And what exactly did he say"?

Larry: "He said that he needed money and that I was the one who was going to help him because he knew I had it".

Wright: "Did he say why he needed this money"?

Larry: "Yes, he said that he needed to leave the country".

Wright: "And what was his reason for leaving the country"?

Larry: "Because he stabbed my brother and he knew he would get in trouble so he told me that I had no choice but to help him".

Meanwhile, Laurent looks in the direction of Marco and his attorney. He can see Marco whispering something to her then he looks back at him and smirks. Laurent instantly has a bad feeling about whatever it is...

Wright: "Mr. Bourgeois, I have to ask you as well". *pause* "Are you able to identify the person who demanded this money from you"?

Larry: "Yes. He's right there". *points at Marco*

Wright: "Well, they say three times is a charm so would it be fair to say that after three people have positively identified the same person one can conclude that he just may be the person responsible for this madness"?

Malone: "Objection your honor! Counselor is leading the witness".

Wright: "I withdraw the question your honor. Thank you Mr. Bourgeois". *pause* "Your witness counselor".

Defending Attorney

A/N: Get ready to hate me guys. I'm sorry.

Malone: "Mr. Bourgeois. I would like to back up a little. You stated that my client called you and demanded that you give him this money because he knew you would have it correct"?

Larry: "Yes".

Malone: "And if he is allegedly responsible for the stabbing of your brother why would he demand this money from you? In other words, if he is responsible for this crime I'm 100% certain he would want you two to be the last people to know what his plans were as he would want to steer clear of you".

Larry: "I don't understand where you're going with this".

Malone: "Simply put? I suspect my client had something on you to think that he could easily get a large amount of money from you in order to slip out of the country with no problems. What could that something be"?

*silence*

Malone: "Well Mr. Bourgeois"?

Larry looks at Marcus and Laurent and they're shaking their heads as if to warn him to not respond...

Malone: "The court is waiting Mr. Bourgeois".

Silence falls again momentarily...then out of nowhere...

Marco: "Yeah tell them Larry! Tell everybody in here what I had on you two"!

Judge: "Mr. Reyes! Quiet! Now"!

His attorney immediately walks over to him to try and calm him down...but of course he won't listen...

Malone: "Mr. Reyes, you need to remain calm. I can handle this".

Marco: "Tell them Larry! Tell them how I caught you and your brother kissing like a couple so I took pictures. Then tell them how Mr. Big Shot over there had me in a headlock so you could delete them from my phone and how he hit me in the head with a gun at Delilah's place so I would delete them from my email too"! *pause* "It had nothing to do with the money! Just watch how they are with each other and stop thinking that it's just some damn brotherly love"!

All the while the judge is slamming his gavel demanding him to be quiet before he's held in contempt...

Judge: "Ms. Malone, you silence your client right now"!

Malone: "I apologize your honor". *turns to Marco* "Mr. Reyes, please just calm down. This isn't helping you".

Marco: "Well your ass ain't helping me either! You're losing so if I'm going out I'm going out like the 'G' I am"! *pause* "Tell em' Larry! That's why you had to call your boy down from where ever the hell he's from for help because you punk asses couldn't handle me yourselves"!

Judge: "That's it! Mr. Reyes, you're now being held in contempt. Bailiff, escort the defendant out of the courtroom".

Even with two bailiffs coming towards him Marco keeps going. When they take him down to the ground he still doesn't stop...

Marco: "I would get your asses one way or the damn other! All that asshole Laurent had to do was dance with me and I wouldn't be in this shit"! *pause* "Fuck you Laurent! Fuck all of you! Send me to prison, I don't care"!

Larry just continues to sit on the stand completely frozen at what just happened...tears threatening to pour as Marco is being escorted out of the courtroom. The next voice everyone hears is that of the judge...

Judge: "This court is now recessed until tomorrow at noon". *slams gavel* "Adjourned".

Larry is still frozen and it takes the prosecuting attorney to come over and tell him that he can step down now...but it takes several attempts to get his attention...

Wright: "Mr. Bourgeois"? *pause* "Mr. Bourgeois"?

Larry starts to slowly bring his head up and the moment he looks into her eyes two tears stream down his cheeks. She looks back at him with complete sorrow on her face then in a soft voice...

Wright: "You can step down now".

Still speechless all Larry can do is nod. Then he looks over at Laurent whose face is sad as if he's ready to just hold Larry in his arms. Larry eventually steps down from the witness stand then walks over to meet Laurent and Marcus...but when he gets there he can't even look Laurent in the eyes. Instead he takes off running right out of the courtroom...

Laurent: "Larry"!

Marcus: "Larry hold on bro"!

It's too late. Larry has already bolted through the courtroom doors but pauses as he frantically looks around for the exit. He's in such a state of distress that he doesn't realize it's to his right. Laurent and Marcus come out and run right up to him with his love being the first to whisper sweetly to him...

Laurent: "Bebe it's oki".

Larry: "It's not oki. I didn't think this would come up. It's supposed to be over".

Laurent: "Bebe just breathe". 

Marcus: "Yeah man. Marco can't prove anything".

Larry: *sniff* "It doesn't matter. People will look at us strange now".

Larry may as well have been psychic because no sooner than he said that the three of them felt several eyes on them and as they look around they notice several of the trial attendees are now outside staring at them strangely and whispering among each other. Larry then turns back to Laurent and Marcus then cries...

Larry: "See"!

Neither Laurent nor Marcus can respond before he's turning around and running out of the door...

Laurent: "Larry"!

-------------------------------- 

A/N: No worries my loves. Part three is coming very soon. Hope everyone enjoyed! If so, please vote and comment! Love you guys. :)