Chapter Fifty Six

Stephen

As we left the courthouse and headed home, I could feel Trinity’s frustration. It was like a heatwave radiating from her side of the car. I couldn’t blame her, though. I was just as pissed off.

Deep down, I knew today was going to be tough for all of us. But what really got under my skin was the ADA’s blatant disrespect towards my wife. It’s one thing to question her about her injury, specifically her memory loss, but to belittle her intelligence was something I couldn’t stand for.

Trinity isn’t just my wife and the mother of my children. She’s one of the smartest women I’ve ever known. Her intelligence was one of the first things that drew me to her. We were both silent, lost in our thoughts. But I knew I had to get a grip before we got home, for the sake of our kids.

Stephen - You hungry yet, baby?

Trinity - I’m always hungry these days. I must have looked like the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters by the time the twins were born if I ate double what I am now.

Stephen - Yeah, I’m not answering that.

Trinity - Hahaha, that sounds like the voice of experience.

She fell silent again, and I took the opportunity to glance at her.

Stephen - What is it?

Trinity - How was I up there? Did I do okay? I didn’t let you all down, did I?

The moment she asked if she let me down, I found myself pulling the car over to the side of the road. I yanked the handbrake up, unbuckled my seatbelt, and jumped out of the car. I noticed Clint and Benji had also pulled over, probably wondering what was going on.

I rushed around to Trinity’s side and opened her door. She looked at me, confused. I leaned in, cupped her face in my hands, and kissed her—softly, but with passion.

Stephen - Don’t for one second ever think you could or would let me down. You have no idea how proud I am of you today. I know that must have been unimaginably hard for you. I’m just sorry you had to go through that. I love you, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner how proud I was of you today. You shouldn’t have had to question it.

Trinity - Thank you, Stephen. I was so worried about what I was supposed to say.

Stephen - You say it exactly how you remember or don’t remember it, and what you believe to be the truth, baby. I don’t want or ask any more of you, okay?

By this time, Clint had parked and rushed over.

Clint - Everything okay, bro?

Stephen - Yeah, we’re good. Right, baby?

Trinity - Yeah, we are.

Clint - Umm, okay. Because normally people just pull over abruptly like that all the time.

Stephen - Hahaha, sorry. I just reacted.

Clint - So, we good to go?

I looked at Trinity, who gave me a soft smile.

Stephen - We’re good to go.

We finally made it back to the house and went inside to check on the kids. As soon as we opened the door, Willie, Nate, and Livy came barreling towards us.

Olivia - Mommy’s pretty, huh?

Stephen - Mommy looks beautiful today, doesn’t she?

I saw Trinity blush and I winked at her as I picked up my son. She picked up Livy and glanced over at Jay, who was fast asleep in his boomerang pillow in the lounge.

Stephen - How’s my big boy? Did you look after the house while Daddy was gone?

Nathaniel - No, Daddy, I’m too little.

Dave - Yeah, silly.

Trinity - Hahaha.

Felicity - Hey, hunny. How are you? Can I get you a tea or something?

Trinity - Thank you, I would love one.

Mia - I’ll come too.

We watched the kids follow their mothers into the kitchen while us guys hung back. It was only a few minutes before Benji pulled up as well.

Clint - Fuck, you drive slow.

Stephen - Hahahaha.

Benji - Shut up, asshole. I went to get my wife.

Dave - You just wanted to say your wife.

Maddie - Kids, where are the girls? I’ll leave you to it.

Stephen - Hahaha, in the kitchen, hun.

Maddie - Thank you. Now, don’t fight too much.

We waited until Maddie had gone into the kitchen, then we headed out to the side patio to sit down and have a smoke. Once we’d lit up our joints, it was Benji who spoke first.

Benji - She did good today, bro. You know that, right?

Stephen - I was just about to ask you that, actually. What’s your opinion?

Benji - She frustrated the hell out of Eames.

Stephen - Fucking bitch. I was ready to knock her out myself, and I don’t hit women.

Clint - Don’t worry, mate. Mia was about to do it for you, so you didn’t have to.

Benji - She gets aggressive like that when the situation is out of her control. Trinity got under her skin today because Eames obviously thought she could trip her up. But this is actually a solid move from Lachie and the Feds, mate.

Stephen - What do you mean, bro?

Benji - Trinity shot Mike.

I choked on the toke of the joint I’d just taken as Benji said that. As I went to speak, he quickly cut me off.

Benji - Before you try to deny it, I figured it out a long time ago. We didn’t speak of it then because I was your attorney, and we didn’t speak of it now. We came out for a smoke, that’s it.

Stephen - But—

Benji - Stephen, how often have I seen this group go into lockdown like you did with this?

I tried to think, but the answer wasn’t coming to me.

Benji - Twice. The first time was with Mia, and the second was with Dave. You only act this way with your family. I worked back from there, and mostly through my observations of you all, I figured out who the culprit was. I always had one question that lingered, but I got that answered today.

Clint - What was that?

Benji - How she got one shot off so accurately. But when she’d been shooting since she was a child with her father, that quickly explained it.

Dave - Why didn’t you mention it, mate?

Benji - Couldn’t, mate. While I was representing you all, the moment I did, I had an ethical obligation to the bar to report it and recuse myself. That wouldn’t have done anyone any favors. Plus, technically, I could deny any prior knowledge, as I still have no solid proof. Neither do the cops, as far as we know.

Stephen - So why the trial now?

Benji - That’s why I say what we know of, because for it to get this far, they must have something that can link one of you to the crime. Whatever that is hasn’t been presented as case evidence yet, given the initially scheduled Grand Jury hearing, and now the subsequent Competency Trial for Trinity.

Stephen - Which you think is a good thing that the Feds have expedited it.

Benji - It’s a fucking great thing, Bro. Honestly, as much as I love all you assholes, I’m kind of pissed I don’t get to play a part in it. That’s one hell of a shit show I’d love to dip my toes in. But I’m holding out hope for the fallout from the CPD corruption trials because that will undoubtedly keep Maddie, myself, and Lachie locked up in litigation and court for years.

Clint - Hahahaha, how did this geek end up in our circle?

Benji - Because I can still hit harder than you.

Dave - Hahahahaha.

Clint - Who invited this wanker?

Stephen - Hahahahaha. Ok, but back up a minute. Explain to me how this Competency Trial is great like you say. What is it you know that we don’t?

Benji - Ok, so we go through the hearing, right? Worst case scenario, Trinity is deemed fit to proceed, which we already had a game plan for that, so we carry on. The only difference being that Maddie and I would have to hand off to Arlo because we’re indirectly linked due to the Corruption Trial.

Stephen - Of course, conflict of interest for you both.

Benji - Exactly. But let’s say Arlo nails his examination of the witnesses tomorrow—Trinity and the doctors who initially treated her in the ER, followed by her specialists and their diagnosis—you guys have a real chance of all walking away from this unscathed. Simply put, once her verdict is in and if she’s declared incompetent to face the further charges, then each one of you could take the stand and do a subsequent lie detector. When asked if you killed Mike, you’d be free to answer No because none of you did. But here’s the best part where you can really rub the salt in the wound.

Clint - Go on then, stop being so dramatic.

Stephen - Hahahaha, you’re just impatient to know.

Clint - I really am.

Dave - Hahahahaha.

Benji - When you’re asked if you know who shot him, you can answer yes. You wouldn’t have to lie or be evasive.

Stephen - Fuck off! The next question would then be who shot him.

Benji - Exactly, and you could all answer Trinity.

Clint - Fuck no! We didn’t all go through this just to throw one of our own under the bus. And I’m not a dog, rat, or snitch.

Stephen - What the fuck, Benj!

Benji - Calm down for fuck’s sake, let me finish.

Dave - I did.

Benji - Haha, thanks, bro.

Stephen - Benji! Fucking tell me already.

Benji - They wouldn’t be able to retry her or arrest her. The difference now to when she was first arrested is, she has commenced to Trial stage like you all will now you all pled guilty, only she is doing what is considered a Bench Trial due to her medical ailment, you would all be accustomed to Jury Trials, and if they tried to reopen it, effectively the Double Jeopardy clause would kick in because she has already been deemed mentally unfit in a court of law so the case has already been heard.