Page 76 of The Final Straw

“I do, your honor. I call Barbi Johnson to the stand.” Barbi stands, flashing the jury a smile as she lifts a tissue and pats away non-existent tears.

After the first lie leaves her lips when her attorney’s questioning, a twinge of fear courses through me. Despite her outbursts, will this show she’s putting on now sway the jury if they were at all leaning their votes in my favor? I keep my face impassive as if I’m paying attention, which I loosely am, but I let my thoughts drift to my girl so I don’t lose my shit.

Her attorney takes a seat and mine stands to question her.

“Miss Johnson, you claim that when you and Mr. Michaels met, he was interested in you, but his current girlfriend, your friend at the time, interfered.”

“That’s right. He came over to the table to talk to me and she monopolized his time.” She begins to sob and I mentally shake my head.

“I must be out of the dating game since I've been happily married for thirty years. But I’d imagine if he was interested in you, he would’ve paid more attention to you than the woman he ended up with.”

“Objection, your honor!” Her attorney immediately stands, vocalizing loudly.

“Overruled. But please, let’s not use these theatrical questions any further.”

“Understood, your honor.”

“Miss Johnson, evidence has been submitted of both a video that you sent showing you engaged in sexual activity with Mr. Michaels, which the jury has seen. In it, Mr. Michaels does look confused and out of it, which seems to support the fact he was drugged, or at the least heavily intoxicated.”

“He was not out of it. He knew exactly what he was doing and was calling me baby.” Her voice rises as she speaks.

“Mr. Michaels has a different view of that night, which is why we’re here today. My question is, why did you send it via text to both him and his girlfriend?” The DA places his hand on the barrier around the witness stand and angles his body to view the jury.

“So she knew I got him. All she did was flaunt in my face how she stole him from me and I wanted her to feel the same pain and hurt I did.” Barbi puts on another show and begins to cry.

“You also were recorded confessing to breaking up Mr. Johnson and his girlfriend and drugging him. If you never drugged him, why did you confess to it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

I want to laugh, but I don’t.

“I’m referring to the audio recording that was entered into evidence of you, Miss Johnson, confessing to drugging and raping Mr. Michaels.”

The attorney plays the audio for the jury. Barbi’s face pales and she listens to herself confess to Bre.

“That was recorded without my permission! That’s illegal!” she cries.

“So is drugging and assault,” the DA quips.

Barbi continues to twist the story in her warped mind as if I was always meant to be with her and she was right in what she did. I can’t listen anymore and let myself drift into my happy place that involves Olivia.

My attorney ends his cross-examination and they both deliver their closing arguments. The judge dismisses the jury to deliberate and now we wait for them to come back with a verdict.

I’ve done everything I can at this point, and all I can do is hope for the best. No matter what the verdict is, I have Olivia, Kipp, Grady, and Bre by my side. I can’t ask for more.

We all stand as the judge leaves the courtroom and I turn to face the others. Olivia reaches out, taking my hand in hers. “You did good, Van. I am so proud of you.”

“You did well today, Van. The time it takes the jury to deliberate can vary. It can go anywhere from minutes to days, only time will tell. You are free to leave. When I get the call, I’ll contact you to return to this same courtroom,” the DA tells us nonchalantly.

“Let’s go grab some food, and if they come back with a decision quickly, we’re nearby,” Kipp suggests as he slips his arm around Olivia.

“Perfect idea. I just need to speak with Van privately for a moment,” the DA tells us.

“We’ll wait right outside,” Grady announces, and the three step out into the aisle and head to the door.

My eyes are on Olivia’s ass the whole time. When I look up, I see Barbi and her mother glaring at me as they head down the aisle behind Olivia and the guys.

How Kipp produced such a toxic individual, I’ll never know.

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