Page 347 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“No,” she scoffed. “I’m wanted for terrorism. We’ll be watching from headquarters.” She ruffled Brett’s hair, threw us a crooked grin and a wink, and left.

Reuben reached for the Ziploc bag but I stopped him. “Don’t open it,” I said. “You should keep it undisturbed. You don’t want your fingerprints on the inside.

He hugged me from behind. “This is going to be hard, Alice. But you won’t be alone.”

I knew it would be hard. I knew that better than most.

The lawyers would pry and question our sex lives, our pasts, and our trauma, attempting to discredit us and make us look like liars and sluts. A jury of twelve rich white men who cheated on their wives would judge us and make a decision that would protect themselves, not us. Becca would be called to the stand to testify both for and against our mental states. Every word that came out of my mouth would be questioned because of my disorders and my lifestyle. My choice in clothing would be mocked. The number of sexual partners I’d had over the years would be insulted. Reuben’s treatment center would probably be thoroughly investigated by corrupt people who were probably part of the problem.

It was going to suck.

I was going to do it anyway. Because when it came down to it, no matter how bad it was, it was just another horrendous day that made me want to die.

Die every day. Wake up the next.

“I can take it. I’m a fucking phoenix.”

Chapter 73

The trial was evenworse than I expected. The prep went on for months, and the trial itself took almost fifteen business days. I stepped back from everything I could to help support Alice as much as possible, hired more staff for The Weston House, and explained my personal situation to my boards of directors.

One of the first things to happen, as Alex said, was the case was moved to a different judge and prosecutor. As soon as a new prosecutor was assigned, she got in contact with us and came over to review details with all four of the victims. The notebook was turned over with Alice’s explanation. “I found it while being nosey one day, while he was showering after a session. I don’t know all the details, but I was in a relationship with a defense attorney for nine years so I know enough.

“He works for the hospital, defending doctors whose patients die due to malpractice. When he knows he can get someone off by hiding evidence, he keeps the evidence for blackmail. He kept it in a safe under his desk.”

With the notebook in the hands of a trustworthy prosecutor, the contents of his safe were acquired. Woodrow was also charged with a long list of withholding evidence, tampering with evidence, and lying in court about known medical malpractice. The doctors who had worked with him to hide their sins would eventually be held accountable as well, and a few of the doctors came forward about the blackmail.

The safe also contained photos of several of the girl’s assaults, some of them including his cop friends, who were arrested to be tried. As a result of the photos, Woodrow’s cell phone, computer, and external hard drive were searched for more evidence. They found text messages, emails, and a file on his hard drive of nonconsensual porn.

Most of the other observers, as well as the media, had been asked to leave during the showing of the photos and the videos. The other victims had left the room when it wasn’t their turn to answer questions. Alice was the victim in the video that seemed to turn the case.

She sat straight and tall, staring straight ahead and looking fierce as she looked her nightmares in the face, slow tears rolling down her cheeks.

The video showed Woodrow dragging her on the collar and leash and strapping her to the rack that she had described. In the video, her hands were bound and her face was flushed, but she didn’t speak.He raped her, then whipped her and beat her.

“She is clearly aroused in this video,” Woodrow’s lawyer insisted. “This was consensual.” He went on to describe the relationship between Alice and Woodrow and their “proclivities,” citing another video on the hard drive that had clearly been consensual and enjoyed by both parties. And it appeared to be the case. Only I knew differently, because I knew the expression on her face. That was a panic attack, not excitement.

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