Olivia
Chapter Twelve
I am so fucking nervous. We got up stupid early to drive here, and now we are sitting in the truck looking at the courthouse. It’s weird being back here, but I feel safe having Bodhi with me. Rhett, Kate, and Luke are with us, too, but I think that was to be expected.
“There they are,” Bodhi says as he opens his door. I see Tim, Marcy, and Jett walking toward us as Bodhi walks around to my door. I carefully get out, and I’m in so much pain today, and I’ll be glad when this thing is finally gone.
“Stomp on any kittens lately, Jett?” I ask, and he smiles.
“Just a few puppies,” he says, making me laugh.
“Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome, Olivia,” he says with a smile. “Bodhi, right?”
“Yep,” he answers. “It’s good to meet you, man.”
“Fuck. Oh fuck. No, no, no,” I say as I start to panic. I see Jason across the lot with another man.
“Shh. It’s okay,” Bodhi says softly.
“Can he even be near her?” Kate asks, rubbing my back.
“Yeah. Jeramy never filed the restraining order,” Marcy says.
“Olivia,” Jason says, and I flinch so hard that Bodhi has to hold me up.
“Mr. Hayes, keep walking,” Tim says.
“No. I want to talk to my wife. This is…”
“Your ex-wife will be filing a restraining order today,” Jett grunts. “If you wish to speak to her, I am her lawyer and all communication will go through me.”
“Olivia, please. Baby, talk…”
“Come on,” Bodhi says, pulling me toward the courthouse. I am sniffing and hiccuping as we walk, and he keeps his arm around me. Kate is on my other side, and the others practically surround me to keep Jason at a distance.
When we get inside, we go into a conference room where the prosecutor is waiting.
“Hello,” she says. “I am Amy Jessup. I am the assistant district attorney on this case.”
“Uh… Hi,” I say.
“I have spoken with Tim and Marcy about evidence you disclosed to them,” she says. “First, I want to say that you are so brave for advocating for yourself. Not many have the strength.”
“It’s that, or I go to jail,” I deadpan.
“You will not be going to jail,” she says with a kind smile. “Are you willing to testify against everyone listed?”
“Uh…” I say. “Miguel… He put a bullet in the floor next to my head to prove he will kill me,” I say. “I’m not saying no, but I don’t see myself even getting that far.”
“We will do everything in our power to keep you safe,” Tim says.
“How big is this?” Kate asks. “Like how deep does this go?”
“She has politicians named,” Rhett says. “Olivia will single-handedly take down a sex trafficking ring.”
“I just want to be free,” I say. “I want to breathe without fear. I want to live knowing that I am safe. That my friends and family… are safe. That’s all I want.”
“And I can give you that,” Amy says. “No charges will be brought against you for any related reason as you have exonerated yourself. We were able to get your medical records, too, and the doctor noted that the scars on your back were not self-inflicted and showed obvious signs of long-term abuse.”
“What about Jeramy?” I ask.
“I’ve talked to his boss,” Tim says. “We have officially taken over the investigation, and he will be placed on administrative leave.”
“Today is just focused on Jason,” Amy tells me. “Only speak on things you witnessed. If they confuse you, do not answer. They will try to trick you or get things out of you that aren’t what you are trying to say. Ask for clarification if you need it.”
“Okay,” I sigh.
“Ready?” she asks me.
“They can’t be with me, can they?” I ask.
“Just your lawyer,” she says softly. “He will be sitting with me.”
“No offense, but you are not capable of keeping Jason from hurting me if you are far away,” I say.
“It will be fine. There are officers in the court,” she says.
“Alright,” I sigh.
We walk down to the courtroom, and Jason is already at his table. We sit in the front row while Amy goes up to her table. I’m so nervous that I’m shaking.
All I can think of is Jason’s hands wrapped around my throat, and it’s hard for me to breathe. When everyone stands up as the judge enters, Bodhi pulls me up. I want to run and not look back, but he holds me in place.
“You’ve got this, baby,” Bodhi whispers to me. I look at him with tear-filled eyes, and he smiles sweetly. “I’m so proud of you. Even if you can’t get up there. Even if he walks free. I’m so damn proud of you.”
“I hear that we finally have Ms. Monroe in court with us today?” Judge Victor Henderson says.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Amy says, turning to look at me.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“You’ve got this, girl,” Jett says, offering me his hand. I nod, and he helps me stand. I glance back at everyone, and they all smile at me.
I carefully walk up to the front with Jett, and the judge looks me over. “Approach the bench, Ms. Monroe,” he says.
Jett and I walk up, and Jett is immediately firm. “I will not tolerate the defense badgering my client,” he frowns.
“This is a warning that Mr. Hayes has chosen to represent himself and have his lawyer available for assistance,” the judge says. “Jason will be cross-examining you today, Olivia.”
“I can’t… I can’t do this,” I say tearfully to Jett. “I can’t face him.
“That’s what he wants, Olivia. He wants you to run because if you do, he walks,” Jett says bluntly, but then softens. “I promise, I will be right on him if he tries anything.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Take a seat. Amy will start,” the judge tells me. I practically drag my feet as I walk around to sit next to the judge on a slightly lower platform.
“Good morning, Ms. Monroe,” Amy says as she stands and approaches me.
“Just Olivia,” I say quietly.
“Alright, Olivia. Before we begin, I want you to understand that if you need a moment, water, or a break, let me know. Okay?” she asks, and I nod. “Can you state your full name for the record?” Amy asks.
“Olivia Diane Monroe,” I answer.
“How old are you, Olivia?”
“Twenty-eight.”
Amy nods once before slowly pacing in front of the jury box. I haven’t even looked at them, but I’m not sure if I am supposed to. “Do you see the defendant in the courtroom today?”
Every muscle in my body tightens before I look toward Jason. He’s watching me with the same calm expression he always wore after hurting me—as if none of this bothers him. Like I am the unstable one for reacting. “Yes,” I say quietly. “He’s sitting at the defense table.”
“Can you identify him by an article of clothing?”
“Black suit. Gray tie.”
“Let the record reflect that the witness identified the defendant,” Amy says. Jason smirks at me, and I hate that smirk. I hate that I fell for it. Amy continues after a brief pause. “How old were you when you met Jason Hayes?”
“Eighteen.”
“And how old was Mr. Hayes?”
“Thirty-four,” I say, and soft mutters can be heard throughout the courtroom. Amy lets that sit with the jury for a moment before continuing.
“Can you describe the start of your relationship with Mr. Hayes?” Amy asks.
“At first…” I say, swallowing hard. “He was… Perfect. He was charming and attentive. He bought me gifts. He made me feel safe, I guess.”
“When did that begin to change?”
“When we got married,” I say quietly.
“How long had you been dating?”
“Six months,” I answer.
“How long was your engagement?”
“Objection. Relevance?” Jason says with an annoyed tone.
“I’m getting there, Your Honor,” Amy sighs.
“Hurry it up, Ms. Jessup,” the judge says.
“We didn’t have an engagement,” I say. “Jason just.. We just got married.”
“How did your relationship change when you got married?” Amy continues.
“He didn’t like me spending time with other people. He monitored my phone. He handled all of the finances, and I had to ask permission to spend money, or he’d be mad. Eventually, I just stopped talking to everyone because it always turned into a fight.”
“Did any of those fights ever become physical?”
“Yes,” I say, looking at my lap. I am picking at my nails, fidgeting to try and calm the nerves trembling through my body.
“Can you describe the first time it became violent?” Amy asks, and Jason shifts in his seat.
“He slapped me during an argument,” I say, my voice trembling. “He cried after and said he was just stressed and didn’t mean it.”
“And did the violence continue after that?”
“Yes.”
“How frequently?” Amy asks.
“I don’t know.” Shame burns in my chest. I feel like a fool. “Eventually, it was normal.”
The courtroom is dead silent when Amy steps closer and softens. “Olivia, did Mr. Hayes ever restrict your reproductive choices?”
“Yes,” I choke out.
“How?”
“He was drugging me.”
“How do you know for sure?” she asks.
“I found medication in his office when I was cleaning. When I looked it up, it said it was birth control.”
“What did you do?”
“I asked him. He said he was crushing it up in my coffee because I didn’t deserve to be a mother,” I say tearfully.
“Did you want to have a baby with Mr. Hayes, Olivia?” Amy asks.
“No, but… He was using so much of it that I’m afraid I will never be able to have a baby of my own.” I say.
“What happened when you confronted him?” Amy asks, looking at the jury this time.
“He hit me,” I say, choking on my emotions. “H-He… he strangled me… I almost died.”
“Is that when you left him?” Amy asks.
“Yes,” I sniff. “I filed for divorce and pressed charges the same day… he was arrested very shortly after.”
Jason scoffs, and the Judge speaks up. “Control yourself, Mr. Hayes,” he says firmly.
“Olivia, had Mr. Hayes strangled you before this incident?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“How many times?”
“I… I don’t know,” I say honestly.
“More than one time?”
“Yes.”
Amy pauses and paces in front of the stand for a moment. “Olivia, did Mr. Hayes ever force you into sexual situations with other men?”
I can feel the shame nearly crushing me alive, and Jason's eyes are burning through me. “Yes,” I whisper.
“Can you explain that to the court?”
My eyes blur with tears as I finally let myself look over at the jury. Just a quick glance before looking at my hands. “Sometimes, he would let his clients have sex with me to close business deals… Sometimes men would pay him… Sometimes it was to pay a debt to men he owed money.”