Long Black Veil (Read 2,667 times)

[André DiMera]

Previews

A few years ago...
JUDGE: This court is now in session.

On a cold, dark night...
JUDGE: We are here to get the verdict on a murder...

Someone was killed beneath the Town Square lights...
JUDGE: How do you plead?
JUSTIN: There is no denying that he is guilty!

LONG BLACK VEIL
Begins tomorrow, August 15.

[gapeach]

Sounds intriguing... can't wait!!

[fluffysmom]

Sounds mysterious. Thanks for the preview André DiMera.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 1

GRAVEYARD
It was a dark, dreary night in Salem. The kind of night where the wind is cold, and you don't go out unless you have to. On this occasion, however, there was one person who had left the safety of their house to face the bitter wind and the cold. They walked over a hill that led to the cemetery in Salem. The gate was already open. This person walked through the gate and toward a particular gravestone. Once this person got to the gravestone, they began to cry. It cannot be seen who the grave is for, nor who the person weeping over their tomb is. But one thing is certain: the person crying over this grave is wearing a long, black veil.

Six Months Earlier

COURT
There was a court room full of people. Among them was Abby, Allie, Johnny, Will and Sonny, Sydney, Roman, John, Marlena, Nicole, and many other people. The judge walked in, and everyone stood up. When she got to her desk, she banged her gavel.
JUDGE FITZPATRICK: Please be seated.
Everyone sat down.
BAILIFF: Case number 9078.
FITZPATRICK: Oh, I know this case.
The bailiff handed Judge Fitzpatrick some papers.
FITZPATRICK: Thank you.
BAILIFF: You're welcome.
FITZPATRICK: Please bring in the accused.
A moment later, E.J. DiMera was brought in in handcuffs by two armed guards. They brought him up the center isle to the front, where he was sat down in a chair.
FITZPATRICK: Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to come to a conclusion on the sudden death last year of Samantha Brady...

TOWN SQUARE - FLASHBACK
Sami was in the Town Square. It was an early February evening, very cold and dark. She heard a noise, so she turned around.
SAMI: What are you doing here?
She was answered with five shots: three in the chest, and two in the head, from an unseen assailant.

COURT
FITZPATRICK: As you all know, Samantha was murdered nearly a year and a half ago. Mr. Elvis J. DiMera has plead no contest to her murder. However, I have my suspicions. Therefore, we will conduct a brief trial. Mr. Justin Kiriakis, who is representing the family of Samantha, will give a brief statement. There were two people who came forward as witnesses who shall give their statements. Then, we shall hear from Mr. DiMera, who has chosen to forgo is right to a lawyer and defend himself. Are there any statements before we begin?
There was total silence in the courtroom. This was the day that many of them had been waiting for, the day when E.J. DiMera finally got caught.
FITZPATRICK: Very well. Then, let us begin.
She banged her gavel

[gapeach]

WOW!!! Great start to what I KNOW will be a wonderful story!!

[kathyj]

Can't wait to read more. Great start!

[fluffysmom]

Great beginning André DiMera. I'm looking forward to reading more.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 2

COURT HOUSE
Justin was pacing the front of the room, giving his statement.
JUSTIN: Couple this with the fact that Mr. DiMera had lost everything. Everything he ever wanted in life had been taken from him. Any man in those circumstances would have been driven to do something desperate. Therefore, there can be no denying that this man is most definitely guilty. However, we will let the trial prove that.
FITZPATRICK: Very well. Mr. DiMera, do you have a statement?
E.J. looked up.
E.J.: No, your honor.
FITZPATRICK: Very well. Prosecution, please call your first witness.
JUSTIN: Thank you, your honor. I call to the stand Mr. William Horton.
Will walked up to the stand. The bailiff held out a Bible, which Will put his hand on.
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
WILL: I do.
The bailiff took away the Bible and sat down.
JUSTIN: Mr. Horton, where were you on the evening of February 4th around 10 p.m.?
WILL: I was in the Horton Town Square, making my way home from the Brady Pub.
JUSTIN: Did you see anything suspicious up until entering the Town Square?
WILL: No.
JUSTIN: Upon entering the Town Square, what did you see?
WILL: I saw my mother, Samantha Brady, standing under a street lamp.
JUSTIN: Did you go to speak to her?
WILL: I was about to, but I did not get there in time.
JUSTIN: Would you care to go further into that answer?
WILL: When I saw her, I made my way over to speak to her. However, as I was on my way, I heard a gunshot and saw her fall.
JUSTIN: Did you happen to catch a glimpse of the shooter?
WILL: I did.
JUSTIN: And you believe it was Elvis DiMera?
WILL: Yes.
JUSTIN: How far away from Ms. Brady were you when the shooting occurred.
WILL: I don't know exactly. I believe I was about half of the Town Square away. She was on one side of the Square and I was almost in the middle of it.
JUSTIN: Would you care to approximate how far away that was?
WILL: Approximately 30 feet away.
JUSTIN: Did you get a good look at the shooter?
WILL: No.
JUSTIN: But you are sure that it is Elvis DiMera?
WILL: Yes.
JUSTIN: How good is your eyesight, Mr. Horton?
WILL: 20/20.
JUSTIN: Is there any important details you wish to add to your testimony?
WILL: No, sir.
JUSTIN: From 30 feet away, Mr. Horton saw a man he believes to be Mr. DiMera shoot Ms. Brady. Now, I know 30 feet is a bit of a distance, but it is not impossible to have seen from that far away. Especially when one takes into account that Mr. Horton has 20/20 vision. If a man with perfect vision claims he saw Mr. DiMera shoot Ms. Brady from nearly 30 feet away, then why is this being called into question? As I said, there is no denying that Mr. DiMera is guilty. No more questions, your honor.
FITZPATRICK: Very well. Mr. DiMera, do you have any questions for Mr. Horton?
E.J. looked over at Will.
E.J.: No, your honor.
FITZPATRICK: I see. Prosecution, call your next witness.

[fluffysmom]

I wonder if EJ will question any of the witnesses.

[gapeach]

I don't think the prosecution rests after every witness. I thought that was just when they were through with ALL their witnesses??

[André DiMera]

Thanks for pointing that out. I shall correct that.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 3

COURT HOUSE
JUSTIN: I call to the stand Mr. Chad DiMera.
Chad, who had been sitting in the audience, got up and went to the stand. The bailiff held out a Bible, which Chad put his hand on.
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
CHAD: I do.
The bailiff took the Bible away.
JUSTIN: Mr. DiMera, what is your relationship to the accused?
CHAD: The accused is my brother. Well, half-brother, to be precise.
JUSTIN: In the time in which you have known him, has your brother ever exhibited violent tendencies?
CHAD: On occasion, yes.
JUSTIN: Do you know what the relationship between your brother and his wife, Samantha Brady, was like around the time of Samantha's murder?
CHAD: No, your honor. I had been out of town for nearly a year at that time and was just coming home the night of the incident. I did not know what was going on with either my brother or Sami.
JUSTIN: Where were you on the night the murder took place?
CHAD: I was coming back into town.
JUSTIN: And on your way into town, did you happen to pass through the Horton Town Square?
CHAD: I did, yes.
JUSTIN: And what did you see upon entering the Town Square?
CHAD: I saw Samantha Brady, standing under a street light. I then saw her get shot.
JUSTIN: Did you see her shooter?
CHAD: I believe I did. However, I did not get a good look at him.
JUSTIN: You said in your statement to the police that you believe the shooter to be Elvis DiMera, is that still correct?
CHAD: Do I believe it to be E.J.? Yes. Can I say for certain that it was? No.
JUSTIN: And why is that, Mr. DiMera?
CHAD: As I said, I did not get a good look at him. Aside from the street light, it was very dark. But, from what little I could see, it did look like E.J.
JUSTIN: In your statement, you said that, once you got home to the DiMera Mansion, Elvis DiMera acted very strangely for several days.
CHAD: He did.
JUSTIN: Please expand on that.
CHAD: He was very nervous. Very particular about everything he did. It was as if he had done something and didn't want to get caught.
Just then, the door opened. Very casually, Nick walked into the room. Judge Fitzpatrick looked up at him.
FITZPATRICK: Can I help you?
NICK: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. Has the trial already started?
Nick looked around.
NICK: Oh. I'm so sorry. I thought it was at 10:30, not 10. My mistake.
FITZPATRICK: Sit down, Mr. Fallon. I'll be speaking with you after the trial. Prosecution, please continue.
JUSTIN: Actually, your honor, I have no more questions.
Justin sat down.
FITZPATRICK: Very well. Defense, do you have any questions?
E.J. looked at Chad.
E.J.: Just one. Why are you lying, Chad?
CHAD: Could you run that passed me again?
E.J.: You and I both know what you saw. It was me that you saw, wasn't it?
CHAD: As I said, I think so, but I can't be sure.
E.J.: You don't need to protect me, Chad. I did what I did. And I deserve my punishment, whatever form it takes. No more questions.
FITZPATRICK: Well, I have a few. Mr. DiMera, please come to the stand.
CHAD: But, I'm already on the stand.
FITZPATRICK: Not you, your brother.
Chad walked back to his seat as E.J. approached the bench.

[fluffysmom]

I'm surprised that EJ is admitting that he deserves to be punished.

[gapeach]

Aug 19, 2014 10:32:23 GMT -5 fluffysmom said:

I'm surprised that EJ is admitting that he deserves to be punished.

He has to be up to something. Wonder what Nick is doing there???

[André DiMera]

Chapter 4

COURT HOUSE
E.J. went up to the stand. The bailiff put a Bible in front of him, which he put his hand on.
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
E.J.: I do.
The bailiff took away the Bible.
FITZPATRICK: Mr. DiMera, you understand the punishment for murder?
E.J.: Yes, your honor.
FITZPATRICK: You also understand that you have a large number of crimes left unanswered for, and that, while this trial is for the murder of Samantha Brady, the punishment shall fit all of your unpaid crimes?
E.J.: I understand, your honor.
FITZPATRICK: Now, I'm going to give you one chance. Do you have an alibi for the night of February 4th?
E.J. looked around at the, admittedly small, crowd. Though many had hoped to see E.J. taken down, few had actually shown up to witness it. He took a long look at all of them, but held is gaze on one particular person...

DIMERA MANSION - FLASHBACK
It was a cold, dark February evening. However, E.J. was far from cold. In fact, he was incredibly hot, at least in the eyes of Abby. Their affair had been going on for many months now, though they had vowed that it had to end. Neither of them could help themselves. E.J. and Abby were currently just at the end of some very passionate lovemaking.
ABBY: E.J. Oh, E.J.
Both's breathing was heavy. They were finally done.
ABBY: Oh, man.
E.J.: Blimey.
Abby wiped back a slightly damp lock of hair. E.J. grabbed a pair of boxers off the floor and put them on before exiting the bed.
E.J.: Would you like some water?
ABBY: Sure.
E.J. exited the room and came back with two glasses of water. He handed one to Abby.
ABBY: Thanks.
E.J.: You realize that this needs to end?
ABBY: That's what you say every time.
E.J.: And this time I mean it. If Samantha or anyone else found out, my life would go down the drain. Next thing you know, Sami will be teaming up with Kate, taking down my company, and publicly humiliating us.
ABBY: Well, that won't ever happen. No one knows but us.
E.J.: And no one will know. No one will ever know.
ABBY: Just, one more time. Please?
E.J. hesitated.
E.J.: All right. One more. But then, we really must stop this.
E.J. and Abby resumed their passionate night.

COURT HOUSE
E.J. had been staring into space for quite a while.
FITZPATRICK: Mr. DiMera?
E.J. continued staring. The judge banged her gavel.
FITZPATRICK: Mr. DiMera, are you with us?
E.J. snapped out of it.
E.J.: Yes, quite. Sorry. Got a little...carried away there. Could you please repeat the question, your honor?
FITZPATRICK: I said, "do you have an alibi for the night of February 4th?
E.J. didn't stare this time. He knew what his answer was, what it had always been. What it had always had to be.
E.J.: No. No, I do not have an alibi.