Thursday - 5/26
SALEM COURTHOUSE
BELLE: Just one more question. Earlier in your testimony, you said that you noticed Charlie acting jumpy at times, could you expand on that?
JOHNNY: At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but there were a number of times when I would walk into the dorm room we shared and he would very quickly close his laptop. At those times, he looked like I had caught him in the middle of doing something he shouldn’t be doing. There was also one occasion where I walked in and he was clearly watching a movie. I asked him what it was, and he, like all the other times, quickly shut his laptop, then claimed that he wasn’t watching anything, which I found odd.
BELLE: An additional question, did you ever get any indication that he was watching pornographic material?
JOHNNY: Specifically, no, there was nothing he did, outside of what I said, to indicate that. However the thought crossed my mind, given some of his questions about my sister.
BELLE: All right. Thank you. Nothing further, Your Honor.
Belle sat down.
FITZPATRICK: Defense?
Again, Charlie stood up, put on a fake smile and strolled over to the stand.
CHARLIE: You notice a lot of things, don’t you, DiMera?
JOHNNY: I’d like to think I’m an observant person, yes.
CHARLIE: Interesting. You say that I pumped you for information about your sister. Could it not have been that I was just interested in your family?
JOHNNY: Not with the type of questions that you were asking.
CHARLIE: So, it’s totally out of the question that I was just asking about your family because I’m a naturally curious person?
JOHNNY: I would say so, yes.
CHARLIE: Isn’t there even a small part of you that thinks you might be wrong about this?
BELLE: Objection, this question has been asked and answered already.
FITZPATRICK: It has, indeed. Please move on, Mr. Dale.
CHARLIE: Sure thing, Your Honor. Okay, let’s try this one. Were you aware of the fact that the question you referred to in your testimony, the question about if you’d ever thought about her sexually, was made in jest?
JOHNNY: It certainly didn’t sound that way to me.
CHARLIE: Well, it was. For someone so apparently observant, I’m surprised you didn’t see that.
FITZPATRICK: Mr. Dale, you are treading dangerously close to thin ice. Either ask a question or wrap it up.
CHARLIE: Is it true that your father is E.J. DiMera, formerly known as the mysterious Black Glove at one time?
JOHNNY: That is correct, yes.
CHARLIE: So that would make you the grandson of Stefano DiMera, notorious crime lord. It would also make you the nephew of the very infamous serial killer André DiMera.
BELLE: Objection, relevance?
CHARLIE: You called him in as a character witness, I’m just questioning his character.
FITZPATRICK: Yet, you have not asked an actual question. If you’re going to, then please do so. This is not your first warning, Mr. Dale, and if you carry on like this, I will hold you in contempt. Mrs. Brady’s objection is sustained.
CHARLIE: Here’s a question, how can we tell that you’re telling the truth? Your family is notorious around Salem for doing, quite frankly, horrific things.
JOHNNY: I’m not my family. You can’t judge a person based on their family. It’s a person’s individual actions that matter, not what their family has done. I will admit that I haven’t always done the right thing, but I’m trying to be a better person, and I would not lie about something like this. You know what you did, and so does everyone else.
CHARLIE: We’ll see. No more questions.
Charlie sat down.
FITZPATRICK: Prosecution, do you have a rebuttal?
BELLE: No, Your Honor.
FITZPATRICK: Very well. Thank you, Mr. DiMera, you may stand down.
Johnny got down from the stand and went back to his seat. Judge Fitzpatrick checked the clock on the wall.
FITZPATRICK: It’s getting to be the early evening hours, therefore we will continue this in the morning. I will see you all back here promptly at nine o’clock. Until then, court is adjourned.
Judge Fitzpatrick banged her gavel. The bailiff called for everyone to stand as she exited, which they did. Charlie was escorted out by the officers that sat on either side of his table. Slowly, everyone trickled out of the courtroom. Once she walked outside, Belle checked her phone and called Shawn-D.
BELLE: Hey, sorry I’m late. Court just got out.
She sighed.
BELLE: It’s been a long day. But, I am looking forward to tonight. I just need to go home, shower and change, and then I’ll be ready. Sounds good. I’ll see you at home. I love you, too. Bye.
SHAWN-D & BELLE’S HOUSE
SHAWN-D: Bye.
He hung up the phone, then looked up.
SHAWN-D: It’s good to see you! That was Belle on the phone. She’ll be here any minute, so you might want to, you know…
Shawn-D nodded.
CAR
Johnny and Meadow had gotten into the back of a DiMera car, and were now driving back to Meadow’s house.
JOHNNY: You did good up there today.
MEADOW: Thanks, so did you.
JOHNNY: Just telling the truth.
Meadow nodded.
MEADOW: I just hope this judge makes the right call once this is all over.
JOHNNY: I’m sure she will. She’ll have to. If nothing else, Charlie’s not doing himself any favors with the way he’s acting.
MEADOW: You can say that again. The judge looked super mad with him towards the end, there.
JOHNNY: Rightfully so. Anyway, let’s forget about that for tonight and just enjoy spending some time together.
MEADOW: Sounds good to me.
SALEM COUNTY JAIL
Maisy lay on her cot, staring at the ceiling. There wasn’t much else for her to do. She sighed deeply and turned so she was laying on her side, facing the wall. She heard footsteps, but didn’t make any movement. Then, they came to a stop.
BILLIE: Get up.
Maisy sighed and sat up. Billie stood in front of her cell door.
MAISY: What’s going on?
BILLIE: You’re going on a little trip. Come with me.
Billie opened the cell door, took Maisy by the arm and walked her down the hall.
