Slut Babysitter: Eliza Johnson2.
'Well, that couldn't have gone any worse,' Eliza thought. Trying to maintain a positive, happy face, Eliza walked out to face the gathered press and photographers beside her lawyer, Paul Katsoolie. Inside her, though, Eliza's mind swirled. 'How could the jury not find the couple dubbed 'The Babysitter Rapists' guilty?' She wondered. 'The photographs from the scene, their fingerprints all over the house in Newcastle where the other atrocities they'd committed occurred. The body's found buried in the backyard of that house. Penny's admission on the stand that she'd chosen the young women for her and her husband to have sex with. With all that, how had the jury returned a not guilty verdict?'
"The Crown Prosecutor fucked up," Paul Katsoolie growled quietly as they stopped before the assembled press. "How the fuck he allowed the soft drink bottle evidence to be thrown out is beyond me," Facing the press, he said, "We respect the jury's decision in this matter, although we find their reasons for finding Jake and Penny not guilty confusing. We are prepared to answer some questions so long as they're respectful."
"Why did you accuse innocent people of trying to rape you?" Asked a man whose badge announced he was from The Daily Wire. "Isn't it true, as Penny Maddox said, that you'd agreed to give her husband, Jake, your virginity for five thousand dollars?"
"My virginity ship had sailed well before I was unfortunate enough to meet Jake and Penny Maddox," Eliza replied drily.
"So, not only are you admitting to falsely accusing Jake and Penny, you're admitting to trying to defraud them by pretending to be a virgin, and to being a slut?" The man asked.
Eliza didn't have to answer because her father stepped in and punched the reporter between the eyes. Paul grabbed Eliza's and Stanley's arms and rushed them into the waiting limo.
"Totally worth it," Stanley growled as he examined his fist. His knuckles were skinned but seemed intact.
"Yes," Paul agreed. "But you'll get a visit from the police this afternoon. When that happens, do not say a thing other than 'I want my lawyer present', and then call me."
"He will," Alice said firmly. She had been sitting at the back of the courtroom, fearing the verdict, and had run for the limo when she heard her worst fears confirmed.
Paul Katsoolie, who was said to be the best criminal defence lawyer in Brisbane, had warned her since the prosecutor had agreed when Jake and Penny's lawyer asked for the soft drink bottle contaminated with MDMA to be inadmissible that a not guilty verdict was quite likely. Unfortunately, Mr Katsoolie couldn't object on Eliza's behalf because he was there to represent Eliza's interests and not to help prosecute the crown's case against the Maddoxes.
"What do we do now?" Alice asked.
Paul sighed before saying, "All we can do is hope Jake and Penny decide that living in Brisbane is too uncomfortable, and they move elsewhere."
"And if they don't?" Stanley growled, re-examining his fist because it had begun throbbing.
"I'd advise that Eliza goes nowhere alone," Paul said evenly. "I could try for a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order), but the court will likely see it as a vindictive, frivolous suit and immediately toss it. Besides, TROs are typically worse than useless in stopping someone intent on harm."
"I'm not frightened," Eliza said bravely. "I will not let scumbags like Penny and Jake stop me from living my life as I see fit."
"You should be," Paul said vehemently. "Those two are bad news, and if they get hold of you, your fate will be the same as the others they've beaten, raped, and murdered."
"Yes," Eliza agreed. "But if I cower in my home, too scared to go out and do a damned thing, then they have also won. I won't be stupid and catch a bus alone like I usually would. But everything else? No. I'm living my life as I want."
Alice and Stanley exchanged worried glances, but they knew their precocious, scarily intelligent, head-strong eldest child wouldn't back down, so they just had to make the most of things.
"As long as you promise to always be with someone, Eliza," Stanley said, knowing his voice carried more weight than Alice's in these instances.
"I will, Daddy. I promise," Eliza said, relieved they weren't going to try and make her stay home like a prisoner.
A police car waited in their driveway when they got home. When the limo pulled up, Sergeant Peachey got out. He put his police hat on and then doffed it in greeting. "Sorry to bother you folks again," the sergeant said. "But the reporter put in a complaint, so I'm obliged to follow through.
"I understand, Sergeant," Stanley said resignedly.
"May I accompany you inside?"
Stanley looked at Paul, who nodded his head. They went inside and sat around the kitchen table. Blair and Rhett, who had been playing PlayStation in the lounge, joined them.
"What's up?" Blair asked.
"The Maddoxes were found not guilty," Stanley said absent-mindedly. He was wondering how much trouble he was in.
"Not good," Rhett said.
"Not good, indeed," Sergeant Peachey agreed. "However, we re-arrested them when they exited the courthouse. We're holding them on drug charges, and we know those charges will stick because their car was full of drugs and drug paraphernalia when they were arrested." He looked sternly at Eliza before saying, "That does not mean you're out of the woods, young lady. There's a good chance some idiot judge will release them pending trial. So, be sensible and ensure you're with someone when you leave your house."
Eliza agreed, and the burly copper turned his attention to Stanley. He reluctantly said, "I have to issue you a summons to appear in court for the assault of one Dimitry Grinev--reporter for The Daily Wire. You may remain silent, and anything you say may be used as evidence against you. Do you have anything to say?"
Stanley looked at Paul, who shook his head.
Sergeant Peachey sighed heavily before handing over the summons. Then he said, "You never heard this from me, but if you subpoena a copy of the reporter's questions, I doubt any jury in the world will find you guilty. I asked the guys from The Brisbane Times to keep their copy in case that asshole 'somehow lost that tape'. They'll hand it over if necessary."
"Thank you for your help, Sergeant," Stanley said politely, getting up when the beefy police officer stood. He showed the sergeant to the door before returning to the kitchen.
Paul Katsoolie looked at the family and said, "I'll pitch this case as a public service to my firm. I'm one of the senior partners, so I should be able to convince them to allow me to do the case pro bono. If not, I'll do it on my own time."
