Bang, Bang - Part 2
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As the car pulled up to the curb, Miranda took a deep breath and slipped on her sunglasses. Roy held the car door open and Miranda smoothly stepped out of the silver Mercedes before making her way to the courthouse steps. Staring straight ahead, she heard Nigel, Emily, and Serena fall in formation behind her. As she went up the steps, she could hear others following her little group and wondered who they were. Probably the press, she decided. If so, she would not give them the satisfaction of looking over her shoulder.
Once inside, Miranda led her growing group up the stairs to the second floor courtroom. She paused briefly by the open large wooden doors. Pursing her lips, she glided to the front of the gallery and slid into a seat that would be directly behind the defense table. Emily and Serena slipped around Miranda to sit on her left. Nigel took the seat to her right. The rest of the visitor seats rapidly filled up.
Miranda turned to say something to Nigel when her attention was caught by a familiar face in the row behind her. She turned fully to better see the crowd. Turning back to her friend, she narrowed her eyes. “Is anyone working at Runway today?”
Nigel shifted casually and crossed his legs. “Carmen stayed to answer the phones.” Before Miranda could say anything further, he cut her off. “Let it go, darling. They all wanted to be here. The work will get done with a few late nights.”
Miranda huffed and stared straight ahead. Swallowing hard, she willed her watery eyes to clear. It wouldn’t do for her employees to realize how deeply touched she was by this gesture. Someone might make inane comments regarding melting and ice queens.
Soon the attorneys and court employees entered and took their places. Miranda’s breath hitched when Andrea was escorted to the defense table. The young woman smiled briefly at her friends before turning her attention to her attorney for last minute instructions.
Miranda touched Nigel’s arm. “The suit is acceptable,” she whispered. Andrea looked very serious and professional in the gunmetal gray suit and blue silk blouse. She knew that Nigel had arranged for the clothes and shoes to be delivered to Andrea's attorney a few days ago. She agreed with his assessment that the clothes created the impression of solemn decorum.
Finally, they rose as the judge entered and called the court into session. Miranda folded her hands in her lap as she listened to the prosecution and defense’s opening remarks. She spent the time staring impassively at the back of Andrea’s head and preparing herself. Waiting was never her strong suit. After an interminable amount of time, Lisa Wilson, assistant district attorney, called Miranda as her first witness.
Miranda moved to the witness stand and turned to face the bailiff holding a Bible. She mentally rolled her eyes as she placed her hand on the book. Miranda had been a child when she had ceased believing in any organized religion. As far as Miranda was concerned, a person either told the truth or didn’t, and swearing on a religious symbol was a meaningless, archaic tradition.
The prosecuting attorney waited until Miranda had been sworn in and identified herself before approaching the witness stand.
“Ms. Priestly, please describe your relationship with the defendant,” Attorney Wilson said.
“Please call me Miranda.” She waited a beat for the attorney to nod her acceptance before continuing. “Andrea Sachs was my first assistant.” Miranda paused, her gaze meeting Andrea’s, “She is my friend.” Miranda pulled her focus back to the attorney in front of her.
“Miranda, please describe the events of the night in question.” Attorney Wilson tilted her head as she watched Miranda.
“It was late, and I was in my office working on the Book.” Miranda shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable in the hardback wooden chair.
“What is the Book?” Attorney Wilson asked.
“It is a mock-up of the current issue of Runway. Every evening I review the additions and changes made during the work day. I usually work on the Book at home, but on that evening, I had stayed at the office since my daughters were with their father.” Miranda briefly wondered what would have happened if she hadn’t been there that night.
“What was Ms. Sachs doing during this time?”
“Andrea was working on my expense account.” Miranda relaxed slightly. The questioning was proceeding just as Roger had predicted.
“Where was she when Mr. Ravitz came to your office?”
“Andrea had a question concerning one of the receipts. She was standing next to me behind my desk.” Miranda pursed her lips and silently apologized to Andrea for what she was about to say.
“What happened then?” Attorney Wilson moved in front of the judge’s bench and turned toward the witness.
“Irv was angry for some reason. He barged in and told me I needed to step down as editor. Of course I refused. Then he threatened to have my daughters kidnapped and raped. He boasted that the horrors visited upon them would be my fault. He said that they would be told that I could have stopped it but didn’t, and that they would hate me for the rest of their lives.” Miranda felt her throat tighten and her stomach roil. It made her physically ill to repeat what Irv had said that night.
“What happened then?” Attorney Wilson asked.
Miranda swallowed and glanced at Andrea. The girl was looking back at her with a sad smile. When she caught Miranda’s eye, she discretely tipped her head. Miranda couldn’t look away from those warm brown eyes. “Andrea shot Irv,” she whispered.
“Excuse me? Please speak up.” Attorney Wilson dropped her arms down and took a step toward Miranda.
Miranda pulled her gaze back to the attorney. “Andrea shot Irv,” she said firmly.
“Why didn’t you stop Andrea from shooting Mr. Ravitz?” The attorney crossed her arms and stared at Miranda.
“It happened so fast.” Miranda wasn’t fooled by the attorney’s compassionate expression. The hard eyes gave Attorney Wilson away. “I was horrified by what Irv had said, and I was shocked when I heard the gunshots. When I looked down, Andrea was still pointing the gun at the carpet, my hand on her arm. She said I had shoved her arm down as she took a second shot. I was not able to stop what happened that night.”
Attorney Wilson nodded her head as if considering Miranda’s statement. “Where did the firearm come from?” she asked.
“It was in my right-hand desk drawer,” Miranda answered.
“Why did you have it?” The attorney asked as she moved back toward the prosecution’s table.
“I received several deaths threats and was advised to take steps to protect myself.” Miranda folded her hands together in her lap.
“Why was Ms. Sachs aware that the gun was in the drawer?” Attorney Wilson asked.
“As first assistant, Andrea is aware of everything in my office.” Miranda sniffed. “Besides, she made sure that all the proper licenses and permits were obtained before the weapon was purchased. She also made arrangements for me to receive training from a licensed firearm instructor.”
Attorney Wilson glided around the table to her seat. “Nothing further, your honor.”
Attorney Morris stood to cross-examine Miranda. As he came around the table, he buttoned his suit coat. “How familiar is Andy with your children?”
“Very,” Miranda answered.
“Did she interact with them often?” Attorney Morris asked.
“Yes. She would talk to them for a few minutes most evenings when she delivered the Book. She has also taken them to the zoo and museum. On occasion she has stayed with them at the townhouse when I had other obligations,” Miranda said firmly.
“So you trust Andy to protect your children when you are not there to do so?”
“Yes, I trust her with their lives.” Miranda barely kept from adding that she trusted Andrea with her own life.
“After the events of that night, would you still trust Andy with your children?” Attorney Morris crossed his arms.
Miranda pursed her lips and glared at the attorney. “The only reason Andrea Sachs is sitting in this courtroom today is because she saved my daughters’ lives that night. Of course, I trust her.”
Attorney Morris nodded and moved behind the defense table. “No further questions, your Honor.”
Miranda stalked back to her seat when she was dismissed. As she passed the defense table, Andrea smiled at her. It wasn’t one of Andrea’s light-up-the-room-smiles, but Miranda would cherish its memory. Nigel stood, allowing her to move past him and take her seat. When she sat down, he briefly squeezed her hand.
For the next few days, the prosecution laid out its evidence methodically, using the evidence, exhibits, and witnesses to prove Andrea had killed Irv. Once the prosecution rested its case, it was finally time for the defense to present its case. Miranda had been assured that Roger Morris was the best defense attorney money could buy in Manhattan.
“The defense calls Michael Carlini to the stand,” said Attorney Morris.
Miranda watched as a middle-aged man was escorted to the witness stand and sworn in. The large man unbuttoned his suit coat and settled in the chair.
“Mr. Carlini, please state your full name, your current residence, and profession,” Attorney Morris directed as he walked around the defense table and moved closer to the witness stand.
“Michael James Carlini. I am currently in federal custody, and, therefore, retired from my profession.” The man stared at the attorney impassively.
“Before you were taken into custody, what were some of the duties for your profession?” Attorney Morris asked as he stood to one side of the witness stand and clasped his hands behind his back.
“It depended on what was needed. In the past I have persuaded people to do or not do something. On occasion I have retrieved objects for my clients.” Michael Carlini continued to project an air of composure.
“Was one of your clients Irv Ravitz?” Attorney Morris asked as he moved over to the short wall enclosing the jury box.
“Yes,” answered Mr. Carlini.
“Please describe the last job Mr. Ravitz discussed with you.” Crossing his arms, the attorney seemed relaxed as Mr. Carlini explained how Irv Ravitz planned to force Miranda out of her position as editor by offering her one more opportunity to step down. If she refused, Carlini would kidnap and rape the Priestly twins. Mr. Carlini described waiting at a bar a couple blocks from the Elias-Clarke building. If he was to proceed with the plan, Irv would have met him and given him a substantial sum of money. It wasn’t until the next day that he learned Irv had been shot that night.
Miranda shuddered as she listened to the man recount Irv’s plans as if he were relating the weather, his voice inflectionless. Her head pounded from clenching her jaw so tightly. Even though Andrea’s attorney had told her about this witness’ expected testimony, hearing it stated so plainly drove home the full horror of Irv’s plot.
“How sure were you that you would be getting the job?” Attorney Morris straightened up and stepped toward the witness box.
“Irv said he was 90 percent sure that Miranda would turn him down. I had everything in place and was ready to go. I was surprised when Irv didn’t show.” Mr. Carlini ran his hand down his tie.
“What was your plan?” Attorney Morris took another step closer and stared at the witness.
“The twins’ father has a drug problem. Irv gave me the name of the guy’s dealer and some coke. I planned to show up at his place with a gift from the dealer. Irv said it would incapacitate the guy. Then I would take the girls.” At this admission, Mr. Carlini frowned and looked faintly uncomfortable.
Miranda pursed her lips as she thought about her ex-husband’s unwitting involvement in the plan. Never again, she thought. She was taking steps to sue her ex-husband for full custody of the twins. Jeremy would only be able to see the girls during supervised visits. She had also taken steps to name Nigel as the girls’ guardian should anything ever happen to her. Miranda would see that the girls’ father never endangered their safety again.
“So that night, you fully expected Mr. Ravitz to show up and pay you to kidnap the twins,” said Attorney Morris.
“Yes.” Carlini stared at his hands clasped in his lap.
“Nothing further, Your Honor.” The attorney returned to his seat behind the defense table.
When it was the prosecution’s turn, Miranda wasn’t surprised that the assistant district attorney didn’t spend much time cross-examining Mr. Carlini. Her questions stressed that the kidnapping did not occur and that Mr. Carlini was arrested later on charges unrelated to anything pertaining to Irving Ravitz.
Mr. Carlini was dismissed and the defense called Andrea Sachs.
Miranda watched as Andrea moved to the witness stand and swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. She wondered if Andrea’s feelings were similar to her own regarding swearing on a religious symbol.
After she was sworn in and asked to formally identify herself, Attorney Morris stepped in front of the defense table. He half sat, half relaxed as he crossed his arms. “What is your relationship with Miranda Priestly?” he asked.
Andrea took a deep breath and blew it out. “She was my employer, and she is my friend.” Miranda felt her expression soften as she heard Andrea echo her previous statements.
“What is your relationship with her daughters?” Attorney Morris asked.
“They’re my friends,” she responded.
“Are you close friends?”
“I think so.” Andrea nodded.
“Do you interact with them often?”
“Yes. I’ve watched them when the nanny wasn’t available and Miranda had a function to attend. Once in a while, I helped with homework. We’ve gone to the zoo a couple of times.” Andrea smiled and Miranda hoped it was due to happy memories.
“Do you care for them?” Attorney Morris stood and moved closer to the witness box.
“I love them very much,” Andrea said. Miranda swallowed the lump in her throat when she saw Andrea wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.
“Tell me about the night in question.” Attorney Morris moved back to the defense table.
Miranda and Andrea’s gaze met briefly before Andrea turned her attention back to her attorney. “Miranda and I were working late. I was working on Miranda’s expense report while Miranda went over the Book.”
Miranda watched as Andrea closed her eyes. “I had a question about one of the receipts, so I went into Miranda’s office. Miranda was seated at her desk, and I was standing on her right when Mr. Ravitz stormed in.
“He started yelling at Miranda as soon as he stepped into the office. He wanted her out of her job. Miranda refused to resign.” Andrea took a deep breath before continuing. “Mr. Ravitz just stared at Miranda. He seemed almost happy with her refusal. He said fine. It would be Miranda’s fault when her daughters were kidnapped and raped. He said he knew people and that if Miranda didn’t leave Runway, what happened to her daughters would be her fault.” Andrea finished the last statement in a near whisper with her head bowed.
“And then?” Attorney Morris stepped directly in front of Andrea.
“He had threatened the girls.” Andrea shivered. “I realized he was serious about hurting Miranda’s girls.” Andrea raised her head. “I just reacted. I wanted him to stop.” Tears ran down Andrea’s cheeks.
The attorney waited for Andrea to pull herself together. “How did you stop him, Andy?” he asked gently.
Andrea wiped her tears and said, “Miranda had a handgun in the top right-hand drawer of her desk. I don’t remember opening the drawer or pulling the trigger. I remember looking down at the gun in my hand. Miranda’s hand was on my arm, and the gun was pointed to the right of the desk. She pushed my arm when I fired the second shot.”
Attorney Morris nodded and walked back toward the table. He turned and leaned against the table again. “Why did you react the way you did when you heard Mr. Ravitz’s threats?”
Andrea took a shaky breath. “It has been my experience that Mr. Ravitz did not make idle threats.”
“What experience?” The attorney asked, crossing his arms as he waited for Andrea to answer.
“A couple of months before that night, Mr. Ravitz tried to rape me,” Andrea said.
Miranda stifled a gasp but felt all color drain from her face. Roger did not disclose this fact during any of their meetings. She ruthlessly worked to tamp down her emotions.
“You say tried. What happened?” Attorney Morris prompted.
“I was working late, waiting for the Book. I took some paperwork down to accounting on the tenth floor.” Andrea ran her hand through her hair. “Mr. Ravitz grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. As he tore my dress, he told me that he was going to enjoy Miranda’s favorite.” Miranda could tell that although Andrea was clasping her hands together tightly, they were still shaking. “A security guard pulled him off of me. Mr. Ravitz told him he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life. Then he turned back to me and told me that the next time he wouldn’t be stopped.”
“What did you do? Did you report the attack?” the attorney asked as he moved behind the table.
“The next day I went to human resources and told them what happened. They said that it was a case of my word against his. I told them the security guard was a witness.” Miranda’s stomach clenched as she watched Andrea raise a shaky hand to wipe her eyes. “They said he had been fired that morning. So he wasn’t available.”
“Was that the end of it?” The attorney asked as he gathered a stack of papers from the table.
“No, I went to the police. They said they would look into it.” Andrea chewed her lip. “A couple of weeks later I was told that the investigation was closed. The security guard had moved, and he couldn’t be located.”
Miranda glanced at Nigel. He seemed to share her horror at the news of what Andrea had gone through. She didn’t realize that she was clutching the bottom of the bench until Nigel pried her fingers loose and gripped her right hand in his own. Nigel leaned forward slightly to see how Serena and Emily took the news. When Miranda followed his gaze, she saw them wiping tears from their eyes.
Attorney Morris soon indicated he was finished with questioning Andrea.
The assistant district attorney began her cross examination. “Ms. Sachs, were you aware that Mr. Ravitz had definite plans to carry out his threats?” The prosecuting attorney stood and came around the table.
“No, ma’am. I only had my belief that Mr. Ravitz did not make idle threats.” Andrea leaned forward slightly.
“Surely you or Ms. Priestly could have called the police and reported Mr. Ravitz’s threats. Isn’t that true?” Attorney Wilson waved vaguely toward Miranda as she asked the question.
“I didn’t think. I just reacted. He was going to hurt the girls.” Andrea paused and took a deep breath. “I had played the he-said, she-said game with the police before,” she whispered.
“No further questions, Your Honor,” Attorney Wilson said as she moved to take her seat. Miranda glared at the attorney. She wanted so badly to wipe the smug expression from the attorney’s face that her hand itched.
Andrea was excused from the witness stand. The defense rested their case, and court was adjourned until the next day when closing arguments would begin.
To Part 3