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31_days2012-02-08 01:25 am
insaneladybug.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2012-02-08 01:25 am
[February 8th] [Perry Mason] Candles and the Snow, 8
Title: Candles and the Snow, scene 8
Day/Theme: February 8th - Words are only painted fire
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Hamilton Burger, Mignon Germaine, Vivalene (OC)
Rating: PG
Time Period: Present day
Referenced: My stories The Case of the Macabre Mansion and the beginning of The Case of the Broken Ties.
By Lucky_Ladybug
Mignon sat in the gallery of the courtroom, listening as Hamilton made his remarks before the jury. This was a trial they had both been waiting for and had wanted to see for some time. Hamilton had always been a powerful speaker, and as he addressed the jury now, Mignon could see that some of them were already affected.
“And the state will prove,” he continued, “that the defendant Vivalene was of sound mind when she coldly and cruelly shot Lieutenant Andrew Anderson, hoping not only that he would die, but that the bullet would travel through his body and also strike and kill her former henchman Peter Bron.”
A quiet murmur traveled through the gallery. All of Los Angeles, it seemed, was up in arms over the woman’s outrageously cold-blooded actions. It had been difficult to locate any willing jury members who were more impartial, although it had certainly been attempted.
Hamilton paused near the center of the jury’s railing. “Now Lieutenant Anderson did not die. At least not altogether. He was clinically dead for over two hours, after which time he revived in the basement morgue of Central Receiving Hospital. He is still recovering from his injuries.
“Peter Bron died less than an hour after being taken to that same hospital. Although he was also injured after accidentally shooting himself in a fight over Lieutenant Anderson’s gun, the medical examiner found that it was the second bullet—Vivalene’s bullet—that killed him.”
Mignon doubted that this trial would go on for very long, no matter how Vivalene’s lawyer tried to stall. Even without Vivalene’s confession, there was more than enough evidence for a conviction. Vivalene’s sister Flo had agreed to testify against her as well, in return for a reduced sentence.
And Hamilton was in top form. Mignon relished the scene as he examined witnesses and carefully extracted the truth about the witch on trial. Yes, she had been right when she had felt he would be an excellent public official. Through his many years of trial experience he had learned the art of painting fire with his words. He knew how to pose questions to the witnesses, raise legitimate objections, and speak to the jury, all to serve the ends of justice. And when he made a mistake he was swift to seek its rectification.
But this time there was no mistake. Vivalene was guilty.
Mignon was a spectator rather than a witness. Hamilton had said he might need to call her later, but likely not on the first day. That was just as well; Mignon was unable to stay for the full day. She had to look after her and Hamilton’s godson Howie Peterson. His parents were needed in court as witnesses. Lieutenant Anderson had been shot in their home.
The evening paper carried the story of Hamilton’s progress in court that first day. Neither he, Mignon, nor any of their friends could have known how Vivalene would swiftly retaliate before they could even reach the second day of the trial.
Day/Theme: February 8th - Words are only painted fire
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Hamilton Burger, Mignon Germaine, Vivalene (OC)
Rating: PG
Time Period: Present day
Referenced: My stories The Case of the Macabre Mansion and the beginning of The Case of the Broken Ties.
Mignon sat in the gallery of the courtroom, listening as Hamilton made his remarks before the jury. This was a trial they had both been waiting for and had wanted to see for some time. Hamilton had always been a powerful speaker, and as he addressed the jury now, Mignon could see that some of them were already affected.
“And the state will prove,” he continued, “that the defendant Vivalene was of sound mind when she coldly and cruelly shot Lieutenant Andrew Anderson, hoping not only that he would die, but that the bullet would travel through his body and also strike and kill her former henchman Peter Bron.”
A quiet murmur traveled through the gallery. All of Los Angeles, it seemed, was up in arms over the woman’s outrageously cold-blooded actions. It had been difficult to locate any willing jury members who were more impartial, although it had certainly been attempted.
Hamilton paused near the center of the jury’s railing. “Now Lieutenant Anderson did not die. At least not altogether. He was clinically dead for over two hours, after which time he revived in the basement morgue of Central Receiving Hospital. He is still recovering from his injuries.
“Peter Bron died less than an hour after being taken to that same hospital. Although he was also injured after accidentally shooting himself in a fight over Lieutenant Anderson’s gun, the medical examiner found that it was the second bullet—Vivalene’s bullet—that killed him.”
Mignon doubted that this trial would go on for very long, no matter how Vivalene’s lawyer tried to stall. Even without Vivalene’s confession, there was more than enough evidence for a conviction. Vivalene’s sister Flo had agreed to testify against her as well, in return for a reduced sentence.
And Hamilton was in top form. Mignon relished the scene as he examined witnesses and carefully extracted the truth about the witch on trial. Yes, she had been right when she had felt he would be an excellent public official. Through his many years of trial experience he had learned the art of painting fire with his words. He knew how to pose questions to the witnesses, raise legitimate objections, and speak to the jury, all to serve the ends of justice. And when he made a mistake he was swift to seek its rectification.
But this time there was no mistake. Vivalene was guilty.
Mignon was a spectator rather than a witness. Hamilton had said he might need to call her later, but likely not on the first day. That was just as well; Mignon was unable to stay for the full day. She had to look after her and Hamilton’s godson Howie Peterson. His parents were needed in court as witnesses. Lieutenant Anderson had been shot in their home.
The evening paper carried the story of Hamilton’s progress in court that first day. Neither he, Mignon, nor any of their friends could have known how Vivalene would swiftly retaliate before they could even reach the second day of the trial.