Then it was getting close to time for the trial to start, so Donna and Ameh went down to the courtroom.

A few minutes after they arrived, Donna looked up as she saw NT come in with Ariel, Pippi, and Sarah, and saw immediately they all looked more tense than usual--NT, in fact, looked like she'd been crying.

She went over to them. "NT?" she asked. "what's wrong? or it's just what we might hear today?"

NT had only just managed to stop crying, barely, but now she started again. "Yes, it's that and...The terrorists stole Connor. They got 'im workin for 'em now and that's something I can't do anything about."

Donna paled. "Connor...no. That's the boy you were telling me about, right?" She closed her eyes for a moment, struggling with her own emotions, then opened them again and gave NT a hug. "For whatever it's worth," she murmured sadly.

NT hugged Donna back, but before she could say anything, she was interrupted.

"Court is now in session," Madonna announced.

This time, it was Shirlee Catlin who was called. And as Donna listened to what Shirlee gone through at Tompkins' hands, being beaten, raped, and left nearly crippled, not to mention pregnant, she found herself getting even madder at Tompkins than she already was.

When court was dismissed, Donna went to the Telegraph to see if there were any new messages. She found one from Vijaya. Just after she'd finished reading that, another message arrived from Melanie Benson.

* * * * *

Ameh, Donna, NT,

What do you say we go see what we can find in the files about Nathan and Christine ourselves? Maybe if we go through the files and send them out then everybody will stop feeling so sorry for Nathan and Christine because they don't deserve any sympathy after what they did to you two, Ameh and Donna. And I won't let them do that to anyone again - I don't care if I have to kill them or tamper with the evidence to make them look even worse than they do, not that it's even possible, but you know. I'd rather die than see them let loose on some technicality or because of people feeling sorry for them.

Mel

* * * * *

Donna wrote back...

Everybody,

Count me in. Maybe if we find something we can send a copy of it to those kids...Vijaya tells me she doesn't trust Christine but I haven't heard from the older one, Alise. And just thinking about any other kids who might be out there and what Christine might do to them makes me sick too.

At least it'll be *doing* something, not just sitting here worrying.

Donna

* * * * *

Just after Donna had sent this, a message arrived from Capri, announcing that she was quitting. Donna sent a note to Ameh.

Ameh,

Did you see what Capri just sent out?? She can't do this, she just can't--I haven't gotten to tell what happened to me yet, and as much as it scares me thinking about having to do that, I know I have to.

And I've *got* to know what you and Pippi found out about my father...which you were supposed to read out tomorrow or the next day.

What're we going to do? I...I'm still scared of her, or I'd talk to her myself, but we can't let her just drop this...not now.

Donna

* * * * *

While Donna was waiting for Ameh to reply, a message from Alise arrived. Donna read this, then wrote one to Vijaya.

* * * * *

Vijaya,

I just heard from Alise, but she wasn't feeling well and was in a hurry to get to bed, so it was kind of short.

Anyway...I...I'd like you to pray right now. Please. For Miss Monroe. Because some of the people on the Telegraph--people who haven't anything to do with this and who ought to be minding their own business--have been giving her a hard time and she's talking about quitting.

And she can't do that, she mustn't. I haven't had a chance to testify yet and neither has poor Mrs Myles or a lot of other people who need to.

I'd pray if I could but all I can do is sit here and try not to start crying, thinking that Tompkins and Christine will get away again now...they can't, they just can't.

Please pray, please pray, for Capri and all of us...please.

Donna

* * * * *

Ameh wrote back..

* * * * *

Hello Donna,

Dammit already - you know, Mel might just have a good idea after all. I don't know if I can get Capri to reconsider, i've never seen her throw such a fit, and I don't blame her. What kind of f***heads are these people becoming anyway? Duhhhhhh, like they just don't get it. I've a good mind to tell them all to just go to hell.

Anyway, if Capri won't resume the trial, maybe if you and Mel, and NT and I can get into the files and just show them all over the telegraph, maybe anybody with a conscience might register just how f***ed Tompkins's and Benson's minds really are. I mean, if we let them go to the U.S. and they get tried out and let out again, and they start going after those staunch defenders and families, they'd have only themslves to blame because all they care about is the stupid criminal's (snort) rights and to hell with you or me or anybody else. Geez everybody's screwed up in the head if they think those bastards won't manage to get away from the U.S. courts again.

So let's go look for the files, whatever we can find and just put them on the telegraph for everybody to see.

Ameh

* * * * *

Donna sent another note to Ameh, Melanie, and NT...

Mel, and everybody...

Count me in. Where should I meet you?

Donna

* * * * *

While Donna waited for a reply from Mel, a letter from Vijaya arrived, followed by one from Capri.

Donna,

Thanks fer tryin. But it ain't no use. They won't care. All that matters ta any o' them is form an' they think everythin Tompkins an' Benson've done's less of an offense than goin by the U.S. code.

I can't carry on no more, maybe if some o' ya still want 'im tried an' confronted Shawn er Ameh could take my place. But I'm damn tired o' bein judged as worse than the likes o' Tompkins an' Benson fer tryin ta give you people what they owe ya after alll this time, an' tryin ta make sure they never 'urt anyone again. Somehow 'cause this ain't bein done the U.S. way, it's more of a crime ta them than anythin Tompkins er Benson done. Their opinions, not mine, but still.

Ms. Capri Monroe

* * * * *

Moments later, another note from Melanie Benson appeared.

* * * * *

Meet me at the back deck at 1:a.M. Everybody should be asleep then, and then we can get those files on Nathan and Christine.

Mel

* * * * *

Just after Donna had sent this, a message came through from a lawyer. Donna showed his letter to Shawn, and they decided to write an answer together.

* * * * *

It's all very well to talk on and on about due process and the forms of the American legal system.

But that's all you're doing, clinging to the forms and names, not to the spirit of justice those systems were created to serve.

What does your precious legal system say about defendants who routinely make a mockery of it by bribing and threatening judges, lawyers, and witnesses ad nauseum? Because *that* is exactly what Tompkins has done time and time again--and Benson also. And that's exactly what they'd do if we had left them to the US legal system yet again.

Where is the justice in that? Where is the justice in taking a chance that they might wriggle free yet again and hurt even more people than they already have?

You prattle on and on about `rights'...what about our rights to live without fear of being victimized again??

We have both been victims. If we can get Miss Monroe to continue with this trial--which we both dearly hope she does--you'll hear all about what Tompkins did to me (Shawn) at a time when he was *supposed* to be sitting in jail for his last conviction!! And what about what happened to me (Donna)??

We've looked at the dates of when Tompkins got that custody order on me (Donna) and for your information it was about a month after he'd started in with...what he did to me (Shawn).

What does your precious legal system say about *that*??

Oh, that's right. We can't admit that stuff because it was done by magic and magic is not admissible in court.

*sigh*

And you *dare* criticize us for doing this, when the system hasn't worked for us up till now???

Shawn Catlin and Donna Shelley

* * * * *

Shawn and Donna sent their letter, and a short while later, the lawyer wrote back, in rather insulting terms.

* * * * *

A few minutes later, Donna came running into Ameh's room.

"Look at this!" she cried, waving the lawyer's letter. "Do you *believe* this guy actually saying that Shawn and I were making up stories? I wish I'd thought of transporting myself right to where he was, let him try to explain that away. As if I'd make up anything like what Nathan did to me...or Christine."

After Ameh finished reading it over, she shook her head. "What an asshole! If Shirlee Catlin was still crippled and hadn't been healed by Valyn Corey, she sure could tell that shitforbrains a thing about who's guilty and who's innocent. After all the bastard and his lover have done and still somebody thinks we're nothing but a bunch of liars."

Donna nodded. "You've got that right. Look at this..`if you were my kids you wouldn't sit for a week'! What does *that* sound like to you?"

Ameh rolled her eyes. "Excuuuuuuuuuse me while I vomit. Dammit!" She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, then continued. "As I was saying to Shawn, it's just like those f---ed up skinheads/the KKK and those losers who add insult to injury by claiming the holocaust never happened. Yes, there are people who make false accusations and they are abusers, and it's because of them that sometimes people can't tell the difference between who's really innocent and who isn't. Also there are defense lawyers who know damn well their clients are guilty of horrible abuse, but their job is to defend them, and because money is the prime motivation of these lawyers, they think nothing of totally trying to ruin somebody who's been abused so much already, just so they can get the sicko bastards off."

Donna hissed. "That'd be just what Tompkins wants. And if that happened I'd go down there and kill him myself. If I thought it'd do any good I'd go see this 'lawyer' right now."

Ameh nodded. "Well, you and I know we didn't make this up, we don't have the kind of mind that can even come up with all the crap those guttercrawling maggots put us through. And there is Ariel and NT, proof right there that Nathan's guilty as sin. But NT's pre-natal memories and stuff like magic just don't count for anything to that hotshot lawyer. Well, he can just go take a dive for all I care, but if he was representing Nathan and Christine, and Christine used her magic and managed to get herself and Tompkins off, that lawyer would be responsible for unleashing a world of terror. I wonder if he could still sleep nights then?"

"I'd bet not." Donna replied.

* * * * *

Shortly after this, there were some more messages from other members of the Telegraph.

Donna shook her head as she finished reading these. Would *no one* understand??

"Actually, no." Sarah replied, "I just got this letter and I thought I'd show it to you first. If NT sees it she's likely to lose it completely." she sighed.

Donna rolled her eyes. "I can imagine. Let me see..." she sighed, and started to read the letter Sarah handed to her.

Donna showed Ameh these letters as well.

After Ameh had read them, she rolled her eyes. "They think we don't have evidence now? Oh, puhleese, as if we'd put on this thing without. I mean, what are those files and stuff Pippi and I helped Megan and Capri get anyway, chopped liver?"

Donna sighed. "Right. If that's chopped liver, I'm Pinocchio. Or maybe Shawn is."

Ameh shook her head. "Well, what these people need to do is get it through their stupid f***ing heads that Nathan's been tried and tried in their precious U.S. courts in their holy U.S. justice system, and it never worked. Somehow these schmucks just don't seem to be able to grasp that concept or maybe they just have selective hearing, but they are all ganging up on poor Capri for going for the only option left open to her and all the people Tompkins and Benson have hurt, and they are treating her as if she's the porno/rapist/child abuser/slaver/extortionist/terrorist. She's said over and over again that Tompkins and Benson will get justice, which is facing the people they hurt, then getting stopped for good. It would be a totally different story if Capri intended to have Christine and Nathan raped and tortured etc - now that would be vengeance, but that's not what it's going to be. And I'm amazed that people all of a sudden don't seem to know the meaning of MYOB."

Donna had been about to say something, when Titania walked into the room. "Yeah well...Just because God loves Nathan too doesn't mean we should just give him a chance to exploit us all over again. Because I love human life, I value it, and when somebody like Nathan is intent on threatening it at every turn, maybe the more loving thing to human kind in general would be to get rid of Tompkins. As for getting over everything - well...Easier said than done - especially when people have gone through trauma. It's often not over for them until they know for sure their tormentor won't hurt them again."

Donna nodded. "Well, that one who wrote to us is the only one who said we might be lying--and it's just that he's a lawyer, I guess lawyers can't go just on what someone tells them, there has to be evidence. But I sure would like to show him." She sighed. "Like you said, we know what happened. Though I wish I didn't."

Ameh nodded, and she, Donna, and Sarah chatted for a while before Donna had to start getting ready for bed.