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Back When We Were Bright and Beautiful Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Part One
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. Part Two
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. Part Three
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. Epilogue
  68. Author’s Note
  69. Acknowledgments
  70. About the Author
  71. Also by Jillian Medoff
  72. About the Publisher

“And then one fateful night,” he continues, “March 24, the defendant’s shame and fear overwhelmed him. On this night, Diana Holly invited the defendant to a party for a single reason. To tell him to stop harassing her and insist he get help, for his own sake. She believed it was a safe meeting place because people were around to protect her, including her best friend. Unfortunately, her plan was thwarted. When Diana talked to the defendant, he got angry. She pleaded with him, but to no avail. Thirty minutes later, she left. But the defendant followed her. And in a depraved act of rage, privilege, power, and violence, the defendant brutalized Diana Holly. He brutalized her while she was unconscious. When she couldn’t say no or defend herself. On this night, the defendant destroyed Diana Holly’s life. And for what?”

A long pause.

“For what?” Anderson asks again then answers himself. “For a secret.”

The jury is riveted; clearly, they want to hear Billy’s secret. Admittedly, a part of me does too. Instead, Anderson says, “Look at the accused. On the surface, he’s a handsome, ambitious young man. But inside, he’s deeply angry and deeply troubled. This man raped a young woman while she was unconscious, and, for all we know, has raped other girls and will continue to rape—”

“Objection!” Felicia Drake is furious. “Speculative and inflammatory!”

Anderson doesn’t miss a beat. “I’m discussing the evidence I’ll introduce during trial.”

Judge McKay brushes Felicia back. “This is an opening statement. I’ll allow it.” But he glares at Anderson. “Watch yourself. It’s only the first week.” Looking at his watch, he makes a decision. “We’ve been going for a couple of hours. Let’s break for lunch. We’ll resume at one.” He strikes his gavel.

Anderson relaxes. The timing pleases him. He knows that every single person in this courtroom is dying to learn Billy’s secret. But we all have to wait.

40

DEFIORE HAS RESERVED A MEETING ROOM FOR OUR FAMILY’S use during the trial. It’s in the building, on the same floor as the courtroom, and we congregate there during the break. The room is spare, with bare walls, a long conference table, and two credenzas. The table seats sixteen, so the five of us spread out on opposite sides. Menus are consulted, lunch is ordered. Soon, phones, laptops, iPads, charging cords, water bottles, tote bags, and notebooks are scattered everywhere.

I am so anxious I worry I’m having a stroke. Perspiration soaks through my blouse. What the hell is the secret? Booze? Billy’s never been a drinker. Weed? He doesn’t get high as often as I do; does that make me an addict too? Drugs? Money? Did Billy start gambling and not tell us?