One Criminal Case
Somebody knocked on the door. Jack opened and saw the sexual assault advocate Alice on the other side. She was the advocate of his 15-years-old daughter Jennifer, who got raped by her ex-boyfriend. Now the police were conducting the probe.
'Oh, I didn't know Jenny made plans to see you.'
'She didn't,' replied Alice.' Can I speak to you and your wife for a minute?'
'She's at work. What is the matter?'
Suddenly Jennifer poked her head over the railing from upstairs. Before, she would not have hung back like that. She would have flown down like lightning, sure that the visitor was for her.
'Jennifer,' Alice noticed the girl. 'I need to tell you something you're not going to like.'
The girl came downstairs and sat down beside her father, the way she used to do when she was little and saw something scary.
'The defense attorney representing Bill Wilson has subpoenaed the records of my conversation with Jennifer.'
'I don't get it. Isn't that a violation of privacy?' yelled Jack with indignation.
'Only when you're talking about the defendant. Unfortunately if you are the victim of a crime, it's a different story. You can wind up with your diary as evidence, or the transcripts of your psychiatric sessions.' She looked at Jennifer. 'Or your discussions with a rape crisis counselor.'
Jack had no idea what went on during the times Alice had met with Jennifer, but sitting beside him, his little girl was trembling.
'You can't turn over the records,' she said.
'The law says that the victim's credibility can be questioned. You can go to jail,' explained Alice.
'I'll do it!' Jack said. 'I'll go to jail instead.'
'The court won't accept that. Believe me, you're not the first father to volunteer.'
'I'm not the first?' Jack opened his eyes wide. 'This happened before?'
'Unfortunately, yes,' Alice admitted.
'You said what I told you wouldn't leave that room!' cried Jennifer. 'You said you'd help me. How is this supposed to help me?'
Jennifer flew up the stairs, Alice started after her.
'Let me go talk to her.'
Jack stepped forward blocking her way.
'Thank you,' he said, 'But I think you've done enough!'
Jack went upstairs and entered Jenny's room.
'Jennifer,' he said as evenly as he could. 'Where you really a virgin?'
'What? Now you don't believe me either?'
'You lied to the police.'
'I couldn't tell them,' Jenny sobbed. 'You were standing right there. I didn't want you to be mad at me. And I thought if I told the doctor that Bill and I had already done it, she wouldn't believe I got raped. But it could still happen! Just because I said ‘Yes' before it doesn't mean I couldn't say ‘No' this time!'
'Baby, I believe you.'
