The judge nodded. “Very well. Proceed.”
Walker didn’t show any emotion, and I decided to follow her lead as Bernard continued with his asinine questions. “And how is your intimate life with your husband, Mrs. Wahkin? Do you participate in anyunusualsexual endeavors?”
I knew what kind of trap he was attempting to lure me into. “No. We don’t.”
This was one of the reasons Charlie and I didn’t share a lot of details about our sex life, not even with our friends. If the court knew I liked being tied up and bossed around, no matter what kind of evidence I had, my testimony would be thrown out the window. I wouldn’t be able to explain, and get people to understand, that what Charlie and I shared together and what John had done to me couldn’t be more different.
Bernard’s lip curled. “What I and the court are having trouble understanding, Mrs. Wahkin, is how you’re able to be married at all. That is, how you’re able to have a consensual sexual relationship with your husband, if you’re astraumatizedas you say. One would think that you’d be unable to participate in martial acts if you truly were raped. Are you going to accuse your husband of assault, too?”
It wasn’t like I didn’t know questions like this weren’t going to come up, because as a sexual assault victim, I’d heard it all before. But the reality didn’t quench the rage inside of me. I couldn’t fucking see straight when he insulted my marriage like that.
Walker protested immediately. “These invasive questions are not relevant to this case!”
“Your honor, what Mrs. Wahkin is accusing my client of can’t possibly be taken as valid by the court,” Bernard insisted. “Keep in mind this is the same girl that, no less than three years ago, had a warrant out for her arrest by the court for grand theft auto—”
“Previous and other crimes can’t be submitted as evidence, even in a case of portraying character, Gary, you know this,” Judge Tellus said tiredly.
“But your honor, Mrs. Wahkin only walked away from that crime because her grandfather was able to make a financial settlement with the victim of the stolen vehicle!” Bernard insisted. “Mrs. Wahkin’s DNA was found at the scene of the crime after the vehicular accident—”
“How’d you know that?” I said abruptly, without waiting to be asked. “I’ve never voluntarily submitted my fingerprints or DNA into any criminal justice system until I was admitted to the Institute. How was the court able to match my DNA to the crime scene?”
Bernard suddenly shut up. The hair on the back of Oberi’s neck stood up, and an awful truth began pressing in on me from all sides.
John’s DNA wasn’t the only genetic material in the kit. Mine was included as well.
“The court used my rape kit to convict me of other crimes,” I whispered. I couldn’tbelievethis was real. They’d taken my DNA from the kit and entered it into a database, illegally. I’d never been more ashamed of my tribe. Tears threatened to spill over, but I’d be damned if I let them fall here.
“I… well.” Bernard failed to elaborate. “That is what the record shows.”
Even as my life felt like it was caving inward, I realized that for the first time, John looked uncomfortable.
And I reveled in that. It was the one thing that kept me from completely exploding on the witness stand.
Bernard backed off. “No further questions for Mrs. Wahkin, your honor.”
I was more than happy to get off that stand. I kept my eyes on the floor as I rolled back to the bench where the rest of the girls sat. I felt beaten up, run over, and exposed for the entire world to see. Now all I wanted was some damn peace.
Walker stood. “We have expert testimony to add to Mrs. Wahkin’s account, your honor.”
“Very well. Bring them forward,” Judge Tellus replied.
“We call to the stand Mrs. Mia Bylilly, to aid in the victim’s testimony,” Walker stated.
I recognized the woman that approached the witness stand. She’d been the lady who’d been at the women’s shelter the night of my assault. I’d never forget her. She gave me a comforting smile before she sat down, which put me at ease.
“Can you describe what you do, Mrs. Bylilly?” Walker asked.
“Yes. I am the executive director of the Kinpago Women’s Shelter. I provide resources and aid to victims of domestic violence, as well as sexual assault,” Mia responded.
“Can you state your qualifications?” Walker said.
“I have a master’s degree in psychology, and a bachelor’s in nursing. I have run the shelter for over fifteen years. During that time, my staff and I have seen thousands of cases of domestic violence and assault.”
“So you are certainly qualified,” Walker stated. “Mrs. Bylilly, it is stated on the report that you were the one to put together the sexual assault forensic exam on Mrs. Wahkin, more commonly known as a rape kit?”
“Yes. I performed the analysis myself,” Mia replied.
“Can you testify to her injuries?”
