Phillip Margolin - The Associate

“Thirteen.” “And they aborted you?” “Yes. And then I was forced to eat the fetus of my… my child.” Judge Opton struggled to maintain his judicial composure. “How often were you taken to these satanic group meetings?” “About once a month.” “And how old were you the last time you went?” “I believe I was eighteen or nineteen.” “Was your sister also taken to these ceremonies?” “Yes, but she denies it. She says she has no memory of them.” “Were other people’s children at these meetings?” “I remember two or three.” “Was anything done to these other children?” “They were put in boxes with insects,” Dr.

Fairweather answered in the same monotone she’d used to answer all of Amanda’s questions. “Snakes were made to crawl on them, electric shock was used, they were made to eat parts of animals, photographs were made of them having sex with adults.” “Were there animal sacrifices at these meetings?” “Yes. I remember cats, dogs. Once there was a sheep.”

“What did they do?” “They cut the belly of the animal open. Sometimes they hung it from the ceiling, cut open the belly, the organs would fall on the people, or the children were forced to eat it.” “Were there human sacrifices?” “Yes.” “Where were they?” “In a barn.” “Do you know where the barn was?” “It was in the country, way out. There were high trees all around and the only light was in the barn from lanterns. Inside, there were blackout curtains to keep out sunlight or to prevent people from seeing in.” “What happened in the barn on the first occasion when you saw a human sacrifice?” “This man was tied up from the rafters with his hands above his head.” “Was he clothed?”

“No, he was naked.” “Was he screaming or fighting?” “Yes.” “What happened to this man?” “The people took knives and flayed his skin off.” “Was he alive when this happened?” “Yes.” “How many people were involved?” “I can’t remember. More than fifteen.” “And they all were involved in skinning this man alive?” “Some were chanting and playing drums and calling on demons.” “Do you know why the victims were selected for the ritual?” “They were selected because they were Christians.” “What happened to the body after it was taken down?”

“There was a ceremony in which the blood was drunk from a chalice, people had sex, that kind of behavior.” “What did the blood represent?” “Whoever drank the blood of a Christian got that person’s power.” “What were these satanic cult members hoping to achieve by following Satan?” “They wanted to live with Satan for eternity and have everything they wanted, and when Satan overcame the world, you would be a chosen one.” “How were the victims found?” “The way I understand it, there were people in the cult who were programmed to capture Christians for these ceremonies.” “Were they captured at random off of the street?” “That’s how I understood it.” “Flaying someone alive is murder, isn’t it, Dr. Fairweather?” “Yes.” “And these people probably had families who would worry about them?” “I suppose.”

“Did you ever tell the police about these horrible things that happened to you and these other people?” “No, I couldn’t.” “Why is that?” “I was terrified and scared for my life.” “Well, you left the cult at twenty-one and you’re in your forties now. So you’ve been away from your parents and these people for twenty years. Didn’t it ever occur to you to tell anyone about this after you broke away?” “I wasn’t able to tell anyone.” “Why is that?” “I was led to believe from the time I was very young that there were members of the cult who could read my mind and that I was constantly being watched and…”

“Yes?” “I believe there were some medical mind-control experiments performed on me by doctors who were members of the cult.” “What was the purpose of these experiments?” “To make me behave and do what they wanted.” “What were these experiments?” “I remember having electrical shock. I remember people giving me certain words or codes or phrases and then telling me what I needed to do when I heard them.” “Where did this happen?” “In a place that was like an operating room. There were bright lights over my head. I was naked and strapped down. They attached electrodes to my head. That’s all I remember.” “How did these experiments work? What did they do to you?” “There was a phrase said and they would say, ‘When you hear this phrase you will do thus and such. Do you understand?’ And no matter what I said, they would say, ‘We don’t believe you,’ and I would get more shocks. And at some point they would stop. I guess when they thought I was under control.” “Were you ever given these codes or phrases?” “Yes.” “How?” “On the phone or someone in the street would give me a sign. They might say the phrase and I would have to do what I was told.” “What types of things were you told?” “If I saw red I was supposed to try and kill myself, but not succeed.” “Fake a suicide?” “Yes.” “Were you ever ordered to do this?” “Yes, several times.” “How did you attempt suicide?” “I cut my wrists.” “How many times?” “I can’t say for sure.” “Were you ever hospitalized for this?” “Twice. I was sent for psychiatric treatment.”

Amanda Jaffe was about to ask another question when Mike Greene stood and buttoned his suit jacket. “Your Honor, I think this might be a good time for a recess.” “I agree, Mr. Greene. We’ll recess for fifteen minutes. Dr. Fairweather, you can step down, but you’ll have to be back in court when we reconvene. I’ll see counsel in chambers.”

The judge left the courtroom through a door behind the dais. Daniel turned to Amanda and looked at her wide-eyed. “She’s nuts,” he said.

“Yes, she is,” Amanda answered with a comforting smile. “And we are sitting in the catbird seat. You hang tight while I talk to the judge.

Hopefully, I’ll have good news when I come out.” “How did you know about that Satan stuff?” “I’ll tell you later.” Amanda and Mike Greene left the courtroom and Joe Molinari walked up to the bar of the court.

One of the guards told Joe they could talk across the low fence but could not touch or exchange anything. “Thanks for coming,” Daniel said. “Hey, dude, this is the best show in town, and your lawyer kicks ass. You and me are going to be at happy hour this afternoon.” Daniel knew better than to get his hopes up, so he just smiled.

“What is going on here?” Judge Opton asked Mike Greene as soon as the judge and the two attorneys were seated in his chambers. “Believe me, I had no idea she was going to say that stuff.” Opton shook his head. “Just when you thought you’ve seen it all. Well, Mike, what are we going to do?” Greene exhaled. “Fairweather and Forbus are my only witnesses. You’ve heard everything I’ve got.” “Are you going to argue that you’ve proved by clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Ames murdered Arthur Briggs? Because you’ve got to do that before I’ll deny bail.” “She still saw what she saw, Judge,” Greene answered halfheartedly. “Your witness sees a lot of things. What’s your position, Amanda?” “The only evidence connecting Daniel to the murder is the testimony of Dr. Fairweather and I don’t believe she’s a credible witness.” “You don’t have to be diplomatic. We’re not on the record. The woman is a total fruitcake. Fucking electrodes. Jesus, Mike, where did you dig her up?” Greene didn’t answer. “Okay, here’s what we’ll do when we go back outside,” Opton said. “You’ll end your cross, Amanda, and you’ll rest, Mike. You can argue against bail, but I’m going to grant it, understood?” Greene nodded. Opton turned to Amanda. “What can your client afford?” “Daniel’s on his own and he’s almost broke, Judge. As you heard, Reed, Briggs just fired him. His mother doesn’t have a dime and he doesn’t know where his father is. He worked his way through college and law school, so he’s up to his nose in debt and he doesn’t have much in savings. I’m taking the case pro bono.” Opton’s eyebrows raised. Amanda ignored his surprise and continued. “I think you should release him on his own recognizance.