Subj: DS:Truth 9
Date: 2/7/02 3:16:53 PM Central Standard Time
From: Aesgaard

"Mr. Bradford," the judge exhaustively took his seat in the nearly abandoned court room. The only other individuals were Trask, Victoria and a few witnesses. "This better be important to open court precedings at this time."

"Anytime is a good time to save a innocent person." Beckett grinned cleverly. It was still early night out as he started. "Your honor, It is more than obvious to me that we have reached a stalemate. Myself and the honorable Reverend Trask have both created cases that both can condemn or save Victoria Winters. But we have still not heard from the one person who can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the identity of the alleged so-called witch."

"And who is this witness ?" Trask looked sideways to Sam.

"Barnabus Collins !"

The few witnesses became alarmed as Joshua Collins sat up and headed up. Trask began yelling as well.

"Barnabus Collins is dead!!" Trask argued. "Murdered by the witch! Buried secretly by a grieving father."

"No !!" Sam responded. "When this farce of a trial began, I sent a small craft to overtake Mr. Collins ship and return him. That's why I called the late trial; to put an end to this trial so Victoria would not spend another minute in jail for the crimes of another ! He is now here !!"

Everyone's heads turned to the massive opening doors. Stoic and unimpressed, Barnabus strode up to the witness stand to be sworn in. Flanked by his father and Ben Stokes, he glared at Trask as he passed him.

"Looks good for a dead man, doesn't he ?" Sam chuckled in Trask's direction.

Barnabus eyed the Bible hesitantly as he took the oath. He sat down with his hands before him on his cane.

"Mr. Collins," Sam started. "Was there a witch at Collinwood ?"

"Yes," he admitted. "My late wife, Angelique Bouchard." The room gasped with whispers and innuendoes.

"Where is she now ?"

"Buried in an unmarked grave." Barnabus admitted. "I killed her."

A female voice screamed in the back of the room.

"Because she was a witch...."

"Because she killed my beloved Josette." Barnabus barely looked up. "She was..............my one true love."

"Objection!" Trask screamed. "Angelique is not here to testify in her defense."

"Be kind of hard to testify for a dead woman, Reverend Trask." the judge allowed it.

"Do you believe Victoria is a witch ?" Sam asked.

"No."

"Your witness." Sam turned away. Everyone turned to Trask as he sat brooding. He looked pretty foolish now
after screaming and testifying that Victoria had killed Barnabus.

"Reverend ?"

"No questions." he mumbled.

"If you have no further evidence, then I will end this and pass sentence now."

"But the b......" Trask suddenly lost his voice.

"What was that ?" the judge looked at Trask.

"He's asking about Angelique's body." Sam guessed.

"Come by the Old House." Barnabus hurriedly passed the Reverend. "I'll show you the grave."

"Victoria Winters." the judge continued."Since the Reverend has not been able to show just cause, I'm dismissing this case. You are freed of all charges and may not be tried again."

Victoria sat in shock a minute. Sam gasped for relief as Trask glared at him with the ferocity of the devil himself.

"You,," his voice was stifled. ",,,,have not won this !" He gathered his case of papers and stood up. Sam just ignored him as Victoria jumped into his arms.

"Sam," she whispered. "You did it. But how do I get to my own time ?"

"I haven't a clue."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.