Civil Court: What Is She Really Hiding?

Wednesday, April 12
9:30 am Carl and his lawyer, W---, arrived at the Prosecuting Attorny's office on Vessey Street. As they crossed the street Carl asked again if he could leave if he would not be deposed that day. His lawyer just shook his head no as they got into the elevator. W---, reminded him again not to make eye contact with Ms. S, the plaintiff, nor should he express or make any jesture as a reaction to her deposition. "Can I stare at you?" Carl asked. "Nooo, then you'll make me nervous!" said W--- laughing. "It's not going to be that bad Carl, just sit there." The order of deposition would be the Plaintiff (Ms. S), the owner of Dark Forest (Mr. Forest) and if there was time, the defendant (Carl, the fifth level Cleric). The room assembled with all attornies, the stenographer and Carl present. Everyone was cordial to each other, they shook hands they expressed their concern that Passover would shorten their day. Attorney M, the plaintiff's lawyer said he'd bring her in. She would be suing the bar and Carl for an unnamed sum.

"Would Mr. Carl be in agreement to leave the room while my client is being deposed?" he asked as he returned to the room. W--- and Attorney H------ looked startled. "I have every right to be here and I don't intend on leaving this room." I said. W--- patted my arm "Let me speak for you, I'm your lawyer. Mr. Carl will be here, as he has every right to be present. You're client was made aware of this days ago." Attorney M left the room again saying he'd try to get her to calm down, he described her as weeping hysterically. With a thick Staten Island accent the stenographer blurted out "What's her problem? People get deposed everyday! Jeeeeesus Christ, let's get this goin'!" I shrugged my shoulders and resumed the position, staring at the Monet print of two boats on the wall across from me. About 10 minutes later she finally enterred the room. The stenographer briefed her on how to respond to questions.

"My name is Perfidia Sciocco... I'm 34 years old... Yes, I am a US citizen... I went to Hunter College here in NY and then to Brown... Yes, I am employed... I am engaged... " The grieving victim was suddenly very composed. As the questioning continued I focused more on the framed print, if I stared long enough the water would look as though it were rippling between the boats. Ms. Sciocco continued with her recollection of the night of the alleged incdient. She presented herself with a soft, girlish voice, unlike that evening of July 10, 2004. Seh also had a slight continental accent. On eI could'nt dect when she screamed "F--- you a--h---! Talk to the hand you stupid f-----!" According to what she recalled, she and her friend Waldo McBard had dinner, they went to his place for an apartif and to listen to CDs. Then afterwards they went to Dark Forest for a drinks. She had a Manhattan.

"That's when Mr. Carl walked in yelling at me and my friend." She claimed I was agrressive, drunk and rude and repeatedly insulted her when all she said to me was "Please stop, you're annoying me and my friend, I wish you to go away". My eyes glazed over. "He dragged a chair over, picked it up and smashed it into his back and fought him to the floor. Then I hit his shoulder to stop him, and then he grabbed me and bit my hand. That's when I lost my finger tip." How can someone just sit there and lie like that? And not very well I might add. She claimed her injuries have stopped her from continuing her education at Cordozo Law School and she might not ever regain feeling in her damaged finger. She was not able to perform regular duties like walking her dog or typing.

After a while the poster seemed to buckle and breath with each of her lies, suddenly a 20-sided di rolled on the table and scaley head popped out between the boats. It was Dragon, he put his finger over him mouth and gestured him to stay still. "Hello Cleric, nice sweater!" Climbing out from the wall, he nested his large scaley body into the office chair across from Carl and folded his arms. "Why do you think she's wearing gloves on such a warm day? Dragon smiled and looked at her. She's dressed very cheaply for rich girl... capri pants, white pumps, flesh colored hose. That blouse begs a question... 'Where is the Renaissance Fair?' " he chortled. Mybe she's more of a gold digger. Have fun with it boy, you'll be here for a few more hours." Perfidia Sciocoo's testimony did take a while, the stenographer took breaks to change the paper. Forest, the owner of Dark Forest eventually walked in. The room took a break and seating was rearranged. Ms.Sciocco left the room with Attorney M to cry again, 15 minutes later the deposition would resume.

Attorney H moved his chair forward "So when was the last time you spoke with McBard? Shouldn't he be here today?" She claimed that it might be about a year since then. All attornies agreed that he was dutifully notified. Ms. Sciocco said she reminded him the day before and said he was never informed, so he left for California. Attorney H produced certified mail slips to verify his address. They agreed to call his cell until the meeting ended if he did not respond. Then she did something odd. She gave out her own cell number then laughed saying repeatedly that she was mistaken. Her lawyer said he had McBard's cell.

Representing Dark Forest, Attorney H reviewed his notes before he continued with his part of the deposition. "Where IS Waldo? That boy never seems to be around when you need him." said Dragon. He flicked the 20-sided di onto the table again... "Roll Intitative: 18. Go and get 'em."

"How did Mr. Carl seem to appear to you when you first saw him?" Asked Attorney H. She paused, I could see her head bob childishly in my peripheral view. "Well, I don't know if I should say it in front of him, he might find it offensive." she replied with a slight crack in her voice.

"So you didn't see how much Mr. Carl was served... So the bar was not crowed, you could see the people seated at tables and the bartender serving people... You said you two were greeted warmly by the bartender... So it was the bartender and the patrons that broke up the scuffle..." The more she spoke her tone varied between a girlish giggle to steady crackle. Soon after her story started falling apart like cheap cereal in milk. In about 30 minutes the bar seemd to be clear of charges in her lawsuit. Her lawyer requested a break and escorted her from the room. My lawyer moved into position for questioning.

Dragon let out a declining whistle and a crash sound "Wheeeeeeeew... krkrkrkkrrnch... Not the brightest crayon in the box, that girl. Maybe she'll start crying again, tears ARE the last prayer of a scoundrel. Wah wah wah wah" he mocked. Kissing the 20-sided di he rolled. "Roll Initiateive: 20 of 20! Good for you Cleric!" Ms. Sciocco and her attorney returned, she was patting her eyes with a tissue. The stenographer changed her paper tray. "Are we all ready?"

My lawyer, W--- cleared his throat, and asked if she'd be alright with the questioning. She said "I'll be alright, I am a strong woman, I'd rather just finish this." Her lawyer asked that this statement be struck from the record.

"You did not complete your first year at law shool, but you persued a Phd from Brown. Were you more emotionally equiped to take a Phd?... Did you consider taking a 6 to 12 month deferment with your law school?... So are you trying to say that you did not complete your law degree due to your injuries?..." ultimately her answer was no to all questions. "But my injury was very painful." she replied. She added that she couldn't type or walk her dog or write. "So you are left handed?" asked W---. "No, nor am I ambidextrous." "So you're lead hand is fine then." "But I need both hands."

"So after wine and dinner you went back to Mr. McBard's apartment... So from around 10:00 until 10:45 you were at Mr. McBard's place... You went back to McBard's place to listen to music and to have an after dinner drink for approximately 45 minutes... Is that all?" This question flusterred her the most. Her attorney protested "You've already asked her that question a few times!" "I'm trying to establish time and place." said W---.

"What is your relationship to Mr. McBard?" asked W---. "We dated for a while and since I moved here we trying to see if we could be friends." she replied.
"Just that night, July 10?"
"Yes."
"So you are just friends then. Nothing more."
"Yes."

The questioning lead to the alleged incident, the tragic loss of her finger tip, after being brutally attacked by Carl. The tension was building, you could here her attorney crack his neck and back as he tapped his fingers on the table. You could sense her case was already limping like a wounded animal with a spera sticking out from its back.

"So you're location to Mr. Carl was behind him, as he tried to sit up from the floor... You were not infact between the men as you said earlier... Then you were behind Mr. Carl again, but you say this time hitting him..."

"No" she protested "You are interpretting what I meant touching him as hitting him, then he turned his head to bite me."
"You said you were hitting him. Stenographer, please read back the notes."
"The notes read... I hit him on his shoulder telling him to please stop the fighting." she read robotically.
"Well, he should have known it was me, who else but a woman has long hair." she answerred out of context. Forest cleared his throat and ran his hands over his long grey pony tail, not once staring at Perfidia Sciocco. W--- continued his line of questioning.

"Did you assualt Mr. Carl?... Could Mr. Carl bite you with intention you if you were behind him as you said?... Did Mr. Carl in fact assault?... " She answerred no to all. The questioning was coming to and end. It would soon be time to depose Forest, owner and proprieter of Dark Forest. But before then W--- had one more request.

"Please remove your gloces and place your hands flat on the table, I would like to see your injury." There was a lull and the sound of the gloves peeling back slowly. All attornies and Forest gathered around her hands for inspection. "So which is your injured hand?" W--- asked. "You can see there's a difference in length and it still hurts badly now and then." she said in defense. "I don't see a difference. Which hand is it now?" said "Attorney H. She raised her left hand.

W--- took a long pause and nodded "I have my digital camera with me I'd like to take some current pictures..." "No, I will provide those for you, of course at my own convenience." Interrupted Attorney M. "I'd like a copy too." requested Attorney H.

The room requested a break, everyone left he room except for Carl. Dragon waved goodbye to Perfidia Sciooco, raising the middle finger of his left hand following her as she passed the large plate glass window. Carl got up and stretched. "There you see... what do you think she was hiding?" asked Dragon. "Her finger." Carl replied. "Oh, my boy, that's just a front. She was cheating on her fiance with her alleged ex-boyfreind. Why do you think he's missing in action? Can you imagine her fiance leaving her at the altar over that weasel faced slack jaw poet?" he laughed out loud. "Go tell your lawyer when you get a chance." Carl stretched and said "I need to pee really bad, I've been holding it since this morning." When he truned around, Dragon was gone. The stenographer said "Your lawyer has the men's room key, you better go now."

The time was now 1:00 pm.

To be continued