Westchester County Court – The Trial – Day One

“All rise. Case number 322-678-775, Judge Allison Vogel presiding,” the bailiff called out to the packed courtroom.

“Please be seated. State your case councillor,” Judge Vogel directed towards the Prosecutor's table.

“Your Honor, members of the jury, my name is Gerald Thatcher, representing the prosecution in this case. Your Honor, the State alleges that the defendant, Stephen Nielsen committed murder in the first degree, shooting Jeremy Wallace five times and causing his death,” the Assistant District Attorney addressed the judge and took his seat.

“Your Honor, members of the jury, William Sanford for the defence. First of I would remind the judge that we agreed in chambers that the defendant would be addressed by her legal name and gender, using the name Stephanie Nielsen and using feminine pronouns. The defendant pleads not guilty by the way,” William sat down next to his client, silently fuming.

“Members of the jury, the prosecutor used the defendant's legal name at the time that the indictment was first issued. Since the time of the alleged offence and her appearance today in court, the defendant has changed her name and gender legally. The prosecutor is forgiven for the slip but is directed to use the defendant’s legal name and gender from now on except when specifically required for context. The not guilty plea is entered into the court record and the trial will proceed,” Judge Vogel explained.

The first shots had been fired.

Twelve Months Before The Trial – The Nielsen Residence, New Rochelle, New York

Stephen Nielsen sat in front of the TV in his living room anxiously watching the clock. His wife Mary would be leaving for work soon and he was anxious. Mary came out of the bedroom carrying her heels and padded downstairs, a miasma of perfume preceding her. She was dressed for work: a professional looking dark skirt-suit, dark hosiery and adeptly applied makeup.

Stephen thought she looked great, although the hem of her skirt was a little askew and the eyeliner under her left eyelid had been applied inconsistently. He would never leave the house looking like that.

He muted the TV and accompanied his wife to the door adjoining their two-car garage to say goodbye. This weekend she was the duty administrator at the hospital where she worked. Mary was rostered on the overnight shift from eight in the evening until eight the next morning. The administration staff at the hospital rotated through the overnight shifts as part of their duties.

“See you tomorrow morning honey. Don’t forget we are going to your mother’s for dinner tomorrow night,” Mary leaned in and kissed Stephen quickly on the mouth and climbed into her Mercedes coupe.

Stephen waited until he heard the garage door open, her car back out and the roller door rattle back into place before he moved. He opened the connecting door and went into the garage, shimmied around his Lexus and stood before his fully-equipped workbench. He took a keyring out of his pocket and unlocked an underbench cupboard and dragged out the suitcase. He wheeled the suitcase into the house and lugged it to his study, picking it up where the tiles met carpet so as not to leave any impressions in the pile.

He locked the door to his study and put the suitcase behind his desk. He used another key on his keyring to open a small cupboard concealed in the kneehole of his desk. On a shelf inside the cupboard were a laptop computer, a cellular phone, a garage door remote and an electronic key fob. He switched the phone from mute to vibrate and checked the messages. He scrolled through the most recent of them until he found a text from ‘JW’ which read: Coast is clear, see you at 9:30 followed by three kiss emojis.

Stephen replied to the text, writing: can’t wait and smiled. He left the phone on his desk, opened the suitcase and took out a waterproof Ziploc bag and hurried upstairs to the master bedroom where he stripped. He took the bag into the ensuite bathroom, unzipped the bag, removed the douche and attached it to the showerhead. He douched and showered and while he was in the shower he shaved away any rogue hairs on his legs and body using Mary’s lady shaver. He had fully shaved his body only three days previously so there weren’t many.

He dried his body, cleaned and dried the douche and put it back in the Ziploc bag then he carefully shaved his face, put on a bathrobe, popped two Imodium and inserted four K-Y ‘Liquibeads’ in his anus and padded downstairs to his study. What he did next would have been more conveniently conducted in their bedroom but out of respect for his wife Stephen always did what he was about to do in his study. Besides it prevented him from leaving anything incriminating where Mary might find it.

Stephen set up the mirror on its little stand on the desk and opened his makeup case. As soon as he started putting concealer on his face, his psyche switched from Stephen to Stephanie. It was a mental and also physical metamorphosis. In his mind he became Stephanie, a thirty-something sophisticated woman who had a predilection for nice clothes, sexy lingerie and handsome men. The physical manifestation was accompanied by the adoption of Stephanie’s persona, not just the makeup and clothes, she adopted feminine mannerisms including her gestures, the way she walked and the way she talked.

Stephanie completed the makeup job: foundation, finishing powder, rouge, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara and finally a coat of long-lasting lipstick. She popped the lipstick in her handbag along with her compact. She spent a few minutes sticking press-on nails onto her fingernails; they were pre-painted the same shade as her lipstick. Although Stephanie had collar-length blond hair courtesy of her Scandinavian heritage, she elected to wear a wig. She shook out a shoulder length brunette bob, and brushed it out and after putting a wigcap over her natural hair she put on the wig, adjusted it and styled it.

Stephanie looked in the mirror and saw an attractive woman looking back at her: green eyes, high cheekbones, small straight nose and shapely lips, which she also put down to her Swedish heritage. The blunt bangs hit just below her brows, emphasising her eyes and making her face look fuller. In her own honest opinion she was a very good looking woman.

Discarding the bathrobe she stepped into a pair of Wolford nearly nude, ten denier, sheer-to-the-waist pantyhose, smoothing them up her legs and adjusting the waistband. She used two fingers to tuck each of her testicles up into each corresponding inguinal canal then wrapped her penis in her empty scrotum and tucked it along her perineum and pulled the pantyhose up tight. She could remain tucked for around eight hours if required but tonight that wouldn’t be necessary.

She pulled a pair of black, lace-trimmed, full-cut satin panties up her legs. Stephanie liked to wear her panties over pantyhose for the aesthetic but also because the man she was meeting preferred it that way. She put on the matching brassiere and popped silicon ‘chicken fillet’ breastforms in the cups to fill them. She buttoned up a long-sleeved purple satin blouse, shimmied into a tight skirt, tucked the tails of the blouse into the waistband and closed the side zipper. She would carry her heels to her car, just like her wife had done. She accessorised with costume jewellery, put on the jacket that matched her skirt, gathered her things and went out to the garage.

As she sat in the Lexus’ driver’s seat her skirt rode up her thighs and she briefly admired her legs. She thought they were better than Mary’s; they were certainly longer. Stephanie started the car and activated the garage door with the remote and waited for the security light to extinguish before she nosed the car onto the street checking to see if any of neighbours were out and about.

Stephanie is free to pursue her secret life and she is excited…

With the coast clear she drives out onto Decatur Road and continues on until she comes to the I-95on-ramp. It will take her a little under half an hour to drive to Jeremy Wallace’s apartment block on Franklin Avenue in White Plains. Parking is always a bitch in that part of town but Jeremy has given her a garage door remote which she uses to enter the underground parking facility and she parks in the slot directly behind Jeremy’s Beamer. Stephanie would have no problem parking on the street (if she could ever find a spot) and walking to the apartment building, the streets here are safe and she is eminently passable, but they both insist on discretion and it is easier and more discreet for Stephanie to park in the underground lot and take the elevator to Jeremy’s apartment than to enter through the foyer.

She slips her high-heeled pumps on her feet and walks to the elevator where she takes out the fob that will activate the elevator car from her purse. She then takes out a small bottle of Dior Poison, which although some consider the scent old fashioned, is her and Jeremy’s favourite. While she waits for the elevator she sprays herself liberally with the fragrance. She would have liked to have put on the perfume before she left home or in her car but the scent is cloying and Mary might detect its lingering bouquet.

Stephanie steps into the elevator and gives herself a final onceover in the mirrored wall before she arrives at the third floor and strides purposefully to apartment 3F. The door is slightly ajar and she slips inside and she closes it behind her, ensuring that the lock engages. Before she can even put her purse on the counter Jeremy takes Stephanie in his arms and gives her a long lingering kiss.

“Hello darling,” Stephanie's smile is wide, her lips inviting.

“Hello my love,” Jeremy flashes a brilliant white smile.

Jeremy is a handsome man in his late thirties. He is wearing a bathrobe, his thick black mane wet from the shower. He is tanned, fit and muscular, think George Clooney at the same age, with an almost permanent five o’clock shadow, dark brown eyes, and a killer smile. When Stephanie first met him in person in a seedy New York hotel she could hardly believe her luck. He is intelligent, personable and kind, and infatuated with Stephanie.

Jeremy has never seen Stephen Nielsen, nor does he ever want to. It was agreed when they began to correspond that Stephanie would always present femme in his presence. They met in the now defunct ‘Personals’ section of a classified advertisement website and exchanged messages, photographs and after weeks of back and forth banter they agreed to meet on neutral ground to see if they were compatible. They entered into a torrid love affair almost immediately.

Jeremy holds Stephanie at arm’s length so he can fully appraise her but she can see the lust in his eyes and his penis is tenting the front of his bathrobe. They are both always highly concupiscent when they first meet and they both know that sex will take place almost immediately. It will be a brief lust-fuelled encounter to appease their carnal desires, sort of an appetiser before the entrée. Later she will take off the skirt-suit and slip into some sexy lingerie but they both like the fantasy they play out. Stephanie is the mature, sexy businesswoman arriving home after a busy day and her lover can’t wait for her to undress before he takes her.

Their kisses become more impassioned and Stephanie slips her hand inside the bathrobe and takes Jeremy’s thick corpulent rod in her fingers and gently caresses it. She loves that he gasps into her mouth as she does so. She gathers the lubricious beads of pre-ejaculate and massages the viscous secretions into the flesh of his manhood. Jeremy breaks the kiss momentarily so he can watch Stephanie's long fingers, tipped with those fiery red nails, stroke his penis. He kisses her again and holds Stephanie close. She is careful to keep Jeremy’s secretions away from her skirt.

Stephen takes Stephanie’s suits, skirts and blouses to a dry cleaner across town under the pretext of dropping off and picking up his wife’s clothing but he suspects that the owner is suspicious because the clothing is sometimes stained with bodily fluids. Stephen ensures that he tips the drycleaner heavily and it is mutually understood that it buys the proprietor's silence. The proprietor is unsure whether Stephen is dropping off his mistresses clothing or wearing the clothes himself and doesn’t really care. What he does know is that Mrs Nielsen has never come into the store in person to collect her clothes. Never once in three years.

Stephanie feels Jeremy’s cock pulse and quiver as she begins to masturbate him. She takes her hand away, not wanting him to climax just yet and certainly not in her hand. She kisses him passionately, driving her tongue deep into his mouth, tasting red wine; the expensive Australian Grange Hermitage they will drink after they make love the first time. Jeremy has already tasted it and she now tastes it on his breath.

Jeremy loves the feel of Stephanie's body against him, the curve of her hips, the heft of her prim buttocks. He knows that her breasts are just silicone breastforms but they still feel nice pressed against him through her blouse and blazer. His hand drifts down to the hem of her skirt and it is Stephanie’s turn to gasp when Jeremy slips his fingers under and stokes her thighs. The feel of ten denier nylon on her flesh excites them both and Stephanie is becoming engorged.

Her testes have already descended and her cock sits uncomfortably tumescent between her buttocks inside her pantyhose and panties. Jeremy’s fingers find the lace trim on the leghole of her panties where they play with the frilly fringe briefly before they venture inside the silky garment and between Stephanie's legs where they find her penis trapped along her perineum by her pantyhose.

Stephanie moans as Jeremy strokes her bloated organ through the diaphanous fabric and she reaches for him and returns the favour. Their lips lock together and their tongues entwine as they caress each other’s rigid cocks. Jeremy knows that it hurts Stephanie a little for her cock to be trapped like that when it is erect and he manipulates it so that it springs free and bags the front of her pantyhose. He wraps his fingers around her nylon-swathed protuberance and caresses it while Stephanie grips his erect phallus and strokes it back to full tumescence.

She drops to her knees and takes Jeremy’s cock in her mouth, looking up at him with emerald-green eyes full of lust as she suckles his manhood. Jeremy gently holds her head while Stephanie uses her mouth in a practised fashion on his prong, working her lips up and down the shaft and using her tongue to nurse his glans, flicking it across his fraenulum, making his whole body shudder.

They both know that Jeremy will not be able to endure her ministrations for long and when he feels his scrotal sac begin to roil Jeremy pulls his cock from her mouth and helps Stephanie to her feet.

Jeremy picks Stephanie up and carries her to the couch where he drops her, arms and legs akimbo. Her skirt has ridden up and he growls with lust as he ogles her black satin panties. He grabs her ankles and opens her legs, putting her calves on his chest then he eases aside the gusset of her panties and hooks a finger in the gossamer nylon of her pantyhose and tears a little hole, revealing her pretty pink puckered bud. He growls again as he positions his glans in the petite, tight pink sphincter and without hesitating he pushes every millimetre of his engorged flesh inside her.

Stephanie grunts and puffs air out of her mouth and momentarily Jeremy is concerned he has hurt her but she is smiling up at him as if to say ‘it’s ok’. She feels his cock filling her void. It is almost painful because he is so engorged and so deep inside her, the Liquibeads easing his passage. Lying on her back with her ass in the air with her ankles around Jeremy’s neck she is very vulnerable. Jeremy closes his eyes. He doesn’t move and Stephanie can feel his cock pulsing and quivering inside her. He opens his mouth and mimes the word ‘sorry’ and then he lowers his face to hers and kisses her as his cock begins to judder and she can feel his scalding seed filling her anus.

Stephanie doesn’t mind one little bit because there is a wet stain spreading in the front of her panties caused by a flood of semen. Her anus is undulating around Jeremy's thick elongated weapon as he climaxes. Rings of pleasure are radiating from her sphincter and coalesce with the deep rhythmic pulses of delight diffusing from her prostate.

The lovers are climaxing together, their orgasms peaked as soon as Jeremy entered Stephanie's tight, plush rectum. He lies still on top of her while his cock quivers deep inside her, their lips crushed together, their tongues lashing, Stephanie's legs locked around Jeremy’s torso her fingers laced behind his neck. Their lust has peaked and for a while the overwhelming intensity of their orgasms is all-encompassing, then slowly, they descend as their climaxes begin to subside.

Jeremy cannot stop kissing Stephanie. He has been counting the hours, waiting for her to arrive and now that she is here he can’t stop touching her. Stephanie feels the same way. They sometimes fantasise what it would be like if Mary wasn’t in the picture. Both Jeremy and Stephanie are wealthy and Jeremy could easily support them both if Stephanie quit her job as an investment banker and transitioned and lived with him full-time. To Stephanie it is a fantasy but Jeremy believes it is a possibility. It is the only thing they argue about.

Jeremy is finally able to restrain his pursuit of pleasure and the practicalities of the situation need to be addressed. He is fully naked and Stephanie lies on the couch with her lower back arched at an acute angle, her legs pressed against Jeremy’s torso, her ankles either side of his neck. Jeremy’s still-erect penis is buried in her anus and she is still fully clothed.

This is not the first time that they have found themselves in this situation as soon as Stephanie arrives, although there are variations on the theme: Stephanie bent over the dining table, Stephanie propped on the kitchen counter, Stephanie lying under Jeremy on the floor, Stephanie pressed against the wall with her skirt hiked up.

Jeremy eases Stephanie up off the couch, lifting her with his cock still buried in her ass. She wraps her legs around his waist and grips his shoulders to assist while Jeremy carries her into the bedroom and lowers her onto the bed. She holds her skirt out of the way and giggles like a schoolgirl when Jeremy eases his penis out of her and his semen dribbles from her anus. She meekly keeps her cum-saturated panties away from her skirt as she slips into the ensuite bathroom and strips.

Jeremy brings her purse while she undresses. The semen-soaked panties and pantyhose are put aside while Jeremy takes her skirt, blouse and jacket and hangs them up. He brings her some lingerie from the little stash that Stephanie keeps at his apartment and Stephanie emerges from the bathroom a little while later with her makeup and hair fixed, wearing a burgundy satin and lace basque, matching satin panties, black fully-fashioned stockings and the same heels she arrived in.

Jeremy can hardly keep his hands off her but he manages to restrain himself while they head back to the little kitchen to drink the Grange Hermitage and catch up while their passions begin to smoulder. They will return to the bedroom and make love into the early hours until it is time for Stephanie to leave.

Stephanie leaves Jeremy sleeping, exhausted from their lovemaking; the Viagra Jeremy took made his virility particularly potent. She is bone tired too and her lips are puffy, her nipples tender and her anus feels wonderfully bruised. She is wearing the same suit that she arrived in, the panties she was wearing lying discarded on the bathroom floor, the Wolfords left behind as a present for Jeremy. She is wearing a pair of cheap Hanes pantyhose with full-cut panties over for the trip home.

The Nielsen Residence, New Rochelle, New York – The Morning After

Stephanie arrived home dog tired and made her way to the study. She used facial wipes to remove her makeup and took off her wig, brushed it and put it in a soft silk wig bag. The press-on nails were gently pried off and put in baggie to be reused. Off came the suit and with it her feminine alter ego and her existence returned to that of Stephen Nielson. The suit and blouse went into a small valise to be taken to the drycleaner and the phone was switched to silent and locked away in the compartment in the desk next to the laptop, along with the fob and garage remote. Everything else went back into the suitcase which Stephen returned to the garage and locked away. The valise went into the trunk of the Lexus.

Stephen took a very quick shower, mainly to remove the outward vestiges of makeup and the smell of perfume and he fell into bed and was instantly asleep.

Stephen and Mary were jarred awake just after ten o’clock by the sound of the doorbell. Mary had arrived home from work exhausted after her shift and kicked off her heels, shimmied out of her suit and leaving on her underwear and hosiery, she had slipped under the covers and snuggled up to her husband who was snoring softly.

“Who the fuck could that be?” Stephen got out of bed and snatched up his robe and put it on.

“I have no idea. You slept in again?” Mary looked at the digital clock on the bedside table.

“I watched a miniseries on Netflix and polished off a bottle of wine. With my wife at work there was no need to hurry to bed,” Stephen bent down and kissed Mary on the nose affectionately.

“Well come back to bed when whoever it is, is gone. I’m still wearing my pantyhose and I know you love that,” Mary flipped the covers back and then quickly pulled them closed, giving her husband a glimpse of her long legs clad in dark hosiery and her bottom clad in white nylon panties.

With her smudged makeup and tousled hair Mary looked sleepy-sexy and Stephen thought that he might get it up for her with the aid of the sildenafil still in his system despite having orgasmed numerous times with Jeremy.

When Stephen opened the door he was surprised to see two plain-clothed detectives accompanied by a small army of uniformed policemen. One of the detectives held up his badge.

“Stephen Nielsen, you are under arrest for the murder of Jeremy Wallace. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…” the rest of the Miranda warning was lost on Stephen Nielsen as the blood drained from his head and he thought he was going to faint.

Westchester County Court – The Trial – Day One

“Detective Bolton, please tell the court what happened when you arrived at the Jeremy Wallace’s residence on the morning of October seventeenth of last year,” ADA Gerald Thatcher had called his first witness and the trial had begun.

Both Gerald Thatcher and William Sanford had made their opening remarks to the jury. Gerald Thatcher surmised his case: Stephanie Nielsen and Jeremy Wallace had been conducting a torrid affair and on the evening of the crime they had sex, then they had gotten into an argument and Stephanie Nielsen had killed Jeremy Wallace with a handgun and had fled the scene and returned home.

William Sanford’s defence was that Stephanie Nielsen had not committed the crime and the prosecution's case was based on circumstantial evidence.

Both lawyers had no intention of providing too much information to the jury just yet. The ADA would tell a sordid story of perversion, adultery, lust, deception, jealousy and rage resulting in a crime of passion. The Defence would try to counter every move the ADA made, discredit any evidence presented and all witnesses called by the prosecution.

There had been much speculation regarding the trial in the press. A transwoman who was once a highly respected, wealthy, married, businessman accused of murdering her lover who was also a highly respected and wealthy man was grist for the tabloid mill, especially because Stephanie remained married to Mary and Mary remained stoically convinced of her spouse’s innocence.

“A neighbour reported gunshots in the Franklin Manor cooperative and officers arrived at the scene and were let into Jeremy Wallace’s apartment by the super. They found Jeremy Wallace’s naked body shot dead. A snub-nosed .38 Smith and Wesson handgun was found next to the victim and the officers called it in. I responded with my partner and a forensics team and we began investigating,” Detective Lionel Bolton began his testimony.

“While the crime scene officers collected forensic evidence I had the building superintendent bring up the security video and we identified a black Lexus parked directly behind Mr Wallace’s BMW in the underground garage. My partner and I observed what appeared to be a female dressed in a dark suit and purple blouse leave the vehicle and take the elevator to apartment 3F at 2135. We observed her leaving the apartment at 0330 the following morning. Several traffic cameras on the I-95 and I-287 held digital imagery of the vehicle travelling those routes at times which correspond with the accused vehicle arriving and departing her residence and the apartment on Franklin Avenue,” Lionel Bolton explained.

“So the number plates of the Lexus caught on the cameras in the apartment block matched the same plates and vehicle type caught on traffic cameras along the route from New Rochelle and White Plains and the timing corresponds to the time of the murder,” Gerald Thatcher came close to leading the witness but William Sanford did not object.

His strategy was not to antagonise the judge and the jury by constantly interrupting. That methodology works well on TV but not in real life.

“What else did you find that led you to believe that Stephanie Neilson was a suspect?” the ADA asked.

“At that stage not much else. We found a pair of discarded pantyhose and a pair of satin panties heavily soiled with semen. The bedsheets were stained with makeup and semen and we found a small amount of lingerie in one of the drawers and speculated that it might belong to a lover. At this stage we thought that we were looking for a woman you understand,” Detective Bolton said confidently.

“When did you decide that Stephanie Nielsen, who then identified as Stephen Neilson, was a suspect?” the ADA asked.

“After we ran the plates we identified Stephen Nielsen as the registered owner of the Lexus and at first we suspected that his wife may have borrowed his car but we checked the hospital where Mary Nielsen worked overnight as the duty administrator and confirmed that she had been at work all evening and that she had used her own vehicle that evening,” Lionel Bolton settled back into the witness chair.

“While we were doing that one the CSIs ran a set of latent prints found on the handgun through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System and AFIS came back with a positive hit on Stephen Nielsen, now known as Stephanie Nielsen. The serial number of the thirty-eight was run through the handgun register and it came back registered to Stephen Nielsen,” Lionel Bolton looked smug.

“We carefully examined the video taken in the apartment complex and decided that the woman we were observing could possibly be a man wearing female attire. At this stage we did not realise that this was a crime of passion and assumed that Stephen Nielsen had dressed as a woman as a disguise,” Lionel Bolton glared across the courtroom at the defendant.

“Objection your honour, the witness’s claim that the murder was a crime of passion has not been established,” William Sanford got to his feet.

“Overruled, you will get to test the witnesses assumptions under cross, councillor,” Judge Vogel replied.

“What did you and your partner do then?” the ADA asked.

“Using the video footage, the fingerprints, the firearms registration and identification of the defendant’s vehicle as reasonable grounds, Judge McGregor issued an arrest warrant for Stephen Nielsen around eight in the morning and I put together an arrest team and proceeded to the defendant's residence,” Detective Bolton replied straightforwardly.

“What was the rush detective?” ADA Thatcher was anticipating a challenge by the defence that the arrest of Stephanie Nielsen and the search of her domicile was pre-emptive.

Although the arrest and search had already been deemed legitimate by Judge Vogel in pre-trial deliberations, Gerald Thatcher was sure that William Sanford would raise the matter anyway to put it before the jury.

“Stephanie Nielsen is a rich woman, or at that time a rich man, and we considered her a flight risk. Also, we had concerns that she might destroy or hide evidence,” Lionel Bolton answered.

“What evidence did you find initially at the Nielsen residence?” the ADA asked.

“We found a suitcase hidden in the garage containing large quantities of female apparel including shoes, wigs and cosmetics. Also in the suitcase we found a douche, personal lubricant and a quantity of Viagra and an anti-viral drug known colloquially as PrEP. In the defendant’s study we found a concealed compartment in the desk inside of which was a laptop, a cellular phone, a remote control door opener and an electronic key fob,” Lionel Bolton smiled at the jury; they knew that the contents of the laptop and the phone would be juicy and that they could hardly wait to hear about it.

“Anything in particular that caught your attention at this stage?” the ADA smiled at his witness.

“A ladies suit and blouse was found in a valise in the defendant’s car which appeared to match the clothing worn by the murder suspect, and one of the wigs in the suitcase also appeared to match the hair worn by the suspect,” Detective Bolton smiled back.

“Did the defendant say anything to you or other members of your team at that time?” the ADA was about done.

“The defendant called out to his wife Mary Nielsen to contact their lawyer and then invoked his right to silence. We received a call from Edward Trent, identifying himself as the Nielsen family solicitor who advised us that Stephen Nielsen was represented by him and we were not to question the defendant without representation being present,” Lionel Bolton shifted in his seat, ready to leave unless he was cross-examined.

“One final thing Detective. You have used both male and female pronouns and the names Stephen and Stephanie when referring to the dependent. This might appear strange to the jury. Why is that?” Gerald Thatcher was skating on thin ice here but he wanted to get in another blow.

“The defendant initially identified himself as Stephen Nielsen, a male who sometimes presented as a woman named Stephanie. She has since undergone gender assignment surgery and changed her name legally to Stephanie. We were ordered to refer to the defendant only as Stephanie and use feminine pronouns except in the context of describing her actions, conduct and conversations prior to her gender reassignment,” Lionel Bolton smirked at the jury as if to imply ‘what the fuck?’

William Sanford resisted the urge to object but it would only assist the DA’s strategy which was to imply that Stephanie was some kind of freak or degenerate.

“I have only two questions for the witness your honour,” William Sanford began his cross.

“Was the snub-nosed .38 Smith and Wesson handgun registered to Stephen Nielsen that was found at the scene reported stolen prior to the murder?” William asked.

“Sure it was but it wouldn’t be the first time that a suspect has reported a gun stolen and then used it to commit murder,” Lionel Bolton smirked at William.

William briefly considered objecting that witness’s reply was non-responsive but he figured that any reasonable person could make the same conclusion.

“Did you investigate anyone else for the murder or did the police put all of their resources into making a case against my client? It seems that you didn’t,” William suppressed his anger.

“We couldn’t find anybody else with means and opportunity. We questioned a number of people who all had alibis, but to be honest, outside of work, Jeremy Wallace had few friends and no enemies that we could find. The evidence spoke for itself,” Lionel Bolton sounded pissed that he had even been asked the question.

William sat down and quietly fumed.

Astrid Nielson’s Residence, Long Island, New York – Fifteen Years Earlier

“Come down for dinner Stephen,” Stephen Nielsen’s mother called up the stairs.

Astrid Nielsen thought that her son spent a lot of time alone in his room but so did most teenagers. She was still worried about the ladies underwear, clothing and makeup she had found hidden in her son’s bedroom but she didn’t dare confront Stephen about it. At eighteen years of age her son was rebellious and libel to leave home if he thought that his mother didn’t trust him and since the death of her husband two years earlier and despite her wealth, Stephen was all she had.

“I’ll be down soon mother,” Stephen called through the locked door.

Stephen was wearing sheer-to-the-waist pantyhose, nylon panties and a satin full-slip. He was staring at a screen and masturbating, watching the crossdresser porn star Karen Dior being buggered by a virile young man. Karen was wearing vintage lingerie, fully fashioned stockings, ridiculously-high heels, heavy makeup and a blonde bob. She looked like she was enjoying every second of it and Stephen wished he was in Karen’s place.

Like most crossdressers he had discovered a fascination with ladies underwear and hosiery at an early age and had snuck into laundry baskets at home and at friends and relatives domiciles to sneak out panties and nylons to fondle and eventually to wear. He soon realised that this was fraught with danger and began to compile his own collection. Magazines depicting men dressed as women engaging in sex were not easy to find but then the internet exploded and the kind of porn he liked was readily available.

Stephen soon realised that it was not just the silky sensuous underwear and hosiery that attracted him, he wanted to dress fully as a woman and he bought cosmetics, shoes and clothing and even found a half-decent blonde wig. When his mother was away he would dress fully as his alter-ego Stephanie, parade around the house pretending to be a girl, and log into his favourite porn sites and get off watching crossdressers having sex with men.

He would end each session masturbating until climax and then he would undress, feeling a little ashamed but mostly desultory because he dearly wanted to meet others who were aficionados of his fetish.

Stephen pulled down the waistband of his pantyhose and slipped an old crusty nylon over his cock and began to stroke it, timing his climax just as the man on the screen emptied his sac into Karen Dior’s asshole.

He cleaned up and changed into appropriate attire and joined his mother for dinner.

Stephen went away to college at Rutgers University and that was when things really changed for him. Coming from a wealthy family Stephen was able to rent his own apartment where he could become Stephanie whenever he wanted. Stephanie worked hard developing her femme persona and style. She preferred a more sophisticated look but could look trashy-sexy too. She spent hours in online chatrooms, she joined crossdressing websites and watched trans and crossdresser porn until eventually she summoned the courage to actually meet someone for sex.

In a chatroom she developed a friendship with another crossdresser who used the online sobriquet Tessa Teases which Stephanie thought was a little twee but she was too excited to be meeting another of her kind to be concerned about how silly Tessa’s name sounded.

Stephanie was dressed for sex because Tessa was not coming around for coffee and a chat after all. Stephanie wore a blue satin basque, trimmed with lace. Long black fully-fashioned stockings were attached to the garters and she wore blue satin bikini panties. Her makeup was heavy and she wore a blonde bouffant wig. Stephanie had developed a passion for Dior Poison perfume and had drowned herself in it before she met Terrance Bigalow at the front door to her little apartment. Terrance was carrying a backpack with his female accoutrements inside.

As agreed, Terrance went straight to the bedroom and transformed into Tessa, emerging forty minutes later looking quite stunning dressed in a red silk peignoir, matching panties, sheer nude stockings and red high heels. She was wearing a black, blunt-cut bob and her makeup was just as heavy as Stephanie's. Tessa looked nothing like Terrance but why should she; Stephanie looked nothing like Stephen either.

Tessa was about ten years older than Stephanie and very experienced. Tessa took the lead and stepped up to Stephanie and looked deeply into her green eyes.

“Are you ok? I know this is your first time,” Tessa’s voice was husky and sexy.

“I’m nervous. I just let a stranger into my apartment and we are both dressed as women for the sole intention of having sex,” Stephanie admitted.

“Did you prepare like I told you to. We don’t have to go that far if you don’t want to,” Tessa gently stroked Stephanie's cheek.

“My god you are beautiful. If I saw you on the street I would think you were nothing other than a gorgeous sexy young woman,” Tessa leaned in and kissed Stephanie on the side of the mouth.

“You are very beautiful yourself. I’ve thought long and hard about this and I want to go through with it,” Stephanie whispered.

“Speaking of long and hard; I can see that you are eager,” Tessa put out her hand and stroked Stephanie’s burgeoning erection through her panties.

The front of Stephanie's panties was already damp with pre-seminal juices. When Tessa kissed her softly Stephanie thought she had gone to heaven. The kiss was long, lingering and gentle and Tessa softly caressed Stephanie’s cock while they kissed until it became fully tumescent. The kiss became more impassioned and Stephanie allowed herself to drown in the sensations she was experiencing. It was everything she had ever dreamed of. Why had she waited so long?

The taste of Tessa’s lipstick, the scent of her cloying perfume, the feel of her silky peignoir pressing against Stephanie’s satin basque, the swish of their nylons as Tessa rubbed a leg against Stephanie’s was a sensory pastiche that Stephanie had long anticipated but never dreamed could feel so wonderful. She tentatively reached for Tessa’s cock and found it magnificently tumescent with a rod-like shaft and spongy glans. It was the first penis that she ever touched beside her own and already she was besotted with it. She fondled, caressed and stroked it, taking her lead from Tessa.

Tessa pulled Stephanie into a passionate embrace and slipped her tongue into Stephanie’s sweet mouth and eased Stephanie's cock out of her panties and stroked it. Tessa smiled as Stephanie gasped into her mouth and then Tessa felt Stephanie’s cock judder followed by the scalding splash of hot semen on her legs.

Stephanie had orgasmed.

“I’m sorry,” Stephanie whimpered.

“Not at all, I came very quickly my first time too. I take it as a compliment. Let me wipe my legs then we can have a glass of wine and you can recover and we can start all over again. I know that you are going to love it. I’m damn sure I am,” Tessa kissed Stephanie and eased out her embrace so she could clean up.

While Tessa was in the bathroom dabbing tissues on her nylons Stephanie opened a bottle of wine and thought about what had just happened. There was no doubt that she was feeling some kind of post-coital regret. She was after all a young man dressed as a young woman and had just had sex with an older man also dressed as a woman. She shook her head and cleared her thoughts of any notion that Tessa was anything other than a beautiful sexy woman who just happened to have a penis.

The couple retired to the couch and after a short refractory period Stephanie was ready to resume their tryst. They took their time kissing, fondling and stroking each other, relishing the feel of their femme bodies pressed together while they kissed. Tessa went down on Stephanie and fellated her and Stephanie enjoyed every second of it. Stephen had girlfriends and was not inexperienced when it came to receiving oral gratification but Stephanie had never sucked a cock. She finally got around to taking Tessa’s cock in her mouth and it was everything she hoped it would be.

Stephanie had never felt more feminine as she did when she tentatively closed her lips around Tessa’s throbbing organ. She used the techniques that she had experienced as the receiver of oral delights and Tessa’s moans and groans seemed to indicate that she was quite a decent fellatrix. When Tessa’s cock suddenly discharged in her mouth, Stephanie was a little surprised. The musky, salty milt that Tessa expressed into Stephanie’s mouth was not at all unpleasant and Stephanie drained every last drop from Tessa’s pulsing organ.

Tessa lay Stephanie down on the couch and returned the favour, taking her time, fellating her new-found girlfriend to climax while stroking her stocking-sheathed thighs and caressing her panty-clad scrotum.

They drank more wine and chatted. This time Stephanie did not feel any post-coital regret. They were two girlfriends chatting about clothes, makeup, acquaintances they both knew in the online chatrooms, some of whom Tessa had met in person.

“So, is it really that wonderful?” Stephanie asked.

They had been discussing anal sex.

“There is nothing more intimate,” Tessa replied.

“Do you really think you are ready?” Tessa asked and made a hand gesture toward the bedroom.

“Be gentle,” Stephanie whispered and smiled seductively at Tessa who took her hand and led Stephanie into the bedroom.

“Get on the bed,” Tessa patted the coverlet and Stephanie obliged.

“I think we will try doggy style first if you would please get on your hands and knees,” Tessa kissed Stephanie passionately and then Stephanie assumed the position.

Stephanie was shaking in both trepidation and anticipation when she felt Tessa take up position behind her.

Stephanie felt Tessa's cock press into the crevice between her buttocks and she could feel the girth of Tessa’s phallus fretting on her bottom, Tessa’s cock pushing Stephanie’s satin panties into her natal cleft.

It felt quite stimulating but there was also an undercurrent of powerlessness and of surrender, kneeling like that with someone behind you, pressing their cock into your most vulnerable place. Stephanie shuddered in anticipation when Tessa eased aside the gusset of her panties.

Tessa pressed her cock against Stephanie’s sphincter and Stephanie clenched when she felt Tessa's turgid prong probing her anus and then she felt Tessa apply the cool salve of the emollient on her pink tight entrance. Stephanie instinctively bucked a little when Tessa applied a gobbet of the lubricant to her finger and then slid it inside Stephanie’s puckered bud. Her sphincter clamped around the digit as Tessa eased it in and out of her anus, opening it up.

Stephanie concentrated on relaxing her sphincter, keeping her body still, with her ass raised high in the air, her legs apart, prepared to be deflowered.

She felt Tessa edge closer, their stockings hissed as Tessa’s thighs pressing against hers. Then she felt the protuberance of Tessa’s sex nestle in her crinkled spherule and she stifled a moan as Tessa began to slide her steely hard penis into Stephanie’s tight anus. Stephanie's face screwed up in pain and she hissed as she tried her best to loosen her sphincter as Tessa's long, sleek cock distended her anus.

"That's it Stephanie, just relax and take it. It’s going to start to feel good I promise," Tessa cooed.

Tessa had to hold back her orgasm as she slid her cock into Stephanie's virgin anus. Stephanie’s sphincter was so tight that it gripped her penis like a velvet glove as Tessa drove it into her. When Tessa had the full length of her penis inside Stephanie’s rectum she paused. Both Tessa and Stephanie were breathing heavily, one in pain, the other in ecstasy.

"Keep still babe and don't move until you get used to it," Tessa whispered.

Stephanie did as she was told and knelt on the bed with Tessa's bloated penis deep inside her until gradually she was able to relax her postural muscles and slacken her sphincter a little so that the searing pain subsided into a dull throb. Stephanie could feel Tessa's cock pulsating inside her and sensed that Tessa was close to extremis. Stephanie wriggled her buttocks indicating that she was ready and Tessa slowly began to fuck Stephanie, easing her cock almost all the way out of her anus and then sliding it all the way back inside her, relishing the tightness of her velvety tunnel.

Stephanie felt Tessa's cock sliding in and out of her rectum, the lubricant fulfilling its purpose, easing the way for her cock. She felt Tessa’s stocking-clad thighs pressing against hers and she felt her buttocks quiver whenever Tessa pushed it all the way inside her. Stephanie’s sphincter stretched to accommodate Tessa’s bloated organ and then Stephanie felt a deep resonance as Tessa’s glans pressed against her prostate.

Stephanie was hyper aware of their femininity: the feel of her satin basque caressing her body, the delightful sensation of their nylons flittering against each other’s, the scent of their perfume comingling, the taste of her lipstick and the scent of her makeup. Stephanie felt very submissive kneeling supplicant on the bed, Tessa holding her by the hips with her rampant penis inside her, Stephanie’s back arched and her buttocks raised, pressing back against Tessa’s silken pantied groin as Tessa drove her phallus deep into Stephanie’s tight clunge.

Tessa became aware that Stephanie was no longer restrained and she fucked Stephanie a little faster. Tessa admired Stephanie's plump buttocks clad in her slinky panties; her long stocking-sheathed legs splayed open so that she could accept Tessa’s cock. Tessa felt her scrotum begin to roil as it slapped against Stephanie's silken-gusseted buttocks and her cock began to quiver as her orgasm approached.

Stephanie felt the change in Tessa. She was holding Stephanie tighter, digging her fingers into her hips as she began to fuck Stephanie harder and faster. Sparklets of pleasure radiated from Stephanie's sphincter, her anus felt wonderfully full, luxuriant warmth emanated from the spongy mass of her rectum and the most intense carnal gratification was building in her prostate.

Tessa pulled Stephanie back tight against her, her pelvis pressing against Stephanie’s buttocks, her silken-shrouded thighs grating against Stephanie’s and Stephanie felt Tessa's cock judder and she realised that Tessa was ejaculating. Stephanie could hear Tessa’s ragged breathing, feel her cock fully distend and begin to pulse as Tessa unloaded her seed deep inside her.

Stephanie pushed back obligingly and wriggled her ass; her cock was tingling and her prostate jangling. Suddenly Stephanie was in extremis and her cock juddered inside her panties and she ejaculated. Waves of pleasure radiated from her anus and joined the ripples of delight emanating from her penis. Stephanie had achieved climax without touching her cock.

"Yes baby, I knew you would love it," Tessa mewled as she slammed her cock all the way inside Stephanie and collapsed on top of her.

Stephanie’s legs gave out and she lay flat on the bed with Tessa's weight on top of her, grinding her pelvis into her soft satin-sheathed buttocks, her cock quivering as the last of Tessa’s issue burst forth, deep inside Stephanie's tight anus. Tessa kissed Stephanie’s neck and held her tight, delighting in the feel of Stephanie’s tight rectum enveloping her turgid organ.

The two transbian lovers lay like that until finally Tessa’s cock slipped out of Stephanie’s spunk-filled cleft. Tessa rolled Stephanie over and lay on top her kissing her, their cum-soaked panties and silken-clad libs rubbing against each other’s as they kissed and canoodled.

“You do this with guys too, right?” Stephanie asked.

“Yeah, I told you in the chatroom that I meet with other crossdressers and men who like crossdressers whom I refer to as admirers,” Tessa admitted.

“I think I’d like to try that. I love us being together and don’t get me wrong, but my fantasies have also involved a man treating me like a lady. You know, a lady in the living room and a whore in the bedroom,” Stephanie blushed.

“Wow! You just had your first transbian fuck and already you want to get it on with a guy?” Tessa chuckled.

“What’s it like?” Stephanie looked questioningly into Tessa’s eyes.

Tessa paused and considered the question.

“It’s fucking awesome,” she giggled.

“Where do you meet guys who like girls like us? Most of the chatroom members are other CDs and TVs. There aren’t many men and the ones online always seem to live too far away or are reluctant to meet in person,” Stephanie inquired.

Again Tessa paused and wondered if Stephanie was ready to get out there and start meeting random guys. She guessed that it was up to Stephanie to decide.

“Have you ever heard of Craigslist?” Tessa asked.

Westchester County Court – The Trial – Day One

“Please state your name and occupation to the court,” ADA Gerald Thatcher was about to introduce his second witness.

“I am Doctor Richard Webb, the senior Crime Scene Unit Forensic Technician and head of the Forensic Identification Unit,” Richard identified himself and his role.

“For the jury and the court can you explain your duties?” the ADA asked.

“Well unlike what you might have seen on television where the criminalists are called Crime Scene Investigators or CSIs, in real life, the actual title for this position is Crime Scene Unit Forensic Technician,” Richard explained.

“My technicians typically process major case crime scenes, such as homicide and suspicious death investigations, or robberies. At the crime scene, the primary responsibility of the FIU is evidence recognition, documentation, collection, and preservation. I am also responsible for presenting physical evidence in court proceedings,” Richard continued.

“So to summarise, you are here today to present all of the forensic evidence gathered by the coroner, the FIU and other agencies employed to process said evidence,” Gerald Thatcher turned to the jury and saw that most of them were nodding their heads to express their understanding.

“Please begin with physical evidence collected from Stephanie Nielsen and Jeremy Wallace,” Gerald Thatcher was looking forward to this.

Things were about to get funky.

“Certainly. Ms Nielsen, or as she was known then Mr Nielsen, was subject to a forensic body and cavity search in accordance with the bench warrant issued by Judge McGregor who had also issued the arrest warrant. We found skin fragments under the accused fingernails and under press-on false fingernails found in a baggie in the suitcase found in the garage,” Richard began his testimony.

“DNA matched the skin fragments to the deceased and after examining of the deceased body I determined that the skin likely came from the deceased back where there were scratches present. Similar minute skin fragments were also found on the heel cap of a pair of high heels which we concluded had caused the abrasions on Jeremy Wallace’s abdomen,” Richard pointed to enlarged photographs of the fingernails and shoes and the scratches on Jeremy Wallace’s body.

The enlarged photographs were mounted on an easel for all to see whilst a folder containing the original pictures was circulated to the jury.

“What conclusions did you make regarding this evidence?” the ADA asked.

“We concluded that the most likely scenario was that the scratches found on the deceased occurred during vigorous sex,” Richard Webb looked over at the defence table expecting an objection but none was forthcoming.

“What else did you find of relevance?” Gerald Thatcher asked.

“We found Jeremy Wallace’s semen inside Ms Nielsen’s anus and trace amounts of Ms Nielsen’s semen on Jeremy Wallace’s body. Jeremy Wallace’s semen was also found on some hosiery, lingerie and clothing that Ms Nielsen later admitted was hers. Semen belonging to Jeremy Wallace and Ms Nielsen was also found on the bedsheets,” Richard pointed to pictures of said clothing and bed sheets.

For the first time in the trial Stephanie Nielsen reacted. She showed distaste when Richard Webb mentioned the semen found in her anus.

“A ballistic report confirmed that the deceased was killed by five bullets fired from the snub-nosed .38 Smith and Wesson handgun found at the scene. There was no muzzle stamp or gunshot residue found on the deceased body so we concluded that weapon had been fired at a distance of at least two meters, say six feet, from the victim while he lay on the bed,” the court and jury were now treated to pictures of Jeremy Wallace’s blood-soaked corpse lying on the bed.

“Fingerprint evidence?” Gerald Thatcher gave Richard Webb free reign; there was no need to drag the testimony out of him.

Stephanie Nielsen had already stipulated during an interview conducted in the company of her counsel that she had gone to Jeremy Wallace’s apartment and that they had sex.

“Ms Nielsen’s fingerprints were found on numerous surfaces and on glassware in Jeremy Wallace’s apartment but most importantly they were found on the murder weapon,” Richard Webb turned to face the jury to offer his response so that they understood the importance of it.

Gerald Thatcher let Richard Webb continue to provide forensic evidence until he saw the jury was becoming bored then he cut him off and tended the witness.

William Sanford finally arose from behind the defence’s table to conduct his cross-examination. He was tall, dark-haired, slim, broad-shouldered and incredibly handsome. He projected an aura of confidence and masculinity.

“Doctor Webb, you concluded the skin found under my client’s nails and shoes matched scratches on the Mister Wallace's body and determined that they were likely caused during sex and were not defence wounds caused in a struggle, is that correct?” William began.

“That’s correct counsellor,” Richard Webb said stiffly.

“There was no evidence of a fight or a struggle at the crime scene or on the victim and defendant’s bodies?” William continued.

“No,” Richard answered stiffly.

“And no blood traces were found on the clothing worn by my client, or on her body?” William asked, knowing the importance of the question.

“No there wasn’t but if she had been standing at a distance of two meters away when the gun was fired, as determined by crime scene analysis, there wouldn’t be,” Richard answered smugly.

“And no gunshot residue, GSR as you call it, was found on my client or the clothes she was wearing. How do you explain that?” William had scored a point.

“If the pistol was held at arm’s length when the shots were fired the GSR might not transfer onto her clothing or she could have been naked when the shots were fired. The accused had also showered before she went to bed that night,” Richard was smug.

“But during the forensic exam, minute traces of mascara, eyeliner and lipstick were found on my client and you stated that you found semen in her anus and skin under her fingernails. Would that not conclude that the shower was short and desultory?” William Sanford countered.

“I have no idea how long your client showered or how she washed herself. I can only submit to the court the evidence that was found, not what wasn’t found,” Richard Webb showed a little anger.

“You mean to tell the court that my client fired all five rounds into Jeremy Wallace’s body and no trace of GSR or the defendant’s blood transferred onto her clothing or her body?” William hammered home his point.

“Objection. Asked and answered your Honor,” Gerald Thatcher got to his feet.

“She could have been wearing gloves,” Richard Webb growled his answer before the judge ruled on the objection which played directly into William Sanford’s hands.

Judge Vogel just shrugged. The witness had provided an answer before she could rule on the objection so now Richard Webb would have to defend his answer. Gerald Thatcher glowered at Richard Webb. He did not want to go down this route.

“Did you find any gloves at my client’s house or in her car?” William Sanford closed in for the attack, prepared for the witness’s response.

“No but she could have disposed of them at any time after the murder,” Richard Webb huffed.

“So you propose that my client wore gloves to protect her hands from GSR but still managed to leave her fingerprints on the gun?” William smiled at Richard Webb and watched his face turn red.

“No further questions your Honor,” William Sanford said before Richard Webb could answer.

Gerald Thatcher shot to his feet.

“Redirect your Honor. Is it possible that Ms Nielsen, knowing that the gun was registered to her, didn’t bother to wipe down the gun before she went to Jeremy Wallace’s apartment but wore gloves specifically to prevent the transfer of GSR to her hands and disposed of the gloves after she left the apartment?” the ADA asked, trying to stifle his frustration.

“That is not only possible, it is likely, especially if the defendant wanted to confuse the investigators,” Richard Webb wore a self-satisfied smugness on his face that did not sit well with the jury.

Ante Room - Westchester County Court – The Trial – Day One

“How did we do?” Stephanie Nielsen asked William Sanford during the break.

Stephanie had been told to wear a simple suit and low heels and to tone down her makeup for the trial. She had done all these things but she still looked stunningly beautiful. She’d had breast implants and a little facial feminisation surgery as part of her transition but that was all. Sensibly, she had elected to have small breasts prosthesis inserted rather than the huge mammaries that some transgender women chose. She was small in stature, slim-waisted, wide-hipped and long-legged. Even dressed in her drab suit she exuded sensuality.

Mary Nielsen sat beside her spouse. She too was a stunning mature woman and pictures of the two together had dominated the tabloids now that the trial had begun. The tabloids had nicknamed them ‘The Sister Wives’ and speculated as to why a cis woman would remain married to her ‘husband’ after he had transitioned into a transwoman, especially given that Stephanie had been charged with killing her lover and her admission of serial adultery.

“I’d say we are doing ok. There was no point cross examining Detective Bolton further. We are not denying that you were at Jeremy Wallace’s apartment and that you had sex with him on the night of the murder. His evidence just confirmed what we have already stipulated,” William Sanford steepled his fingers under his chin.

“Even the police admitted that their initial claim that you were dressed as a woman as some kind of disguise was bogus,” William nodded thoughtfully.

“I think I did a good job of discrediting their claim that you wore gloves to prevent GSR transfer and their explanation as to why the victim’s blood was not found on the clothes you were wearing,” William was trying to convince himself, not just Stephanie that the trial was going well for them.

“They have established means to commit the crime because your gun was used to kill Jeremy Wallace and they have established opportunity because you admit being at the crime scene at the time of the offence and they have the video footage of you arriving and leaving,” William nodded thoughtfully.

“Next will come motive and this is where the outcome of the trial will be determined. I can’t prevent them from presenting the damning evidence the investigators found on your laptop and cell phone. You are going to have to take the stand to rebut any allegations and put the evidence they present in context,” William smiled grimly at Stephanie.

“You have done a fantastic job so far sticking with Stephanie, sitting behind her in the court, refusing to comment to the press but it’s about to get messy in there Mary. Stephanie really needs you to stand by her now,” William turned to Mary Nielsen.

“I’m already being painted as the cuckold wife whose husband was secretly crossdressing and having sex with men. I’m being pilloried in the media. My family have all but disowned me. My job is on the line and I have no idea how I’ll get another if I’m fired. I’m a laughingstock,” Mary wrung her hands and held back tears.

“I’ll stand by you Stephen, at least I will until the trial is over. I can’t wait until I divorce you and can move on with my life,” Mary’s composure leading up to and during the trial had been demure and supportive when she was in public but in the privacy of the meeting room she vented her anger and outrage.

Mary stood up, grabbed her things and stormed out of the room, putting a false pleasant smile on her face and offering a polite ‘no comment’ to the small army of reporters crowding the corridors of the courtroom.

William locked the door and approached Stephanie Nielsen who was standing, looking embittered. She didn’t know what had hurt her more, Mary’s vexation or her use of Stephanie’s male name. Since the morning of Stephanie’s arrest Mary had been openly supportive in public but in private she had been angry and indignant, especially when the truth concerning Stephanie’s secret life was exposed. Mary had even accused Stephanie of undertaking gender reassignment only as a means of gaining sympathy.

“Come here,” William took Stephanie in his arms and let her cry on his shoulder.

“Are you going to save me William?” Stephanie looked pleadingly into William’s dark brown eyes; her own emerald green eyes were flooded with tears.

“Of course I am my love,” William whispered and kissed Stephanie with unreserved ardour.

The Law Practice of Trent, Marshall and Dunne, New Rochelle, New York – Six Months Before The Trial

“Thanks for taking the meeting,” Edward Trent said to William Sanford.

They were sitting in a small meeting room at the law firm of Trent, Marshall and Dunne.

“What can I do for you Ed?” William asked, getting straight to the point.

“I have a client who needs a criminal attorney. My firm has represented the Nielsen family for three generations but we do not handle criminal law of this magnitude. I need a specialist to take the case,” Edward explained.

“A crime of what magnitude Ed? Get to the point,” William Sanford was a busy man.

“I need somebody to represent Stephanie Nielsen at her murder trial,” Edward got to the point.

“You mean the crossdressing freak who killed his lover? You’ve got to be kidding,” William did not try to disguise his distaste.

“You mean the transgender woman wrongfully accused of killing her lover,” Edward corrected him.

“You can change pronouns and put your client in a Versace dress for all I care. The case is going to be a mess. The press are already all over it and from what I’ve heard, the DA has got enough evidence to send her away for life,” William Sanford replied.

The door to the meeting room opened and a petite woman wearing a dark tailored skirt-suit entered. She had blonde hair and stunning features and it was impossible not to look at her long legs sheathed in shimmery glossy tan nylons as she strode the short distance across the room and sat down beside Edward Trent. She smoothed the hem of her skirt, which rested just above her knees. A miasma of Dior Poison perfume drifted across the room.

“I’m the crossdressing freak accused of killing her lover. Stephanie Nielsen, pleased to meet you,” Stephanie’s smile was charming, her luscious red lips formed an overbite as she extended her hand in greeting.

Her fingers were long, elegant and tipped with manicured red nails.

William took her hand and gently squeezed it. He was unable to speak, which for a lawyer was almost unheard of.

“I’m not wearing Versace but I hope I look presentable,” Stephanie self-consciously licked her top lip, not realising the effect it had on the two men in the room.

“I’m sorry Ms Nielsen, I didn’t mean to insult you,” William stammered.

“I stopped being a crossdressing freak when I legally changed my name and gender. I also had a little work done,” Stephanie gave the two men a cheeky grin.

“Edward tells me that in this room I enjoy attorney-client privilege. Why don’t I tell you my side of the story and you can decide for yourself if you want to take my case,” Stephanie suddenly became serious.

“I’ll leave you two alone to speak in private. I’ll have my girl send in some coffee,” Edward arose and left the room.

William Sanford had never felt so uncomfortable in his life. He was immediately attracted to the stunning woman sitting across from him whilst at the same time repulsed. He swallowed and nodded at Stephanie, tacitly agreeing to hear her story.

“Let’s begin with ‘the night of’. That’s law enforcement parlance for the evening of the crime,” William began to regain his composure.

Stephanie told William everything about the evening of the murder: waiting for Mary to leave for work, transforming at home, driving to Jeremy Wallace’s apartment, having sex on multiple occasions, driving home, changing back into her male persona and the police arriving around ten in the morning.

She left nothing out but didn’t go into great detail about the sex acts themselves; just that she and Jeremy had sex in the lounge room and the bedroom.

“Ok. But let me get my head around this Ms Nielsen. At the time you were a man who dressed like a woman for the purposes of sexual gratification?” William tried to hide his disgust at the notion.

“That is far too simple an explanation. I didn’t just dress like Stephanie. I became her. My whole psyche changed when I transformed into Stephanie. She was like another person, the real me if you like, who existed in Stephen Nielsen's body,” Stephanie tried to explain.

“Well if I take the case you are going to have to explain all that to jury so they understand and are sympathetic to your state of mind at that time. What about this now?” William circled his finger pointing at Stephanie’s body.

“I was a woman trapped in a man’s body as I said. My gender dysphoria goes back to my childhood. You will need to talk to my phycologist and my family doctor to get a full understanding of what that is,” Stephanie’s lips began to tremble.

“Anyway, two months ago I had some gender reassignment surgery. I had breast implants, a tracheal shave and I also had a little work done on my face, and I had my hair bleached, not much really, pretty much what you see is what you get,” Stephanie gave a curt smile.

“Changing one’s name and gender in New York State is a lot easier than most people would think. You can amend your gender designation on your birth certificate by submitting an application and copies of the required documents to the Vital Records Call Center. You can update your gender on your driver’s licence either online or in DMV offices. It’s that simple,” Stephanie explained.

“Ok, but what about your friends, family and your wife, how do they feel about it?” William asked.

“Well that’s another matter entirely. If you take my case, my wife Mary will agree to an interview and is prepared to give testimony if you need her to. I think it’s best if I let her speak for herself,” Stephanie became a little morose.

Stephanie reached into her purse and produced two glossy photographs and put them on the table.

“This was me then. This is me now,” she pointed to the pictures of Stephen Nielsen, a smallish handsome man dressed in a business suit and Stephanie Nielsen, a beautiful petite woman wearing a women’s version of the same suit.

“I have the money Mister Sanford. If you can put your prejudices aside and just treat me like any other client I’m sure you can prove me innocent of the crime that I have been charged with. All I want is the best legal counsel available,” Stephanie looked at William levelly.

“I have no prejudices Ms Nielsen. I take cases on their merit and on the ability of my client to pay my fees. I’m a criminal defence attorney. I have defended some of the most depraved individuals in the state of New York,” William countered.

“I heard what you said before I entered the room and I saw the way you looked at me. I’m getting used to it. Men find me physically attractive but most of them suddenly find me repulsive when they find out that I’m a transgender woman. We only need to have a client-attorney relationship. I know that you will never really like me but think of the publicity you and your firm will enjoy. It’s already a high profile case and I haven’t even been to court yet except to be indicted and to have my bail set,” Stephanie smiled wanly.

“I’m sorry if my prejudices are so apparent to you. I suppose I just don’t understand the whole concept of a man pretending to be a woman,” William replied.

He saw Stephanie’s demeanour change instantly. He saw anger roil in her face as she lost composure and her body tensed and her respiration increased.

“You can never look like that when I put you on the stand. The DA is going to attack you and you will need to keep your composure and stifle your anger,” William said levelly.

“Does that mean you are going to take my case?” Stephanie relaxed and once again became demure.

“I didn’t say that. I’ll get Edward to send the case files over to my office and I’ll review the evidence. From now on you speak to no one except to me about the case until after the trial. Stay away from the media and instruct your wife to do the same. If I do take the case you will need to deposit a retainer with my firm before I start to formulate your defence,” William stood up and picked his briefcase up off the table.

“Thank you,” the relief in Stephanie’s voice was evident.

“I haven’t said yes yet,” William countered.

Stephanie also arose and moved out from behind the conference table and offered her hand. William shook it and made his way to the door.

“You can wipe your hand on your trousers William. I won’t be offended,” Stephanie gave him a twee smile.

“Fuck!” William muttered under his breath when he left the office and strode purposely toward the bank of elevators.

He wiped his hand vigorously on his thigh as he waited for the car.

To be continued…