Rose's Thorns

Counterattack

Sunday passed by in a blur, Marina unable to step her foot outside. Even if she had, the walk to the garden was the last time the judge had taken the path to her room.

Did he stop coming because she had managed to weird him out with her behavior?

But she hadn't been that bad, had she?

Or did the bodyguard tell him something?

Closing her eyes, she willed herself to sleep pushing all thoughts of him out of her mind. She had only needed his presence for her nightmares and they had stopped, there was no need for her to see him anymore but even as she assured herself of that, she could feel the persistent crave that was almost a need to see him, to just get a glimpse.

'Is this the consequences of being starved of kindness?'

Turning once more, she closed her eyes tighter.

'Well, I am used to being denied of what I want.'

**********

"Sir, the car is ready." Ellis informed Theodore who was still having this breakfast.

He nodded and took another bite of the sandwich on his plate.

"Lara, it was a wonderful dish." He said and made for the napkin being careful not to cause an accident. Once he felt it, he smiled a bit then quickly wiped his mouth and hands.

"Thank you sir." Laura replied blushing a little. It was difficult not to after being complimented by someone so good looking.

Ellis shook his head at the scene before him, the woman was simply too old for that.

Theodore rose from his seat, and made for the door, Ellis by his side.

"On your schedule today, the judge's panel is first, then you have the bank robbery case by 10 am, then by 12 am, if the hearing is over you made an appointment with the chief judge. Speaking of the chief judge, I have gotten the photos." He said handing the envelope to Theodore, his eyes glinting with excitement.

He couldn't wait to see the chief judge's face once the show goes down.

"The hearing may not end by then, but if it coincides with the break, I'll make it. If it doesn't, move the appointment to evening." He replied holding on to the envelope.

"Okay sir." Ellis replied opening the door for him.

He entered the car putting his right hand on the upper edge to avoid bumping his head. Once he was inside, Ellis closed the door and joined him in the car.

"Anything else?" Theodore asked once he heard the door to the driver's seat close.

"No Sir." He replied pressing on the ignition.

"That's good."

The journey was uneventful for Theodore as it always use to be, however that wasn't the case with the panel.

It was hilarious how a bunch of grown ups were making side remarks but none had the courage to speak out loud. The best part was when the chief judge chose to be the courageous one and confront him.

He listened patiently as he ranted about how he had tainted the name of the profession at large, made every judge in the town a laughing stock, dragged the laws of Mowrow in the mud and disrupted the balance they have all worked to achieve.

The man even went further to demand an apology and give him an ultimatum to correct his mistake to which almost every judge in the room agreed to.

To think he had wanted them to settle their differences like adults they both were but it seems it isn't jus age that should determine adulthood.

Calling unto Ellis, he whispered.

"Cancel the appointment."

Those words made Ellis smile despite his brewing anger, it took everything in him to watch them spew the nonsense they were spewing without doing anything, but his interference will only complicate matters, well the table is about to turn and he couldn't wait to watch it's content flip.

Theodore waited for the little goons to chip in whatever they had to say which was mostly repetition of what their leader had said yet he was patient till the very last person.

"Good morning once again." He greeted finally given the chance to speak.

"Going by what I've heard, I am expected to offer a sincere apology, and right my wrongs. Just as the chief judge had rightfully pointed out, I am but an amateur in this and the best I could do is listen to my senior colleagues and in a bid to do that, I ordered a personal investigation and now I have good reason to suspect Marina is guilty of her offense and do as I have been told to." Turning to Ellis, he handed him the envelope and instructed him to give the chief judge. The man watched proudly as Ellis nodded and headed his way.

The proud Orson was submitting to him!

Did he think his family's name would grant him everything?

He should be ready to face the realities of life.

Once Ellis gave him the envelope, he took his time opening it a smug look on his face however, it didn't last long as the smug fled leaving the face pale. Without waiting for a moment he shoved the content of the envelope back inside it and stood up fuming.

"What is the meaning of this judge Orson?" He roared making everybody even more curious about the content of the envelope. They had seen the drastic change in his expression, the fear on his eyes and the panic in his voice.

What would make such a powerful man tremble?

Theodore smiled before he leaned back in his chair.

"It's the evidence incriminating her. She is from the streets after all, we all agree they are well suited for jobs like that. The pictures show the person that has the perfect motive to want the mayor dead speaking to our suspect on different occasions. They are two people of different worlds whose business should not entwine yet they are meeting multiple times right before the murder. Don't you think that is quite a ground for suspicion except if he is accepting other favours she pro.... "

"How dare you?"

"How dare you talk about my...." He stopped when he realized what he was about to do. Theodore had only given him the gun, he is the one that is about to pull the trigger.

Closing his eyes, he swallowed hard inorder to keep himself in check before he announced, walking out.

"The meeting is over. Judge Orson, in my office."

Theodore stood up proudly, his smile wider.

"Like always, it's been an honor being in your midst."

He said leaving the judges perplexed.

What just happened?

"How could you?"

"How could you try to destroy Isabella's father, my brother?"

"How the hell is he your target?"

"Is this some kind of revenge plan, is this how low you can stoop?"

Theodore said nothing until he had took his seat allowing the man to bark question after question.

"Chief Judge, how is this low" he asked once he was seated

"All I am doing is obeying my senior colleagues and satisfying my conscience. You want her executed, I found reason that would have her hung. It is simply unfortunate that it had to come with some minor collateral damage but if you look at it with the eye of impartiality, wouldn't it make sense?"

"Who gained the most from the mayor's death?"

"Do not talk about my brother that way." The chief judge warned pointing a finger at him making Ellis want to chuckle.

"Of course, who am I to disrespect the new mayor of Mowrow, the vice elect before the candidate for mayor suddenly and probably fortunately died?"

"I am not saying he is guilty of murder,he will just be questioned in court, he can wiggle out of it, I mean he always does, doesn't he?"

The chief judge could hardly contain himself but it was obvious his anger would not solve the matter for him. If even rumours manage to leak, his brother would be in trouble and he could not afford that. The attention the case had garnered was too large to simply shove it under the table, and to think he had bought that attention himself.

Damn it!!

"He did not kill the mayor." He said, the words feeling like they were torn out of him.

"Like I said, it will be sorted out in court."Theodore replied nonchalantly irritating the man even more.

"He is not going to court." He said again, his voice inches away from becoming a yell.

"Well, that won't be possible. My senior colleagues instructions were quite clear. I have to correct my mistakes and that is exactly what I must do."

"You won't be able to prove it."

"Not if the world can believe the girl is a killer based on stories cooked up, I promise you, your brother is the most concrete evidence against her and himself in this case."

The chief judge slumped in his seat, sweat trickling from his forehead down to the sides of his face. It wouldn't do any good for his brother to be in trouble, he knows too many secrets and he is not sure they will remain secrets once he gets cornered. If the case leaks out, the opposing party will definitely call for impeachment and knowing his brother's love for the position, that would break him and make him run mad.

" How credible Is the evidence?" He asked, his voice resolute.

"I don't know, didn't bother checking." Theodore responded enjoying the man's distress.

"Did you ask her?" He asked again.

"Nope, she is of low class, her words shouldn't hold meaning against ours."

"What if they had other business?" He asked again, clawing to anything he could get.

"There is a possibility she is simply an agent that supplies girls to him seeing how she brought girls to the hotel for him and his friends the very next day but we can cut out that part or claim that is not the only thing he asked for, can't we? Imprisoning her is the main goal isn't it?"

"No, no. Please that is the truth. The story should not be altered, continue being the impartial judge that you are. Leave my brother, your to-be inlaw out of this."

Theodore pretended to think for a while before he said.

"That will be difficult considering the attention this has garnered...."

"I'll dissolve it," he chipped in.

"But what about my senior colleagues.."

"I'll take care of them."

"What about you?" Theodore asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I, I will.. I will back down."

"But this is solid evidence right here..." Theodore protested enjoying the man's helplessness.

"Let the police find the evidence, they have 43 days to go don't they?"

" Hmm, do they?" He asked leaning back into his chair a wicked smile on his face and for the first time he earnestly wished he could see the man's face.