It was never you

Chapter 4

Carol eventually met with this man, Jones after she dismissed from work.

They met in an open place, which a cafe was preferable. Jones arrived ten minutes behind their scheduled time, while Carol ordered something light to drink while waiting upon his arrival.

Carol was still in her corporate wear of white shirt and grey skirt, while Jones wore a white a gray pant and white t-shirt which exposed his physical muscular features.

“Sorry I'm late” he apologized before joining Carol at the table.

Carol nodded before signalling to the waiter to come forward but Jones cut her short.

“that wouldn't be necessary unless you plan on taking more orders for yourself” he urged her.

He cleared his throat before proceeding.

“My name is Jones, and I'm an associate of your father before he got locked up. But I believe he is behind bar because of the selfish interest of some powerful people.

As a matter of fact, people you know personally” he explained.

Carol's eyes lit up in confusion with what Jones had just said. What caught her attention the most was the part he mentioned people she personally know.

Who could they be? that question alone caused a lot of tension inside her.

She decided to take it slow but made it a point to get a clear and concise detail about her involvement with the people behind her father's jail term.

“okay, do you have some sort of evidence to back up your claims or just mere assumption” she asked curiously.

“No, it's nowhere near the basis of assumption. Don't you think I have more important things to do rather than just sit here and waste both our times on such delicate matter.

Besides, we are talking about your father Carol, your father!” He banged his fist on the table.

Anger flared up in his face while he continued “God knows that man is innocent for the crimes they charged him for”

At this point Carol's frustration was beginning to grow impatient.

With a high tone she yelled “then show me what you have got”.

Her tone and statement attracted the attention of other people in the cafe to turn heads in their direction.

Jones pushed forward the brown envelope in his front to Carol.

She glanced at him, then at the envelope before she took it in her hands to see the contents inside.

It took her a while before she could process and understand the content.

It felt like her world would crash when she saw the names attached to the documents.

She gasped but glanced around to see if she was attracting another unsolicited attention.

“You mean the same Ortega family I got married into are the ones responsible for my father's predicament?” She asked.

Jones nodded his head.

“the people I personally know?” Carol said thinking out loud.

“Connecting the dots I guess” he asked.

“But how did you come across this if I may ask?”

“Your father deals on car right?” He asked and she nodded her head.

“So one of my partner who works at the clearing port was out on a date with this latina chick in some restaurant downtown.

While he was enjoying his date, of course he described it as a fun day, he overheard this short bald man in a suit on the phone call.

He said this man was quite audible because he was just a few seat away from his and his date.

He talked about the man threatening someone on the other end of the phone.

In the bald man's word he said and I quote, ‘do not let me make you end up like we did to Mr. Bradford, you dumb f**k, do not interfere or face the consequences’

he said the name Mr. Bradford rang a bell and he thought where he heard such name before recalling I have mentioned severally the name Mr. Bradford, your father, being an associate of mine.

After his date, be brought the situation to my notice, we had a chat and we connected the dots to your father's situation and decided to get to work and see what's in store for us.

Of course we did some break in and found some printed documents that contained paid transactions of four Cherokee jeep that got loaded with narcotics at each side of it's four doors from your father's direct buyer.

This document proved to be the same exact crime he was charged with, which is trafficking of narcotics under the guise of car dealership” he took a deep breath after narrating the situation.

She was baffled and at the same time showed relief that they might be getting to somewhere with this.

Still somewhat stunned in the middle of the unfolding event, she continued “who else knows about this apart from I and my mom?”

“Just me and my partner. I wanted to get you involved before anyone else I can trust on this matter.

I know you are a lawyer, and would have more detailed insight on how to go about this matter which was why I insisted on getting across to you” he added.

“Thank you so much, you don't know what this means to me and my family” she thanked him with a smile cracking across her face.

“you are welcome. I know how you feel, I lost my dad at young age and I understand what it feels like to have no father figure at home”

His statement made Carol to feel seen and understood. Something she hasn't felt in a long time. Something that made a part of empty.

Her mood went from heavy to light on hearing those words come from Jones, someone she was meeting for the first time.

“I have to leave take my leave now” Carol pointed out.

“Call me if you need anything” Jones replied.

Carol left the cafe feeling delighted like a weight was lifted off her shoulder. Must be some miracle or who knows, whatever she thought to herself on her drive back home.

She thought maybe it's time to take down her abusive husband with his entire family member.

Make him pay for all that she's been through in his hands. But she wouldn't do that without some form of evidence to prove she's indeed showing, and not just telling.

That night she got on a long phone call with her mom after she had supper. Bastien was away from home and won't be coming back same night so I was perfect for her.

She gave her mom the full detail of her meeting with Jones. Her mom shed tears on the phone call as Carol narrated to her how they got to her father.

“What are we going to do?” Her mom questioned.

“We will take it to court when it's crunch time” she answered “but first, we need hard evidence to nail every angle since we aren't dealing with an average Joe” she added.

After three month of coming in contact with Jones, they decided to take the case to court while they hired some of the finest lawyers in Texas to headline the case.

They also managed to get hold of her father's direct car supplier, that is, the man who sold to him the loaded narcotics cars.

He agreed to testify in court about his involvement because he was showed hard evidence so there was no escape plan for him.

Carol came with her own lawyer to represent her.

When all the people involved were present at the court, the judge was presented with evidence and asked the Ortegas’ to come forward with anything that's proves they had no involved with what they have been accused.

Their lawyer couldn't do much to have the judge declare them innocent.

The judge proceeded “from all indications, it turns out that you had enough time to gather evidence and present to me and the entire court but failed to do so..

I will have no other option than to declare Mr. Bradford a free man” the court cheered in excitement.

He continued “but hold up, hold up, I am not yet finished. Mr. Bradford is to receive a compensation for the sum of $512,237 from the Ortegas’ for his six years of wrongful accusations and jail term”

Mario who was dressed up in a black suit hugged her mom as the judge announced their father a free man.

The court was still jubilating when Carol's lawyer brought you her case for domestic abuse.

They judge gave her lawyer go ahead to present her evidence when she played a video tape of Bastien brutally beating Carol as she pleaded and screamed.

From the video tape she could be heard saying “I have become your personal punching bag each time you get drunk even when I'm not the cause of your problem.

You have refused to seek help each time I suggest”

All eyes turned to Bastien and he was drowned in shame and looked down. He turned to his lawyer who he could see defeat in his eyes.

The judge asked “how do you defend such case? From her words you could tell it wasn't the first time you were punching her, except that this time you were caught on tape”

Bastien lawyer stayed silence just as he took did.

After several moments of silence and waiting for their action from the judge which no occured, he awarded the case to Carol who seeked for divorce

Half of Ortega enterprise fortune was given to Carol since Bastien wasthe chairman a

nd sole signatory to the company.

The night it was jubilation galore at the Bradford's family house as it was freedom at last for everyone.