By the moon, I swear

COURT ROOM

CHAPTER 10

Six months had gone by so quickly and William couldn’t help but feel a feel a chill pass through his spine. He was dressed in a sharp suit his most favorite ready to win like always. Though this time he knew it was not going to be so easy. Someone had managed to dig up what he had managed to keep hidden all the while. He should have shredded it then, destroyed the last piece of evidence he had but he thought it was best to let it stick around then. He didn’t trust Amber and he needed to have something to hold over her head. Something to make sure her loyalties wouldn’t change. Now when he looked at her all he felt is regret for thinking so low of her. William didn’t have to guess who was in custody of the evidence. With the cocky smile the other lawyer had on his lips told it all. He felt his confidence go down a notch but he quickly regained his composure. Tristan had earlier spoken to the twins and they agreed to testify. Though it was only meant to be a last resort, now there was no way of avoiding it.

‘Arise,’ a voice bellowed bringing everyone to attention, ‘Be seated. This court is on session.’

The judge then took over, ‘The trial is to determine who is going to have the permanent custody of the girls. Is the prosecution ready?’

‘The prosecution is ready your honor.’

‘Is the defense ready?’

‘The defense is ready your honor.’

‘Very well. The prosecution may go ahead and present its case.’

The lawyer representing the witch of a woman began, ‘I would like to call my client to the stand.’

The shell of a woman quickly got up and went to the stand confidently. She looked so pure so different from the real her. One could easily buy that she was the perfect mother and role model. Only the people who knew her, knew she was nothing but a disguise; a fake.

‘I Antonia swear by the Almighty God that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’

‘Please tell this court on why you think you should be granted custody of the kids?’

‘I have been nothing but loving to the kids. I gave them education, shelter and food as per my capabilities. I made sure they lacked nothing. They are far better with me than that murder,’ she spat pointing to Amber.

‘Would you please enlighten the court of your alleged accusations?’

‘My daughter does drugs. I’ve tried so many times to get her to stop but I haven’t been able to. Im so sorry. I feel I failed like a mother,’ she said crying while facing the judge. ‘Usually when she takes these drugs, she doesn’t think straight. That day she came home highly dosed barely able to get words clearly. She forced us to give her money for more drugs and when we refused she went all rogue. She started hitting me and when my husband came to my rescue…. She ….. She picked up a knife and started stabbing him mercilessly.’  She looked so sincere that the judge’s face softened and sympathy was written all over him. It was obvious his heart went out to her.

‘Ladies and gentlemen of this jury, if I could draw your attention to my witness’s testimony it’s obvious that the accused is volatile and cannot be trusted with anyone’s safety. Let alone the kids. Who knows what she would do next when she’s had her drugs. I’m so sorry for your loss madam,’ he said looking over at the crying woman, ‘That is all for now. Now I choose to call my next witness to come to the stand please – the officer.’

He went through the same procedures. Swearing against the bible to tell nothing but the truth before he took position. ‘Were you the police in charge that day?’

‘Yes, yes I was.’

‘Could you please tell the jury about the attack?’

‘Having received a call in the precinct from the neighbors about the commotion in the house. We quickly headed to the residence.  When we arrived the victim was in a disheveled state and had bruises on her face and neck. Across her lay a dead body who we came to identify as her husband. We took her testimony of what had transpired and quickly took a complete sweep of the area but we were unable to catch the attacker.’

‘Do you have the weapon used to commit the murder?

‘Yes we have it in our custody.’

‘Did you check it for finger prints?

‘Yes we did and it came back positive. It had the defendant’s finger prints.’

‘That’s all for now. You may take your seat,’ the prosecutor then turned and faced the jury, ‘Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have presented conclusive evidence that proves the defendant attacked the victim and killed the husband. The victim was lucky this time at least she got away with bruises but what about next time? What if she doesn’t make it out alive? What if the next time she goes rogue it’s the kids or the elderly or someone who can’t protect themselves? For everyone’s safety, the defendant must be put away in a cell where she can cause harm to no one. I rest my case, your honor.’

Amber held her hands over her ears so tightly. She couldn’t believe the whole story had been turned around and they were making her to be such a villain. The worst part was their evidence seemed so convincing. The jury were even taking notes. It was a nightmare. She felt like vomiting but then she took deep breaths trying to keep it together. William had warned her that cases tend to get messy but she had no idea to that extent. She just wanted to go home but then again she needed to win more. Gabriel’s hand came up to hers offering comfort and she felt a little bit relieved. She turned around and met Tristan’s face. They held such assurance that hope whirled in her once more. She could do this. Tristan had agreed to stay a bit far after much persuasion so that their relationship was not brought up as a hindrance.

‘Very well, Now the defendant may present their case,’ the Judge spoke bringing Amber attention to the proceedings.

‘Members of the jury I’m going to present you with evidence that decisively proves that my client is not only innocent but deserves custody of the kids. I would like to call the Victim back to the stand please,’ William spoke now taking the whole case in a new dimension. He then walked to his desk and took the transparent bag from his briefcase with clothes and presented it to the whole court to see.’

‘Ms. Antonia, please have a look at these clothes and tell us if they belong to you.’

‘Yes … Yes they do,’ she answered.

‘Funny you just said here to everyone in court that your daughter was doing drugs yet your clothes have cocaine all over them. Care to tell us how they got there?’

Antonia blinked a few time fear crawling up in her spine. She knew her charade was coming to an end. Her lawyer had warned her that William was the best in the industry and that he doesn’t easily loose. He even warned her to look confident in all her responses as William intended to even read between the lines. At that point however she felt saliva lump clobber her throat. She had gone through a lot of trouble to make sure everything looked impeccable in her house and this man before her was going to tumble all that in a matter of seconds. She defended herself saying that she was wearing those clothes when she snatched a whole sachet of cocaine from her daughters hand and poured it over the sink. William however didn’t seem swayed.

‘I thought you would say something in those lines that’s why I had a detective trail you all the time,’ he said going back to his briefcase and taking out some photos. He gave some of them to the jury, to the judge and to Antonia herself. He asked her to identify herself in the photo which she did. There was no use denying anyway, it’s obvious whoever took the photos was precise enough to capture only her.

Antonia felt blood leave her face. The photos were disgusting taken even in her most intimate moments or she thought so. In one she was busy sniffing with her buddies, in one she was busy f*****g someone while bent over the table sniffing cocaine, in another she was competing with a buddy of hers on who would take in the most chunk. They were all fun times. Moments if she had to do them all over again she would but now her happiness served as a barrier towards her true goal. And she hated it. She never loved the girls and she never will but so long as they were in her custody she would get monthly allowance from the government hence more carefree life and drugs.

William went on ahead to dismiss the theory of the murder weapon. He managed to prove that it was all in self-defense and that the man was nothing but an abuser. A part of him had been ready for when someone would uncover the evidence so he made sure to speak to some of the neighbor’s. Of course most of them defended the dead man saying how pure he was but there were those few who would rather say the truth and be on the right sight of the law than lie. True humanity. The jury seemed to node at the new light of the case and they now seemed swayed towards Amber’s side and William was impressed. But then he knew they were not out of the woods yet. The kids had to testify too or else they would be put under foster care and both parties would lose. Since the kids were too young, the judge agreed to meet them in private with a micro phone input enabling the rest of the people in the court along with the jury could hear the conversation. They too gave their version of the story.