Anonymous

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter 25
The court was hot and suffocating,at least that was how she felt. Daniella held her tears back and sank into her thoughts. What if Andrew couldn't make it? What if the judge was a mean, grumpy and wasted man who was not interested in looking deep into the situation? And if Andrew got a sentence that would seperate them both? What if...
"COURT," a rather stern voice yelled. It belonged to John Melvin,the court registrar who announced the procession of the judge into the courtroom.
The judge, a rather tall, mean-looking man walked majestically down the aisle. Taking a bow,he slumped down into his seat.
Now, Dani's heart races and her fears increased. The judge did look non-chalant!
"The case of Andrew Stephen vs the state,"the registrar continued.
Judge Frederick Smith adjusted his tiny spectacles when Andrew,accompanied by a policeman,was led to the box.
Daniella stared at him and lowered her head. He looked eaten up and sad,as though he had been up all night praying for his life. Unknown to her,he took it as a normal game he was surely going to win,with the usual low, indifferent stare he gives the floor, trying to analyse God knows what.
But when he looked up and noticed the number of people,his dad,his mom,Andy and... Daniella. Then somehow,he felt this case would not end well.
John Melvin went on his blabbering,"It was alleged that you, Andrew Stephen murdered Alexander Davis on the 31st day of October, based on a malice; an offence punishable with a death sentence as stated in the Constitution of the United States. Guilty or not guilty?"
Andrew joined his brows a little and sent the registrar the blue glare. Based on a malice?! "Not guilty,"he answered.
The registrar said again,"It is also alleged that you,Andrew Stephen murdered Simon Stephen due to a controversy over the Starter's breweries, an act which is punishable with a death sentence as stated in the Constitution of the United States. Guilty or not guilty?"
Andrew felt a sudden pain in his chest. He had no interest in that company in the first place. Then a controversy over it?! Who the hell made those darn allegations? Curse him, he thought,"Not guilty."
Facing the court,John declared,"Your honor,the accused pleads Not Guilty to the charges against him.
The judge gave his moustache a twitch and permitted,"Then let the hearing begin."
Finally,it had begun. The scenario to determine his fate. His absentmindedness made him oblivious of when the lawyers began introducing themselves. He only looked up when Richard approached him to ask some public questions. To Andrew,they were darn. But he would answer anyway.
Richard examined,"Was your life at stake when you killed Alex?"
Andrew reasoned. If he was there in  the first place. He was supposed to save himself but he wouldn't let himself lie when he was innocent,"No."
Richard frowned,"What about Simon, did you kill him with respect to self-defense?"
Again,Andrew thought. Simon had wanted to burn them all alive,and if he hadn't killed him... Fair enough to be called self-defense,"Yes."
"Do you have anyone in the court who is a witness to this?"
Andrew raised his head and stared at his best friend,"I do. Matthew Kelenny."
The judge leaned forward and spoke,"Very well. Let him step into the witness box."
Matthew Rose from the back seat and marched forward,his positive nature making Andrew smile, just a little.
The judge continued,"Since that has been done,may the persecuting lawyer begin his cross-examination."
Taking the oath of truth,Mathew waited for whatever was to come.
Leonard Paris grinned and approached Matthew,"With immediate effect your honor..." He stood firm and sent Andrew a glare,sending his anxiety. Andrew had known Leonard to be a very competent lawyer,the one to hook the truth out of  a person. He just prayed Matthew would be able to detect his con.
Matthew stood bravely even with the glare and smirk Leonard was giving him to belittle his courage; typical lawyer tools.
On the hand,someone was freaking out. Richard knew his family was at stake here. He felt for Andrew and his family but with the caller's words,"If Andrew gets anything other than a death sentence,I'd give it to your family." His intestines curled in a knot. What was he going to do? Andrew? Family?
Leonard continued his cross-examination,"How do you relate to Andrew."
Matthew smiled and flowed gradually,"We are best friends."
Andrew returned his smile a bit and watched as Leonard continued,"And where exactly were you during the clash?"
"At the spot." Matthew was not aware he had landed himself in a tight spot.
Leonard smirked,"Oh! You mean part of the clash?"
Matthew huffed and sent a look to Andrew,then back to Leonard; the truth,"Yes." Simple sentences.
Leonard laughed and gestured to the court,"Oh really?! Like part of Andrew's side of the cult. Why in the world wouldn't you want to save him?"
Cult! Andrew sighed and closed his eyes,that fear that Leonard might weaken Matthew.
But his best friend wasn't done,"Yes,on Andrew's side of the cult,trying to spoil the plan of two criminals exacting revenge for mere reasons."
Leonard gripped the wooden panes and went on,tilting his head,"Revenge for what?" A fight you had and won against them or just one of you kids' deadly rivalries. We all know Andrew Stephen  as a successful gangster, arrogant and rich. He could get anything he wanted. Consequently,he attracted emnity from his fellow kind. What else would you expect?"
Leonard was using the story to his own advantage and Matthew couldn't help but admire,"I may not like where you are getting at but to me, Andrew is one in a million and he never thinks the lives of others are junk.-
Andrew nodded and gave Leonard a daring stare.
The persecuting lawyer shot back,"Just like the lives of his brother and Alex did matter to him."
"Simon was on a mission to kill Andrew. He was just trying to avoid that. And as for Alex, he has always been a piece of crap when females were concerned. Andrew was not killing cold-bloodedly or something," Matthew stated.
"What about those he harassed just to get all he wanted?"
Matthew gave a deep glower,"What?!"
The lawyer continued,"Your honor, I would like to invite Deborah Marvin and Thomas Becker to the witness box."
The judge gave a light bow,he seemed to be enjoying this,"Permission granted."
Thomas, wounded and bandaged,made his way to the box alongside Debby who had a piece of plastic wrapped round her hand.
Leonard stated,"These two received harassment and abuse from Andrew and his team. I would love it if Andrew's lawyer himself would examine,if he'd like."
Richard received a glare from Leonard and nodded automatically,"Very well."
He looked at the two teenagers eyeball to eyeball,"Now with the oaths you've taken to say the truth and nothing other,tell the court your experience with my client."
Thomas started,"They gathered around me one unexpected night and suddenly seized me. They beat me up and threatened to cut off my fingers. I even got a scar on my face because Andrew here burnt me with his smouldering cigarette butt. All to get information about how Alex was involved in a murder."
He glowered at Andrew who replied this gesture with a wink.
Debby concluded,"I can remember this one so well. They all forced me to a corner and began forcing words out of me. In the end, Andrew couldn't just help but break all my finger bones." She raised her plastered hand.
Andrew sent this one a hateful stare.
Richard inquired,"For what reason exactly?"
Leonard shot,"To gather information which he was sure would end Alex and his brother,then keep the company all to himself. Your tactics were violent and unnecessary."
The court felt Richard was not defending Andrew like he was supposed to,even he knew. Andrew saw fear in the lawyer's eyes and knew something had to be wrong somewhere.
Richard just shrugged, watching the three witnesses retire to their seats. The judge too believed Richard had noticed his defeat and strove no more. Unknown to them,it was something more than defeat,it was fear.
Leonard stated to Frederick Smith with an ugly smirk on his face,"Now for the second most significant witness in today's case. Why would I forget to invite Andrew's very own Danielle Mccurly?" Then he raised his brow in mockery at Andrew.
Daniella motioned stiffly and walked slowly,the whole court staring at her. Then for a second or two, her gaze met Andrew's and his look had this assurance that everything was going to be fine. Gaining courage,she stepped into the box and took her oath.
Leonard however,broke that courage,"Tell the court your experience with Andrew. How good a lover was he,too violent maybe?"
Andrew gripped the bars angrily and watched Dani reply,"The best of them. Only punished the wrong ones."
Leonard huffed sarcastically,"You mean like a brother striving to claim his rightful inheritance? Or maybe a normal waiter in a restaurant who sweats day and night to feed himself and has absolutely no right to be ambushed like that."
Andrew shouted from his stand,"So what! I did those! What are you going to do about it?!"
Leonard smirked at the judge who struck the gavel. The persecuting lawyer went on,"With these heartless actions confirmed by Andrew himself,what else would Daniella Mccurly wish to say in his defense?"
Daniella sent Andrew a glare and answered Leonard,"I killed Alex,not he!"
Chuckles flared up from all sides of the court.
Andrew just gasped in dismay and hissed at Daniella,"Oh just shut up!"
Leonard continued,"I understand you care for him so much. But look dear,he doesn't deserve it. He is a heartless boy ready to kill for greed. An addict,a gangster,a killer, a determined little snake. He'd do anything he wants to get what he desires."
Andrew bowed again and sent a stare to Richard who was shivering; why wasn't he doing anything?
Leonard faced the judge,"You have it all my Lord. Unless there's any objection from the defending lawyer." When Richard remained still and quiet, in all, helpless,Leonard spoke again,"In that case, I'd now like to call the most vital of all witnesses against Andrew Roland Stephen,the final of  them all. One who worked for Andrew infact!"
Andrew watched Daniella return to her seat and gasped eagerly. Which friend of his was ready to betray him at the last minute? He stared confusingly at a man who rose from the back and strode down the aisle. He had an eye-patch on his left eye.
Andrew laughed. Someone who worked for him alright,but not a friend.
Wasn't it the one-eye  con, Night himself. Rollins warned him he could not be trusted.
As Night took the oath,Andrew wondered the truth he'd tell that could implicate him. He almost snarled at Night's painful glare.
Leonard faced the witness,"Tell the court all you told me."
Night glowered at Richard and replied,"During a funfair one night, they had me ambushed,asking for the same thing he asked Thomas Becker, the relationship between Ashley and Alex,like an over determined fox. When I told him I knew notin', he literally roasted me over fire. Afterwards,he offered me a whole twenty grands to implicate Alex in murder."
Leonard narrowed his gaze,"Did you do it?"
Night thought a bit and sighed with a nod,"As a matter of fact,I did. With utmost con and wit,I was able to make Alex get a bad name in the records. I needed the money."
Leonard motioned to the judge,"I now understand it all. The lad's plan was to get them both in trouble and subsequently,out of his way so he could go on with his madness. The inability he clearly shows, spending the resources from the breweries,bribing people so he could swim in wealth," he then faced Andrew and clicked his fingers,"what a shame! This is life Andrew. Things do not work out that easily for the wicked."
The prosecuting lawyer faced the judge finally and took a small bow,"And that would be all my Lord."
Then he sent a glare to Richard who returned Night's smirk with a silent curse. Only God could save Andrew now.
The judge stacked his papers and leaned forward,"With all the witnesses and stories presented in court today,and no opposition from the client's lawyer,Andrew Stephen is found GUILTY and is hereby sentenced to..."
The intentional pause was to stir up suspense and fear. Andrew faced the judge, releasing nervous,fearful gasps. For the first time in his life, he felt he really needed God. Facing Dani,he watched her bow in dismay.
His family,best friend,his clan and .... Daniella. Then the hidden tears began to flow slowly; Daniella.
With Angus and him away,who did she have left?
Then the judge finished,"death!" And he struck the gavel.
Matthew got up hurriedly and searched for Daniella. Murmurs broke through the whole court and the judge rose with the others complying.
Andrew bit his lip and felt the handcuffs come round his wrists,the police pulling him away. Catching the sight of Daniella who was still trying to swallow reality,he broke out from the policeman's grip and took fast steps to where she and Matthew stood, gripping her jaw gently. He joined their heads and rushed the words while he still could,"Look... Look at me,"when his gaze met Daniella's weak,helpless stare,he continued,"I... I love you,so much. I always have and always will no matter where I may end up in. But please, just... Go on,without me. Try to be happy,okay?"
Daniella hated his sepulchral words, trying to force a frown of disapproval from her face of despair when she felt shaky lips upon hers.
Andrew was trembling in fear. She reached for his dark hair automatically and kissed back, impossibly reluctant to end it. He really did have a lot in store.
But soon,the party came to an end. He broke the kiss and looked at her again,"That...was... amazing,"he smiled sadly,"at least I took my pay for helping you."
Then he was pulled away,just like that. Maybe forever!
She watched them drag him violently as he threw "I Love You" clauses at her.
Matthew placed a hand on her shoulder and blinked his tears back,"Let's go home." He waited patiently because he knew an entire hell of tears awaited him that night. Andrew was going to be killed the next day!
                 *                       *                        *
Richard found a strange car before his house on getting home. Walking up to it and opening the door,he found his family... Tied, gagged and halfdead . There was also a note;
  Well done, here's your family
     as promised. Keep the car if
      you'd like.
Richard began to do and hugged his unconscious darlings.
But Andrew! He was still to be hanged the next day. He needed to speak with Davis immediately.