The gavel pounds loudly, echoing throughout the courtroom. "John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances," Judge Johnson speaks loudly through her microphone as both sides of the court watch. John B stands up front, his orange prisoner outfit and hand cuffs making him look strange. I clutch JJ's hand tightly as we watch from a few rows back. My eyes are puffy and my mouth is slightly parted as I listen.
"If convicted, the maximum sentence, would be the death penalty," The judge speaks clearly. I gasp as people around the room erupt into mutters. The gavel pounds for silence, but it doesn't come. I shudder, a tear falling down my cheek. JJ looks around in disgust and Kie bows her head. Sarah shakes, trying not to break down. "Your honor, he's 17!" JJ shouts as he stands up. One half of the room mutter their approval and agreement, while our side mutter in disgust.
"Stop," Pope whispers as more people stand to leave. "Quiet!" The judge yells at him as people begin walking out. "No! He's 17, are you kidding me?" JJ yells at her as I stand up, trying to pull his pointing arm down. "Alright, we're good," Pope whispers. I catch John B's eye as he looks back at us, another tear falling. "Hey, John B, John B we're gonna figure it out!" JJ yells as Sarah starts to run towards him. "John B! John B!" She cries as the officer starts pulling him away in the opposite direction. "Sarah! Sarah!" I call, trying to grab her. "NO! John B!" She screams, her tears falling fast as Kie pulls her back.
An officer pushes her back as she cries. "Stop, don't touch her!" Kie cries as Pope grabs her arm. Sarah grunts with another sob, shoving the officer off of her. "Let's go, Sarah, let's get out of here," Kie mutters disgustedly as we walk to the door.
"Is this a joke?... like, are we in hell, or...?" Kie asks as we walk down the front steps. We don't miss the murmurs of the kooks. Talking about how he had it coming and justice will be served. "I should have never come home," Sarah says, her eyes puffy. "They're gonna kill him guys, I know it," JJ says in a stressed tone. "Don't say that," I mutter. "Sorry for what you and your family have gone through," We hear someone mutter to Ward.
"Thank God the system works," He nods as we turn to them. "Can you please shut up?" Kie screams. Many of the kooks stop walking, turning to watch. "Of course you think the system worked because it was made to protect you and people like you," Kie spits angrily. "He'll have his day in court. A jury will decide," The man nods. "He shouldn't even be in court!" I spit. "You should! 'Cause you're a murderer!" I scream at Ward.
"You have a lot of nerve showing up to court!" Kie screams. "I know you're upset, I understand you're upset, okay?" Ward asks, walking towards us. "Upset?" Kie spits. "See, I know he's got you fooled, he's got you all fooled," Ward says. "No, I'm not just upset!" Kie screams, running at him. The sheriff's grab her before she can get far. People scream in protest as the cops push Kie away and she tries to run at Ward. "Show some respect!" Ward shouts.
"Oh, my God!" I scream at Shoupe as she grabs her. "Muzzle your goddamned dog!" JJ points. "Get off her!" Pope shouts. "Why don't you take the kooks down for a change, Shoupe?" JJ asks. "You wanna get arrested?" He spits at JJ. "Get out, you need to go!" He yells. "This is bullshit," Kie hisses at him. "Come on, come on, look, it's not worth it," Sarah mutters, turning her away. "I'm sorry, you shouldn't be going through this," I hear Plumb mutter to Ward.
"Thank you," He says. "Have a good night," She nods. "Get out of here JJ," Shoupe says as he steps forward. "It's not a coincidence that your daughter's sitting with us!" I yell at him as he starts to walk away. "Everybody let's keep going, there's nothing to see here, let's go," Plumb says as we turn to walk away. "Party's over!" Shoupe shouts. "Show's over, folks, keep it moving, let's go," Plumb nods as I curse under my breath.
~~~~~~
"I'm gonna testify. Under oath. I was there!" Sarah shouts as the rain pours around us. I shiver, tucking my knees into my chest as I sit on the porch couch. "I just need to get a hold of my sister," She nods, her voice shaky. "Sister," JJ mutters angrily. "Kie do you have your phone?" She asks, taking it from Kie. "Wheezie is the only other person that knows Rafe wasn't home that day," Sarah tells us. "Wheezie?" JJ spits unbelievingly. "I don't know what else to do. I got us into this mess. I'm gonna do my best to get us out," She says angrily as she leaves the porch. "Ha, Wheezie? Yeah, that will work," JJ says angrily as he paces the porch.
"Well she's right about one thing. We gotta do something," He says. "Our boy, is a PO-dub right now, okay?" He says anxiously as he sits down next to me. "He's held captive by the enemy right now, maybe even scheduled for execution, are we just gonna sit here?" He shouts angrily. "So what's the plan?" Kie yells as she stands up. "We start by kidnapping Shoupe?" She yells sarcastically. "Maybe, like, that's not the worst idea actually," JJ says.
"Oh, it's not?" Kie asks sarcastically. "No!" JJ defends. "That is actually the worst idea I've ever heard," Pope says as JJ takes his hat off and runs a hand through his hair. "It's pretty bad," Sarah agrees from the kitchen table. "You know what? Please, just, stay out of this!" JJ shouts. "Okay, Pope, look, we've been doing everything you're way and how has that been working out, huh?" JJ asks. "Okay, okay, so what's your plan?" Pope asks, eyes wide as he stands up.
"You gonna storm a jail, guns-a-blazing?" He asks. "Look, Pope," JJ says, also standing up. "All I'm trying to get you to understand, is they got our boy," He says. "And are we just gonna sit here and do nothing?" He asks. "No, we're gonna go get his ass," I whisper, standing up. "We're gonna do something about it!" JJ yells in agreement. "JJ, y/n, we're not storming a jail. It's not happening," Pope says. "We can't just let them kill him!" I shout shakily.
"No? Fine, man. Sit in your comfy chair, do nothing," JJ whispers. "I'm gonna see what I can do. Make something happen. Even if y/n is the only one that will help me," He says, placing his hat back on his head determinedly. "Okay," Kie nods sarcastically as she bites her lip. JJ storms out into the rain, the door slamming behind him. I look at Kie apologetically. "He's my brother," I shrug. "And I couldn't live with myself if I sat here and did nothing," I say. "There's other ways, y/n!" Kie shouts. "Y/n! You coming or what?" JJ shouts through the thunder. "I'm sorry," I whisper, shaking my head before following JJ into the rain.
~~~~~~
I ride on the back of JJ's motorcycle, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist as we leave his house. The rain has stopped and we ride quickly toward the jail. JJ's plain white t-shirt, dark sunglasses, and backwards green hat make him look more intimidating. He stops the bike, looking around the parking lot as he takes a toothpick out of his pocket and puts it into his mouth. "Seriously?" I mutter as he pulls headphones over his ears.
I follow him towards the door as two officers walk out. He stops short, saluting them as I slam straight into his back. As soon as they pass he flips them off, taking my hand as we walk up the steps. "JJ," I snap, pulling him back to look at me. "You're angry. That's not gonna help anything. Pull it together," I say. He bites his lip, his gaze softening when he catches my eye. "I got this, okay? Just let me do the talking," He nods. I sigh. "Okay," A shake my head before he opens the door, walking up to the receptionist.
"I'm here to see John B Routledge," He shouts loudly to the guard. "No music, and get rid of the toothpick," The man says, slightly annoyed. "I can't hear what you're saying man? Alright, these things are on full blast," He laughs, tapping the headphones. "Control your boyfriend," The man glares at me. "Don't talk to her in that tone. That's what I said. I'm hear to see John B Routledge," He drawls loudly. The man imitates taking off the headphones and pulling out the toothpick, then imitates slitting his throat to signify it isn't allowed.
"Wait. These things?" JJ asks loudly, pointing at the headphones. The officer nods impatiently, imitating pulling them off again. "Ohhh!" JJ nods, removing them and placing them around his neck. "I mean I thought it was a free country and all, but, uh, guess you don't like freedom very much, do ya cupcake?" He asks with a grin as he leans against the counter, motioning to the jail cells. The man grabs him and shoves him against the wall as JJ laughs.
"Uh, not worth it," Plumb shakes her head as she walks out of a side door. JJ smiles, taking the toothpick out as he grins at her. "Good to see ya Plumb. Just nice to have something in your mouth, ya know?" He smiles. "Yeah," She whispers, unimpressed. "Take off the hat and empty your pockets, you too," She nods at me. "Yes ma'am," JJ chuckles as he obeys.
