With Dauntless Abandon

Chapter 22

Hestuffs it into its port in the computer and hurriedly types thepassphrase Christina gave him. There are four files on the USB, threebeing word documents and one being a video file. He clicks on thevideo and it opens, taking for-fucking ever to load. He clicks onvarious buttons, hoping to speed up the process.

Finally,the video starts to load and his brother's face appears on thescreen.

"Ifyou're watching this, that means I'm already dead."

~~~

Foursits in his classroom, slumping into his seat with a sigh. Sadly, allof his classes right now are general education courses. He won't getto any of the cooking or eating for a couple semesters. He doesn'treally have that on his mind right now, though, and the painfullyboring English lecture about to ensue is only keeping his mind out ofschool and in the courtroom.

Inthe charge of murder in the first degree, we, the jury, find thedefendant Marcus Eaton, guilty.

Thatone sentence scattered his brain for the rest of the week.

Inthe charge of aggravated assault, we, the jury, find the defendant,Marcus Eaton, guilty.

Tris'snails were digging into his palm as she squeezed his hand. Next tohim, Zeke, clapped him on the shoulder and wrapped him in a 'bro-hug'before shaking his other hand.

Inthe charges of domestic violence and abuse of a minor, we, the jury,find the defendant, Marcus Eaton, guilty.

MarcusEaton is hereby remanded to prison until sentencing.

Christinahad touched his arm. "Hanging in?"

He'dnodded, dazedly, but the damage was done. After this, he'd be facingcharges in congress and the federal government for Lord knew how muchmoney he'd stolen during his political career.

Hewouldn't be around for that. He had Tris and the baby to think of,and he was finally rid of Marcus Eaton forever. That was all heneeded to know.

Hewould never see the monster that raised him again. He breathed a sighof relief, and Tris kiss him gently. It was over.

Heshakes his head. It's over, he tells himself. That afternoonwith Danielle, he explains his spaciness. "Look, I'm sorry. I'mjust... processing, I guess."

"Naturally,"Danielle says. "You feel relieved that the trial process is over."

"Well,not really. There's other stuff—political stuff—that he's beingcharged for. They're taking him to DC."

Daniellesighs. "Still, your part in all of this is over. It's myunderstanding that the civil part of this case is over too."

"Yeah,well—Christina says that they're dealing with my civil suit duringsentencing. Whenever that is. He still has DC or whatever. And Idon't want any of his money."

"Thisagain?" Danielle grins.

"Look—Iget it. I sued for it, I deserve it, fine. But I kind of want toliquidate all of it and light it on fire just to spite him."

"Alsounderstandable."

"Factis, money and prominence is all he's ever cared about, much as likehis little friend, Andrew Prior. They lose their money and status,they've got nothing. It would feel pretty damn good to rub in hisface that the only reason he's losing everything is because he's anasshole! It would feel even better if he had to sit there and watchit all literally go up in smoke."

"Isuppose it would, for a moment."

Fourfurrows his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"Takingyour anger toward him out on him would be fair and would feel goodwhile it lasts. But you won't erase a lifetime of difficulty with onemoment of revenge. You know that, don't you?"