The Bachelor's Bride

Chapter 24-Jack

As promised, the police reopened the factory fire case and soon enough, Mr. Daniel Jeffers would be brought before the court to testify his side of the story.

I'd received a letter from Etta that week, mentioning how they had arrived safely and how she wished I could join them soon. Her words warmed my heart, knowing that she wanted me there. We'd had a rocky relationship and I wasn't always sure how she felt about me.

I wrote back to Etta that night, telling her that the police had obtained a search warrant for Mr. Jeffers's house and found that he still had the key that locked all the doors in the factory. I also wrote to her about how the locked doorknobs proved all of the victims were telling the truth about the doors being locked, making their stories more valid in the eyes of the court. I hoped for the court trial to be upon us soon so that I could join her and Meredith in Virginia for the summer. But it all depended on how fast the police worked.

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my tired eyes.  I hated the tight feeling in my chest, reminding me that Etta wasn't here. I'd grown even more  attached to her than I cared to admit, and I was worried she didn't feel the same way. 

I had alway thought I would be the lonely bachelor of the town, wasting away my days at the saloon full of pretty women who sat on my lap and unabashedly flirted as I played cards with my friends. I had left that life behind as soon as I had been forced to marry Etta, and I didn't regret that decision.

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Three days later the official court date was set, and everyone filed into the courthouse. They're hadn't been any major cases in over five years, and everyone was piling in to watch the show.

I squeezed my way into the hot room, my journal ready, pen poised above the paper as I prepared to record this verbal war. Mr. Jeffers was led into the room by a bulky officer with a greasy mustache. He shuffled into his seat, looking angry at having to be here.

We all held our breath, waiting for the squeak of the side door, announcing the judge's entrance. The judge was a small man with gray hair and wrinkles, a stern look dominating over his expression. He slid into his seat, eyeing Mr. Jeffers.

"Come forth to take the oath." The judge waved him forward.

After placing his hand over the bible and reciting the oath, the trial was ready to begin.

Mr. Jeffers, of course, was called to the stand.  The lawyer on the offensive side rested his hands on the railing of the stand, assuming a dominating stance before the defendant.

"Mr. Daniel Jeffers, is it?" He raised a heavy eyebrow, challenging Mr. Jeffers to break beneath his stare.

Jeffers smirked, "Yes, sir."

"The owner of the factory on South 21st street?"

"Yes."

"And the owner is the only one with the key to lock and unlock any door in that building?"

Jeffers hesitated, "Yes."

I smiled at his hesitation. He knew that he had just walked into the spider's web. He wouldn't be escaping today.

"About four months ago, a fire destroyed the factory on South 21st street, trapping hundreds of women and girls inside. What few victims that did make it out, left us with a chilling story. I would like to call Mrs. Rodriguez to the stand so that she may further explain what happened that day."