La Arquitecta

Chapter 67

As the victim in the case, Zelina had not been allowed into the public gallery during the second day, after giving her testimony. But now, on day three, after both the prosecution and defence had given their closing statements and the jury had retired to consider their verdict, she was allowed to accompany Seth and her family back into the courtroom to hear the what the outcome was going to be.

They had just been admitted back into the room. The announcement had come through that the jury had reached a verdict, after less than two hours of deliberation.

"I'm really worried that it didn't take them long," she quietly said to Seth as they took their seats in the gallery.

"Babe, they could have found the son of a bitch guilty in five minutes. It was obvious their defence was all bullshit, and that guy Khan was just trying to provoke you and bully you."

"But he did provoke me," she mumbled, angry at herself for losing her cool under Khan's questioning and accusations of being a liar.

If the jury had viewed her heated reaction as confirmation that her story had indeed been fabricated in conjunction with Dan and Laura Morton, then the case could collapse. David could walk out of the court a free man. Then where would she be? He could come after her again; stalk her again; attack her again. Her blood ran cold at the thought.

"It's obvious to us that David's story is bullshit, but we already know it is," she pointed out. "The jury knew nothing about either of us until a couple of days ago. What if they found him more believable than me?"

"Surely they can't have found him not guilty?" Zelina's mom said, sitting to the other side of her.

"No chance," her brother said, sitting at the end of the row of seats, next to their mom. "He has a previous conviction for doing the same thing to someone else, for God's sake."

Zelina looked over at the jury, who were already back in their seating area. That group of people were about to lift an enormous weight from her shoulders, or ruin her life. She took Seth's hand and said a short prayer in her head. Justice was all she wanted. She felt like she deserved it after what she had been through. In her mind, even an eight year sentence wouldn't be true justice.

"All rise," a voice called out.

Still holding Seth's hand, Zelina joined everyone else in getting to their feet to await the arrival of the judge. He walked into the room a moment later. After taking his seat, everyone else was permitted to sit back down.

Next, the chairman of the jury was asked to stand. Zelina looked at him, wondering what news he had to give. Whatever it was, it couldn't be changed now, by either her or David. The chairman was a blonde man, maybe in his early forties, she guessed.

"Have you reached a verdict?" he was asked by the judge.

"Yes, your honour. We have reached a majority verdict."

Zelina squeezed Seth's hand in a vice-like grip. It felt like her heart had just stopped beating. At least one jury member had sided with David. The question now was how many?

"With regard to the charge of aggravated assault, do you find the defendant guilty, or not guilty?"

"Please," Zelina breathed, closing her eyes. She couldn't bear to watch.