Sweet Surrender

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Derrick had gathered all his paperwork and files and headed to the courthouse. He stopped by Emilia’s office but found it empty. He looked around her office a brief moment then left. Hitting the elevator button down, he stood and waited in deep thought about how these past few months had been and the long hours he’d spent on gathering information for this case. The elevator dinged and the doors opened snapping him out of his thought. He entered the elevator and pushed the button to the parking garage and went back in his thought and his play on what would take place in the courtroom. He had to do something with this guy, but he didn’t know just what yet. He was going to try to use his past convictions but since he had already done his time for those crimes Derrick knew he wasn’t going to be able to use them but he’d give it a try anyway.

Entering the courtroom, Derrick took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He looked over to the opposing team and the man that sat with them then placed his papers and files on the table as Emilia, Tammy, Hunter and Shawn walked in. Emilia sat next to Derrick and the others sat just behind them. Derrick gave her a smile and said “Ready?” “As ready as I’ll ever be” Emilia responded. The bailiff entered and announced “All rise, the honorable Judge Baker presiding” The judge entered and sat “Opening arguments” is all he said without looking up. Derrick took out a tablet that had some notes on it just for the opening statements and proceeded to make his speech. The defense attorney made his opening statements as well, very short and to the point “I will prove that my client is innocent, so shall we begin”. Derrick gave him a quick look and then looked at the judge for the agreement to begin the case.

The trial had gone on and the judge declared a recess for lunch. Derrick collected his things but left them on the table. “Well, let’s go grab something for lunch” he said to Emilia. Emilia looked at her friends and they all decided to go across the street to the little diner, Derrick included. Shawn had some questions for Derrick and he wanted answers. As they all sat and had ordered their food, Shawn couldn’t sit still. “Derrick, I’m not sure of the protocol in a court room, but, I’m pretty sure when the defense hits the offense has a plan. Am I correct?” “Yes” is all Derrick said. “So, what is the plan if I may ask?” Shawn said back with a tone to him. “Derrick sat his ice water down and looked at Shawn for a brief second planning his words carefully “At the moment I am letting them get the upper hand so that they will be incriminating themselves when I reveal what I have planned later in the argument” “And what would this plan be?” Emilia jumped in with a little tone herself. “That is to be revealed at the time it is meant to be” Derrick replied then continued “There may be ears around” he finished waving his hand in front of him gesturing people in the diner. “You can never be too careful” he said and took another drink of his water. The waitress came with their food and everyone hushed up while she passed out their plates. They began to eat and make small talk with innuendo to the case, but Derrick was tight lipped about what he had in store for the case. It irritated Shawn, he had a feeling about Derrick that he couldn’t put his finger on and Shawn thought that he would just have to figure it out.

Back in the courtroom Derrick made points as well as the defense attorney, they hashed out this and that and shot each other down. Derrick stood and faced the judge then turned to face everyone in the courtroom. “I have read and gone over all the files there are on the accused “ Derrick said pointing to the files that sat on the table “Seems to me that he has always been in trouble and this doesn’t seem any different than he has done before but with one difference, beating a woman that is safe in her own home. We know from past experience that he has anger issues and when putting that anger into a jealous rage, things can go bad. Now the question I would like to know is why? Why did he hit Miss Branson? What jealous rage put him in that mental state to purposefully beat a woman?” The defense came back just as strong, maybe even stronger in Emilia’s eyes. But it wasn’t over yet she thought as the two attorneys hashed it out back and forth. Derrick was up to bat; the closing arguments, he had used his plan and now he was trying to seal the deal. “So now you have heard how he has been in the past with all his aggravation towards women and thievery, along with battery and armed robbery. Yes, he has done his time for that, but I ask of you to keep that into consideration when you deliberate”. The defense attorney made his closing speech “Yes, he has done wrong in the past and for the last few years have not been in any kind of trouble. So I ask you keep that in mind as you deliberate your honor”. With the closings done; the judge left to deliberate with all the evidence to return with a verdict. That verdict would be “Guilty, with one year probation and six weeks of anger management classes, sir you are free to go” Judge Baker announced and left to his chambers. Emilia just stared at him as he walked into his chambers then to Derrick “Now what?” she asked. “We go home” Derrick said then “I’ve already planned to appeal the judge’s decision” Derrick told her. “You bet your ass you will” Shawn snapped at Derrick. The man walked past them all with a smirk on his face giving Derrick a quick look then to Emilia as he walked past with his attorneys. Shawn just about choked the life out of him in his mind then looked at Emilia with concern. “What the hell happened, Derrick?” Tammy snapped at Derrick “I’ve seen you do a hell of a lot more for some poor pathetic client for a speeding ticket” she continued. “All part of my plan” Derrick just said and picked up his files and papers and left. “What the hell was that?” Tammy said to the group. “I don’t know but I damn will be going to find out” Shawn said sputtering the words out in frustration; he could have choked Derrick to death as well in his mind. Emilia just sat there looking in awe as the courtroom was emptying. The man was free to walk the streets, to taunt her again and perhaps kill her. No, he wouldn’t be that stupid, if anything happened to me the police would know it would have been him, so he’ll stay clear of me now, she thought then rose “Well, I’m going home” she announced. “Well, I’m going to a fucking bar and have a few drinks” Tammy said pissed. Hunter put his hand on the small of Tammy’s back and walked with her out of the courtroom. Shawn followed Emilia. Outside Shawn said quietly to Emilia “You can stay at my house if you want; the spare bedroom is still empty?” “No, I’m fine, really. I just want to go home now. Thank you.” Is all Emilia said and hailed a taxi. Shawn stood there watching the taxi pull away and knew something was different about her. That too he was going to get to the bottom of. But for now he would just go meet up with Hunter and Tammy for a few drinks himself.