18 months later
Sometimes Rose wondered if Jack would live long enough to see the trial. In the last couple of months his health had declined to the point where he rarely left the house except for doctor's appointments. He spend most of his time in bed listening to the TV which was mostly documentaries as his vision was very bad. His mind was as sharp as a whip. He had felt better this morning than he had in months.
Sitting up in his bed, Jack Dawson was sworn in. A nurse was sitting next to him as he testified.
District Attorney Jeffery Dixon started out.
"Good morning, Mr. Dawson."
"Good morning, Mr. Dixon."
"Tell me about Mark Horn."
"Well, I've known him since he was born. Very nice young man. He and Janet were a couple when they were in high school. In college, they went their separate ways."
Jack had a smile in his face as he talked about Mark.
"Did you met Carla Jones?"
"I met her several times, the last time being when Mark graduated from college."
"What did you think of her?"
"I really didn't know her. She seemed like a nice person.
"When did Mark and your great-granddaughter Janet get back together?"
"Sometime in 1985 or 1986. I was very happy that they got back together."
"When did they become engaged?"
"Valentine's Day 1992. Mark gave her a ring after they had dinner. It was the Tampa Top of the World Hotel."
"I know this is painful and difficult for you Mr, Dawson, but tell me what happened the evening before Mark was murdered."
"Well, Janet came over for dinner. Mark usually would jog in the evening but he was busy. Janet stayed with me and Rose and we lost track of time. When Rose and Janet got to talking, well they can talk for hours. I went to bed around midnight and Janet spent the night. I didn't think it was safe for her to drive home. She left the next morning about 6:30 am. Steve Malls took her to the apartment but they didn't go into the apartment."
"Why was that?"
"Both of them saw Carl Hockley coming out of her apartment. They quickly left and then they were pulled over by law enforcement who gave Janet the terrible news. Charles Horn called me and told me the terrible news."
"Tell me how Mark's death has affected the family."
"It broke Janet's heart of course and the whole family was devastated especially Charles Horn (he was his only living relative). God rest his soul. He died nearly a year to the day. When Mark died, a part of him also died as well."
"For the record Judge Wilson, we have Charles Horn's testimony (this was taken while he was in the hospital, a couple of days before he died). We will read his testimony only Mr. Dawson has finished testifying."
"Okay, said the judge."
Defense Attorney Bill Green then questioned Mr. Dawson.
"Good morning, Mr. Dawson."
"Morning."
There was no smile on Jack's face.
"Would you say that the drive from your home to the apartment where Janet and Mark lived was unsafe? You didn't want your granddaughter to be in the area."
"I wouldn't say unsafe but I wouldn't walk it at night."
"Isn't Diamond Park an unsafe place?"
"At night I wouldn't jog there but then again, I'm too old to do so."
A chuckle could be heard from the court room.
Rose was banished from the room and was playing a card game with the court appointed person who was to watch over her while the trial was going on in the outdoor patio. One hour went by then two.
"My God, what are they... I know, I'm not supposed to say anything?"
A phone rang.
"Five minutes to get set up."
"Thank God."
