A/N: And now...the trial
I didn't want to break this part of the story up, plus I felt my chapters were a little on the short side so here is a massive penultimate chapter.
One more to go after this. And I think it will be even longer.
Enjoy, all.
Three months after his last victims were discovered, damaged but still alive; Keith Hellman was put on trial. In Phoenix, Arizona; the trial The People vs. Keith Hellman commenced. Fighting for the plaintiffs' behalf was Assistant D.A. Benjamin Fitzgerald. And representing the defense was infamous criminal lawyer Salvatore Scagnetti. Right from the very get go, the defense tried for a please of not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect.
Superior court judge, the Honorable Richard Bannister nodded at the opening remark from Hellman's legal counsel with indifference. He then demanded to her the People's charges.
"We are here to prove your Honor," replied Fitzgerald adjusting his tie. "That Keith Hellman knowingly and willingly carried out his actions. That he, acting under his own volition, kidnapped and detained three people with the intent to torture and eventually dispose of them."
"We will get to the sordid details in time, council" Judge Bannister retorted. "Now let us proceed."
For the next few weeks, an overwhelming array of physical evidence was presented before the judge and jury.
"May I call attention," Fitzgerald began. "To People's A through F," he pointed indicating a table with items marled with small cards that bore letters. He went down the line, "An electronic taser, white nylon rope, duct tape, a revolver, a hunting knife, and a powerful tranquilizer with syringes."
He eyes the jury, presenting each item with blue nitrile gloves.
"These items were recovered from Mr. Hellman's unmarked van..."
"Objection You Honor..." protested Scagnetti.
"Overruled," Bannister waved him off. "You may proceed."
This was Scagnetti's chief strategy, constantly calling objection. It single handedly prolonged the trial, almost to the point that Judge Bannister called Scagnetti to the stand and warned him that if he objected one more time on no grounds, he was to be removed from the courtroom and a new attorney would be appointed for Mr. Hellman. Apparently, Hellman's plan to create a mistrial was not infallible.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, from what you see here - do these sound like the materials your average well-adjusted individual would just carry around in his vehicle on any given day?"
"Objection!"
"Sustained. Mr. Fitzgerald I would advise you to watch your candor; this is evidence and all we can see are facts. We will work out motivations and intent later on. Let's not make it a habit to... jump ahead."
"Yes, Your Honor" the Assistant D.A. nodded. He cleared his throat, looking rather contrite. He mentally told himself to tread lightly and stay away from opinion at this phase.
As the trial wore on, the time finally came for witnesses. Character witnesses were brought in for Fitzgerald to complete two goals: establish key points of behavior to help build a criminal profile and confirm that Hellman had no alibis at the time of the crimes. Sure enough, friends and coworkers were not able to corroborate Hellman's whereabouts at the time of Tori and Nate's disappearance.
It was worth noting to the jury that Hellman had been described by people who knew him as quiet, keeping to himself. But he was also meticulous almost to the point of being a nuisance. At any given time, Hellman would want to know the whereabouts of others. It bothered him whenever something was out of his control or view, even something as simple as a coworker who hadn't returned straight from lunch.
He was especially rude and dismissive when there were unexpected guests at his home. One neighbor remarked that he seemed protective and distracted, like he was always hiding something.
Finally, the time came for witnesses to his crimes, or "the survivors" as Fitzgerald called them.
Chloe Mishky was brought in and she recalled the early evening after her class broke out following a field trip to an art cinema. They were brought in by their Religion in Film professor and after the picture was over, the students dispersed because there was a free period after the class. Chloe waved at her friend, telling her that she was going to meet up with her after she called her mom. The movie theater was near a power station and it was interfering with her cell phone signal.
She wandered up the block, holding her phone before her frustrated. Chloe didn't see the dark van creeping up on her.
That was the aspect about Chloe Mishky that made her distinct. She was a local. Hellman misread her, thinking her a tourist the way she seemed to walk aimlessly around. All he saw was a young girl by herself. Vulnerable.
Chloe proceeded to describe in detail about her eleven days in captivity. Tori and Nate sat in the crowd, marveling wordlessly to one another over the capacity of this young girl's spirit. Her testimony took almost two days to tell. At one point, Hellman scoffed at an instance where Chloe told about the time he told her to remember everything that was being done to her. Because he was going to find her best friend and sister and mother and do the same to them. That was the first sign of the psychological torture setting in. She told the jury that she felt obligated to comply with him over fear of him seeking them. As long as she remained alive, he was distracted with her and her loved ones were safe.
Tori and Nate unconsciously held hands when she mentioned that, hitting horrifically close to home for them.
"What prompted you to escape?" Fitzgerald asked.
"With each passing day, it started to get more clear that he had no intention of stopping. He was never gonna stop. I was shocked about how much I was able to endure on pure nerve. But my body wouldn't last forever. Eventually, it would give up. And...then what? I mean...he had my phone, my driver's license - he knew where I live...he had my keys. What would stop him?" Chloe shook her head. "Nothing. Except for me. I couldn't protect them by staying him any longer. I had to get away, far away, to warn them."
"And how did you escape?"
Chloe blew her nose on a tissue that she had in her pocket and balled it up and shoved it back in there.
"There was a door that locked leading to the basement. And then one day, he didn't lock it. I could tell...I knew every sound of that basement by heart and the when the deadbolt locked, it made an echo. The echo never came. He seemed in a rush that day," she shrugged, "Probably late for work."
Nathan nodded, thinking that was probably where Hellman got the idea to intentionally dangle an escape in front of them to test them. Thankfully for Chloe's sake, Hellman had no idea what he had done.
"I ran," she sighed. "I felt like I ran forever. It hurt so much from the ground because I was barefoot. But I didn't care because the pain just made me run faster. It reminded me that behind me was nothing but suffering. I didn't look back once. I kept my eyes on the now."
After her testimony ended, Chloe stepped down and the court went into recess.
Tori immediately sought the girl to meet her.
"I'm Tori," she said smiling as she shook her hand.
"Chloe," she replied. "Its great to meet another one who had been there."
"I have to admit, I thought I was tough but you impressed me. No other cop I can think of has as much guts as you."
"Hate can make you feel powerful but love is stronger," she said. "All I could think of was my family. My friends."
The girl was a little surprised when the half Latina hugged her tightly and told her "Love is stronger. Never forget that. Neither will I."
Some time after Tori and Nathan made their own testimonies at the end of the week, some new developments emerged from the Hellman case.
Apparently, the driver of the car that Hellman confessed to murdering the night of a torrential rain had a name. His body was recovered a long time ago but was only known in the system as John Doe #144.
Hellman's story seemed to fit a missing person's report filed years ago for a man named Harold Bishop. He was traveling home from a convention when he collided with his unfortunate destiny.
And apparently, Bishop had a wife. Her name was Gwendolyn.
Shortly after her husband's disappearance, she began searching for him. Feeling the police could only do so much, she and some friends started poking around themselves. As fate would have it, Gwen would find herself on the doorstep of the man who killed her husband. She was going door to door and he recognized who was in the missing person photo.
Without a moment's hesitation, Hellman seized the woman and dragged her into his house where he promptly killed her. Despite chopping up the body and dumping in at a landfill, Hellman knew that this turn of events would require him to relocate fast. That would be his first major moving.
The second came after Chloe's escape.
The third was attempted the night Jade and Jordan besieged his house.
So now, two murder counts were added to the roster.
When Scagnetti protested this, the jury was shown the inscribed wedding band that belonged to Gwendolyn Bishop before she was killed and cut into pieces.
The shadow of doubt was shrinking as far as the People were concerned.
On the thirty-ninth week of the trial, Fitzgerald and Scagnetti gave their closing arguments.
The next morning, everyone reported to the courtroom as word got out of the jury reaching a unanimous verdict.
"Will the defendant please rise," ordered the judge.
Hellman flicked his head and complied with a swift motion to his feet.
Fitzgerald looked on from his chair, awaiting the decision.
"Has the jury reach a verdict?" the judge inquired to the white-haired man with crinkly eyes at the far end of the jury box by the bailiff.
"He have, Your Honor" the older man nodded as he handed the paper to the bailiff who in turn handed it to the judge.
He examined it carefully and cleared his throat. "Very well," he muttered. "In the charge of the attempted murder of Nathan Silver, how do you find the defendant?"
"Guilty," the juror replied.
"To the charge of the kidnapping of Chloe Mishky..."
"Guilty."
"To the charge of the kidnapping of Nathan Silver..."
"Guilty."
"To the charge of the kidnapping of Victoria Vega..."
"Guilty."
"For the first degree murder of Harold Bishop..."
"Guilty."
"For the first degree murder of Gwendolyn Bishop..."
"We find the defendant guilty."
Our four were at an Irish pub down the street from the courthouse, savoring their victory. Tori's phone buzzed with a text from Fitzgerald, saying that he was busy with press and paperwork but promised a rain check on that drink she offered him.
The list of charges Hellman was convicted for went on and on. Two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and five counts of kidnapping. The trouble was that these five victims amounted to a hillock of crimes and misdemeanors: 63 counts of assault and battery, 22 counts of sexual coercion, 12 counts of fraud, 4 counts of grand theft auto. The physical and sexual assault charges were separate from what was considered "torture" because they carried a heavier penalty. The charges for human torture were reserved for the emotional and psychological abuse.
When all was said and done, Keith Hellman was sentenced to 180 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
And since California (where the victims came from) and Arizona (where the crimes took place) both abolished the death penalty; life without parole was the maximum he could get.
"You must be disappointed," Jade said to Tori.
"You know what?" the half Latina remarked. "Not at all. He kept people in a box, now its his turn. Now he'll know what its like never seeing the sun, never sure if this day will be the day he dies or not, beaten up on a constant basis."
Jade really thought about it the more Tori spoke.
"If that experience has taught me anything," Nathan said. "It's that nothing is trivial and nothing should ever be taken for granted. I thank for every day I wake up and every second I spend with her," he smiled, hugging Jordan tightly to himself.
"Yeah he is," Jordan winked.
"So what now?" Nate asked.
"I dunno," Tori shrugged.
"I do," Jade squinted at Tori.
Before the tan woman could react, Jade stood up in her chair and onto the table. She remained on her knees, otherwise she'd get hit by the stained glass chandelier. Some hoots and hollers came from afar, probably some drunken fools thinking they were getting a free show.
"Jade," growled Tori as she scanned the room, embarrassed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
The woman with onyx hair banged her glass on the table, grabbing everybody's attention to her party. She then cleared her throat.
"Victoria Vega," she loud loud enough for everyone to hear. "I lost you more than once and the last time felt like just that. The last time. Never again; I am not letting anything take you away from me. I'll never lose my heart because its in the safest place," she smiled pointing at Tori who's hiding her face, giggling. "In fact the only thing I'm ever gonna lose is my mind when I grow old and senile. Will you be there beside me, Tori? As my bride?"
Tori nodded as fresh tears manifested in her glowing eyes.
A cacophony of applause rained down on the happy couple as Jade crawled across the table to kiss Tori.
"Congratulations," beamed Nathan.
"Finally," Jordan said as she rolled her eyes.
A/N: Next chapter: The grand finale.
P.S. If you haven't read FuckTheReaper's new story "Sempiternal" yet, you need to. Its spellbinding in its craft and heartbreaking in how much truth is contained in it.