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Chapter 52: The Verdict
I was pacing the lobby of City Hall with my third cup of coffee in my hand. It has been about three hours since the jury had gone in. I was nervous but Lilly was a whole different story. Ever since we walked out of the courtroom, she had found a seat and just sat there, in a twitchy state.
This waiting around, was agony. The not knowing of what was going in that small room, was pure torture. I was hoping that someone would come up to me and give me some kind of update. Oliver had gone about ten minutes ago to find out something but so far, he seems to have gone AWOL.
Finally, I saw him coming towards me. I didn't need him to tell me anything, I could tell from his body language but somehow I was still hopeful.
"Anything?" My voice seemed distant as if I had forgotten how to talk.
For an answer, Oliver just shook his head. I let my shoulders and face to both fall.
"I just hope we'll be called back in soon." I said walking with him towards the buffet table.
"It's been over three hours, surely they'll be close to a verdict."
"You'd think," I sighed. "I just hope we don't have a To Kill A Mockingbird re-enactment."
"You can say that again!" Oliver said picking up a chocolate chip muffin.
Several minutes later, Lilly came over to join as by the buffet table. She didn't say anything until she had eaten a few crackers and had a cup of coffee.
"Any news yet?" Her voice was shaky which I could understand.
These men kidnapped, tortured and perhaps even raped her. I could tell that Lilly was holding back a lot more than what she let on. Who knew what happen in those ten years that we all thought Lilly was dead? I wish I knew more.
"No, sorry." Oliver answered.
Lilly just shrugged her shoulders.
"It was a long shot."
"So..." I started trying to start a conversation without it being awkward. "Anyone wondering why it's taking so long?"
I nearly whacked myself in the head. I should asked something else, something that didn't involved the trial.
"They're taking so long because some of them believe that they are guilty and some of them believe that they aren't." Lilly said bitterly.
"Let's just hope that the majority is in the latter."
There was this long awkward pause. Nobody knew where to go from there. Nobody knew what to say next. I wanted to say something, but nothing came to me. Oliver and I exchanged glances every few minutes. Every conversation I seemed to have with Lilly was about the Spades or what they did to her and to hundreds of others. By the look on Oliver's face, the same thing was on his mind as well.
Luckily for me Jackson decided to come over and save us. I think I even saw Lilly let out a very small sigh of relief.
"Hey Jackson," I began but Jackson stopped me.
"They want us back in." He said.
I felt myself and all those around me stiffen.
"They've made a decision?" Lilly whispered.
"Looks that way." Jackson said. "Come on, we better get out seats."
We slowly shifted our feet towards the door, following the crowd of people. We took our seats at the front of the trial, waiting. In front of us, the lawyers sat waiting. The Spades' lawyer had a smirk playing around his mouth which I didn't like. Our lawyer looked nervous, which I also didn't like. The door behind the Judge's seat opened with a loud creaking sound. Judge Sage came back into the room and sat back down. The door in far right corner opened. I didn't need to look to see who was coming in.
The Spades came in, chained. Next to them were two prison guards walking them towards their seats. I could see the cold look in their eyes. They knew what they did and it gave them pleasure to relive it. I always compare the Spades to those sick people who kill for the fun of it, like in those shows such as Criminal Minds.
After what seemed hours but were actually seconds, twelve men and woman walked back through the door and took their seats in the Jury seats. They all look rather grim. I don't know whether to take that as a good sign or a bad sign. I guess I will soon find out which one is the right one.
I took another look over to the Spades. Even though their fate belongs in the hands of these men and woman, it seemed to not to phase them. Jeremy even had a very cold smirk on his cruel face. They knew they were guilty but yet they seem to think that is they were going to be found innocent.
I looked over to the Jury and then up to the ceiling. Please, I begged, let them find justice for what they did. I know they are guilty, just let them see the truth that was in Lilly's and Jenny's eyes.
Judge sage looked over to the jury.
"Can the Foreman of the jury please stand up." He said in a loud but soft way.
The Foreman stood up. She was a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties that was smartly dressed.
"Have you all made a unanimous decision?"
"Yes." She said, giving a short nod.
"In relation to kidnapping, guilty or not guilty?" The Judge said.
"Guilty." The Foreman said.
The Spades looked livid while everyone around me looked pleased.
"In relation to torturing, guilty or not guilty?"
"Guilty." The Foreman said.
I don't know if anyone else noticed it, but her answers seemed to get more firmer.
"In relation to rape, guilty or not guilty?"
"Guilty."
The Spades were looking even more livid. Clearly whatever plan they put into action isn't seem to be working. Them looking even more livid, just made me even more happy. It's not every day that the big bad wolf is taken down right before your eyes. Three out of four, the Spades will hopefully get put away for a very long time.
"In relation to murder, do you find them guilty or not guilty?" The Judge said interrupting my thought cloud.
There was a small pause.
"Guilty."
Everyone seemed to react at once.
There was a roar from the Spades as they leapt out of their seats. The prison guards ran toward them to subdue them. Lilly, Oliver and myself were all pulled into a huge hug by Mrs Oken, Jackson and my Dad. Our lawyer, Mr Hayde, looked relieved. He had done it. He had won a huge case. However on the other side, Mr Kyle, the Spade's lawyer looked almost relieved himself. That was odd; it was almost as if he was glad that the Spades were finally taken down. He had argued his heart out and yet, he was happy that he had lost. Perhaps this lawyer had known all along what the Spades are.
"Silence!" The Judge said over the roar of the Spades.
The noise died down. The Judge looked like he had just spotted the prize deer in a hunt off. Perhaps this Judge also hoped that the Spades were going to go down.
"Now," The Judge said commanding silence with his voice. "I have rarely met a case that is so sickeningbut with you two, it takes it to a whole new level. You have kidnapped innocent people, tortured, raped and finally murdered them. It is now time that you will answer for your crimes. That answer will be justice. I am giving you not only life imprisonment with no chance for parole, but I am also giving you a one way trip to Death Row. It is time you answer for what you did with your life."
The Judge then banged his hammer, making it final.
"Case dismissed." He said getting up and making his exit through the door behind him.
A/N: Just a small update. Exams are nearly over! WOOHOO! So please enjoy and read and review =D
