Chapter 34
"All rise. The court is now in session. Judge May presiding. Please be seated." It was time. It had not been too long since Goodway was taken away to jail but the pups and Ryder, basically everyone, didn't rest well until she was put away for good. Not even any rescues or missions came in. Like Adventure Bay was put on hold. But now it was time. Ryder smiled and slightly waved at the judge when she entered, to which she returned. It was no secret that the judge had gotten to know and like the Paw Patrol from their last encounter.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of the People of Foggy Bottom and Adventure Bay versus Linda Goodway. Are both sides ready?" May announced, looking at both lawyers. Ryder was on one side while Goodway, in cuffs, was in another.
"Ready for the people, your Honor," Abigail, from last time, nodded. The Paw Patrol was very happy to get her on their side again, knowing that she is a great lawyer.
"Ready for the defense, your Honor," another lawyer said. Her name was Krissy.
Abigail stands and goes to the jury. "Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: the defendant has been charged with abusing animals, a child, her power, as well as interfering with the duties of the Paw Patrol and associations with two first-degree murders and attempted murder. The evidence is shown by multiple witnesses and camera footage of her violent behavior. Soon later, Goodway was arrested after a confrontation with the victim in front of Adventure Bay's town hall. The evidence that I'll provide will prove to you that the defendant is guilty as charged," she stated then went back to her seat. Krissy replaced the other lawyer in front of the jury.
"Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: under the law, my client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. During this trial, you will hear no real evidence against my client. You will come to know the truth: that Linda Goodway wasn't inflicting harm on others and is being accused of being apart of those murders. After being told off by some of the witnesses, Linda Goodway was misunderstood. Therefore my client is not guilty," she informed then returned to her place, not without noticing the glares coming from the pups in the front row.
"The prosecution may call up the first witness," Judge May declared. Abigail once again stood up and to the space in front of the judge.
"The people call the former leader of the Paw Patrol," the lawyer called. As said, Ryder walked up to the witness stand and placed his hand on the bible when given to him. After the Clerk finished her routine, he sat down. "Ryder, where do you work?"
"Nowhere. I used to work at the Paw Patrol up until I was fired," he answered easily, though everyone in the room heard the venom in his voice when he said the last word.
"And where is this?"
"The Paw Patrol is stationed at the Lookout in Adventure Bay."
"Have you witnessed any abuse toward your pups?"
"No, but I believe their word."
"Has Goodway ever harmed you in any way?"
"Yes."
"Can you please elaborate?"
"Well, the first time it happened was right before my pups and I went to Foggy Bottom for a few rescues, just to help, ya know? Anyway, when I went and told her, Goodway refused to let me leave and started bringing up how disrespectful I was, even when I wasn't, and how I was leading my team improperly. So, as a result, she slapped me. Although I ignored her order since it was my team and not hers, I went ahead anyway. Later when we returned home, I learned some new things after the recent death of Danny, you might have heard. I wanted to confront her since I needed to know. Apparently, from what I heard, she was involved in the killings of my parents and when I met her at the town hall, she confirmed it. I was upset so I… attacked her without thinking which involved me ultimately getting hit down, choked, then fired," he explained. He hadn't really told anyone, but Abigail, about what he did to the Mayor so he got a little nervous when he brought it up. The boy saw most adults frown or their eyebrows shoot up but his pups stayed stone-faced.
"You only attacked with no intentions of killing or harming, correct?"
"Yeah."
"How long have you've been away from Adventure Bay? From when you left for Foggy Bottom."
"About a week."
"Has Goodway ever showed any aggression or violent tendencies toward you or your pups before-?"
"Never. It was up until I decided to help Mayor Humdinger with his town."
"Has the deaths of your parents affected you in any way? Such as any new disorders or habits."
"Um, yes, actually," he admitted, surprising his pups. He didn't want to reveal which ones but he didn't have much of a choice. "I've grown to have PTSD, OCD, early stages of depression, an eating disorder, insomnia, having suicidal thoughts, and at some point self-harm."
Even the lawyers and judge were surprised by his response. "You have suicidal thoughts and inflicted harm upon yourself?"
"Had. Not anymore." Ryder snuck a quick glance to his pups, who all had surprised and hurt expressions. They never knew about this. Chase looked betrayed. His expression hit the boy hard. He had never told his pup and he never knew what was secretly happening behind the closed doors of his room. Ryder instantly felt guilty. He remembered, even at a young age, what suicide and self-harm were - and he was tempted to do it. He went against his word and lied to the court. He still has those thoughts and has come close to pulling out his scissors or pocket knife and cutting away the pain. That's why he always wore long sleeves. But no matter what, he always looked to his pups. They're the only reason why he hasn't thrown himself off the roof of the Lookout. 'No. The pups wouldn't live there anymore and would not have a home' his mind spoke. 'The bay would be better.'
"... under?" Ryder snapped back into reality and looked at Abigail, who was waiting for his response.
"Uh, can you repeat that? Sorry, just sort of blanked out of a second," he nervously chuckled. 'Get your head out of the clouds, your making yourself look like a fool!'
"I asked whose care have you been under," she repeated.
"No one."
"As mentioned before, we have camera footage from townhall. I'll leave the footage for the jury to see amongst themselves, but I mark it as exhibit one and marked as evidence, if that is fine, your Honor."
"Does the defense have any objections?" May questioned, but the lawyer declined. Then the tape was given to the Clerk.
"Thank you, I have no further questions."
"Does the defense have any questions?" May asks, looking over to the other lawyer.
"Yes, your Honor," Krissy nodded. This action made Abigail stand off to the side. The defending lawyer for Goodway walked up to the boy. "You admit that you had attacked Goodway with your confrontation, correct?"
"Yeah," he drew out slowly.
"Whose name is the property and ownership of both the Paw Patrol and your pups under?"
"...Goodway's," he reluctantly answered, looking down a bit.
"I have no further questions," Krissy ended, going back to her desk. May nodded, excused the boy so he was allowed back to his desk, then let Abigail call the next witness. She called Marshall to the stand. After pleading with God with the clerk, he stood on his hind legs (since if he sat down, he wouldn't be able to see).
"Where do you work?" She began.
"The Paw Patrol," he answered.
"What's your position?"
"I'm the third in command, being a fire and EMT pup."
"Where were you when the first time Ryder spoke to Goodway?"
"At the Lookout."
"And you reported when Ryder and two of your teammates left for Foggy Bottom, something happened. Correct?"
"Yes."
"Could you please elaborate for the court?"
"After Goodway did what she did to Ryder, she had been interfering with our rescues and missions as well as making comments and insults toward Ryder and his leadership skills to the team. Later, she happened to be dangling off the bridge that led to our home. We helped her of course. Skye, who helped our rescue, was roughly pushed by her and, we later found out, she was slightly bruised on her side. She continued to insult Ryder and then us."
"Have you made any moves of retaliation?"
"No."
"I have no further questions," She ended. May asked once again if Krissy had any questions for Marshall, but she didn't have any. This allowed Marshall to return to his seat. Finally, with the permission of the Judge, Abigail called up her last witness. She called in Katie. After the girl pledged to the clerk, she sat down at the podium. "What relation do you have between the Paw Patrol?"
"Ryder and the pups are my close friends," she answered.
"And from earlier evidence, you said that you were somewhat involved in this whole ordeal?"
"I wouldn't say 'involved', but rather I knew what was happening."
"The pups told you of their encounters with Goodway?"
"Yes, but I had also witnessed an encounter myself a few times."
"Is that so? Could you please explain?"
"It happened when the pups were supposed to help Danny and Goodway from the top of townhall. They asked me to tag along, so I did. When we arrived and they rescued the two, Mayor Goodway started questioning Marshall and Skye if she'd be a better leader than Ryder and how the entire team and Lookout were rightfully hers-"
"And she insulted them?"
"Yes. There was no physical violence at the time but that did create tension between her and the group. I wasn't there from the beginning from when Ryder, Zuma, and Chase had left for Foggy Bottom, because I was taking a trip, so it was until that point in time when I learned what happened."
"Did the pups ever come to you for assistance?"
"Well, no necessarily. They did come and inform me as to what she had been doing to them but whatever offers I gave them so I could help, they shot down in saying that it wasn't their job to worry how she feels but rather work around her on missions if she interfered again."
"Thank you, I have no further questions and witnesses Judge. The People rest their case," Abigail ended, allowing the girl to return to her seat. The Judge nodded in understanding and looked over to the second lawyer while the first took her seat.
"Is the defense ready for their case?" Krissy nodded, rising from her seat and turning to the crowd.
"The Defense call their first witness, Linda Goodway," she called. As the same as the previous witnesses, Goodway walked forward to the Clerk, pledged to tell the truth, then sat up at the front. "Now, Linda, I'll begin by asking you if you had any association with verbally abusing the pups and Ryder?"
"No," she answered.
"Have you physically hurt them?"
"No,"
"Why were you interfering with the Paw Patrol's work?"
"I wasn't, all I wanted to do is help but they thought I was sabotaging them," she frowned.
"As mayor of Adventure Bay, you have many responsibilities, correct?"
"Yes."
"Will you do anything to keep your town safe along with its people?"
"Yes."
"Now would you put two lives in danger to protect the rest?"
"If it would come to it, but I would hope to never come across that bridge," she sighed. Ryder's eye twitched.
"I have no further questions. The defense rests their case," Krissy ended.
May nodded and turned to the second lawyer. "Does the People rest?"
"Yes, your Honor."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am now going to read to you the law that you must follow in deciding this case. To prove the crime charged against the defendant, the prosecution must prove three things to you: First, that the defendant assaulted and verbally abused the Paw Patrol; Second, that the defendant interfered with the duties of the Paw Patrol; and Third, that the defendant was associated with the murders of two townsfolk and attempted murder. If each of you believes that the prosecution proved all three of these things beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant guilty. But if you believe the prosecution did not prove any one of these things beyond a reasonable doubt, then you must find the defendant not guilty. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean beyond all possible doubt. It means that you must consider all of the evidence and that you are very sure that the charge is true," the judge informed the jury. She then turned to the lawyers. "Are you ready with final arguments?"
"Yes, your Honor," the two simultaneously nodded.
"Your Honor, and ladies and gentlemen of the jury," Abigail began. " The judge has told you that we must prove three things. As evidence and multiple accounts of witnesses, there was proof of the assault toward the pups and negative influence toward the entire Paw Patrol team. The accused had been interfering with mission for them, which had already proved to you that the defendant is guilty. To add, the awaiting video footage had been caught will show you what the defendant had admitted to been affiliated with the murders of the Jones family, excluding Ryder and Chase themselves. According to the judge, that is all we need to prove, which makes the defendant guilty," Abigail wrapped up. She returned to her table as Krissy replaced her position.
"Your Honor, and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: Linda Goodway is innocent until proven guilty. As mentioned before, we must prove three things to make her guilty but as heard, there is no physical evidence to inspect or look back to for the contribution of abusing the Paw Patrol in any way. As for being accused of murdering the Jones, there is no evidence that points to that and I'm sure that there are no incriminating things on that videotape. The prosecution has presented no real evidence to you to show that this is not true. That means that there is a reasonable doubt and, therefore, you must find them not guilty," Krissy stated, then returned to her side of the room. Right then, the jury left the room. Everyone, being sweaty in the hot room, grew anxious and unsteady. What if she was proven innocent? What happens after? Will she return to Adventure Bay? Will she continue to harass the Paw Patrol?
Their questions lingered in their minds as they quietly sat. No one voiced their thoughts, too afraid to know the answer. Hours passed until the jury returned, making the people grow impatient to know the verdict.
"Will the jury foreperson please stand?" A juror stood up from their seat." Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?"
"Yes," the foreperson answered. He handed the Clerk a folded piece of paper, who handed it to the judge. May read it silently then gave it back to the Clerk who also read it. After the pause, the Clerk spoke.
"The jury finds the defendant... guilty."
"The jury is thanked and excused. Court is adjourned," May banged her gavel and left the room. The people watched Goodway being taken away from the room, most likely off to jail. After she fully left, everyone cheered except for the Paw Patrol crew. They just let out breaths of relief and laughed amongst each other. As everyone returned home and congratulated the group, Ryder was jumped and knocked down by all his pups, who were all extremely happy and relieved, when they all arrived at the Lookout. The boy giggled as he was bombarded by licks on the grass. The moment didn't last long as they peacefully looked up at the sky, their position on the floor made a big clutter.
"You're such good pups, you all know that, right?" The boy spoke. When he saw everyone nod, he continued. "These have been a hard few weeks, and I'm proud of you all having the responsibility and care for each other even when we were separated. But we have this to look back to, as the Paw Patrol always looks toward the future, no matter what happened in the past, as a new journey awaits us all. And I couldn't think of anyone else than to spend my future with you pups… I love you all."
"We love you too, Ryder," they all happily said, giving him a few licks. There was a moment of silence until one of them spoke again.
"So who's going to be the new mayor?" Rubble questioned.
"I… have no idea," Ryder's voice cracked. "That's going to be… interesting to figure out. But we will. And everything will back to the way it was… I hope."
THE END