Chapter 11: Finally Over
AUTHORS NOTE: So I started writing this yesterday, but I didn't like what I had written… lol. So I went back to my comments (because they give me so much inspiration) and I noticed the comments from KazooKaren and Ohiogurl101. This is what came from that and I hope you all enjoy it. This is the last chapter of this story! If you have any suggestions about what you would like to read from me in the future, leave it in a comment.
Previously...
"How are you feeling, kitten?" Blackburn asked Emma.
"I just want to forget about it." Emma said and everyone nodded.
"Well, that may be a problem."
"Why?" Emma asked, confused.
"Stella's parents are suing you for wrongful death. You are going to have to testify in court."
Clay&Emma_Clay&Emma
"Wrongful Death? She abducted me! She was trying to kill me! How is that wrongful death?" Emma practically screamed.
"Emma, calm down. Everything is going to be okay." Clay told her trying to calm her down.
"Yeah, they are just upset that their daughter died. I have a call into a friend of mine, he is going to represent you. The case is next week." Blackburn told her, he hated that she was going to have to relive this.
"Who's going to represent her?" Jason asked, looking at his baby girl.
"Admiral AJ Chegwidden. He was the Judge Advocate General of the Navy until he retired but he was SEAL during Vietnam. He's a great guy and he is happy to help." Blackburn explained and everyone nodded.
"I just want this to be over." Emma said with tears in her eyes.
"I know, baby. I know." Clay tried to comfort her, but knew they were going to have a long week ahead of him.
Clay&Emma_Clay&Emma
Everyone was sitting in the courtroom at the Virginia Beach Courthouse. It had been a long, hard week for Emma. Who had to relive the kidnapping repeatedly while going over the case with Admiral Chegwidden. Emma was sitting beside the Admiral while Stella's parents and their attorney were across from them. Alpha, Bravo and Charlie teams were sitting behind Emma, giving her emotional support. The judge enters the room and everyone stands. He takes the stand and everyone sits back down. Stella's parents' attorney begins his opening statement.
"The definition of wrongful death is denoting a civil action in which damages are sought against a party for causing a death, typically when criminal action has failed or is not attempted. Ms. Hayes killed my client's daughter, who has never had a violent past, who has never posed a threat to anyone. Ms. Hayes and my client's daughter had a confrontation the night before she was wrongfully killed. Ms. Hayes assaulted Stella that night. Witnesses state that Ms. Hayes threatened my client's daughter. According to my clients, Stella doesn't even know how to use a gun unlike Ms. Hayes, whose father and boyfriend are current members of our nation's military. Stella kept a journal and there is nothing within the journal that states she would ever harm anyone."
"Thank you. Your response, Admiral." The judge said.
"Thank you, your honor. I would like to state that there is video evidence that shows Stella taking my client out of her boyfriend's apartment while she was unconscious. We also have evidence in the form of text messages from Stella to both my client and her boyfriend threatening Ms. Hayes. I also have statements from both my client and her boyfriend stating that Stella stalked them on multiple occasions. We also have evidence that Stella entered the apartment on several occasions, once leaving a microphone in the bedroom and on the day of the abduction. We also have Stella at a warehouse and Ms. Hayes' hands were bound by duct tape and she was bleeding. Ms. Hayes had been physically assaulted by Stella. She had injuries such as a concussion, bruised ribs, bruised cheek and jaw, and a split lip. Stella had threatened her, telling Ms. Hayes that she was going to die. There was an altercation, which was recorded on thermal imaging devices used by the military. It clearly shows that Ms. Hayes was trying to escape captivity and was stopped by Stella. There was an altercation and Stella pulled out a gun to kill Ms. Hayes. Their attorney states that Stella didn't know how to use a gun, that doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that she went to a gun store, bought a 9mm pistol and pointed it at Ms. Hayes. Their attorney states that Ms. Hayes threatened and assaulted Stella the night before the shooting, but he conveniently forgot to mention that Stella began the altercation. There are multiple witness statements and video evidence to corroborate that. Their attorney also says that a journal was kept and there were no signs of violent behavior or intentions, but there was a second journal found with photos of Ms. Hayes, times, schedules and the words 'this bitch deserves to die' in it. That clearly indicates violent behavior. Ms. Hayes feared that her life was in danger and she pulled the trigger in self-defense. There is no wrongful death here."
The judge adjourned to his chamber with all the evidence that had been presented to him. Everyone stays in the courtroom. He returns about an hour later with his decision, "this court finds that the wrongful death lawsuit brought against Ms. Emma Hayes for the Death of Ms. Stella Baxter to be dismissed. There is not enough corroborating evidence to suggest that this was anything more than self-defense."
Stella's parents and their attorney leave the courtroom while Emma hugged her family. "Please tell me this is finally over?" She said, looking at the Admiral who smiled and said, "Yes, Ms. Hayes it's finally over."
Emma went over to Clay and kissed him. "Thank you." She said to him as they began walking out of the courtroom.
"For what, baby?" Clay asked, confused.
"For always being here for me. I know these last couple weeks have been difficult. I really don't know what I would do without you." She said as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
Clay kissed the top of her head and said, "Emma, I asked myself that question everyday. I don't deserve you but I am so glad that you choose to be with me."
"There is no place I would rather be than with you."
AUTHORS NOTE 2: So I did like a short version of how an actual civil lawsuit action occurs in front of the judge. I didn't want to bore anyone with the details of an actual court proceeding. I Hope you enjoyed this chapter and this story!