Chapter 11 (Death Court)
A/N
Here is the lawsuit chapter! Hopefully, I didn't take 2 months on this as I did with the last…
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN VICTORIOUS! I think it's pretty obvious...
The newly turned 16-year-old girl splayed her fingers across her face, arching her back as the sun glared on her pale skin. Jade opened her mouth and hovered a hand over it yawning and sat up against the leather headboard.
She looked over at her Canadian boyfriend beside her, still asleep. She smiled and ran her fingers through his fluffy bedhead, gently waking him up.
Beck's eyes fluttered open, "Morning beautiful."
Jade blushed, "shut up! Get up and get ready, the court date is today." She playfully pushed her love off the queen size bed.
He jokingly fell off with a thud, then stood up and placed a gentle kiss on the pale girl's forehead. "Alright. You'll win the case, everything is near airtight! What could go wrong?" He comforted and headed off into her closet to the special space left for him.
Anything can go wrong in the court of law Beck. She thought but ultimately kept it to herself.
…
Jade's legal team- along with Eric's team, collected the evidence needed from the table, neatly placing them in a sleek black and silver suitcase.
"We are confident that we can win this case, as long as no surprises come up." Farrah, one of Jade's lawyers, informed.
The heiress curtly nodded, "Better be, or what is my family paying you for."
A pair of arms snaked around Jade's slim waist, "Calm down babe, they have everything handled."
"Alright, fine." She said, turning around to face Beck with a kiss as the legal team excused themselves. "Take me somewhere to eat. I'm hungry."
"How about The Brimstone Street Kitchen?"
"The place you took me on our first date?" She asked, surprised.
"Why not? It'll take your mind off of things for a while, at least until the tri-"
"It's a date." Jade cut off, "give me a minute to grab my bag. I'll meet you at the elevator in a minute." The raven-hair girl walked off to the stairs.
…
The young couple walked into the courthouse, arm in arm, eyes searching for Jade and Livvy's parents. After locating the 2 older couples up in the front, right behind their representing lawyer, Mary Anne Baker. Jade had wanted Eric to represent them, as he was the most beneficial to the case but the other protested against it, saying this was a high stake case and a blind man should not be the one leading it.
Beck and Jade took their seats next to Jade's parents, right in front of Eric. Jade turned to face Cat's older brother, "Hey, I'm sorry you couldn't be the one representing us. I tried, believe me, but my legal team outweighs my opinions I guess." She scowled bitterly.
"No, it's ok. At least someone from my team is representing. And Cat sends her good luck and regards, she's sorry she couldn't be here to support you, but Frankie had a meltdown of sorts today, you know how it is right?" Eric replied.
Jade nodded, "Of course. Family's most importa-"
"All rise." A loud voice boomed and everyone obeyed, watching the almighty Judge Issac take his seat.
A flick of his hand signaled everyone to be seated, "Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of Jade West, on behalf of Nora and Micheal Bailey versus Pete Elrod. Are both sides ready?"
Mary Anne nodded, "Ready for Pete Elrod, Your Honor."
"Ready the defense, Your Honor." The attorney followed.
The judge turned, "Will the clerk, please swear in the jury?"
A man stepped forward, facing the jury, "will the jury please stand and raise your hand?" He waited for everyone in the jury to stand before continuing, "do each of you swear that you will fairly try the case before this court and that you will return a true verdict according to the evidence and the instructions of the court, so help you, God? Please say "I do"."
A collective murmur of "I do"'s and "yes"'s were said.
The clerk nodded, "You may be seated." He said, receding back to his original place."
Mary Anne started, "Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the defendant has been charged with the crime of driving under the influence, leading to the death of Olivia Bailey…"
The two sides switched off, presenting evidence, each contradicting the other while Jade glared daggers at her friend's killer. Witnesses- including Jade, had gone up, swore on the bible, and given their truthful statements.
The trial was going gleefully well, the defendant struggling to come up with defenses. If we keep this up, we'll win in no time. Jade grinned.
"The defense calls Richard West to the stand." Pete's attorney looks at Jade's father, who is getting up and walking to the stand.
Same procedures were taken, swearing to tell the truth, something Jade has heard way too often by now.
"You were driving the car that Olivia Bailey was in when she died right?"
"Yes." Her father confidently answered.
"Here on our drug report, it shows that you have alcohol in your system."
"I had a couple of drinks beforehand celebrating a new partnership, yes."
"Does a couple of drinks make you drunk?" Pete's lawyer pressed. "Because your drug report shows that your alcohol level was high enough to be drunk."
Sarah wore a puzzled expression, as did the rest of the West and Bailey families. Murmurs erupted in the courtroom with this new discovery.
"Your honor, may I request a recess due to this new information being presented?" Mary Anne quickly requested to stop the opposing side from pressing for more answers.
"Alright. We will reconvene at 2:35 after lunch." He announced, followed by 3 bangs of his gavel.
The group gathered at the front, behind Mary Anne. "Dad! How much exactly did you drink?" Jade whispered.
"1 or 2 glasses! Nowhere near as much as that lawyer claims!" Richard defended.
"So how does it show so much?"
"He must've fudged the report. Where did you stay during your coma?" Mary Anne butted in.
"Sacred Hearts Hospital." He quickly provided.
"Alright. Jade, Beck, and Mrs. West, since you guys already did your testimony, go to the hospital and try to find the doctor who provided the false report. Try and get an admission." Their lawyer instructed and turned her head, "The rest of you, we'll go to the cafe across the street and discuss what we'll do next."
The group sent to the hospital nodded, understanding their task and walking out.
…
The trio walked into the hospital, the birthplace of so many bad memories and grief. Jade took the lead, striding past the reception and to the security room.
She opened the door and was greeted by a guard, "I'm sorry ma'am, but you cannot be in here," he stoically told her.
Jade raised an eyebrow and reached into her crossbody purse, pulling out a crisp hundred dollar bill, "how bout now? This hundred dollars is yours if you let us through. You don't even have to go out. We just need to see the security footage from the last week or so."
The guard contemplated this decision before stepping aside, "alright, you may go in, and no need for the money as this is not against the law."
The raven-hair girl hurried inside whilst her mother lingered behind for a quick second to thank the man.
Three pairs of eyes scanned the dozen camera screens and Sarah tapped on the guy at the computer to get his attention. "We're trying to find something from a footage from about yesterday to last week."
He nodded and his fingers danced on the keyboard as Jade, Beck, and Sarah watched the tapes rewind, all to a week ago.
"Speed it up." Jade demanded, looking back at the screens.
Scenes from the last weeks flew past their eyes, no one saw anything of suspicion just-
"Right there!" Beck exclaimed, pointing to the tv on the far left side, second to last of being on the lowest level.
Sarah squinted, "zoom in over there."
The guard clicked away, locating the area Beck pointed at.
Jade stared intently at the monitor, watching the scene unfold- Pete's lawyer handing a doctor a large envelope of cash, exchanging it for an envelope, most likely containing the false drug test.
"Can I record this? And by chance, do you know that doctor?" Jade asked and pulled out her phone, not waiting for a reply.
"I believe that's Dr. Bates, he should be in today." He answered.
"Do you know where we can find this doctor right now?" Beck asked whilst watching his girlfriend record the CCTV footage.
"Dr. Bates works in the pharmacy department, maybe try there."
Jade clicked the red button on her phone, ending the recording. "Thank you. We'll be on our way now." She walked out, the other two following behind.
The three wandered around the pharmacy region until Sarah spotted the doctor. "Hey!" Jade called to get his attention as he checked through his clipboard.
"May I help you, ladies and gentleman?" The doctor asked.
"We know you provided a fake drug test." The raven-hair teenager plainly laid out.
He paled, "I- no. I don't know what you-"
Jade cut in, "Don't bother denying it. We have CCTV footage. Here's the deal. I will give you 10,000 dollars in cash, provide you with a new job at my father's hotel, and you will relocate to Phoenix, Arizona, there's a house there for you IF you confess to the court on what you've done."
"B-but my job! I won't be able to practice medicine again." Dr. Bates stuttered.
"Yes you will, but as I said, you'll be provided with another job. Or I can just turn this tape in and you can lose your job with no landing pad."
The doctor sighed. "Alright, fine. You will keep your word, won't you?"
"Of course she will." Sarah answered.
…
The almighty judge walked in once again, the courtroom repeating what they'd done hours ago. "The court is back in session. Are both sides ready?" he asked.
Both lawyers nodded, murmuring a "yes" before the defendant's lawyer took lead. "We left off when I brought up the drug test of one of the witnesses, a test that shows the alcohol level to be high enough for Mr. West to be drunk. There was no security cameras at the accident, who's to say that Mr. West wasn't the one who crashed the car causing the accident and therefore causing death of the late Olivia Bailey." He reasoned.
The young heiress glared daggers at him the whole way through, waiting for him to finish his empty reasoning so she could pounce. "You honor, during the recess, I went to the hospital where my father stayed at and made some inquiries," Jade pulled her phone out of her pocket, quickly clicking into the video and handing her phone to Mary Ann.
"May I approach the bench to show this CCTV footage of Pete Elrod's lawyer, Orion Charles, bribing a doctor for false reports?" Mary Ann requested.
Judge Issac nodded, beckoning the young girl to step forward.
While he was watching the tape, Orion butted in, "Your honor, that video could've easily been faked. They don't have a witness an-"
"That's where you're wrong." Jade cutted off, grabbing the arm of the doctor and lifting him up.
"You-your honor. I was bribed by this man to provide the false drug test. My doctor stamp is the results." He stammered.
Both Pete and Orion's face paled, knowing this was the end and Jade relished the look of defeat on their faces.
"You are a brave man to come in and say this. You are aware that this would break the hippocratic oath and you will not be able to practice your profession any longer"
Dr. Bates gulped and nodded, "Yes your honor."
"So why risk it?" Issac asked, curious.
"I acknowledge my wrong doings, and I would be helping cover up the truth. I wanted to right my wrongs." He answered calmly.
Issac looked impressed by the dignity of this man, "While it would be a shame to remove someone like you from the medical field, I'm afraid it must be done. As of today, Dr. Bates, you will no longer be able to practice medicine."
The former doctor nodded, sitting back down.
"In light of this discovery, I ask the jury to now make a verdict, and to discard the drug report evidence. Will half an hour be enough to come to a verdict?" The judge asked.
The jury nodded in response, "Very well. We will reconvene in half an hour's time." Three loud bangs dismissed the court.
Mr. Bates, formerly Dr. Bates, stood, and Jade turned to him. "Thank you for your help in this case," she opened her purse and pulled out a checkbook and pen, writing the check for 10,000 dollars, "and here is the amount I promised you, and your house in Arizona is waiting for you." She said, and ripped out the paper and gave him the paper.
"Thank you Ms. West." He replied and left the courtroom.
"So now we wait." Jade sighed, turning to face the rest.
…
"The court is back in session, does the jury have a verdict?" Issac asked.
"Yes, we have a unanimous vote." Juror 1 rose and stated.
Any hope drained from Pete's eyes, knowing there would be no way the jury could've possibly sided with him.
"Our verdict is that the defense is guilty and we feel as though the defendant should be charged with both wrongful and and manslaughter."
Pete's eyes widened in fear, he wasn't expected to be charged for manslaughter too.
"Due to foul play present in the defendant, Pete Elrod will be fined 500,000 dollars, along with 35 years in prison with the possibility of parole." The judge announced, banging his gavel once more to solidify this decision.
Jade smirked as she watched 2 officers place cuffs on the man. She spun back, "well, we did it. Justice is served and that pathetic human will be locked away for a long while."
…
The raven-haired girl ran her finger tips alongside the smooth, cold surface of the tombstone. Jade looked up at the sky, "Hey Livvy. Your killer has been incarcerated for a maximum of 35 long years. Your kind heart would probably want to spare him, but deep down, you would relish in justice." Tears welled up in her eyes, "If only your life had lasted longer, my life would be so much easier if you were here. You'd tell me what to do about Tori, the wench who snaked her way into my life."
Jade brushed the tear away from her cheek, "But I know I can move on from your death, not forget you of course, I could never do that." She smiled, "My friends and my boyfriend could never fill the hole you've left in me but it's a start to proper healing, not just burying myself in work."
The wind picked up, eucharis petals appeared seemingly out of nowhere, dancing in the air and Jade's eyebrow raised, wondering if it was Livvy alerting her of her late friend's presence.
"I will never forget you Olivia Bailey."
A/N
Well, this was a very long chapter and I didn't take two months! Sadly, this will be the last chapter of this story for quite a while, and as I've said in my last chapter, I might continue it in summer.
Big thank you to Boris Yeltsin for their help on this story, especially with characters like Eric and even helping me write a chapter. I'm eternally grateful.
Happy Holidays!