The Witness
Chapter 23
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bosco was sitting in the back of the courtroom listening to Cole's arraignment. True to his word, Alex Jenkins had been at the jail first thing in the morning after talking to Bosco about what had happened in the hospital parking lot last night. He was able to have a conference with the judge and the D.A. in the judge's chambers before the arraignment to explain the situation in detail. They'd been lucky that the case was assigned to a judge that had seen enough kids stashed away in the system, never to be reached again. Jenkins now explained for the court record that Bosco was filing for legal guardianship of Cole and that he had been enrolled in a rehab program here in the City. Bosco noticed Cole look up at his attorney and then back at Bosco at the mention of being in a program here in the City. He knew that Cole was worried about retaliation from Raven and his boys, but Cole didn't know that Raven and a bunch of his crew had been picked up last night in connection with the attack on Katy. Faith had called Bosco on his cell phone on his way over here this morning.
Bosco looked over at Katy and noticed the fatigue on her face. He'd tried to convince her to stay home and rest, but she'd refused. She wanted to be here for both Bosco and Cole. Things had been going really great between them and she knew if she was going to be a part of Bosco's life, then that meant taking Cole in also. "Besides," she'd told Bosco. "I see something in him. In his eyes. He's not too far gone yet. We still have a good chance of bringing him out of this," Bosco remembered her words and smiled inwardly. He reached over and took hold of her hand causing her to look at him.
"You okay?" he whispered to her.
She nodded her head and answered, "Yeah. I'll be better after your drop me off at my place after we post bail for Cole."
"We?" he asked her.
"I'd like to think that we all have a future together, Maurice. At least, I'd like to try," she said, searching his face for his reaction. After a moment she got her answer as he squeezed her hand and his smile broadened.
They were brought back to the hearing by the sound of the judge's voice. "This court orders the defendant released on $5,000 bond to the custody of Officer Maurice Boscorelli of the 55th Precinct of the New York City Police Department, and on condition of his entering and completing a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program as stated previously in this hearing. Let the record show that Officer Boscorelli is present in the courtroom and is available to take custody at this time. Counselors, please see the Court Clerk on your way out to schedule the start of young Mr. Taylor's trial. Young man, I'm putting my faith in you and those that are willing to provide for you. You're a young man with great potential and the ability to turn your life around with the help of some pretty special and dedicated people. Don't disappoint me," the judge said over the top of her glasses before the final blow of her gavel.
"Yes, Ma'am - I mean Your Honor," Cole responded nervously. The bailiff allowed for the participants of Cole's arraignment to gather their belongings and leave the courtroom before calling the next case.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Bosco and Katy met Cole outside the courtroom after filling out the proper forms and posting the customary ten percent of the bail amount. Cole sat next to Katy while Bosco and his attorney discussed a few things.
"So, how are you feeling?" Katy asked him, trying to make conversation.
"Nervous and sick," he answered hesitantly.
"We'll get you taken care of, Cole. You just need to give it some time," she assured him, putting a hand over his.
She felt him stiffen under her touch and casually took her hand away. After a moment, he finally found the courage to say what he'd needed to say.
"Ms. Logan? I just wanted to apologize to you for what you went through. The attack, I mean. I'm really sorry that it happened. You're a nice woman," Cole said.
"Well, Cole. I'm gonna be just fine and I don't blame you a bit for what happened to me. I'm just sorry I wasn't able to fend them off and prevent them finding out where you were," she said to him.
"Well, I guess we're ready to go," Bosco said as he walked up to them. "You want to wait here while I get the car? Or Cole, why don't you help her to the door and help her down the stairs while I bring the car around," he suggested.
"Sure," Cole agreed, some of his nervousness fading. They watched Bosco walk out the front of the building to retrieve the car and Cole turned to Katy.
"I'm just afraid that Raven will do worse when he finds out I'm here in the City," he said, looking around suspiciously as he helped Katy to the door and down the stairs.
"Cole, you needn't worry about that. Raven and his crew were picked up last night in connection with the attack on me and some other charges, including the fire where that elderly couple died," she informed him.
"Really?"
"My guess is that he won't be a problem for you. You can concentrate on getting well and getting back on track," she said with a smile. They reached the curb just as Bosco pulled up. He jumped out and came around the car to open the door. Cole got in the back and Bosco helped Katy into the car.
"You coming to my place?" Bosco asked as they pulled away from the courthouse.
"Actually, I'm looking forward to getting back to my place and crashing on the couch. I'm beat. Besides, I think you two need time to get settled and comfortable. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, looking over at Bosco and noticing the nervous look on his face. She reached over and casually squeezed his hand to tell him that everything would be okay.
"Okay, but I want you to call me when you wake up from your nap so I know you're doing okay. And don't hesitate to call me - I mean us - if you need anything," he said, looking in the rearview mirror at Cole. It felt weird having someone in his care, but it was a good weird.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC...
Chapter 23
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bosco was sitting in the back of the courtroom listening to Cole's arraignment. True to his word, Alex Jenkins had been at the jail first thing in the morning after talking to Bosco about what had happened in the hospital parking lot last night. He was able to have a conference with the judge and the D.A. in the judge's chambers before the arraignment to explain the situation in detail. They'd been lucky that the case was assigned to a judge that had seen enough kids stashed away in the system, never to be reached again. Jenkins now explained for the court record that Bosco was filing for legal guardianship of Cole and that he had been enrolled in a rehab program here in the City. Bosco noticed Cole look up at his attorney and then back at Bosco at the mention of being in a program here in the City. He knew that Cole was worried about retaliation from Raven and his boys, but Cole didn't know that Raven and a bunch of his crew had been picked up last night in connection with the attack on Katy. Faith had called Bosco on his cell phone on his way over here this morning.
Bosco looked over at Katy and noticed the fatigue on her face. He'd tried to convince her to stay home and rest, but she'd refused. She wanted to be here for both Bosco and Cole. Things had been going really great between them and she knew if she was going to be a part of Bosco's life, then that meant taking Cole in also. "Besides," she'd told Bosco. "I see something in him. In his eyes. He's not too far gone yet. We still have a good chance of bringing him out of this," Bosco remembered her words and smiled inwardly. He reached over and took hold of her hand causing her to look at him.
"You okay?" he whispered to her.
She nodded her head and answered, "Yeah. I'll be better after your drop me off at my place after we post bail for Cole."
"We?" he asked her.
"I'd like to think that we all have a future together, Maurice. At least, I'd like to try," she said, searching his face for his reaction. After a moment she got her answer as he squeezed her hand and his smile broadened.
They were brought back to the hearing by the sound of the judge's voice. "This court orders the defendant released on $5,000 bond to the custody of Officer Maurice Boscorelli of the 55th Precinct of the New York City Police Department, and on condition of his entering and completing a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program as stated previously in this hearing. Let the record show that Officer Boscorelli is present in the courtroom and is available to take custody at this time. Counselors, please see the Court Clerk on your way out to schedule the start of young Mr. Taylor's trial. Young man, I'm putting my faith in you and those that are willing to provide for you. You're a young man with great potential and the ability to turn your life around with the help of some pretty special and dedicated people. Don't disappoint me," the judge said over the top of her glasses before the final blow of her gavel.
"Yes, Ma'am - I mean Your Honor," Cole responded nervously. The bailiff allowed for the participants of Cole's arraignment to gather their belongings and leave the courtroom before calling the next case.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Bosco and Katy met Cole outside the courtroom after filling out the proper forms and posting the customary ten percent of the bail amount. Cole sat next to Katy while Bosco and his attorney discussed a few things.
"So, how are you feeling?" Katy asked him, trying to make conversation.
"Nervous and sick," he answered hesitantly.
"We'll get you taken care of, Cole. You just need to give it some time," she assured him, putting a hand over his.
She felt him stiffen under her touch and casually took her hand away. After a moment, he finally found the courage to say what he'd needed to say.
"Ms. Logan? I just wanted to apologize to you for what you went through. The attack, I mean. I'm really sorry that it happened. You're a nice woman," Cole said.
"Well, Cole. I'm gonna be just fine and I don't blame you a bit for what happened to me. I'm just sorry I wasn't able to fend them off and prevent them finding out where you were," she said to him.
"Well, I guess we're ready to go," Bosco said as he walked up to them. "You want to wait here while I get the car? Or Cole, why don't you help her to the door and help her down the stairs while I bring the car around," he suggested.
"Sure," Cole agreed, some of his nervousness fading. They watched Bosco walk out the front of the building to retrieve the car and Cole turned to Katy.
"I'm just afraid that Raven will do worse when he finds out I'm here in the City," he said, looking around suspiciously as he helped Katy to the door and down the stairs.
"Cole, you needn't worry about that. Raven and his crew were picked up last night in connection with the attack on me and some other charges, including the fire where that elderly couple died," she informed him.
"Really?"
"My guess is that he won't be a problem for you. You can concentrate on getting well and getting back on track," she said with a smile. They reached the curb just as Bosco pulled up. He jumped out and came around the car to open the door. Cole got in the back and Bosco helped Katy into the car.
"You coming to my place?" Bosco asked as they pulled away from the courthouse.
"Actually, I'm looking forward to getting back to my place and crashing on the couch. I'm beat. Besides, I think you two need time to get settled and comfortable. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, looking over at Bosco and noticing the nervous look on his face. She reached over and casually squeezed his hand to tell him that everything would be okay.
"Okay, but I want you to call me when you wake up from your nap so I know you're doing okay. And don't hesitate to call me - I mean us - if you need anything," he said, looking in the rearview mirror at Cole. It felt weird having someone in his care, but it was a good weird.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC...