"What Residuals" (Chapter Two)
by Ennon
Disclaimer- 'Degrassi:The Next Generation' and all its characters are owned by Epitome Pictures and I stand to make no profit from this fanfic using said characters.
Summer, 2014
"What do you mean my 'Eco-Worrier' segment's been cut to thirty seconds?" 25-year-old Emma Nelson Strong asked at a certain Toronto television station.
"They need the extra two minutes for a Britney Retrospective tonight," 40-year-old Caitlin Ryan Jeremiah explained.
"Augh! Can't you do something about that? You're the Programming Chief! How am I going to explain global warming causing the desertifaction of the grain belt in two minutes?" Emma boiled.
"I'm sorry! But it's a network thing. Want to join the rest of us for lunch?" Caitlin asked.
"Between Rupert's teething and Travis's meditation workshop, I'm too strung out!" Emma fumed.
At that moment, Joey, Angela and Archie Jeremiah came into the station office.
"Hey, guys!" Caitlin enthused as she hugged her stepdaughter, son and husband..
"Instead of SaladCity could we go out to BurgerBillion?" Joey pleaded.
"Yay! BurgerBillion!"7-year-old Archie exclaimed.
"Are you kidding? Between the carcenogenics and prions, it's a wonder there's anyone left to eat hamburgers!" Emma boiled.
"Em! Joey, what's up?" Caitlin asked as she saw Joey's tenseness.
"Sorry, sprouts won't do it today! I'm so mad I feel like really chewing on something!" Joey boiled.
"Mama, some man interrupted our play time to show us a camera," Archie shrugged.
"Camera?" Caitlin asked.
"Craig's!" 17-year-old Angela insisted.
"Craig's?!" Emma gulped.
"That Yorke gumshoe doing Ambulance-Chaser Isaac's dirty work for Cameron!"Joey snarled.
"Joey, I know better than anyone how demoralizing it was to see Sean go bad but. ..how can you be sure he had anything to do with Craig and Manny's disappearance?" Emma asked.
"He's already been convicted of Extortion, Assault and Battery, Grand Theft Auto, Robbery and Burglary. What makes you think he's above anything?" Joey boiled.
"He saved Craig's life once," Emma sighed.
"You mean he told you he did!" Joey fumed.
"Joey. .."Caitlin pleaded.
"We're going to have lunch at BurgerBillion! Emma can hang onto her sprouty ideals at SaladCity!" Joey insisted as he abruptly left the office and Caitlin mouthed the word 'sorry' to Emma as the group left.
Emma dialed her cellphone.
"Hey, sis! Is Mom there?. .. . You're right, Linda! Mom gets too carried away watching Jack's rugby matches to converse. Could you have her call me back when the match is over? I need to ask her if she has Ashley Kerwins's phone number. Yeah, tell Jack to score a goal for me! Love you, sis!" Emma sighed as she hung up the phone on her 7-year-old sister.
In a Toronto courtroom a few hours later .
"Your Honour, I'm sure Mr. Yorke has a perfectly good explanation," 25-year-old Toby Isaacs (in a grey suit and bolo tie) started to say as he stood up.
"I'll decide that for myself, Mr. Isaacs!" 24-year-old Liberty Van Zandt in her black judicial robe with a white lace collar snapped.
"Judge Van Zandt. .." 24-year-old Kendra Mason started to plea.
"Ms. Mason you would be well advised to not test this court's patience any further than. .."
At that moment, J.T. Yorke breezed into the courtroom- still in his Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts and sports sandals.
"Hey, Lib! What's buggin' ya?" J.T. smirked until Liberty abruptly pounded her gavel.
"Mr. Yorke, you have already wasted this court's time by your tardiness and shown a lack of respect by your ludicrous attire. One more word from you out of turn and I'll have cited for Contempt of Court!" Liberty boiled.
"Yes, Your Honour," J.T. groaned.
" I received a very angry complaint from Mr. Jeremiah that you not only violated this court's order to refrain from contacting Miss Angela Jeremiah but that you also produced a replica of police evidence to try to intimidate her further," Liberty boiled.
"J.T. how could you do that?" Kendra asked.
" I just saw an '03 digital model in a pawn shop and put it in the plastic. Your Honour, the Jeremeiah Family has a right to know that Craig Manning's digital camera was found last year beneath railroad tracks that hadn't been constructed until four years ago. Why hasn't the Province developed the images? Angie needs to know that her brother may have survived," J.T. pleaded.
"The Province has ruled that that camera is immaterial so there's no legal reason for you to disclose its existence. Mr. Isaacs and Ms. Mason, if your client Mr. Cameron has any evidence that could clear him of involvement in Craig Manning's and Manuela Santos's disappearance or could shed light on their whereabouts , I strongly advise you to urge him to come forth but I warn all of you that what Mr. Yorke did today was reprehensible and thus for violating this Court's Order and showing a disrepect for this court by tardiness and unprofessional attire, I hereby fine the Firm of Isaacs and Mason $2000 for not insisting on better conduct from Mr. Yorke and Mr. Yorke, I hereby fine you $5000 for today's stunts," Liberty ordered as she struck the gavel.
"What?! Think about Justin!" J. T. gulped.
"Court Adjourned and see me in my chamber immediately, Mr. Yorke!"Liberty boiled.
J. T ran after her.
"Lib, your Family Service's crony already insists on docking 25% of my salary to support Justin as it is? How am I going to make those payments?" J.T. pleaded.
"J.T., our son will be provided for no matter what- and I'd like you to start thinking about what kind of example you're setting for him," Liberty boiled as she sat at her large table.
"Come on, Lib! We had some good times. Remember how we had F-U-N?" J.T. laughed as he sat on Liberty's table and spun over to face her.
"Yeah, Justin's proof that our marriage had its good moments but I've worked very hard to be worthy of the responsibilities and honour that this position entails- and I must set aside personal feelings to see to that justice is done," Liberty explained.
"Justice? The prosecutor's trying to railroad a career criminal into taking the rap for something he didn't do," J.T pleaded.
"Look, I didn't want this case. It was assigned to me by the Province. The people of Ontario elected me to do serve them right. If you can find evidence that Mr. Cameron is not guilty then it's your duty to find and present it but intimidating innocent people won't be tolerated by me or the Province," Liberty fumed.
"I'm sorry, Lib. I know I screwed up our marriage and haven't been the best dad to Justin but. .. I miss who we were," J.T. groaned as he sadly left Liberty's chamber.
"Me,too," Liberty quietly whispered to herself after he left.
"Angie, what are you doing here?" Emma asked as she disconnected her microphone that evening. .
To Be Continued.