Chapter 18: Court Day I

A few weeks later, Cole and Alyssa were sitting in court and watched as everyone came in. Alyssa closed her eyes when Roger was brought into the room. "All rise for the honorable Jude Harriet Johnson," the clerk announced. Everyone stood up as the judge came in. Cole wrapped his arm around his fiancé once they were able to sit down.

"Our case today is Roger Henderson being tried for the rape and kidnapping of Miss Alyssa Enrile and the attempted murder of Mr. Cole Evans. Court may begin," Judge Johnson announced.

She then looked over at the defending councilor. "You may begin, councilor," she informed. The councilor stood up.

"People of the court, you may have heard of what the people have said about my client. However, how do we really know about really happened? Are we sure that the 'victim' was actually raped and kidnapped? Or could she have possible acted out the whole thing? Do we know that my client had tried to murder Mr. Evans? Maybe he as trying to defend himself," he explained.

Alyssa squeezed Cole's hand as the councilor went on. Just then, the prosecuting councilor stood up. "I would like to call Mr. Jackson Taylor to the stand," the councilor announced. Jackson got up and got up on the stand. After vowing to tell the truth, he sat down. "Now, Mr. Taylor, you were Mr. Henderson's spy were you not?" He asked.

"Yes," Jackson replied.

"Did you follow Mr. Evans and Miss Enrile around town for a year?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he was paying me good money. Enough to get my daughter the medical treatment she deserved."

"So, you were told to follow them around and take pictures of the couple. Were you told to record all of their conversations and actions?"

Just then, Roger's lawyer stood up. "Objection speculation," he objected.

"Overruled," Judge Johnson informed.

"I was told to use all of the technology I had to get all the things he needed on Mr. Evans and Miss Enrile," Jackson informed.

"And did you do it?" The prosecutor asked.

"Yes."

"No further questions."

The prosecutor sat down and the defender stood up and walked over to Jackson. "Mr. Taylor, did you meet Mr. Evans and Miss Enrile?" He asked.

"No," Jackson replied.

"Then, how did you know who to follow?" He asked.

"Mr. Henderson gave me photographs of Miss Enrile and Mr. Evans."

"You follow all of his commands?"

"Yes sir."

"You took pictures you recorded their conversations, but is it possible that this was a set up?"

"I don't think so sir, I have grown to know that Mr. Evans and Miss Enrile have had a special bond."

"You took the money for your daughter's medicine?"

"Yes sir."

"You went to my client's office and told him you would do the job?"

"Yes sir."

"How do we know you're not trying to defend Mr. Evans and Miss Enrile?"

The prosecutor stood up. "Objection, speculation," he objected.

"Sustained," Judge Johnson informed.

"No further questions," the defender informed.

"You may step down, Mr. Taylor," Judge Johnson informed.

The prosecutor stood up. "I call Mr. Cole Evans to the stand," he announced. Alyssa watched as her fiancé went up to the stand. Once he vowed to tell the truth, he sat down. "Mr. Evans, how long have you known Miss Enrile?" He asked.

"I have known Miss Enrile for two years," Cole replied.

"Mr. Evans, could you recall what happened the fifteenth of July?" He asked.

"Well, Miss Enrile and I were doing some planning. We were going back to the car when I felt something knock me over the head. The thing I remember before falling unconscious was Alyssa screaming for me. When I came to, Alyssa was gone," Cole explained.

"Did you receive a phone call from Alyssa at all?"

"No."

"How did you find Alyssa?"

Cole looked down at the stand before answering. "I was raised by a tribe and they have shown me the way of speaking to animals. Well, the day Alyssa was found, a sparrow had told me," he replied. He heard people chuckle and he cleared his throat.

"The hospital tells us that you were in the hospital for quite sometime, what happened?" He asked.

"I was stabbed three times from a knife," Cole replied.

"Who gave you the knife wounds?"

"Mr. Henderson."

"No further questions."

The prosecutor sat down and the defender stood up. "Mr. Evans, tell us what did the sparrow tell you?" He asked.

"The sparrow told me that he knew where Alyssa was. So, I followed him," Cole replied.

"Then what did you find?" He asked.

"I found a warehouse. There were guards everywhere. I went and retrieved the Silver Guardians and they helped me rescue Alyssa."

"Mr. Evans, when you stated earlier that day that you and Miss Enrile, what were you planning?"

"Alyssa and I were planning out wedding."

People gasped when the heard this. "You were planning your wedding?" He asked.

"Yes," Cole replied.

"Tell us, Mr. Evans, when you were knocked unconscious, do you really believe that Alyssa was screaming your name and not the name of my client?"

"Tell me this, sir, why would my fiancé scream another man's name?"

"Maybe she was relieved that you were out the way."

"I'm sure that Alyssa was screaming my name, sir."

"Mr. Evans, the night that Alyssa was rescued, tell us what you saw."

"I was sitting up on the crates, watching two of my friends purposely surrender themselves to Mr. Henderson. That was part of our plan. We were going to ambush Mr. Henderson once Alyssa was safe. Mr. Henderson had Alyssa dragged out of the room. He told the Silver Guardians that she was his. I attacked Mr. Henderson because he was going to kill one of my best friends. Then we had a large fight. I told Eric and Wes to leave before they got hurt. I had Eric's wife take Alyssa to safety earlier. As I fought Mr. Henderson, he had pulled a knife on me. He had cut my arm, shoulder, and my stomach. I had to get rid of the knife before he killed me. So, I knocked him unconscious. The last thing I remember was holding Alyssa."

The defender glared at Cole. "Or did you find my client with Miss Enrile and you wanted revenge. So, you attacked my client and he defended himself with the knife," he stated.

"No, that's not what happened," Cole insisted.

"Maybe once you had Miss Enrile alone, maybe you beat her to make it look like my client did it."

"NO! I would never hurt Alyssa. I would rather die than hurt her. I caught this man trying to rape Alyssa before. I knew that the day she went missing, he got what he wanted. So don't you DARE blame Alyssa's pain on ME!"

"No more questions."

Cole was able to step down and he glared at Roger before sitting next to Alyssa. She placed her head on his shoulder. "This court is adjourned. Tomorrow, we'll hear the testimonies from Mr. Collins, Mr. Myers, and Miss Enrile," Judge Johnson announced.

Sadly, the press had gotten a hold of the story. That night, Alyssa was sleeping against Cole while Cole was watching the news. "Mr. Cole Evans had confessed in court today that the day that Miss Alyssa Enrile was kidnapped that he and Alyssa were making plans for the wedding. Not only that, Mr. Evans has stated that Mr. Henderson has tried to rape Miss Enrile before. Tomorrow we'll be hearing Miss Enrile's testimony," the reporter explained. Cole turned the television off and looked over at the angel fast asleep in his arms. The one woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

"Sweet heart, we should get to bed," he whispered.

"In a minute, Cole," she sighed.

He smiled when she fell back to sleep. Then he picked her up in a carrying position and carried her to their room. He placed her on the bed and crawled next to her and pulled her in his arms. "I love you," he whispered. Then he fell asleep.