#A/N: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT REVIEWS, THEY MADE MY DAY. THIS STORY HAS QUITE A FEW MORE CHAPTERS AND I'M WORKING ON A SEQUEL AND A SHORTER FOLLOW-UP. AT FIRST I WAS WORRIED NO ONE WOULD WANT TO READ SUCH A LONG STORY, BUT I'LL KEEP WRITING AS LONG AS YOU'RE ENJOYING. THIS CHAPTER IS MY FAVORITE, IT'S SO FULL OF IRONY AND ANGST. ANGST ISN'T MY MIDDLE NAME, BUT IT SHOULD BE, ANN IS CLOSE ENOUGH. I DON'T HAVE ANY LEGAL BACKGROUND, BUT THAT IS WHY IT'S CALLED FICTION, RIGHT? I CAN'T CLAIM THE CHARACTERS, OR THE SETTINGS IN THIS CHAPTER.
CHAPTER 27: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
The day started out like most, a routine, Woody and Jordan would go out for their morning 'run'. It was a crisp morning, one that would very likely turn into a beautiful fall day. Woody was fast, very fast; it took all Jordan had just to keep up with him. "Hey speedy, slow down.", she called, laughing, as she pulled on the back of his chair. "Sorry, I have a lot on my mind today.", he said looking up at the bright blue sky. "I know.", she replied almost sadly, but before she could continue, he was off again. "Race ya!", he yelled back at her. "Hey Woody, lets go this way.", she called, catching up to him as she nodded to the left. "No, this way.", he replied, continuing forward. "But there are less people over here.", she pointed out, knowing what the next corner would bring. "I'm not going to hit anyone, Jordan.", Woody laughed, getting a little too close to her. "Woody, it's just…..", but it was too late, they turned the corner. Woody stopped. There they were, in the same spot that ended their last real run, the day it all started.
They moved to a table outside of a small coffee shop, Jordan handed Woody a bottled water and a blueberry muffin. "I'm not hungry.", he said quietly. "Eat it.", she commanded. Woody poked at his muffin. "You know, you don't have to go.", she stated. "No Jordan, I don't have to go……….but I need to go.", Woody replied, still picking at his muffin. "Have you decided what you're going to say?",she asked, cautiously. "Do I really need to say anything, Jordan?", Woody asked back, sadly, looking into her eyes. "I guess not., she said , taking his hand, I'll be there." Woody nodded. "Now eat the muffin.", she commanded with a smile.
The courthouse was bustling that afternoon. Cal, Max, Jordan and Woody got there an hour early. They met with Renee Walcott, she talked with Woody at length, gave him his options, wished him well and rushed them all into the courtroom. This was the first time Woody would see his shooter since that day five months ago. Woody was still in the hospital when the young man was tried, and in rehab when he was convicted. As he walked into the courtroom, the man looked right at Woody and then looked down, just as he did that day.
"Jordan, I can't do this.", Woody said, his hands shaking. Jordan rubbed his shoulders, "Okay, if you don't want to, then just tell Renee..." But it was too late, the judge called, "Detective Woodrow Hoyt." Woody took a deep breath, wheeled forward, sat up straight, and began, "I don't need to tell you how you've changed my life, you can see that for yourself.", he looked at the young man sadly. The shooter just kept his head down. "I don't want your apology, I don't want your pity. I just want you to know; I was only doing my job, I was only trying to help you. Why didn't you let me help you?", Woody asked rhetorically, the young man looked up in shock. Woody turned to leave, looking only toward Jordan as he passed his shooter.
The group waited in the hall during the sentencing. Renee came out smiling, "The judge gave him 85years. Twenty-five years for accessory to each of the murders and ten years for attempted murder. "Ten years……..ten years for what he did to my brother.", Cal yelled. "That's all we could get since he confessed to being an accessory to the three killings.", Renee replied, sympathetically. "I don't believe this , that's all he gets. He almost killed my brother, he…..", Cal continued, but was interrupted by Woody. "Calvin stop, ten years or one hundred years, it doesn't make a difference. It wont change what happened to me and it wont make me walk again.", his voice cracking as he quickly wheeled down the hall.