Landmine

Chapter 12

Two Months Later…

Nancy had thought she had seen a circus before, but the activity surrounding the River Heights Municipal Courthouse was making her reconsider that. On either side of the century-old stone building were protesters and supporters of Dom, each wielding numerous handcrafted signs. Reporters from River Heights and the surrounding areas were milled around the front steps, shoving microphones, cameras, and tape recorders into anyone's face who ventured towards the front doors.

And this was what she was seeing from the safety of Ned's car; she hadn't even thrown herself into the chaos yet.

She felt a small boost of confidence as Ned reached over and gently squeezed her hand. "You okay?" he asked.

Nancy took a deep breath and gave him a weak smile. "Yeah."

"Everything's going to be okay, Nan," Ned said reassuringly.

Nancy nodded. "I know."

Ned got out of the car and walked over to the passenger side to help Nancy out. They had barely taken three steps before the reporters descended on them like a pack of hungry wolves.

"Nancy, how was it facing a cold-blooded killer?"

"Do you think Dominic Shepard will be found guilty?"

"Do you feel some sense of responsibility for the murders?"

"How does it make you feel knowing, that your father is defending the very man that tried to kill you?"

Ned enveloped Nancy in his arms and fought his way through the reporters. A police officer opened the door for them and they left the reporters with their questions unanswered.

"Brutal, aren't they?" Nancy asked.

"Don't worry about them, Nancy. The only thing they're looking for is a front page story," Ned said.

"Nancy!"

She looked over Ned's shoulder to see Frank and Joe Hardy approaching them. She immediately felt Ned tense beside her.

"Down, tiger," she muttered. Then she smiled at the Hardys as they each gave her a hug. "How long have you two been here?"

"Only about ten minutes," Joe answered.

"Ned," Frank said, cordially.

"Frank," Ned said in the same tone.

"Looks like this is turning into a big fiasco," Frank said, turning his attention to the doors as another person entered the courthouse.

"You would think the president was coming here with all the chaos going on out there," Joe said in agreement.

"Just tell me it's not that crazy in the courtroom," Nancy said.

"It's starting to fill up but it's nowhere near as crazy as it is out there," Frank assured her.

Ned looked down at his watch. "Maybe we should head in there ourselves."

Frank and Joe led the way and as they entered, Nancy was grateful for the quiet chatter in the courtroom. As she took a seat on the front row behind the prosecution's table, she took a chance and glanced around the room, spotting a few familiar faces—Frazier Carlton, Thomas, B.D. Hawkins, and Nikki Masters, among others. They each looked at her and she tried to give them an encouraging smile, knowing it would never be enough to take away the pain they were all feeling.

"Who's up first for the prosecution?" Ned asked softly, pulling her attention back.

"The medical examiner, I think," she answered.

Just then, Gwen Lawson came into the courtroom and took a seat at the table in front of them. She turned around in her chair to smile at Nancy.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

Nancy answered with a smile of her own. "I just want to get this over with."

"I know you do," Gwen said understandingly. "I think everyone will rest easier when this is all over."

"I guess I'm just a little nervous about everything," Nancy admitted.

"That's perfectly understandable," Gwen said. "Like I said when we met, I'm going to try to make this as painless for you as I possibly can. And I'm sure your father will do the same."

Nancy nodded and looked over at the defendant's table where Carson Drew was pulling out papers from his briefcase. He must have sensed her eyes on his because he turned in his seat to give her an encouraging smile. She smiled in return and then focused her attention to the front of the room where the bailiff was calling the court to order.

"All rise! The Honorable Judge Peter Kent is now presiding."

The room rose as one as a short, middle-aged man with thinning brown hair came into the room. He took his seat and addressed the room.

"You may be seated," he said in a booming voice. He then nodded at the bailiff. "Bailiff, please escort the defendant in."

A deafening hush fell over the room as the bailiff walked over to a door on the left side of the room. Then the crowd burst into outrage as Dominic Shepard was led into the room.

"Order! There will be order in this courtroom!" Judge Kent said, banging his gavel lately.

The room once again got quiet. Nancy felt her insides literally freeze as she watched the man who had terrorized her, dressed impeccably in a business suit take his seat. If she hadn't known who he was or what he was capable of, he would have been someone she could have easily approached on the street.
He turned around in his seat, his interest focused on only one thing: her. He gave her a chilling smile and blew her a kiss, before turning back around and facing the front. She tried her best not to show any emotion but she couldn't stop the chill that went coursing through her body.

"Can you believe the nerve of that guy," Frank muttered, disgustedly.

"I would give anything in the world to wipe off that smug look on his face," Ned said.

Judge Kent cleared his throat. "I will start off by saying, if you cannot control your outbursts, I will hold you in contempt. My courtroom will not be turned into a circus! Now, we will begin with opening statements. Ms. Lawson, you may begin."

"Thank you, Your Honor." Gwen stood up from her seat and approached the jury. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, we are here today to make sure justice is served to the defendant, Dominic Shepard. Over the next few days, you will see evidence and hear testimony that will be more than enough to convict him on the numerous charges that are against him.

"I will warn you that this will be an emotional and trying case. Many families have been ruined by the defendant's actions." Her voice turned cold and convicting. "The evidence and the testimony against Dominic Shepard will speak for itself; it will prove that Dominic Shepard willingly committed these murders without a second's thought. Thank you."

Gwen walked back to her seat and sat down just as Carson stood up from his. He buttoned up his blazer and calmly walked to the jury box. He looked at each of them in the eye and took a deep breath.

"Assistant District Attorney Lawson is right when she says that this will be an emotional and trying case. The trial will no doubt bring out emotional outbursts, but I'm going to have to ask you to try to ignore that. You must listen to the evidence and not let your emotions interfere with this trial.

"Dominic Shepard is entitled to a fair trial just like any other person. He deserves your full and undivided attention as well as your unbiased opinion. As the saying goes: 'Every man is innocent until proven guilty'."

Carson looked at each juror again before making his way back to his seat. He unbuttoned his blazer and sat down as Judge Kent cleared his throat again. "Prosecution, you may call your first witness."

Nancy braced herself in her chair as Gwen stood up. "Prosecution calls Chief Medical Examiner Carl Reynolds to the stand."

As the doors to the courtroom opened and a tall man who appeared to be in his fifties with thick sandy-blonde hair entered, Nancy couldn't stop the apprehension that overtook her.

Well…I guess this is it…

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Author's Note: As you can see I have now started the trial. I could have dragged it on for the two months leading up to the trial, but I would have gotten bored with it and I figured that you would too. I would have had this posted about three days ago, but the website would not let me in for the life of me. So if you want anyone to blame for the update, blame the site.

Again, I thank my betas because they are the ones that keep me straight and sane. If they weren't there to catch my mistakes, there would be no story! You guys rock!

Tell me what you think...