2016

Tree Hill, North Carolina

(Day Three Of The Preliminary Hearing)

If before, the State of North Carolina versus Jake Jagielksi was simply a media event, after the explosive testimony of his wife, it had ballooned into a full on soap opera like circus. The lines of spectators aiming to get a ticket inside the courtroom tripled while local channels broadcast the proceedings live, while national media loomed outside the double doors giving the country a play by play of the events. For the third time the room was filled to its capacity as the physically exhausted and emotionally devastated defendant took his place at the designated table. As the young detective who had worked on the case filed in, he couldn't resist walking over to the man he had once been friends with.

"Listen, Jake…"

Jake looked right at him.

"Save your breath, man. I didn't do it. I didn't kill Luke."

Mouth sighed.

"I…I know. Look, Jake, I can help you. I want to help you. Please let me help you."

"It's too late for me, Mouth."

"No, it's not. It's not too late. There is still time. You just have to tell me the truth. You have to tell me where you were during those hours when Lucas was being murdered."

"Detective McFadden", Anna approached, folding her arms. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Anna, I was just trying to help."

"Really? Well, it seems to me you've helped enough. In fact, you helped Jake right into this defendant's chair. So please return to your seat and leave us alone and Jake, don't say another word."

She took her place right behind him as court began.

"What's gonna happen?" he whispered. "Anna, I don't want to go to jail."

"Now you tell me. It's time for closing arguments and you finally decide to stop sabotaging your own case?"

He rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry. That was before. I was trying to protect Peyton."

Anna glanced across the room at the blonde who kept her head down.

"And how is the loving wife?"

"It's so complicated", Jake sighed.

"Let's say by the grace of God, you do manage to make it out of here as a free man. What's next?"

"I don't know."

"What about your marriage? Is it over?"

"It…it's complicated, too. I know you think that sounds lame. Yeah, Peyton has a done a lot over the years. Some people would say I should just take my boys away and divorce her."

"And what do you say to that, Jake?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not that simple either but you'd never understand that and I don't expect you to."

"Actually, I do. You know, you six always had that bond. Even back then, especially back then. I can't explain it and I don't think you guys could either. All of you were nice to me and we were friends and Luke and I even dated for a while but I always felt like an outsider. I guess I was. You all never let anyone else in that little bubble, therefore no one else could ever understand the love, the hate, the jealousy, the loyalty that will bind you all forever."

Jake nodded. It was as good as an explanation as he'd ever heard.

"Are the prosecution and defense prepared to close today?" Judge Fowler asked.

Laura Ferguson stood.

"The People are, Your Honor."

"Ms. Tagarro?"

Anna stood as well.

"Your Honor, the Defense respectfully requests an extension."

The courtroom murmured.

"On what grounds?"

"We would like to present a final witness."

"Objection, Your Honor. The State was not made aware of this final witness."

"And neither was the court", Judge Fowler frowned. "Ms. Tagarro, I have had it up to here with your shenanigans. Now unless you can produce this witness in the next ten seconds, motion for extension denied."

And like magic, the courtroom double doors opened. Every head turned and as hushed whispers fell throughout everyone in attendance. The drama couldn't have been scripted any better. No one could believe the person's identity, especially not Nathan or Haley or Keith and Karen. Anna breathed a sigh of relief and grinned as even Jake looked stunned.

"Does this mean motion granted?" the young attorney looked at her watch.

Judge Fowler rolled his eyes.

"You're skating on thin ice, Counsel. Proceed."

"Thank you, Your Honor. The defense calls Mae Scott to the stand."

"What the hell is she doing?" Karen whispered. "What is going on?"

Keith was just as shocked as everyone else as his mother was sworn in and took the stand.

"Good morning, Mrs. Scott. My name is Anna Tagarro and I represent the defendant, Jake Jagielski, in the People of North Carolina, New Brunswick County versus Jake Jagielski in the murder trial of Lucas E. Scott. Ma'am, do you understand the purpose of this court proceeding?"

"Yes, dear."

"And could you please tell the court of your relationship, if any, to the deceased?"

Mae cleared her throat.

"Lucas was my grandson."

"I see. I am very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Scott. I have a few questions. Did you love your grandson Lucas? Did you see him, speak to him often?"

"I loved him very much. He was a good boy, a bit troubled but a good boy. I saw him whenever he came to town. I flew out to his ranch in Texas a few times."

"So you had a good relationship with Lucas?"

"Yes."

"What about Lucas' relationship with Mr. Jagielski?"

"They were the best of friends once. Several circumstances eventually changed that. Over the years I'd say the relationship had become strained. But no matter what, in the end, Lucas still loved Jake…and I know Jake loved my Lucas."

"You say despite past differences, the two old friends still had love for one another. Now, Mrs. Scott, what is your relationship, or what was it like leading up to the murder with the defendant?"

Mae smiled.

"I loved Jake Jagielski very much. I still do. He's been like another grandson to me."

"And do you believe these heinous charges he has been accused of?"

"No. No, Jake wouldn't hurt a fly. He did not kill Lucas."

"Objection, Your Honor!"

"Sustained", Judge Fowler agreed. "Ms. Tagarro, you're walking a fine line here. Establish relevance or else."

"That leads me to my next question, Your Honor. Mrs. Scott, you say my client did not murder the victim. Are you sure about that?"

"Positive."

"How do you know?"

"Because during the timeframe that someone shot my grandson, Jake Jagielski was with me at the Scott estate."

The courtroom erupted as Judge Fowler had to bang his gavel several times.

"Order! Order in the court!"

Anna didn't bother hiding the smile that indicated she was quite pleased with herself.

"Please elaborate, Mrs. Scott."

"At the time of Lucas' murder, he was embedded in a legal battle with his brother, Nathan, over monies secured in the Scott trust. There are several holders in that…myself, as I also have Power of Attorney over my disabled husband's interests, my son, Keith and his wife, Karen, also Lucas' mother. Deborah Scott, widow of my late son, Dan and of course, Nathan and Haley Scott as well as Lucas and Brooke Scott. You see, Deb, Keith and Karen's parts were separated, however I had funds that were tied into the impending lawsuit. I couldn't take it anymore, not the bickering. It was tearing our family apart. I didn't know what to do. I needed advice. I needed someone I could trust, someone familiar with our family, someone with both Lucas and Nathan's best interests at heart. I knew that person was Jake. He had also studied finance and such in college and I knew he was very capable with matters like this. I found out he was in town on routine business and I summoned him for a meeting that took place during the night of my grandson's murder."

"And you are sure of dates and times? You are sure Jagielski was with you on that night?"

"Of course, dear."

"It has been a little over six weeks since Lucas' murder. Why haven't you come forward before now?"

"It was Jake's choice, really. He agreed to help me on the condition of anonymity. He didn't want anyone to know of his involvement, even if it meant hiding an alibi."

"With all due respect, ma'am, you have testified to your fondness for the defendant. How do we know you're telling the truth today? How do we know you're not just creating an alibi to help his case?"

"Because I am a loving, churchgoing, law abiding grandmother, dear. But I suppose you and the courts require more proof than that."

Anna smiled.

"I'm afraid so, Mrs. Scott."

Mae handed over a large, sealed envelope.

"All the proof you need, Ms. Tagarro. Seven notarized, sworn statements from my associates also in attendance at that meeting."

"I see. Thank you, Mrs. Scott. And one more question, please, if I might."

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you tell any of this to the police?"

Mae shrugged and looked right at Detectives McFadden and Tucker.

"They never bothered to interview me", she shrugged innocently.

"Son of a bitch!" Tucker whispered.

Mouth shook his head in disbelief.

"She's lying. She made all of this up."

"Thank you, again, ma'am. Nothing further. The Defense rests."

"And the People?" Judge Fowler questioned.

Thrown for a loop and stuck between a rock and a hard place, Laura Ferguson had been backed into a corner.

"No, Your Honor."

"Very well. Mrs. Scott, you may be excused. The court will take a short recess while I ponder over this latest evidence."

"What the hell was that?" Jake asked.

Anna just grinned at him.

"Your ticket to freedom."

Brooke gave an innocent shrug when Jake turned to her for explanation. A few feet away as the people buzzed over the latest scandalous revelation, Nathan Scott sat fuming.

"Is Grandma on crack? We should have locked her ass away in an old folk's home in Florida years ago."

Haley said nothing as within the hour Judge Fowler returned.

"In light of the evidence brought forth by Ms. Tagarro's defense, it is my opinion that the People did not establish burden of proof. Therefore there is insufficient evidence to bring forth the defendant, Jake Jagielski to a formal grand jury indictment or trial by jury. At this time the case is dismissed and all charges are dropped. Mr. Jagielski, you are free to go. Court is hereby adjourned."

Chatter filled the courtroom as Jake hugged Anna and a relieved but tearful Peyton quietly made her exit. The court was divided in their reactions that ranged from horror to joy to anger to disbelief but all agreed it had ended in expected dramatic fashion. Haley stood to wheel her husband out of the room and made eye contact with Jake who simply nodded at her. Then she looked over at her sister in law, Brooke, who greeted her with a wink. Haley then glanced over at poor Mouth who looked absolutely destroyed. With a sigh, she put on her sunglasses, smiling for a second before she had to put on a brave, blank face for the whole world.