Author's Note: Darn! I can't believe how long it's been since I've updated. My apologies to people who were looking forward to another chapter if you guys exist, hah! But work has been getting busy and with classes and midterms coming up, I haven't been able to update as much as I would have liked. For those of you who have been reviewing, thank you so much! For those of you who have been reading and have ben loyally following this story, my gratitude cannot be expressed in words. Here's another two chapters to hold you off for a bit. I'll hopefully be able to update more regularly...fingers crossed. Thanks again to everybody who's been reading!
Disclaimer: There's no way that I could have possibly thought up these wonderful characters myself. They belong to who they belong to and the original characters belong to me. So if you would like to use them for whatever odd unthinkable reason, permission is necessary.
Chapter 13 – Tripping Down Memory Lane
"I saw parts of the license plate," Sue explained. "And what make the car was."
The defense attorney for the Fisherman, a.k.a. Don Hanes nodded inquisitively and paced around the front of the courtroom and continued his cross-examination. "You and Agent Hudson were coming back from work when this occurred?"
"From dinner. We went to get dinner after work together and we were on our way home." Sue clarified.
"Oh…dinner. Just the two of you?" The defense attorney inquired.
"Yes, we were the only ones."
"And do you guys often have dinner alone?"
"Objection," the AUSA stood up. "I fail to see the relevance with this line of questioning."
The judge looked up slightly exasperated. "Approach the bench counselors,"
The AUSA and the defense attorney walked over to the podium the judge sat on while the judge put his hand over the microphone.
"Your honour," the defense attorney began. "I'm merely trying to establish whether or not Agent Thomas' personal involvement with the case will have any bearing on her testimony and her eagerness to see somebody, anybody, prosecuted for this crime."
"Your honor, that's ridiculous," the AUSA responded. "Agent Thomas and Agent Hudson were co-workers and yes, personal friends so of course she will have some sort of personal investment in this case. However, nothing in her testimony so far as indicated that she would be eager to implicate Mr. Hanes for the crime asides from the evidence already presented."
"I agree," the judge replied. "Your client is the one trial, counselor, not Agent Thomas' feelings," he took his hand off the microphone and cleared his throat. "Step back."
The defense attorney sighed and turned back to Sue. "Asides from the car, did you see anything else that would indicate it was in fact my client who shot Agent Hudson? Did you see his face or any other distinguishing features?"
Sue paused and spoke up hesitantly. "No," she finally replied.
"Thank you, no more questions." The defense attorney rested.
"You may step down," the judge told Sue.
She looked at the AUSA expectantly and he gave her a reassuring nod before stepping down.
Jack took in a deep breath and closed his eyes before retelling his version of events. An event that changed his life, and arguably, ended it. He opened his eyes after a beat and began telling the court about going to dinner with Sue after work and then heading home. His version wasn't all that different from the ones that had been printed in every local paper and reported on the news channels. It even made the front page headline for the Post. The first shot got him in the shoulder and he was brought down to his knees. Sue couldn't hear the shot but Levi ran up to her and by the time he got her attention, the second shot had already been fired, the last one potentially fatal. He didn't even react to the pain, all he thought about was getting her out of range, when he was in fact the target.
It was odd for him, sitting here and recounting such a significant event in his life. It felt like it wasn't even him, and that he was reliving a television show he saw about someone else entirely. All of the emotions he felt at that time seemed second-hand and he was desensitized from that day entirely, recalling it with ease.
The defense attorney stepped up to begin his cross-examination. Luckily for Jack Hudson, his law experience allowed him to be able to remember how witnesses should carry themselves during cross-examination. Eye contact, confident, standing firm, straight-forward answers.
"You said that you didn't see the man's face," the defense attorney said. "How can you be so sure it was in fact my client?"
"The ballistics report was a match, the vehicle investigation showed a positive link—"
"Your honor, I ask that his last statement be stricken. These areas are not things he is an expert at or has first-hand experience with." The defense attorney objected.
"So stricken," the judge complied. "The jury will disregard the last statement."
"I'll ask you again, Mr. Hudson. Do you have any other proof that makes you so sure it was in fact my client who tried to kill you?"
"Well," Jack began. "He sure did look surprised to see me during the grand jury testimony. I hardly think he would be so shocked to see someone he's never met before."
"Your honor, would you please instruct the witness to answer my question?"
The judge turned to Jack. "Mr. Hudson, you're well versed in law yourself, please just answer the question."
Jack took in a deep breath. "That man shot me and took my life away from me. Away from my friends and my family. That's what I know for sure. He did it not because he knew me and had a personal vendetta against me but because somebody waved some cash in his face. That is what I know for sure."
The defense attorney gave Jack a glare and then turned to the judge. "No more questions."
Sylvia placed a bouquet of flowers down and sat down in front of the tombstone, her legs tucked underneath her comfortably. A band-aid was on her forehead, a reminder of the ordeal she went through. She stared at the gray and white marble for a moment before letting out a short sigh.
"So…I'm sorry it took me so long for me to come and see you, Dylan," she said. "But…I hope you understand. I hope you know that it's nothing against you or anything. It's just…I didn't think I could ever make it on my own, you know? Without you always being there to take care of me. But I did, I really did. And I was so proud of myself, I was so happy. I think you would have liked it too. I mean, it's not as exciting as the old life but…it's real. It's special." She let out a dry chuckle. "You were stupid enough to fall in love with me and I was probably the worst thing that could have happened to you. I have to be honest with you though, and I think you knew…I was way too young to know whether or not I was in love with you. But I did love you nonetheless. You cared about me when you didn't have to…and it takes a real special person to do that. I don't want you to worry about me though, I mean I get to do what I've always wanted to do…I've got great friends. Steve…Kristen….and Jack. I've always wondered why you told me to go to Hartbridge but I think now I know…" Tears started to swell in her eyes but she wiped them back. "Anyways…I feel kind of silly talking to a head stone so…" she leaned forward and kissed the top of it gently. "Goodbye Dylan."
Jack approached the grave tentatively, carrying a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Sylvia looked up and saw him, giving him a small smile, which he returned. He offered his hand and helped her off of the ground while placing the bouquet in front of the head stone. The two stepped back and looked at the grave silently for a while.
Sylvia stuffed her hands deep into her coat pockets. "Thanks."
Jack nodded by way of response and gave her a glance before looking back at the grave. "Do you miss him?"
Sylvia took in a deep breath and looked towards the sky. "You know how there's that person in your life that sets you in the direction that's pretty much the rest of your life? You miss them when they end up not being part of that but…you kind of realize that you can either dwell on it or use it to make yourself stronger."
"Ah," Jack nodded inquisitively. "I can't imagine you needing to be stronger though."
Sylvia smiled a wry smile. "I don't suppose you had a head stone or anything." The two started walking out of the graveyard.
"Nah," Jack answered. "I believe I was cremated and my ashes scattered over the sea."
"How…romantic." Sylvia mused.
"And less costly too," Jack said with a dry chuckle. "The defense for Don Hanes called the AUSA this afternoon. It looks like he wants to make a deal."
Sylvia nodded slowly. "Justice is served then."
"I hope," Jack nodded and then cleared his throat. "So…what are your plans now?"
Sue exited from the car waiting for them at the entrance and walked towards them smiling. "Are you ready to go?"
Sylvia nodded. "Right now, Sue here is going to help me pick out an outfit for tonight."
Jack blinked in confusion. "What's going on tonight?"
"I was asked to dinner," Sylvia smiled a mischievous smile and piled into the car leaving Jack to look after her in confusion.
Sue picked up on this and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Congressman Pratner and her father were close colleagues, he asked her to attend a charity fundraiser he's holding to get to know her better."
Jack felt a little bit of a relief but did his best to show it. "Oh, well then. I hope you guys have fun on your shopping trip."
Sue smiled a small smile and they stared at one another expectantly before Sue finally gave him a small wave and made her way back to the car. As the car pulled away, Bobby walked towards Jack and watched them drive away.
"You're not worried about this?" Bobby asked.
"Worried about what?"
"That they might spend the time gossiping about you?" He teased.
"They wouldn't do that," Jack said confidently. "Would they?"
Bobby let out a dry chuckle and pulled Jack towards the car that was waiting for them. "For your sake, I hope not, Sparky. You might go from having two girlfriends to having none."
