Chapter 29:

Vivian and Jack had entered the courtroom, the hearing about the further process in case of the Chileans would be decided about. Adamén and de Vierra, accompanied by their lawyer, were already there, awaiting the judge. They looked up at them as soon as they entered the room. Adamén was getting up from the place he was sitting at, wearing his ever so polite smile on his face when he greeted Jack.

„Agent Malone. I see you're interested to hear what Miss Tejar has to say about this – I'm sorry I still haven't found another idiom to describe it – ridiculous case."

Jack wasn't surprised the man was still as polite and self-assured as he had been when he had first questioned him. It confirmed Jack's grim suspicions about the reason and the ones responsible for Elizabeth not showing up here on time. Adamén didn't fear this hearing, because there was nothing for him to fear – the main witness wouldn't come here to testify, she wouldn't be able.

Jack didn't answer the question, the elder Chilean had asked him – he didn't want to talk to this guy. But the other man didn't seem to bother about what he wanted, he obviously felt much to triumphant about the outcome of events as that he simply would have kept quiet. He needed to show the two federal agents that he – for this time – had won over them.

„As I see you didn't bring the delightful young woman with you. I had believed she would be here already, she – as dedicated as she is to all these lies and faked evidence in her case file – wouldn't want to miss this event. Let's hope nothing had happened to her."

Adamén was trying to enrage him, trying to get him to show a reaction. They both knew he wasn't fearing for Elizabeth, he was perfectly informed about what had happened to her, but once again there was a complete lack of proof for this. Jack – being assured by a warning gaze from Vivian – however managed to keep his emotions under control. He wouldn't fight with this guy.

„Let's hope so."

He went away, leaving Adamén - who obviously had wished to go on talking to him - standing there, and sat down next to Vivian. She was looking at him intensively and he was sure she didn't feel any different about Adamén's statement.

„He knows what has happened to her."

„He perfectly does, but there's no way to prove it. He will give hints just like that one, simply to make us see we can't get to him, but he wouldn't testify – never."

They were interrupted as the judge entered the room right then and sat down. He looked at the Chileans and their lawyer first and then took a look at the two federal agents, a frown appearing on his face. He immediately had realized Elizabeth was missing – she was the one reason they all had come here today.

„Alright, we start this hearing now. I would like to hear about the evidence being gathered against Mr. Adamén and Mr. de Vierra. The court calls Mrs. Elizabeth Tejar to testify."

Of course nothing happened for Elizabeth wasn't here, she hadn't made her way to the court room and she wouldn't testify. The judge had an impatient look around the room and – as Elizabeth was nowhere to be found – fixed his gaze on Jack.

„Where is she?

„We don't know, your honor."

Jack was absolutely uncomfortable with the situation and the judge's question. He had hoped to have him on their side, but obviously he already was annoyed by the delay of the trial and he didn't seem willing to be faced with any more troubles. The judge's reaction – the anger in it – clearly showed it to the two federal agents.

„You don't know? You come up with this case, you assure me there is undeniable evidence and a witness and now she's not here and you don't know where she is?"

Jack had a short look at the opponents' lawyer and had a glimpse look at Cristobal Adamén. The smile on his face was still there. Jack looked back at the judge, getting up from his seat and took a deep breath before answering the question.

„No, your honor – I don't know where she is. She was supposed to meet with us about twenty minutes ago."

„But she didn't show up?"

„No, she didn't."

„Maybe she got cold feet?"

The judge's suggestion enangered Jack. But it was not out of the ordinary. This case was sloppy and on shaky feet from the beginning and now the key witness wasn't there. He didn't know Elizabeth, he couldn't imagine Elizabeth would never walk away from this, no matter what. But that's the way it was – the judge needed to know that.

„No, your honor, she did not, definitely not. She wanted to testify here today, I can't imagine any circumstances for her not to show up. Except for one."

„Except which?"

„Something has happened to her."

The judge looked at him in disbelief, not willing to even think about the suggestion. Jack however took the time to look at Adamén once again. He was directly looking at him as Jack glanced over to him and the smile on his face had changed into a smirk. The judges reaction however caused Jack to look back.

„So in the final analysis there is no one here to testify and present evidence."

„The evidence is still there your honor, Miss Tejar will simply not be able to present it."

„Your honor, this is ridiculous. There is no witness, there is no evidence – there is no reason for a trial after all. Miss Tejar didn't show up here and now we are told she has been harrassed or kidnapped. This is unbelievable, your honor. You have to put this case on hold."

The judge listened to the Chilean's lawyer carefully before he flipped through the few pages in front of him concerning the trial. He took a few moments of careful thinking and reconsidering before he looked back up facing Jack and giving him a hard look – probably not believing him and being more convinced by the lawyer's explanation.

„As she has been the prime witness in this case and she's not here to testify I see no other way but to delay this hearing until Miss Tejar can be found."