CHAPTER 4: FINALLY SEEING WHAT YOU'VE DONE

Schroeder was back in court. It was the day of closing statements before the case went to the jury to decide whether he was guilty or not. Schroeder had never denied what he had done; this case was more of a matter of his mental state. It was about if he was driven to near insanity when Lucy was paroled, or was the kidnapping premeditated. One thing was for certain, no matter the outcome, it would be a long time before anyone would see Schroeder again. After the prosecutor made their closing statement, it was his attorney Beth's turn to make her closing argument.

"We've all had those childhood crushes. There were those who never reciprocated said crushes. And not too many folks have been driven to madness due to someone's obsession over them. Schroeder Klimt is a rare case. The girl who has carried a torch for him for many years has turned him off to the notion of romance, but it was inadvertently, unfortunately. You see, Lucy Van Pelt loved Mr. Klimt way too much to the point of smothering, when he voiced to her over and over and over, that he wasn't interested in her like that. Other people had told her he didn't feel the same way for her as she did him, but kept pursuing him. The attack on his colleague from Ms. Van Pelt due to extreme jealousy and delusions of grandeur on her part was both the last straw AND a blessing for Mr. Klimt in regards to dealing with his stalker. Yes, I said 'stalker', because that was what Ms. Van Pelt was to him. It was the final straw because he finally made it clear to her that they would not be together, and a blessing because, she did get charged for the attack and even did time herself, up until her own parole nine months ago.

"Mr. Klimt, for the first time, could breathe and not have to worry about if Ms. Van Pelt was going to visit him, or run off another one of her marriage delusions. He could breathe easier, he could finally relax. But when he had heard about her possibly getting paroled last year, he went into overdrive to place a permanent restraining order on her before she got out, but it wasn't enough. And while Ms. Van Pelt did, to her credit, abide by the restraining order, it, unfortunately, took a toll on Mr. Klimt's sanity. He thought, for sure, she would try to get him back in her clutches, despite Ms. Van Pelt respecting said restraining order and even getting a new suiter who does give her the love she wanted. And I'm not here to demonize Ms. Van Pelt, at all, not in the slightest. I am just saying that after years of trying to pursue someone who never wanted anything to do with you, that person may one day snap on you, and that was what happened to Mr. Klimt. The parole made him snap and do thing he wouldn't have normally done."

Schroeder sat back and sighed. He was, for the first time, remorseful for his actions. While he wasn't sorry for hating Lucy, he knew he went about the situation the wrong way. He hoped that his friends would forgive him in time.

The judge then said, "I now give the case to the jury. Take all that you had witnessed during this trial and come back with a proper verdict. We are in recess."

While the jury was sequestered, Schroeder went down to the courthouse cafeteria to get something to drink. Charlie had made his presence known.

"Charlie!" said Schroeder, seeing his friend there. "I had no idea you were in the courthouse."

"I showed up a little later," Charlie said, looking serious. "Schroeder, what in the hell were you thinking?!"

"I don't know, man. With Lucy getting paroled, it was like I left and a darker, sinister version of me came in my place. It was like Lucy getting out turned me into a villain!"

"Well, you better pray that the jury shows some sympathy. As upset as I am over what you done, not even that can match Linus's fury. He's royally pissed at you, with good reason. Even more than Lucy, and it was HER that you kidnapped!"

"If it was my sister that got kidnapped, I'd be pissed, too. As strange as it is for me to say it, I don't blame him for hating me." At that moment, a bailiff came down to the cafeteria.

"Mr. Klimt," he began, "the jury is back." And he and Charlie went back upstairs to the courtroom to hear the jury's decision.

Back in the courtroom, everyone was back inside. The jury had made their way back. The judge continued the trial.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?" she asked.

"We have, your honor," said the jury foreman. He handed the bailiff their verdict and the bailiff turned it over to the judge.

"What is your verdict?" she asked.

"We find the defendant guilty of all charges," said the foreman. Schroeder looked down. In the gallery, Charlie shook his head in sorrow.

"The court thanks you for your services," said the judge. Turning to Schroeder and everyone in the courtroom, she said, "The defendant will remain on house arrest pending the sentencing. We are adjourned." And she hit the gavel.

"Good grief!" muttered Schroeder.

NEXT CHAPTER: REACTION