Here is the next chapter. Enjoy! Amber
Chapter 28
The trial continued as Brooke recovered first in the hospital then at home. The bruising was horrible. Claire came into her room. "Hey do you have any extra pink lip gloss?"
"What shade of pink?"
"A light color. I'm painting my nails." She held up a nail polish.
Brooke went to her bathroom and pulled out one that she didn't use that looked similar to the shade. "Here."
"Oh boy thanks!"
"You're welcome."
That is when she heard her brother cry. She went across the hall. "Aww Ford. You're hungry. She picked him up. "I got you, little guy."
Callie came into the room. "I'll take him darling."
Brooke handed him off. "He's just so stinking cute!"
"Isn't he. Can you go make his bottle for me? I'm going to change him."
Callie blew a raspberry on Ford's tummy making him laugh. She pulled out wipes and changed his wet diaper, careful to wipe off the urine, and to watch out for the firehose! She had learned that the hard way the first time she changed him!
After he was clean Brooke came in with the bottle. Callie took it, and went to sit in the rocking chair to feed him. She looked around the room. It was a beautiful room, decorated with turtles. The green was a soothing color. Ford was moving his little foot up and down. Callie smiled at that. All three of her children did that little trait. A knock on the door jam got her attention. She looked up to see Fenton Hardy. He was staying in the third floor guest room, Joe and Vanessa were staying in the basement with their boys. It was a tighter squeeze now, but it still worked. Callie said. "Hi Fenton."
"Hi there, I just got a call from Sam at the courthouse. The jury has reached a verdict."
Callie burped her son. "That was fast...and that's always a good sign. Have the girls get ready, we're all going. George can drive us in the limo. It will seat all of us. Vanessa came in. "I'll stay here and watch the babies."
Fenton said. "Two agents will protect you. I would prefer you keep them in the vault."
The vault was the basement because you could lower a steel reinforced door. Vanessa nodded. "I can do that." She took Ford and went downstairs. Joe was getting dressed in his suit. "I'm going to lower the door once you go up."
Joe nodded. "You got some of Ford's formula down here and a couple bottles, everything you need."
Vanessa put Ford in the pack in play. She moved into Joe's arms. "Please be careful. This Juan Garcia is dangerous and we took him down."
Joe kissed her passionately. "I promise." He went upstairs and found Frank and Fenton sitting in the living room. He sat with them. "The girls getting ready?"
Frank nodded. "Yes, it won't be too long. I'm sure Brooke is trying to cover her bruising."
Joe leaned back. "She took a hard fall."
Fenton said. "Yes she did. I think she scared a year off my life. She was right she went wham."
Claire came down wearing a black suit with a red shell. She wore black tights and black shoes. Her hair was pulled in a bun with a red scrunchie. She wore a little blush and taupe lip gloss. She sat next to Frank. He kissed her cheek. "You look pretty sweetheart."
"Mom is helping Brooke with her makeup. She's wearing a black suit too but with a green shell. Mommy is wearing her burgundy suit, she looks sharp."
Frank chuckled. "Your mother has impeccable taste. She is making a statement."
Callie and Brooke came downstairs together. Callie did indeed look sharp. The burgundy suit was tailored in a very authoritative cut. Her shell was a pale pink. Her straight skirt came just above the knee. She wore beige tights and taupe shoes. Her hair was meticulously groomed and her makeup was striking. Brooke's suit was just as impressive, she had changed from the black to dark crimson and wore a cream shell and had borrowed her mother's pearls. Callie was wearing her garnets. Frank stood up and hugged them both. Brooke lingered for an extra moment. Frank kissed the top of her head. "Are you ready kiddo?"
"Yeah."
The doorbell rang. Brooke went to answer it. "Who could that be?" She opened the door and saw Ben. She gasped and flew into his arms. "You're parents let you come!"
"Of course they did. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Callie nodded. "Let's go. George has the limo ready outside."
They rode to the courthouse in silence. Laura could not come because she was delivering a baby. Brooke didn't mind. She said she would text her as soon as they knew the verdict. Her grandmother had told her to be brave. She was holding Ben's hand. They went up the steps and into the court. They managed to get a seat near the front because the bailiff had saved spaces for the families of the victims. Brooke tapped the girl named Robin Bates. She turned and smiled at her. Robin's father was a widower and a captain in the navy. They just bought a house in Joe and Vanessa's neighborhood and she had just started at Yorktown High School. Her sister Rena was Brooke's age and attended Williamsburg Middle School. Rena and Claire had really hit it off because she played the cello, the french horn, and played piano. They both had dreams of playing in an orchestra one day.
"All rise."
Everyone in the courtroom stood up. The bailiff continued the Honorable Marshal Douglas presiding.
Judge Douglas came in. "Please be seated. Has the jury reached a verdict."
The jury foreman stood up. He said. "We have your honor." He handed the verdict to the bailiff. Judge Douglas took it and read for a moment. He said. "Will the defendant please rise."
"We the jury find the defendant guilty of count 1 for conspiracy to commit kidnapping...we the jury find the defendant guilty of count 2…."
Brooke was squeezing Ben's left hand with her right and her father's with her right. She leaned over and started crying in Ben's shoulder. Frank rubbed her back soothing her as Ben wrapped his arms around her.
"We the jury find the defendant guilty of count 12 in the rape of Brooke Hardy...we the jury find the defendant guilty of count 13 of the rape of Brooke Hardy...We the jury find the defendant guilty of count 14 of the rape of Robin Bates."
Brooke couldn't stop her tears of relief. In the end he was found guilty of 114 counts of various crimes, including drug trafficking, possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, fraud, and sex trafficking.
Judge Douglas said. "The defendant is to be remanded until sentencing. Get him out of my sight. He saw the right side of the courtroom where a lot of the victims were currently sitting with their families. He addressed the court. "It is a tragedy that so many of you endured so much pain. I hope each of you will find peace now knowing that the man behind your trauma will go to prison. You were all so brave during your testimony. The jury is dismissed with gratitude."
Ben helped Brooke to her feet. "It's over now bright eyes. You did it. I'm so proud of you."
Brooke continued to hug him. "I'm so relieved."
The families all started talking to each other. Brooke hugged Robin. "We did it. How are you holding up?"
"I'm better, my other guy pled guilty and turned evidence against Juan Garcia and Angel."
"Good. Maybe we can have a sleep over at my house next weekend."
Rena said. "Ohh sleep over can I come?"
Brooke smiled. "I guess Claire can have some friends over too. I'm planning to invite Katie, Molly, Robin, and Melissa."
Claire squealled. "I'm going to invite Rena, Maggie, Lydia, and Jenny."
Brooke smiled. "Maggie was Melissa's sister, Lydia was in orchestra and Jenny was in band."
Callie chuckled. "Oh boy ten girls in the house at once. We have the basement and the rec room."
Claire called. "I call rec room, the acoustics are better to jam in."
"Well the basement is bigger so we'll take it." Brooke said.
Ben chuckled good naturedly. "Sounds like fun."
Frank said. "Ben you're welcome to come and watch a couple movies with them, you just can't sleep over."
"Tempting but no. She needs girl time."
