Disclaimer here: yadayayayaya
AN- This was a tough chapter to write. I don't think I did this particular scene justice, but I did the best I could. **awkward coughing** Anyway, we're down to one or two more chapters before this story is done! So review it up and enjoy! (And props to whoever can tell me what movie Murphy refers to...lol)
Ericka POV
The courtroom was packed to max capacity but it was deadly quiet. The tension and anticipation was thick, almost tangible. Many outraged citizens of Boston had flooded the courtroom, wanting to witness
Papa Joe's trial for themselves.
The media was having a field day; it was a circus as the members of the media dug up dirt on Yakavetta's past criminal actions (that he was able to get away with, thanks to top notch defense attorneys). It wasn't a matter of if he was guilty or not- it was a matter of whether or not he would get away with murder again. I stood at the very back of the press box with other the journalists, notepad and pen in hand, blending in. A reporter leaned down to whisper to my ear. "What's your take on things?" He asked, squinting at the back of Papa Joe's balding head.
I shrugged my shoulder, wanting to slap the smile off of his face. He has no idea of how serious this shit actually is. He gave a quiet laugh. "How can you not have an opinion?" he asked. The guy was really grading on my nerves.
"I'm a journalist." I said testily. "I'm not allowed to have an opinion on the news I write about."
He just wouldn't let it go. "C'mon now." He gave me what I took to be a playful look- it looked more like a condescending grimace to me. " It's not like you're obligated to print your opinion. What do you think?
Honestly? Is he gonna walk outta here, scot free again?"
It was my turn to give out a condescending look as the judge made his way to the stand, black robe billowing as he walked. "It doesn't matter what I think." I lowered my voice as the judge ordered for all to be quiet. "But I'm sure that in due time, he'll get what's coming for him."
Due time indeed.
Murphy POV
Connor stared at the wall opposite of him, bottom lip between his teeth, fingers interlaced in his lap. I had never seen him so still- it was strange really. Even if he tended to be the calmer one of us, he still had boundless energy and was all over the place in the way people like- Charisma. My brother was charismatic and lively whereas I was the neurotic, moody twin.
Not that it really mattered in the end. We both had an equal amount of blood on our hands.
I heard voices outside of the van we were waiting in. "You ready?" I asked, fidgeting with my lighter.
He shrugged. "I suppose."
That answer wouldn't do for me. I needed something solid- a definite yes or no to hold onto. "We can back out now." I said quietly. "You know that, right?"
"Of course I know that."
I gave it a few more seconds before I let loose on him. "We don't have to fucking do him like this. There has to be another way of getting to him without exposing ourselves."
"I'm sure there's another way. But this gets the point across." His voice was soft, calculated, decided.
"Conn, do you realize we're gonna light the guy up in a fucking courthouse? In front of a huge crowd of people, where there are cameras and the press?" I bit back the question I wanted to ask: Are you fucking insane?
"If we follow the plan we'll be just fucking fine."
Right. Ericka's plan that was pieced together from a movie. Yeah, my faith is really firm in this idea.
I didn't have time to argue some sense back into him. There was a knock on the van door- our cue to move. Connor slipped on his shades. "Are you coming with?"
Looking back, I wondered if he ever realized how stupid of a question that was. Of course I was coming with. I slipped my own shades on and muttered a line I had heard in a movie once, knowing Connor would appreciate it. "You jump, I jump."
Connor POV
Smecker let us into the courthouse through a side door. Da was waiting there with him and we walked through the metal detectors, throwing our duffels over the top of it. The place was creepily quiet; I could hear our footsteps echo off the walls. I felt the adrenaline flood my system as we took the stairs two at a time, rushing to the courtroom. The trial had to be underway already; we had to act fast before someone spotted us. It had to look odd; three men who appeared to have no business in a courthouse, roaming around, wearing black and carrying around heavily laden bags.
We stopped in a nearby hallway that was kitty corner to the courtroom's back door to take out our guns, account for all of our shit, gather ourselves- at least, that what I was doing. Murphy was focused, moving frantically yet fluidly. Da looked positively nonplused by what was going on, like this was an everyday occurrence. Then again, it probably was.
I felt my heart pounding somewhere in my throat, hands shaking a little. Why the fuck am I losing it now? That was a dumb question. I had no qualms with the idea of waltzing into a courtroom and shooting a guy. In practice, it was a hell of a lot scarier than what I anticipated. Knowing that as soon as we walked in there, we were outted. I could only hope Ericka used her head and kept of this mess. She was posing as a reporter; it was the only way all of us could agree on her being present. I felt a lump form in my throat. Knowing that she was going to be there watching us kill somebody was more nerve wracking then the idea of a crowd of strangers watching. My stomach twinged uncomfortably.
Murphy looked up at me, giving me a dead stare. We can still back out. His words rang in my head. There has to be another way.
Another voice, much firmer and resolute sounded. But we're already here. No backing out now.
I nodded at him, giving my green light. He straightened up and looked to Da. He cleared his throat and motioned towards the door with his gun. "Ready when you are, boys."
"Right." I held tight to my gun, feeling the cold metal underneath my fingers. "On three." I glanced back at Murph. He gave me another nod and let out a deep breath, rolling his neck a little.
"One…. Two…"
Ericka POV
"I was with my mother. We were at the butcher because on Thursdays my mother makes meatloaf! Yeah?" Listening to Papa Joe talk made me crawl right out of my skin. The cocky son of bitch was really hamming it up for the audience. The same guy that had talked me up earlier leaned over to talk one of the male journalists. "Look at him. He doesn't have a care in the world."
"He's gonna walk, even with all the evidence against him."
I stopped listening to them and turned my eyes to my watch. Anytime now boys. C'mon now….
A door slammed open and in rushed Connor and Murphy, Da right behind them. Connor jumped right into the press box as people started to register the guns in their hands, people screaming at the top of their lungs.
Da ushered people to the back, commanding them. I could appreciate how old he was then; he looked like God himself- Except God didn't walk into courtrooms wielding a gun. He had the boys to do that for him. "Shut off the fucking camera! Shut it off now!" he ordered loudly.
Murphy dragged Papa Joe from the stand to the very front of the room, holding him by the collar of his designer label suit. It killed me; even with a gun pressed to his back, Yakavetta still looked smug. Murphy's face was full of rage as he stared at him. I could tell it was taking immense self control to not shoot him right then and there. "On your fucking knees!" he yelled at him. Yakavetta sunk hesitantly, like he was debating whether or not Murphy's gun was loaded with real bullets or blanks.
Connor caught my gaze and held it for a split second, long enough to convey the message of Stay the fuck back.I wasn't about to challenge him, not with that angered, almost crazed look in his eyes. He turned to the guards. "Drop your weapons! Drop them now, one by one! Drop them!" The portly guard that was standing on the balcony above the courtroom slowly flung his and his partner's gun over the railing, backing away with their hands up. Satisfied, Connor took his place next to Murphy, looking as outraged as his brother. Da dragged the judge away from the stand. He threw a fit, fighting to get away. "What the- where are you taking me?" Da simply flung him to the back, with all of the other spectators. The irony wasn't lost on me; enforcer of the law, helpless and at the hands of someone else.
Da stood at the front of the room, holding up his gun. "You people have been chosen to reveal our existence to the world! You will witness what happens here today, and you will tell of it later." He paused, looking as menacing as I had ever seen him. "All eyes to the front." He spat.
Yakavetta looked towards some of his people. "Now's a good fucking time to-" Murphy kicked him midsentence, knocking him the floor. "Shut your fucking mouth!" Yelled Connor as Murphy haul him back up to his knees.
A red headed girl was crying in the front. Da's face softened as he walked over to her, lifting up her face with his hand. "You must watch dear." He said softly. "It'll all be over soon." The muted sounds of a fire alarm reached my ears; the place would soon be empty of people besides us in the courtroom. The outside would be a different story. They have to do this soon. Before long the place is going to be just crawling with cops and the fire department. My hands shook a little.
The reporter that had been talking to people put a hand on my arm. "It's alright, sweetheart." He said soothingly. I couldn't take the guy anymore, even in light of the circumstances. Or maybe it was the circumstances that compelled me to pull my arm back and deck him right in the teeth. "Fuck. Off." I growled.
"You bitch!" he swore at me, looking to take a swing of his own. I saw Murph flinch a little, hardly looking up. Connor apparently didn't have the same amount of self control Murph did. He pointed his gun at the guy. "Watch your fucking mouth or you're next." He yelled. The guy settled down at once, giving me a very disturbed look.
The boys left Yakavetta and jumped up on the desk meant for attorneys and their clients to sit at during trial. It was…scary to watch them move, the anger and the hate palpable. If I didn't know them, I would've thought the very worst of them. This wasn't part of plan though. This was totally made up, on the spot. Even Da looked wary of them. After a long moment of tense silence, Connor was the first to speak.
"Now you will receive us!"
"We do not ask for your poor, or your hungry." Murphy's eyes were cold and unwelcoming, unlike the ones I had come to know so well. He wasn't fidgeting. On the contrary, his movements were seemingly precise and calculated. It made my stomach turn a little.
"We do not want your tired and sick."
"It is your corrupt we claim."
"It is your evil that will be sought by us."
"With every breath we shall hunt them down."
"Each day, we will spill their blood till it rains down from the skies." Connor's voice was dark, threatening, the Irish brogue coming out thick. It was almost surreal watching them, like they were bantering back and forth, like they were speaking from a script. Shivers ran up my spine. For the first time since I had met them, I could see my boys as cold blooded killers. It scared me.
"Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace!" Murphy had the faintest ghost of a smirk on his face, as if he couldn't believe he actually had to be telling people this.
"These are not polite suggestions! These are codes of behavior and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost."
"There are varying degrees of evil. We urge you lesser forms of filth not to push the bounds and cross over. Into true corruption. Into our domain."
"For if you do, one day you will look behind you and you will see we three. And on that day, you will reap it!" Connor's voice echoed off the walls. A few people covered their ears.
"And we will send you to whatever god you wish." Murphy finished, looking darkly amused by the whole thing.
They looked around the courtroom, locking eyes with every single person before jumping off the desks and taking their places behind Yakavetta. "And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand-"
"Vaffanculo!" Vakavetta yelled, voice breaking. I felt my lips pull up in grim satisfaction, glad that he was feeling some panic, some terror. If he was a religious man at all, I sincerely hoped he was praying, begging God, though it was far too late for absolution.
They continued to pray over his panicked swearing, not missing a beat."-That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be." They pulled back the hammers on their guns, three clicks sounding at once.
"In nomine Patri."
"Et filli."
"Spiritus Sancti."
I shut my eyes as I heard the sound of muted gunfire, and the spell that had been cast over everyone in the courtroom was broken. People started screaming again and rushing for the back doors. I opened up my eyes and glanced around. The boys were gone as suddenly as they came. I swallowed as a saw the body of Yakavetta, pennies places on his eyes. I had worked in the medical field since I was eighteen; I had seen some sick shit…but nothing like that. Knowing that my boys had done it made it hard to stomach. I felt bile rising in my throat as I turned to join the mob running out of the courtroom. Stick to the plan, Ericka. Don't lose your head. Find Smecker. Find him now.
Murphy POV
Da yelled at us as soon as we had made it to our car, parked several blocks away. "The fuck were you thinking boys! We lost some valuable time, we could've been out of there faster if you two hadn't gone off on a fucking tangent! Have you lost your goddamned minds?"
Connor lit up a cigarette with trembling hands. "People will at least make a fucking effort to watch their behavior now, question if it's moral or not!"
I lit my own cigarette, trying hard to shake the feeling. It was much like the same feeling I had felt- we had felt- the night we spent in a holding cell, after the Russians came to kill us. The words…. I don't even know where those came from. It was like someone had planted a script in my head and I had to deliver the lines given. A calling card from God, through us to the masses.
Truly, we are instruments of God.
"And you! What the hell was that, yelling at that man like that? You could've outted Ericka, probably have!" The wail of police sirens passed us, surely heading straight for the courthouse. This only seemed to make the argument between Connor and Da that much more heated, fear fueling it further.
"She'll be fine!" Connor yelled back.
"She would've been fine if you had just left well enough alone!"
"Shut the fuck up! Both of you!" Da looked at me through the rearview mirror, eyes burning. Connor looked just as pissed off. "Look, what's done is done. We need to get as far as we can from here as fast as we can, wait for Smecker to page us, and then we go from there. No sense in screaming at each other." They both surprisingly grunted their agreement and lapsed into a strained silence.
Connor leaned back, eyes closed, fingers knotted in his hair; He was taking to that particular habit more and more often. Da's hands were white on the steering wheel, eyes focused on the road. I lied back on the floor of the van, feeling every single bump and rock in the road.
It was going to be a very long night.