Chapter Twenty-Four: Hidden Agendas
"Then I saw him, Wells, just standing there with that insufferable smirk on his face. So, I shot him." When Lucas confesses to shooting EJ on the stand Sami started coughing so hard tears came to her eyes. Kate choked on the swig she was taking from her flask. Everyone started exclaiming. EJ patted Sami on the back a few times played with the ends of her hair. She turned her face towards him, but he wouldn't look over. "Now, Mr. Roberts, I'm confused. You entered a plea of not guilty at your arraignment, correct?" Mr. Smith questions. "Yes, but only because my mother told me to. She said she would get me off the hook. See, she's the one who told me to kill EJ Wells in the first place." Lucas looks almost smug as he turns to face Kate. Kate returns his look, feeling truly scared for the first time in her life.
The judge orders a short recess and calls the lawyers to his bench. "What is going on here?!" Judge Abrams asks them sternly. "I don't know," Mickey shrugs. Mr. Smith states that it sounds as though Lucas Roberts is admitting to attempted murder, under oath. Mickey looks at Mr. Smith. "Does that plea offer still stand?" Mr. Smith laughs out loud. "I don't think so, Horton," he replies, slapping him once on the back.
The lawyers return to their prospective tables. Mickey leans over and whispers to Lucas, asking him what he thinks he's doing. "I'm saving my own skin," he replies in a low voice. "Um, Lucas, how do you propose to do that?" "Just wait, you'll see," he whispers. "Things just may work out for me yet," he thinks to himself, fighting the urge to look over his shoulder at EJ.
Lucas is back on the stand. Mr. Smith resumes his questioning. "Now, Mr. Roberts. You claim your mother told you to shoot EJ Wells. Can you elaborate on that?" "Yes. See, my mother wanted Mythic all to herself. Since she's a full partner, it would have fallen to her if EJ was out of the picture. She kept telling me that as long as EJ was in the picture I'd never fully be secure with Sami, and she said that together she and I could run the company as equals. I didn't want to; I didn't really think that Sami was at all interested in EJ. I mean, she had me," Sami had to cough back a laugh at this, "but when I heard her tell him she was in love with him, I knew my mom was right all along. Mom told me that if I went through with it, she'd fix it all up, just like last time." Mr. Smith turns his back to Lucas and looks out at the throng of spectators. "And by last time, Mr. Roberts, you mean…?" Lucas sits up straight, flicks his eyes toward a shocked Sami, then turns to face his mother. "By last time, Mr. Smith, I mean Franco Kelly."
The judge has to shout over the courtroom chatter to make himself heard. "Court is in recess until further notice. I want to get to the bottom of this. Counselors, meet me in my chambers. Mrs. Roberts, you are not to leave town for any reason. Your passport is confiscated until further notice."
Will looks over at his mother, who is still in shock. "So, Dad's a murderer. Great. Real fucking great. I hate this family. I'm gonna go live with Uncle Eric!" With that, Will storms off. "Finally," EJ thinks to himself.
Sami is silent all the way to the car. EJ opens the door for her then walks around to get in the driver's side. Sami sits silently, looking out the window. EJ looks over at her, then puts a hand on her knee. "Samantha darling, are you alright?" She turns and looks at him with troubled eyes. "You're behind this, aren't you? What did you say to Lucas?"