co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo
Everyone was getting ready for court when the phone rang telling them they needed to be in court early. They quickly made their way to court and were met by Matt.
"What's going on?" Leah asked him.
"Lauranitits is being charge with solicitation of murder."
"What? What do you mean?"
"He contact someone about killing you, John. You and Amanda."
"What?"
"He put the word out and we were contacted. One of our officers went in last night and captured this tape." He pressed play and everyone listened as Johnny made the plan to kill John and Amanda if she happened to be with him.
"I can't believe. Wanting me dead. Who does that?"
"The same people who could torture and kill a helpless little boy."
"You're right." John replied. "They are crazy people. This will help them go to jail right?"
"It will help. I'm meeting with the judge and their lawyer. So hopefully this will all be over soon."
"And we will finally get justice for Joey."
"Yes, we will." Matt said. "It's time to go in." They all followed him in and sat down behind the prosecution table. Matt requested a sidebar with the judge and lawyer as soon as it started.
"What is this about Mr. Striker?"
"Mr. Barrett has provided us with new evidence that you need to hear."
"Proceed." Matt nodded and pressed the button on the recorder. The judge and The Lauranitits' lawyer listened as Johnny told Wade to kill John. "Enough." The judge said turning to the lawyer. "Did you have knowledge of this?"
"No sir. I had no idea. And while I came on this case after Mr. Barrett recluse himself, I had no idea the lengths Mr. Lauranitits would go too."
"I will adjourn court and make my decision about things." He said getting up. He walked back to the podium. "I have new evidence to look over so court is adjourned until two p.m. this afternoon. Dismissed." He pound his gavel.
John looked at Amanda. "Let's go grab a bite to eat."
"Okay." She replied as they headed to the deli nearby. John ordered a roast beef and cheese on rye while Amanda ordered a chicken salad on wheat.
"Do you think the Laurantitis's will plead guilty now?"
"I don't know but I think it's possible. I mean the tape is damning evidence and there really isn't a way for them to lie their way out."
"They could actually get consecutive life sentences for Joey's death and solicitation to commit murder." Leah said.
"I hope I so." John replied. "They deserve to pay for what they did."
"Yes, they do." Amanda replied.
Leah's phone rang. "Hello?"
"I need you back in the courthouse ASAP! There's been a development."
"Okay." She said hanging up and looking at John. "We have to get back to the courthouse. There has been a development."
They threw their trash away and headed back. They all wondered what the development was. They walked in the courtroom and Leah headed over to where Matt was.
"What's the development?"
"Eve has coped a deal and is willing to testify."
"Does she admit to everything she did?" John asked.
"Yes. She will testify to everything she did and everything her husband did. And in exchange she will get a reduced sentence."
"How much time?"
"75 years day for day for each count. With her testimony, we can get the death penalty for her husband."
"Good. I was worried she would get a very light sentence."
"No. She helped abused your brother. We weren't going to let her get a light sentence. "We can spare you the rest of the trial if you want." John shook his head.
"I have to know what they did to him. So I can move on from it."
"Alright. Then let's go in and the judge will continue." He said walked into the courtroom. They took their seats and wanted for the judge to enter the room. They looked up as the bailiffs brought Eve and John in the courtroom.
"Mr. Otunga, I understand that Mrs. Laurinatis wants to change her plea?"
"Yes, your honor." He replied. "Mrs. Lauranitits wishes to change her plea to guilty. We have entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution. Mrs. Lauranitits is willing to testify against her husband and tell everyone what happened with Joey."
"So noted. Mrs. Laurinatis, please take the stand."
Eve walked to the stand and didn't look at her husband as she sat down after she was sworn in.
"Mrs. Lauranitits, can you tell us what happened the day Joey died?"
"We were having a family cookout. Joey was playing in the living room and he broke a vase that my husband had gotten me. Johnny told him to go to the basement. That's where the punishments were given out. Joey didn't want to go and Johnny pushed him toward the door and it opened and Joey fell down the first step. When he didn't want to go the rest of the way down, my husband threw him down the stairs. Joey was crying, there was blood everywhere. I told him that we needed to take him to the doctor like every other time. He told me no that he could lay there and suffer as his punishment."
Amanda took John's hand in hers while Eve was talking. She knew this had to be hard.
"Mrs. Lauranitits, when did you decide to finally take Joey to the hospital?"
"It was late in the evening. I was putting my other son to bed. I walked to the basement and Johnny was there. Joey didn't look good. So I told Johnny we should take him. He agreed and we took him there."
"And what happened when you got there?"
"The doctor said there was nothing they could do. They gave him medication to take away some of the pain and make him more comfortable. He died a few hours later."
"Mrs. Lauranitits, do you feel any remorse for the pain you inflicted on this child? All the abuse over the few years you had him. Do you feel remorse for it?"
"Honestly the only thing I regret is adopting him in the first place."
"You're a horrible woman!" They heard from the courtroom. Everyone turned to see John standing up. "He was a little boy and you purposely hurt him! I hope you rot in hell for what you did!"
"Mr. Cena, sit down or you will be escorted out." The judge said to him.
"This woman and her husband hurt my brother and she has no remorse? Are you kidding me? You deserve the death penalty for what you did, you bitch."
"Mr. Cena, leave my court room now."
"John, it's time to go." Amanda said standing up by him. She took his hand in hers. "Do what the judge says. You don't want to go to jail." He sighed and let Amanda lead him out of the room. "Lets go back to my place okay? We can just relax."
"Alright." He said. She took his hand and they headed out to the car and drove to her place.
"I know it's hard not to be the courtroom. But you don't want to go to jail for contempt do you?"
"No. I just... I can't imagine anyone hurting an innocent child for any reason."
"I can't imagine it either." She replied. "How can anyone hurt a child? I would never want my child to experience that."
"That would never happen with our child, when we have them. Because we would never do that."
"You think about us having children?"
"I do." He smiled. "I think about what our child would look like. Do you think about that?"
"I do. I think about what our life would be like with a child. And how amazing it would be for us to have a life together."
"I love you Amanda."
"I love you too." She smiled and kissed him. "Now, how about I make us something to eat and then I will give you one of my famous massages to help relax you."
"You're spoiling me."
"That's my right as your girlfriend. To spoil you." She smiled. He leaned in and kissed her.
"How about we skip the food for now and you give me a massage?" She smiled and took his hand and they headed to the bedroom. She wanted to take his mind off of everything even if it was just for a few hours.
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