Hey guys! Yay! Another chapter! I worked really hard on this one but I know absolutely nothing about law or courts and stuff. Everything I know I got from my research, To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men. So I hope this chapter doesn't suck to badly.

Guest- THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY WE DO NOT VOTE! Haha just kidding. But I have a plan for this story and I'm sticking to it.

RedcakeMaine- Cute is what we aim for! I hope you got that. It'd be really awkward if you didn't...But thanks! I tried.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy Boys. Don't sue me. I work a minimum wage job, and can't afford anything. All the codes are real I got them off a legal website.

Chapter 7: The Trial

(Frank is 11. Joe is 10.)

Frank and Joe gazed at their reflections in the full length mirror that was stylishly placed in his mom's spacious walk-in closet. Over the past few weeks, Frank had noticed a visible change in his, and his brother's, appearances. No longer did they have bags under their eyes from lack of sleep. No longer did their eyes look shrunken in and hollow. No longer was their skin dull and his hair lifeless. No longer could you count they ribs (although many still protruded slightly.) They both looked... Healthy. All that was left were the scars and the memories.

Today they faced the monster that haunted their nightmares, the man who took away their happiness. It was the day they had been silently dreading for awhile now. The day when they would be forced to relive the past eight years of their lives. However, today was also the day the demon would receive judgement and hopefully be locked up forever.

Frank straightened his burgundy colored tie. He was wearing a white button down shirt, khaki pants and a black jacket. Joe was wearing almost the same thing, except his tie was baby blue. "It brought out his eyes" Aunt Gertrude had said when she helped them pick out their clothes earlier that morning.

Just then, Laura and Fenton walked into the closet, both wearing encouraging smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes.

"Ready to go boys?" Fenton asked.

"Yes, Dad. We're ready." Frank replied somberly.

"Come now, Frank. It'll be alright." Laura stepped closer, trying to comfort him.

Frank's body trembled all over as he began to sweat. Joe's eyes twitched and he started to hyperventilate. Signs of an oncoming panic attack. Being locked in closets for years must have caused extreme claustrophobia. Fenton realized angrily as he quickly pulled the boys from the closet and into the larger bedroom. The adults gave the boys space to breathe.

Once he had calmed down, Frank turned to his mother. "What if it isn't okay? What if he's found innocent? What if they send us back to him?" His lower lip trembled.

Seeing the sad looks in their sons eyes made the elder Hardy's hearts break into pieces. Fenton got down on one knee in front of the children.

"Listen to me." He paused, meeting each boys eyes. "There is nothing in this world that is going to let anyone separate us. We are a family now. I am doing anything and everything in my power to make sure this man gets what he deserves. And no matter how this trial goes, your mother and I will love you unconditionally." With that, he embraced his sons. There was a long pause as the man held his sons closely, silent tears streaming down all their faces.

After a few moments Fenton released the boys, he and Laura took their hands and led them out of the bedroom, down the stairs, out the front door, and into the waiting car that was going to take the them to the airport hangar where Jack Wayne was going to fly them to West Virginia, where the trial was to take place. Joe glanced over his shoulder at the house that had become a home. He took it all in, the cozy living room with the fading couch, the small pieces artwork on the walls, the large kitchen with the granite counter tops, and the fridge that was never empty. He thought of the first time he and Frank had stepped into this house, how scared they had been, he remembered eating Aunt Gertrude's apple pie, and dancing in the rain. He remembered the love that he felt in this house. As the wooden door closed behind him, he wondered if this was the last time he'd see the residence.

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The court house was bustling with reporters when the Hardy family arrived. They swarmed the black car like a pack of hungry wolves. Camera flashes went off, blinding the quartet as they made their way up the court house steps. Fenton, Laura and Gertrude put the boys between them as they tried to get inside. Heads down, they tried to ignore the incessant questions being thrown at them.

"Fenton! Fenton! How do you feel now that your sons are okay? Do you wish you had been a better father when you had the chance?" A round man from the Charleston Gazette shouted.

"Frank, Joe, can you describe what you went through the last ten years!" An unseen voice broke through the crowd.

"What was it like? Did losing the boys destroy your marriage?"

"If you could get your hands on Callaway, what would you do to him?"

"Is it true Louis Callaway killed his wife?" A nosy lady from the New York Times pushed her way through the crowd and shoved a tape recorder under Fenton's nose , which he pushed past without a comment.

Carson Drew was waiting for the Hardy's underneath a large plaque that said "Justice is not only served by the hands of the jury, but also by the hands of God."

"It's like a zoo out there." He grinned and shook everyone's hand.

"The zoo is quite the understatement if you ask me." Gertrude huffed.

Drew chuckled softly at her remark before turning towards the boys. "Ok, here's how this is going to work, in a nutshell." He began, dropping to one knee as to be level with them. "First there's going to be opening statements from me and the defense lawyer, then testimony and evidence, and then-"

He was quickly interrupted by Frank "and then closing statements and then it's up to the jury." He smiled sheepishly. "I've been reading about law."

Carson Drew smiled. "Yes. That's very good Frank."

"Nerd." Joe nudged his brother.

"Impulsive." Frank replied. He wasn't very good at comebacks.

"Shall we go in now?" Gertrude asked listening to the banter with disdain.

"Yes, right this way." Drew led the Hardy family inside the massive courtroom. There were rows and rows of pews that were quickly being filled by people, it looked like the whole town had come to see the trial. Frank and Joe recognized some of their old neighbors and teachers. Up front was a pedestal with the West Virginia and USA flag on either side of it. There was an empty chair and a stack of papers on the desk. In front of the judge's seat there were two tables on the left and right. Carson Drew led the Hardy's to the table on the right.

"This is the prosecution table. You boys can take your seats here." The lawyer said.

Frank and Joe looked uneasily at Fenton and Laura. The idea of being left alone with a strange man was unsettling to them.

"It's ok, boys. We'll be right here in the first row." Fenton said as he and Laura kissed their sons and finally parted ways with their children.

The boys were directed to sit on either side of the lawyer. They exchanged an apprehensive gaze at the thought of being separated but did as they were told. The room was full now, the only seats unoccupied were the defendants and the judge.

The courtroom, which was once buzzing with activity, became deathly quiet. Everybody was staring intently at the slowly opening wooden door. The Hardy boys turned their heads at the sudden change in atmosphere. What they saw left their mouths agape and fear in their hearts.

The bailiff led a handcuffed Louis Callaway into the courtroom. It looked as though he could break right through the metal shackles. He was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, which was stretched tightly over his taunt chest and arms, exposing bulging muscles. There was no more fat, no more beer belly. He had gotten a tattoo of a dead tree that covered the extensions of his back. The twisted trunk started at his lower waist and went up his spine, the black tendrils reaching over his shoulders and wrapping around his upper arms, slightly poking out of his sleeves. Snaking around his wrists and forearms were black tattooed chains. He had begun to grow a beard and his chin was scruffy. He was almost unrecognizable. His eyes were cold and emotionless. His face was slightly bruised and his knuckles had bust open, a recent fight. Within a few weeks he had gone from a drunken, fat pig to a hardened criminal, hellbent on revenge.

Frank and Joe paled as they stared in shock at their former father. Everyone knew Louis was a monster, but now he looked the part.

As the prisoner passed the prosecution table, Louis took the chance to look over his sons. They looked scared. Good. He thought to himself. They shoulda be terrified. Louis watched as Michael looked back towards the first row of pews. His eyes fell on a couple who were giving Michael encouraging smiles. Dat bastard shot me! That musta be da family that took the boys in. Showed 'em love... Love. He rolled his eyes. Those kids don't need no love. Love made 'dem weak. Da weak needa be punished. He thought maliciously as an evil smile crept into the corners of his mouth.

Everyone in the room stood, announcing the arrival of the judge. He was a thin man, his receding hairline showed his age, mid-fifties. Wire frames glasses covered the wrinkles around his small gray eyes and his mouth hung in a disapproving frown. He walked with a slight limp as he made his way to the front of the courtroom. "Please be seated." He said in a raspy voice.

"We are here today to hear the case against Louis Michael Callaway. He is charged with kidnapping, child abuse, child neglect, and first degree murder. According to West Virginia code 61, article 2, section 2, first degree murder is defined by any willful, deliberate and premeditated killing of another human being. If convicted if first degree murder, Mr. Callaway will be imprisoned for life. Code 61, article 8, section 3, child abuse is defined as causing a child bodily injury or serious bodily injury or creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death. If convicted of child abuse and neglect, Mr. Callaway will be facing a two to fifteen year sentence. Code 61, article 2, section 14 is titled abduction, kidnapping, and concealment of a child. It states any person who takes away another person, or detains another person against such person's will, or takes away a child under the age of sixteen years from any person having lawful charge of such child. If convicted of child abduction, Mr. Callaway will face a prison sentence between three and ten years. If convicted of all these charges, Mr. Callaway will be facing a maximum prison sentence of up to one hundred years in prison without parole. Mr. Drew please give your opening statement." Judge David Channing began, sounding rather bored.

Carson Drew stood. "Thank you, your honor." He walked around the chairs and stood in front of the curious jury. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I would like to inform you that my clients," He gestured to the boys. "Frank and Joseph Hardy were kidnapped as small children. They were taken from Bayport Park on the Fourth of July eight years ago. From then on they were physically abused, neglected and tortured every day until one day Louis Michael Callaway forced them to assist him in the killing of his wife, Vivian Jane Callaway." Joe went rigid at the mention of the murder. "He deserves punishment for his heinous crimes, and as a fair and just jury, I hope you see that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Thank you." The lawyer finished, taking his place in between the boys.

"Thank you, Mr. Drew." The judge said. "Mr. Foster, please give your opening statement at this time." Channing continued, referencing to the defense lawyer, Adam Foster.

Foster, a handsome man in his early thirties. He was married, and had three children of his own, all girls. Whenever he felt like the stress of the job was getting to him, he would think of his daughters. How happy they were when they saw him, how he saw them smile and knew everything was going to be okay. It deeply sickened him that he had to defend a child abuser. But his job was to defend this man and make sure he had a fair trial. He would be a decent attorney and defend the man until the end. Innocent until proven guilty. He sighed and rose to his feet.

"Thank you, your honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client understands the charges he is being faced with. And would like to inform the jury that he is innocent of all charges. He did not in fact kidnap the children, or abuse them in any way, shape or form, and he most certainly did not kill his wife. As a fair and just jury, I plead with you to look beyond appearances and see his innocence." The defense lawyer was almost positive those words were lies, just look at him! But he had to give the criminal the benefit of the doubt.

"Thank you, Mr. Foster." Judge Channing shifted through his papers. "Mr. Drew, the floor is all yours."

"Thank you, your honor." He stood and made his way to the front of the room. "I would like to present to you the first piece of evidence." He pulled several papers from his stack, and pulled out a blue baseball cap still in a Ziploc bag. "This is the baseball cap that Joe was wearing at the time of the kidnapping. You can see the blood stain that coats the inside of the lining. It has been tested and it is confirmed as Joe Hardy's blood. I believe Callaway had a hard time apprehending the boys and took to harsher methods." He looked to Fenton. "Let's start from the beginning. I would like to call the first witnesses to the stand. Fenton and Laura Hardy."

Fenton and Laura made their way to the stand. They took the oath and sat down, waiting to be interrogated.

"Please state your relationship to the children." Drew started.

"We are their biological parents." Laura stated proudly.

Louis' mouth hit the floor. He had no idea! He had kidnapped the sons of the famous Fenton Hardy! This was bad, this was very bad.

"Tell me what happened July 4, eight years ago." Drew continued.

"It would have been the boys' first time seeing fireworks. We had just woken them from their nap. Laura, my sister Gertrude and I got the boys ready and then we headed to the park. We walked because it was only a few blocks away. When we got there, we sat with our friends, The Mortens at a picnic table. The boys and Chet Morten wanted to play so I was pushing them on the swing. Then I got a phone call and told the boys to go back to the picnic table." Fenton began to tell the story.

"Who was on the phone?" Drew interrupted.

"Chief Ezra Collig. Calling to tell me something about a case I was working on."

"Continue please." Drew watched the defense lawyer write notes.

"The boys came and ate a cookie. Then Frank and Joe wanted to go play again, but Chet wanted to take a nap. So we sent the kids to play catch nearby. After awhile we went to look for them because the fireworks were almost ready to start." Laura started to cry softly. "We couldn't find them! We looked everywhere, and asked some people in the park. But no one had seen or heard anything. All we found was Joe's hat." Laura felt as if she was reliving the day all over again.

"What happened next?" Carson Drew pressed.

"We never saw or heard from our boys for eight years. We made warrant posters, called around to see if they showed up anywhere, and I became a private investigator to find them." Fenton recapped.

"No further questions." Drew said and returned to his chair.

"Mr. Foster. Do you have any questions for the Hardy's?" The judge said casually.

Adam Foster nodded and reviewed his notes. "How do you know these are your biological sons?"

"When I found the boys, something struck me and I asked for a DNA test. The results came back positive."

Foster sat back down. "No further questions."

"Drew, next witness please." Judge Channing wanted to move it along.

"I would like to call forth Frank Hardy to the stand." Drew said, smiling at the elder child.

Frank didn't move. There was no way he could testify. He was to nervous. There was a slight pressure on his hand. He looked down to see Joe squeezing it. That gave him the reassurance he needed, Frank smiled gratefully at his brother.

He took his time walking to the witness stand. His head was bowed and he kept his hands clenched inside his pockets to keep them from shaking. He placed his left hand on the Bible and held his right in the air, fully aware he was violently trembling. "I swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth." His voice shook.

"Ok Frank, why don't you tell me what you and Joe were doing on the Fourth of July." Drew asked kindly. He could see the boy was freaking out.

"Um, me and Joe were playing catch in the field. The ball went into the woods and Mom and Dad told me to watch out for Joe so we both went into the woods together to get the ball. Then we woke up on a mattress." Frank kept his eyes downcast, hoping no one could see the tears forming.

"Frank, tell me everything that happened during the past eight years." Drew knew this would be hard for all the Hardy's. But it had to be done.

Frank sat in silence for a moment gathering his thoughts. Once he started he couldn't stop, he started with the story of how Michael and Daniel came to be their new names, the abuse, the neglect, he was presented with his Injury Journal and recapped the more colorful punishments, he told of the affair, the murder, the church, the torture, and finally the rescue by their father. By the end, he was mentally exhausted. He was trying very hard not to cry but it was a fruitless effort as tears spilled onto his cheeks.

"Do you and your brother have night terrors?"

"Yeah, Joe does. He's scared Louis will come back and hurt us. Or Vivian will come back from the grave." Frank ran a hand through his hair.

"Are you happy at the Hardy home?" Drew asked, trying to bring some light to the child's eyes.

"Yes, very much so." Frank instantly smiled.

"No further questions, your honor." Drew concluded on a happy note.

The cross examination began. Foster didn't have the heart to ask half the questions he had, but didn't have much of a choice.

"How do you remember all this?" He began, pacing in front of Frank.

"I don't know. I just do. My Injury Journal helps."

"I see. How do you know these are not false memories?"

"Excuse me?" Frank was confused.

"False memories are similar to post hypnotic suggestions. It means falsely planted memories to make you believe you remember, but you don't."

"I think the DNA results prove that my memories are true." Frank said cooly.

"You say Mr. Callaway has neglected you and your brother. But you look healthy."

"Mom and Dad have helped us. We've never missed a meal since we've been there. Mr. Callaway hardly ever fed us."

"Why didn't you try to run away?"

"We did. But he always found us. He always said he had the town wrapped around his finger. But when he hauled us back home, the beatings would be worse."

"Worse how?"

"He would be angrier, and it would hurt a lot more. He would use more... Creative implements or techniques." Frank refused to look the lawyer in the eye. There was something about his shoes that became very interesting.

"Do you believed you deserved it?"

Frank paused. "At first. But then I realized that parents are supposed to love their kids and not hit them all the time."

"Why didn't you tell anyone? A teacher or any trusted adult."

"We were afraid. Afraid of him." Frank looked up for the first time. His eyes met with Louis's, the man held his gaze, but his eyes were so cold Frank felt a chill run down his spine.

"No further questions." Foster sighed. This was a losing battle.

"Next witness please." Channing commanded.

Drew stood. "I would like to call Joseph Hardy to the stand."

Joe traded places with Frank, his brother squeezed his shoulder before returning to the prosecution table.

Joe took his vows and waited to be questioned. He was nervous and his sapphire eyes shifted over to his fake father. He looked so much more colder than Joe remembered. Prison hardened him to the point of no return.

"Alright son. Tell me everything you remember about the past eight years." Drew asked politely.

"Um, well I, um." Joe stammered.

"Objection. Speak up, boy. No one can hear you when you mutter." Judge Channing was slightly annoyed.

"I remember being happy once." Joe retold everything he could remember. His story matched almost identically to Frank's.

"Why do you think he targeted you physically during the torture?"

"In Frank's eyes, watching me be whipped, and stabbed was his own personal torture." The child swallowed. "I think Louis knew that, that's why he picked me, because he knew it would hurt Frank too."

"Was Vivian Callaway having an affair?"

"No."

"Why do you think he asked you guys to help with the murder?" Drew didn't think he was going to like the answer.

"He was angry, he was drunk. He is sick. I don't know." Joe's eyes brimmed with tears.

"No further questions." Drew felt confident. They were going to win this case if it was the last thing he did.

"Foster, do you have any questions for Mr. Hardy?" Channing asked, impatiently.

"Yes." The defense attorney got shakily to his feet, not understanding why his client had suggested this question.

"Did you kill Vivian Callaway?"

Joe stiffened. "No." He told the floor.

Foster glanced at Louis who nodded. "I suppose the question is why." The man continued. "Why did you kill your mother?" He closed his eyes, ashamed of himself for asking such a vulgar question.

Memories flashed behind Joe's closed eyelids.

You killed her, say it.

"No. I didn't kill her. He did."

Coward

"No"

Worthless

"I didn't kill her"

Murderer

Joe blew up. "I'm not a stupid, worthless coward! I didn't kill her! I loved mom, so much more than you did!" He was on his feet, pointing at Louis. "You're still the monster you were a few weeks ago. You'll never change!" He was yelling now, his voice rising above the courthouse. "We never did anything wrong! You abused us, you abused mom, and then you tied her to the kitchen table and cut out her tongue! And made us cut out her eyes so she would never look at another man again!" He started towards the defense table, to where he was in Louis' face. "She was not having an affair! You killed her for nothing! And then you couldn't face what you had done so you took it out on me and Michael!" Joe paused, horrified he had used their old names. "Frank. You took it out on me and Frank." He restated softly. Joe got close to Louis' face, enough where he could smell the cigarettes on him. "You're the one who's a worthless coward." He was looking right into his eyes with a steeliness he never knewg he had. "I hope you rot in Hell." He whispered before returning back to his seat next to a stunned looking Drew.

There was a stillness in the room as everyone tried to make sense of Joe's outburst. It only lasted a moment as the whole room broke into chaos.

Judge Channing banged his gavel. "Order! Order!" He boomed until the room quieted. "Due to recent events. We will be taking a short recess." He cleared his throat. "Reconvene in twenty minutes." He banged his gavel, finalizing the plan.

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Outside, the Hardy's sat on the steps in bewildered silence.

"Why did you do that? He could've hurt you! You could've ruined the whole case." Frank sighed. "You're such a hot head, Joe." Frank mumbled, and then laughed.

Joe had been listening remotely, but turned his head when Frank started laughing.

"You did it Joe! You faced your fear and stood up to him!" Frank was so proud of his brother.

Joe saw what Frank was talking about and finally reality sunk in. He had yelled at Louis, called him worthless, if they had been still living in that house, Joe would surely be dead by now. But he didn't care, Joe laughed right along with his brother.

Fenton and Laura exchanged an astonished look before laughter consumed them all.

"I do not believe this is a laughing matter." Gertrude Hardy looked sternly down at her family on the steps. Following closely behind her was Carson Drew.

"Joe, you can't let your emotions get the better of you." The lawyer smiled. "But the look on Louis' face was pretty funny."

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Back in the courtroom Louis was fuming. How dare the brat talk to him that way? He should have been cowering in fear, not calling him, of all people, a coward. His eyes darkened, he would have his revenge on those boys, no matter what.

The doors opened again, admitting a joyful looking Hardy family back into the room. That made Louis angrier. They shouldn't allowed to be that happy, they shouldn't even be allowed to live.

The trial reassembled soon after. It was smooth sailing for the prosecution, Drew questioned Dr. Gray and Nurse Camille on the injuries the boys had sustained. He presented the pictures, and X-rays that were taken at the hospital. He requestioned Fenton about when he found the boys, and questioned some of Frank and Joe's old teachers. Finally it came down to one last witness.

"The court would like to call Louis Callaway to the stand." Judge Channing announced.

Louis rose, exposing his massive six foot, four inch form. He sat down in front of the court, fully aware of the looks he was receiving.

"Mr. Callaway, tell us what happened on July Fourth." Drew began, not liking the look in the criminals eyes.

"Well I came to New York on a business trip. I decided ta watch da fireworks at Bayport Park. I took a walk through da woods to clear mah head because I had a nasty headache. 'Der were two kids wanderin' round the woods, lookin' lost. I asked 'em where their folks were and they said they didn't have any. So I took dem home wiff me. My wife couldn't have no kids naturally so we thought dis woulda be perfect."

"So you're saying that the boys went with you consensually?" Drew asked, not believing a word.

"Yes. " Came the confident reply.

"Where did the names Michael and Daniel come from?"

"Mah middle name is Michael, and Vivian's father's name was Daniel."

"Did you ever hit the children?" Drew continued.

"Maybe a few times. But honestly, who hasn't?" Fenton wanted to wipe that self-righteous smile off the bastard's face. He tightened his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

"Did you hit them with a belt, or possibly a sock filled with oranges?" Drew was reading from his notes.

"Not once." Louis was acting rather smug.

"The images taken at the hospital would prove otherwise."

He was met with silence, and an egotistical smile.

"I would suggest you tell the truth." Drew said cooly.

"I ain't telling no lies, Mr. Drew."

"Did you kill your wife, Mr. Callaway? Or I suppose the real question is why?" The lawyer repeated the previous statement given by Foster.

"No I did not kill mah wife. My son, Daniel is an ungrateful little shit. I tried to stop him but he tied her to da table, did horrible, unmentionable things to 'er womanly parts and stabbed her." His eyes filled with fake tears. "He killed the only woman I eva loved."

"What about Christina Sweetheart?" No one had been able to find her, and presumed she used a false name.

"I met her at a bar. It was nuttin' more."

"How often do you drink? What types of alcohol?"

"I usta to drink a lot, but I'm sober now. Beer, lotta whiskey, tequila, an' wine. "

"Can you explain where all the bruises and cuts came from in the pictures from the hospital?"

"Kids will be kids. Probably fell outta a tree or somethin'." He smiled, looking more like a hungry shark than a human.

"How do you respond to Fenton Hardy's eyewitness testimony of you beating the boys?"

"No comment."

Drew was confident the jury had all they needed from him. "No further questions."

Foster rose. "You said the boys came with you willingly, correct?"

"Yes." Callaway nodded.

"Did you love the boys?"

"Of course! I raised 'em as my own children. I loved them dearly, and still do." Everyone heard the fake, mocking tone.

Drew told the boys to look away as Foster produced an image of Vivian's body once it was dug up. "Can you explain why Vivian Callaway's body was buried on your farm? And why the eyes are not inside the skull? And possibly where the tongue is?"

"It's a family tradition to bury the deceased on da farm. I dunno how body parts got where they got to, do I look like a forensic guy?"

"No further questions." Foster knew his client was lying, he just hoped the jury would put him in his place.

"Ok. Are there any further witnesses or evidence you would like to present?" Judge Channing asked, looking at each lawyer.

"Just one." Foster said. "I would like to recall Fenton Hardy to the stand."

Once Fenton was seated, Foster only had one question. "When you found the boys in the barn, is it true that you shot Mr. Callaway without any warning?"

"Yes, it was in defense for the boys." Fenton was cool under pressure.

"You do understand that is against protocol."

"Yes sir."

"No further questions."

Afterwards both attorneys gave their closing statements.

"At this time I relieve the jury for discussion." Channing banged his gavel, dismissing the jurors.

As the seconds turned to minutes, Fenton begun to get nervous, looking at Drew, he could tell the man felt the same.

Finally after what felt like hours, but was really only ten minutes, the jury came back out. They didn't look at Drew or the boys, not a single one. Drew knew that probably wasn't a good sign.

The head juror gave a slip of paper to the judge. He looked red faced, like he had a recent shouting match.

The judge unfolded the paper. "The court of West Virginia finds Louis Michael Callaway... Guilty of all charges." He smiled at Fenton and Laura. "He will serve a life sentence at West Virginia Correctional Facility with maximum security. Frank and Joseph will remain in custody of the Hardy family. Dismissed."

The room burst into cheers. Laura released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Frank and Joe rushed towards their parents and Fenton shook Carson's hand, a huge smile spread across his face. "Thank you, thank you so much!" He told the man enthusiastically.

"It was no problem. I'm glad that man got what he deserved." Drew said and departed. It was time to spend some quality time with his daughter.

Fenton put Joe up on his shoulders, and Frank in his arms. "Let's get ice cream." He said as the family exited the massive court house.

Louis wasn't surprised. He had a pretty crappy lawyer anyway. And as Snake had said, it didn't matter how the trial went. Now all Louis had to do was wait for the right time, it might take years, but he would get his revenge.

"Would you like to appeal?" Foster asked, not really caring what the man said next.

"No. I've got it wrapped around my dead wife's finger." He left a confused Foster and was led back to jail.

Ok. Kind of a weak ending... Sorry. Ugh school starts in four days. :( Like I said I know NOTHING about the trials and stuff. I hope you liked Joe's outburst, cause that was my favorite part of the whole chapter. This IS NOT the last chapter in case you were wondering. Bye!

Reviews make my day!