Chapter 22: The Trial

There was a knock at Max and Edward's hotel room door. It was nearing midnight in Coast City. Their plane had landed only two hours ago, and the two were jet legged and exhausted. January in California felt like May in Gotham, the AC was whirring in their room in winter. Neither Edward nor Max was completely accustomed to it. However, their rest was interrupted by the persistent knocking. Max grumbled off the bed, "I'll get it."

Edward sighed back as he zipped his suitcase back up, "Okay."

Max opened the door to Yumi, who beamed a grin behind the door, "Hi, peanut!"

"Mom," groaned Max, "We just got in, we're beat. Didn't we just see you forty minutes ago."

"Yes, yes, but I wanted to check in on you guys! See how you're settling in."

"We're about to go to bed," said Max.

"It's only 11:30pm!" Yumi exclaimed, "There's a bar downstairs. Let's go get a drink, huh? All three of us, my treat."

Max leaned against the door frame lazily, "Mom. We have court tomorrow at eight in the morning. We need to sleep. You need to sleep. Plus, we're not really in the drinking kind of mood. I don't know if you heard but court is tomorrow. Court. We just want to… sleep and dissociate for tonight, okay?"

Yumi reflected a nervous smile, fiddling her fingers and bouncing her eyes down each end of the hall. Max took notice of this and asked, "What about auntie Eiko? She's in the room with you, why can't she go with you?"

"She's asleep. Tuckered out."

"Makes sense," shrugged Max, "Maybe that's your sign you need to sleep, too. We got a big day tomorrow. See you tomorrow."

Max went to close the door, but Yumi blurted, "I can't." Max stopped and opened the door again, her eyes wilting. Yumi muttered, "I can't sleep, Max. I… I can't turn my mind off."

Max looked back to Edward, who was sitting on the bed in slight worry, waiting for Max to act. She said to him, "I'll be back."

Edward nodded, "Okay…"

Yumi waved over Max, "Hi, Eddie!"

He smiled weakly, "Hi."

Max left with her mom down to the bar, and they were the only two patrons at the counter. Max had a glass of red wine, but her mom was driving down a rum and coke.

"You should take it easy," warned Max.

"What?" Yumi asked, "Would it be trashy if I showed up to my daughter's trial hung over? A trial… that should have happened twenty damn years ago."

"Mom."

"I… know exactly what will be discussed tomorrow. Brought back to the limelight. I know it all in every detail. Yet… Max, I'm so scared to hear it again. I mean, I know what happened to Cece. I shouldn't be scared… I should be… I should…"

"I'm scared, too, Mom," crooned Max as she took her mom's hand, "I'm scared. For you and for dad. Sobo and Jiji. I just keep saying to myself that we're doing it for her. To make her voice heard. That despite what she went through, it doesn't define her. Most importantly, making Hewitt pay for what he did. The jury are gonna hear it all, too. Just remember that."

Yumi's voice shook as she set the glass down to the counter, "Okay," she flicked her eyes to Max, "Your father is here, too?"

"He's on first floor, yeah. I haven't seen him yet, but I've been texting him. He's scared, too. I think we all are. It's… totally normal."

"You're smarter than I am, Max. You've always been. So, can you just tell me… what you think will happen tomorrow?"

"I have no idea, Mom," softly said Max.

"Worst scenario then. Best scenario, too. Just guess," whimpered Yumi, trying not to cry.

Max released a long sigh, "Worst scenario is the suits screw up and evidence is thrown out. That's the main piece of evidence tying Hewitt to the case, so if there's any red flags it could throw the case out."

"You mean, even if the forensic team believe it's him?"

"Yeah," said Max, "All the forensic evidence could be pointing to him, but if there is any red tape in how the DNA was collected it could be thrown out."

Yumi sighed lightly, "Okay. Best scenario is they find him guilty. Then we move on to the sentencing phase."

"Sentencing could be?"

"He could get death, yeah. They're seeking the death penalty. That's not for tomorrow, though. Tomorrow is just if he's guilty or not."

Max got back to her hotel room after an hour. Edward was on the bed with the lamp still on, going through documents on his laptop.

He asked her, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," said Max, "She's just worried. Can't really blame her."

"How are you feeling?" Edward raised.

Max sat down on the bed beside him and nuzzled close, laying her head on his chest. He wrapped his right arm around her. Max said quietly, "Same. But… I have a better lid on it than mom, it seems."

"He's going to get guilty," said Edward before he kissed her head, "I know it."

"I know. I think we're just worried about reliving it. Hearing the details again. God… knowing it is worse enough. Hearing it again is just…"

"I'll be there with her. I promise I'll make sure she's okay. Do you know when you'll be on the stand?"

"No idea," replied Max, "Could be before or after forensics. I have no clue. I won't know until tomorrow." She looked at the documents on Edward's screen. Photos of the documents inside Gotham Mountain Security.

"These were from last night?" She asked.

He explained, "Yeah. Took as many photos as I could. Gives me sometime to look over them before we get back to Gotham. Covered at least two shelves in the third room. We still have the rest and three more to go. I keep thinking I'll find something in every folder I pull. Keeps me going, at least. All the knowledge in there feels like it's pooling out of me. I'm scared I'll forget something and won't be able to make a connection when it's time."

"What about Iceberg Lounge's folder? Find anything connected to that?"

"No, just… same thing. Front using Renewal. The club isn't more relevant than New Beginnings or Waterfront."

Max sighed dejectedly over Edward's chest. He wore a white tee shirt, the smell of her apartment still lingering in the fabric. Dryer sheets but a hint of Edward, her favorite smells. She closed her eyes and cuddled up to him, trying to diminish the anxiety of tomorrow in the warmth of his body and smell of home. Edward set the laptop to the side and pulled her into a squishing hug. Max leaned her head back to kiss him, and he took off his glasses to kiss her back. A moment in time without worries of trials or Gotham Mountain Security. Where it was finally just the two of them again, and the bubble took form in the hotel room.

Their lips broke so Max could say, "I'm happy you're here."

"Me too," muttered Edward, "I'm just sorry it's even needed."

"Yeah. But… I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here."

Edward looked down to her and smiled, "I'll always be here for you."

Max touched the tip of her nose with his, "I love you."

"I love you too, Max."

She was taken into the security blanket of Edward's arms again, staying there appreciating the comfort long enough they both drifted to sleep. They stayed asleep together till six and a half hours went. They awoke to another knock on their door. Max pushed up from Edward and checked the time on her phone. It was 6:36 in the morning, two hours before the trial proceedings began. She nudged him awake, "Edward, we gotta get up."

He moaned and forced his eyes open, fumbling for his glasses on the bedside table. The knock alarmed again, and Max called to it, "Yeah, just hold on."

Yumi was on the other side of the door, "Figured you two would still be asleep. Up and at em', kids. We should be there by 8. You got your clothes for the day?"

"Yup. Pencil skirt and blouse."

"And the panty hose!" Yumi exclaimed, "It's crucial to wear panty hose to court. It's basically a rule of law."

"Yeah, mom. Got the panty hose. The high heels and even the hair clip. I promise not to tell them it's my job interview outfit."

Yumi chuckled, "Good, making jokes. We're gonna need a shit load of that today, kid."

"Really? Thought you'd give me shit for that one."

Yumi scoffed, "You make jokes in serious situations, Max. The hell you think you got it from?" She peaked her head into the room a little, "Edward! Wakey, wakey, honey. Let's go."

Max grumbled, "Really."

"What? It's time to get up. He's dating my daughter I can talk to him like my son."

Max closed the door a little, "Alright, you gotta let us get ready then. I'm closing the door now. Bye."

"Don't forget to apply deodorant!"

"Thanks, mom. Bye!"

"And lipstick!"

Max closed the door before Yumi, grumbling under her breath before dragging back into the hotel room. They made tired eye contact before Max said aloud, "Nothing like getting woken up by my mom before court. Am I right?"

"It's actually a good thing she did. We didn't set the alarm last night." Edward stated huskily, putting a fresh white tee shirt on, "In my experience, she's a damn good alarm."

Max giggled, "At least it wasn't a gong this time, right?"

Edward broke a small laugh, "Yup. A wake up call I'll never forget."

She slipped off her pants and shirt, peeling the panty hose over her knees. Max's heart rate was waking her up fast, the predictions of the day ahead like caffeine. The face of the man in the white van was close. For years there was seldom relief that the white van was just the monster. A make-believe demon that stole Celeste. The anonymity made it almost fictional, nulling the reality of the act. Yet, Celeste's manner of death was the reality. Proof that monsters did exist. That evil that could only storm inside of a human. A real person.

Edward asked, "Hey. Are you okay?"

She realized she looked droll in thought. Max flicked her eyes up to him and nodded with a jolt, "Yeah! Sorry. You know me, I'm not talkative in the mornings."

"Especially not this one," he observed in concern, "Not talking helps sometimes. It's okay to not be okay. I don't expect you to be. Just know that I understand if you don't want to talk."

Max whistled air from her nostrils, zoning out into the carpet. She glanced up and wearily nodded, "Thank you."

Within an hour Edward and Max left their hotel room. She clacked on heels out the door, her hips constricted in a pencil skirt and coral blouse, as if she was heading to a 100k white collar gig. Like a cat forced to wear a vest, it felt alien and uncomfortable. Her hair was clipped back, she wore light lipstick and mascara, but not much else. She was just eager to get on with the day, skip through it if she could. Edward came out after her with one of his button ups from work and khakis. Yumi was waiting on the other side of the hall with Eiko. Both wearing black as if it was a funeral, in their minds it may as well been.

Yumi waved them down as they came from the room. Max struggled to keep steady on her heels. She cursed, "Jesus fucking Christ I hate these things."

Edward held her hand, partially for affection, mostly to keep her steady down the hall. Yumi came up to them feigning a smile, but her eyes were a telling of fear, "Oh, you look gorgeous, baby."

"That's my plan. Woo the judge and jury into believing my statement. Honestly, I could have worn flats. Don't think they give a shit about heels."

Eiko chimed in, "Shows a degree of formality in the court, kid. Believe it or not, little things speak big to a jury. Shows you're someone to respect."

"Making your statement more impactful," added Edward.

Eiko grinned, "How's it going, Romeo? You ready for a fundamentally shitty day?"

Max grumbled, "Are any of us?"

"Sobo and Jiji are downstairs. They're taking their own rental. We'll be taking the Escalade. We'll meet at the courthouse." Yumi announced from her phone, "Alright, guys. Let's do this."

Their drive to the courthouse was their own plane of fear. Eiko drove the Escalade with Edward in passenger, and Yumi and Max in the backseat. Sobo and Jiji drove ahead, passing crowded streets utterly indifferent to the gloom. California sun was bright and obnoxious. Harbouring the Coast City people along the streets equally ignorant. Max looked up to the palm trees, remembering Mr. Trunks in her palms. Calling out the noodle trees overhead, all while Celeste sat next to her. Her first time since that day seeing California again. The fresh scent of the ocean didn't bring excitement. Nor did the palm trees or the sun-fed locals. Just accompanying the festering pit in her stomach.

Their lonesome, deafly quiet ride was long. Only the sound of the AC in the vehicle whirring. When they turned the corner to the courthouse, they startled to crowds before the doors. Lining the streets along the building. Signs and flowers, teddy bears and printed tee-shirts. Brightly coloured off the brilliance of the sun. Faces of all ages, ethnicities and genders. All reigning in support for Celeste. Her name and face printed on their shirts, their signs and flags.

"Justice for Celeste! Justice for Celeste!"

Signs printed, Rest In Peace Angel- The Truth will Out!- Death for Dale Hewitt!- No More Children Taken!- Atkins Strong!

The same uproar and unity in California as there were when her body was discovered, now displaying outside the courthouse— twenty years later. As if no time had passed at all. Max felt the grip in her chest and bit her lip at the support gathered for them. For Celeste. Yumi gripped her hand, and she held it back, both succumbing to tears to see the beautiful flower arrangements along the signs and earnest faces. Edward felt his own breath patter, a tragedy of Max's past that seemed to revolve her whole world was now on display for the rest of the world to see. News teams were camped outside the entrance being derailed by the police. He had done his own research on Celeste's murder and knew it was a case of much public uproar. Now he was seeing it for himself for the first time, apart from Max's words. The reality of the trial was opaque now. Blaring in the sidewalk with no option to turn back. Now he was part of it.

Eiko started to pull up to the doors as the police cleared the way. She said grimly, "I see Jeff."

Yumi asked, "Where?"

"There, by the steps."

Max could see her dad now, waiting at the foot of the steps for her. Sobo and Jiji were already at the front doors speaking to reporters. Eiko parked and Edward walked out first, the chanting of the supporters loud now. He opened the door for Max and Yumi, who came out like timid deer, spectating all the people. They would call to them in short spurts of coherency in the noise.

"Justice for Celeste! Justice for the Atkins family!"

"We're here for you, Yumi!"

"No more children taken! Never again! Justice for Celeste!"

Jeff strode down the steps dejectedly, his hair slicked back and his glasses reflecting off the sun. He wore a black suit and tie. Yumi wrangled in nerves, retreating to the window of the Escalade.

Eiko called to her, "I'll go park this thing and meet you inside!"

Yumi slapped the car door, "Alright."

Max went up to Jeff with an embrace, and he pulled her in tight. A hug that encompassed the distance of their relationship mending and the impact of the trial all at once. He muttered in a break of his voice, "Hey, baby."

"Hey, dad."

"Quite a buzz here today. Wasn't expecting that."

"They're here for Cece. She's already telling the world her story."

Edward stood like a deer in headlights, he felt like one, too. With all the noise and everything moving so fast in motion. Seeing Max's dad for the first time and soon to enter a court room with no certainty of conviction.

Jeff didn't even pay mine to Edward, as his eyes wilted straight to Yumi. Max left with Edward up the steps to leave the two alone. He walked up to her meekly, sad eyes under his lenses.

"Hey." He managed to say.

Yumi sighed, "Hey Jeff."

He hesitated in saying it, but did so, anyway, "You look good. It's… been a while."

"Yes. It has."

Jeff flicked his eyes away to the ground, pressing his lips together. He muttered, "Never thought I'd see this day."

Yumi smirked, "Sure as shit I didn't."

He curved a small smile, then held his arms out. Yumi returned the embrace, stiff at first, then it started to melt naturally. As if ten years of marriage came back like muscle memory.

"Todays for our girl, Yumi."

Yumi quavered, "Let's get that son of a bitch."

Inside the courthouse was far less roaring and crowded than outside. With the trial happening, only a select few were allowed to enter the court room for the sake of Max's family. Edward, Max and her grandparents waited outside the doors. Soon after, Yumi, Jeff and Eiko joined them.

Eiko growled, "Jeff."

"Eiko. It's been a minute." Jeff looked back to her and said it drolly, knowing already the reason behind her discontent.

She hissed, "Thank fuck for that." Eiko crossed her arms.

Max spoke up, "Not today, please. Auntie, don't."

"Sorry, Max."

Sobo and Jiji chose to simply ignore him and focus their attention on the proceedings ahead. Yumi asked to Max, "When do you go?"

"I don't know. Prosecutor said someone would come and get me to go over the statement."

Then trotting footsteps came up the hallway, accompanied with Prosecutor Kane Schultz. "Miss Atkins?"

Max looked back and said, "Yeah?"

"We're ready for you. If you'd come with us, please."

Max flicked her nerving eyes back to her family. Back to Edward. She hushed, "Guess I'm going now…"

Yumi didn't hesitate in pulling Max in for a hug, "Good luck, honey. I love you. You get up there and you tell them the truth. Tell them everything you saw."

"I will, mom. I promise."

"And… make that fucker burn in it." Yumi held tighter.

Max breathed out, "I will." She waved goodbye to her father, aunt and grandparents. She pulled in Edward for a hug before departing. She quaked, "I love you. I'll see you during recess, okay?"

"I love you, too. This is the day you've been waiting for. You can do this." He said quietly in her shoulder before giving her a quick peck on the cheek. When they released, she pulled him down for a kiss on the lips. Short and shaky, but a dose of security she needed before leaving him. She made one forlorn stare at Edward and her family before proceeding down the hall with the lady and prosecutor. The walk down to the room was quiet but couldn't dull the screaming voices in Max's head. Every step grew the pit deeper and deeper, as if she was staring down the descent of a rollercoaster taking forever to fall. The fear and confusion felt on that day was reimagined again. The same dread pooling back, turning her back to the five year old girl clutching a stuffed elephant toy. The fluorescent lights were almost blinding, the smell of the offices and perfumes strong like a skunk. She bottled it down, suppressing her own anxiety in remembering how she got here. How many years wasted without closure or justice. Twenty years of preparation for this very moment. It was happening now. That fear dwindled and was replaced by vindication. Rage. Twenty years of anger now directed into ambition. When she entered the room, she shook hands with the other prosecutor. The handshake rattled off her nerves. Sharing minds with others that wanted exactly what she yearned for years. Justice. It was time to bring Celeste's voice back to life.

An echoing and earnest hall kept giving many impressions to the novice of the justice system. It was suspenseful and quiet but not at all. Every shuffle of the pews left a lasting grace, rallies of echoes as the pews in Coast City Courthouse was full. To the right of the pews before the judge was brimming in the loved ones of Celeste Atkins. Jeff sat the end of the pew, with Edward to his left. Yumi sat beside him, clutching onto his hand in quick shakes. Eiko sat with Yumi, and beside her were Sobo and Jiji.

Jeff glanced to his side and made a quick but forced smile to Edward, "You must be the boyfriend."

Edward muttered, "Uh. Yeah. Max's."

"Jeff Atkins. I'm the dad."

"Edward Nashton."

Jeff shook Edward's hand briefly, then reverted his nervous eyes back to the head of the court room, "Wish we could have met under better circumstances."

The deputy tossed notepads over the jury seats, and clerks were displaying the evidence before a table to the front of the courtroom. All that pulled on their ears was the recoil of terrible events. Terrible events that would soon be relived in the courtroom. Despite the dread, they would much rather be here than where they were a year ago, or twenty years ago for that matter, when Celeste was robbed so cruelly from the world. It was a trial they all had yearned to see come to pass for decades. They had lost hope only for it to come back so suddenly. All because of the gruellingly stubborn efforts of Celeste's sister, Max. She was not seated with them, she couldn't be. Not until she stood witness. She was in the waiting room briefing with the prosecution and victim services. Her statement was already given, but now she would divulge the true telling before a jury and her loved ones. Most importantly, Dale Hewitt, the accused of Celeste's murder.

According to the detective, they had him banged to rights. Forensic analysis all pointed him to the crime. His DNA riddled the clothes of Celeste ripped to shreds in the gutters. It was in her fingernails, her hair, her skin. It polluted her docile body to the point there was only a 1 percent chance of the DNA belonging to anyone else. Yet, Hewitt pled not guilty. A selfish and scornful act that would force Celeste's family to be tortured by her barbaric murder once again. Max, however, was completely sure. She wasn't afraid to relive, she was afraid of the chance passing her by. She was afraid of the system failing Celeste. She was more than driven to stand in front of all of them and give her recollection of events, and stare Hewitt right in his crusted eye as she did so. She wanted to see him fall, and she wanted to be the instrument of his collapse. The moment she had been dreaming of for twenty years was here.

The doors creaked open from the side of the courtroom, catching the attention of Celeste's loved ones. Two officers led in a man layered in white and blue. Chains ringing off his wrists and ankles. The sheen off his bald head came in first, then revealed a Caucasian man in his late fifties. His face was long and wrinkles, dour bags under his small eyes. A long, thin and scowling mouth. White facial stubble and scars along the left side of his face. He was gangly in posture. He kept his eyes down to the ground as he was led to his seat. Edward's hand tightened under Yumi's grip, who began to tremble to see Hewitt for the first time. Jeff craned his head down, but the fast breath and clenching of his fists shown he was following his entrance hatefully.

Yumi and Jeff couldn't speak under such disgust, but Eiko grunted, "Piece of shit."

Yumi sniffled, Edward cooed to her, "It's okay. You can do this."

She wove her arm around his and patted his chest, still glaring at Hewitt, "I know, I know. I'm okay, Eddie."

In California, the death penalty was still orchestrated. Hewitt had already committed a recent crime against a minor, and the publicity and outrage of Celeste's death made it a very real factor in this case. Max had her hopes set for Hewitt on death row, but only after he suffered through the court process. Only after he was forced to hear the last words of the family he destroyed.

The judge took her place before the court. A younger judge, female, who was unbiased to the events of Celeste's murder. The jury were young, as well. Purposely chosen as Celeste's death was before their time. All the junctions of the case were not wavered to the news or controversy.

The judge lightly tapped her mallet over the desk and announced, "This is case 13675, today is January 25th, Friday, 2019. This is the trial of Federal vs. Dale John Hewitt, regarding the murder of Celeste Asuka Atkins in August of 1998. Prosecution you may proceed with the opening statements."

Prosecution, Kane Shultz, the man who was hiding his cape behind a handmade suit, stood before the jury. The courtroom went quiet, deafly quiet. The opening statement that would set the mood of the entire proceedings.

Kane folded his hands together before his tie and spoke clearly and eloquently, "Twenty years ago, in the town of Webbler Springs, was one of the most heart wrenching tragedies our country has ever seen. It sent the state into shared grief, as it was the most unfathomable, depraved, and senseless crime that could ever be committed. The murder of a child. Celeste Atkins was an eight year old girl born and raised by an idyllic family in the state of Nebraska. Her life was taken not for spite, passion, or conservation. It was taken purely from the twisted and heinous desires of one man. This man evaded justice for twenty years, leaving the family of Celeste without answers and flooded in grief. And leaving the bones of this little girl cold. He didn't just steal Celeste from her family and her future that day, he stole her voice. He stole her last will to be served for twenty years. Today is not just a day to address this abominable act, but to finally exact justice for a girl who was snuffed out for no other reason than self-serving depravity. Today we are going to go over all evidence related to the murder, including the forensic evidence. There will also be photographs of Celeste's remains that I won't sugarcoat, especially for those in the court that have young children like me, will be highly disturbing and gut wrenching to observe. This needs to be observed, however. No matter how shattering it is, or how shuddering the detailed injuries are, you just keep a still mind. Not just for the proceedings, but for Celeste. For her memory, for her voice. We must acknowledge the absolute pain and dread this little girl had to endure in her last moments, so we can make her voice heard. So that her memory isn't just the worst of her death that was left unsolved. So, you, the jury, can finally hear her last will."

Then the defence stood before the courtroom, an older gentleman that had perhaps outlived the glories of his career, only to represent forsaken cases. He spoke a bit louder and less melancholic than the prosecution, almost belittling the impact of the case.

"Hello, everyone. Before we proceed, I want to urge the jury that in cases like this, it's far too easy to fall to emotion than fact. We all hold a unity for the safeguarding of children, and when a child's life is threatened, we stand together in rage to avenge that life. However, our hearts cannot rule in the court room, despite how much we may want to, or how right it might feel. All that we can uphold today, is unity for the evidence. That evidence being the crime, itself. I stand here not to hold sympathy for the devil, but to bring to light what years of stagnancy can play. I urge the jury to remember the time lapse of this crime. That when time goes by in such lengths like this case, it could lead to forensic mistakes. All that matters in this case, is the evidence. Technology has come a long way, but we're still not there yet."

Yumi whispered to Edward sullenly, "He didn't even say her name."

He was worried for Max, he knew if the defence had something against the forensic DNA analysis, the case could be thrown out completely. He hoped the prosecution knew how to counter this.

Then it was time for the evidence. The medical examiner's testimony. The worst of it all, the impact of trauma subjected against all in the court room. Celeste's pain would be vividly shared with them, set on display for the jury to make a decision.

The prosecution stood before the court and explained firstly, "The pictures that will be displayed today are highly disturbing. The descriptions of the evidence to each containing gruesome detail that may be traumatizing for the families and friends of Celeste. I'm warning you all now, that if you are not a member of the jury, or not essential to the proceedings, you may want to leave until the evidence portion is dealt with. I'll give you a few minutes to deliberate between yourselves. Thank you."