Chapter 23: The Trial Part 2

Lieutenant Jim Gordon sat at his desk at his precinct in Gotham, looking over documents in his caseload. He had a news article among the paperwork that seemed to keep grabbing his attention.

The Bat Man: Masked Vigilante brings violent gang to justice. Friend or Foe?

He looked over the article a while longer, looking at the lousy photography caught of the man at large. Soaring through the sky like his name preserves.

Not nearly as intimidating in person, Gordon thought to himself.

The television mounted over their cubicles was on the news, and a name caught his attention from the paper. He grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

"I am currently standing by at the Coast City courthouse this morning. Today is a long-awaited trial that many believe should have taken place over twenty years ago. The murder case of Celeste Atkins, an eight year old girl from a little town called Blue Valley in southern Nebraska. The state of California will be versing Dale Hewitt in this case, who came up to a ninety nine percent DNA match when the case was recently reopened last year. In 1998, Celeste was vacationing with her family through the state when they stopped at Webbler Springs. There the child mysteriously disappeared at a local playground. Only for her body to be found five miles outside the county in a swamp land. It was an abhorrent tragedy that rocked the state of California and devastated the Atkins family. The case went cold in the year of 2000, only to be reopened in November of 2018."

Officer Mario Martinez came in from the break room with a coffee and donut in the other hand, "Hey, Gordon. Turn on the game, would ya?"

"Not yet."

"Come on, man. It's the play offs."

"I said not yet."

Martinez glanced over to the screen, "What's this?"

Gordon didn't answer, just continued to listen to the broadcast.

"As we're seeing now is Celeste Atkins's family who've just arrived. Mother of Celeste, Yumi Atkins, her father, Jeffery Atkins, and sister Maxine Atkins in the coral blouse. We can't imagine the dread they must be feeling to relive this tragedy. Celeste's sister, Maxine, is twenty six years old, and will be testifying in court today against Dale Hewitt. This would have been Celeste's 29th year if she was alive. A life taken far too soon, you can see that this has left a wound in this family, just as Coast City. An unfathomable loss that no amount of time can heal. Let's stay hopeful the Atkins family sees justice for their Celeste. Back to you, Cadence."

Martinez raised, "This isn't even in the state. Why you watching this?"

Gordon thought up a reply, "You don't have children, Martinez. Stuff like this tends to get a parent's attention." He tossed the remote back to Martinez, "Here. Watch what you want."

Gordon moved back to his desk, his mind now swimming in a much different matter. He stayed hopeful that his efforts for Maxine wouldn't go to waste.

Back in Coast City Courthouse, the medical examiner was soon to be called. Yumi looked back to Eiko, Sobo and Jiji, all seemed assured they wanted to stay.

"Edward? You okay with staying?" She asked him wispy eyed.

He made an uneasy nod, "Yes, I'm fine. When is Max coming up, do you know?"

"I don't. Probably not until the evidence and psychologist get out of the way."

"Mama, Pa, you sure you want to stay?" She asked her parents one last time.

"Yes, Yumi. Stop asking."

The prosecution brought out the projector and white board. The courtroom rustled in sullen whispers and uncomfortable shifting. Edward peered over to the back of Hewitt. His head was down, not wanting to gaze up to the soon displayed and incriminating photos.

The judge called, "Calling forensic pathologist, Amy Sheldon to the stand."

The door opened for an older woman dressed in a dark blouse and overcoat. She wore a pencil skirt and had her hair tied back. Her glasses were down the bridge of her nose. She high heeled to the stand and gave a smile to the judge, but still looking weary on the matter at hand.

The prosecution asked, "Can you state your name and occupation to the court?"

"I am Dr. Amy Sheldon. I am the chief forensic pathologist and scientist in the district five. I have been in the practice for thirty-two years. I received my degree from the Royal University of California back in 87. I was practicing for 11 years before I was on Celeste Atkins' case. I was the primary medical examiner on her case and was there for the entirety of her pathology report."

The prosecution started, "Dr. Sheldon are you aware of the matter of the state of California vs. Dale John Hewitt?"

"Yes."

"Did you conduct the autopsy of Celeste Atkins?"

"Yes."

"Did you review your work in preparation of the autopsy for your testimony today?"

"I have."

"In addition to the review of your work, do you also have a personal recollection of the autopsy of Celeste Atkins?"

"Yes."

"When Celeste's body was transferred to your office after her body was discovered on August 23rd of 1998, were you also on the scene when the body was discovered on Route 67 of Webbler County?"

"Yes, I was."

"Why?"

"Due to the very nature of the case, since it was a child that was abducted, I was part of a search team conveying the area. Much of the city of Coast City and Webbler Springs were aware of the matter."

"Did you direct photography to be taken at the scene before the body was removed?"

"Yes."

"Dr. Sheldon would you describe to the jury the steps you took in conducting the autopsy?"

"Yes. When the body comes to the examiner's office, it comes with a number that is unique to the deceased, no one else gets that number. After which, the photographs are taken as is the body was brought in. No clothing or articles removed. After which, the clothing is removed, and more photographs are taken. Then a sex battery kit is brought in and used as directed. Then the body is washed, and the injuries are examined and photographed in detail. The front of the body, the back, and in this case, there were dissections that were performed, and that was also photographed. During the process of the sex battery kit, a lot of evidence was collected. There is an incision from the collar bone to the pubic area, each organ is removed and sectioned to determine any other cause that may have led to a death of an individual. Anything microscopic to detect in case there was a disease process that may escape the naked eye. As well as drugs or alcohol that may account for death. After that an autopsy report is made."

"You conducted the autopsy the day after the body was brought in is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you determine the weight of Celeste Atkins?"

"Yes."

"What was that?"

"She was… 57 pounds."

"Dr. Sheldon, is it routine to shave the deceased scalp for medical examination?"

"No, but in this case, there was a hemorrhage on the backside of her scalp that the hair masks. So, I shaved her head so in this case, we'd be able to see the entire scalp."

The prosecutor turned the screen towards the jury, but the pews could still see from their spots.

"Alright, we will begin with DF678, this photograph was taken at the medical examiner's office. Dr. Sheldon, would you be able to describe the injuries and their origin to the jury?"

The projector flickered with a photo. A few gasps of horror fleeted through the pews. Edward instinctually flicked his eyes from it, terrified of just the display. He returned his eyes begrudgingly, trying to remain partial and uphold the evidence just as if he was sitting in the jury pews. It was a child, naked, laying on a steel table. Bruises and contusions, lacerations and warped limbs came into view. A vacant and clearly deceased face of a child. Her hair completely shaved. Yumi buckled in her seat and nearly threw up in her palm. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she fought from the seat and clopped out of the courtroom. Eiko followed her. Edward didn't feel the need to follow till he heard her horrified gasps as she pushed through the doors. He felt a pull in his stomach, he knew Max would try to comfort her if she was here. He got up from the seats and followed, ignoring all of the peering eyes to his sides. He gave a short glance to the grandparents who were looking away in horror, shaking in each other's arms.

In the court hallway, he walked up to Yumi buried into Eiko's shoulder, trying to comfort her. Quickly after he came out the doors, Jeff ran out behind him, running to the nearest men's washroom.

Edward stumbled to them meekly, unsure how to offer any comfort, but he direly wanted to. Yumi heard him come up and tried to compose, "I thought I… I thought after twenty years it would be… it would have been easier to see her again. In that state… I thought I'd be able to keep it together, but… my god. I'm not equipped. I can't be in there while they show those pictures I just can't. It's so awful, it's so sickening what he did to her. No child should ever look like that! No child!"

Edward muttered it, "I'm so sorry."

"Oh sweetheart, I'm sorry I scared you. I can't go back in there till they've finished the evidence."

"I'll stay with you," said Eiko, "I don't think I could stomach it, either."

"You know I keep thinking that Celeste would be thirty years old. She'd likely be calling me everyday over something small. She wanted kids since she was old enough to speak, she'd have a crowd of them, I'm sure. Make Max an auntie, and me a grandma. I never once thought… that my daughter would be…"

"You shouldn't feel like you have to go back in there," said Edward, "It's worse enough for everyone else. You especially should not be in there. I'll let you know when they move on to the analysis. Go grab a coffee, sit down for a bit."

"Okay…" Yumi petted Edward's cheek motherly, a sensation foreign to him, "You're a good boy, Eddie. I wouldn't mind your genes in my grandkids."

She weepingly laughed, cracking a chuckle from Eiko and a smile from Edward.

"Let's get through this day first." He said back, placing a hand to her shoulder. Eiko softly ushered her away, and Edward walked back inside of the courtroom quietly to observe the rest of the trial.

He came in and the prosecutor was in the midst of another question to the pathologist. The picture of Celeste had transitioned to a close up of her neck, showing an obvious bruising.

"Dr. Sheldon, what would you determine the cause of death?"

Dr. Sheldon replied, "Mechanical asphyxiation."

"What is that?"

"What she sustained was tremendous force on her neck so she could not breathe. There was swelling to the brain due to lack of oxygen. Because of that, she died."

"Do you have experience in strangulation cases?"

"Yes. Many times."

"Can you provide to the jury how long it takes for someone to die from strangulation."

"It varies as strangulation can be done by ligature or hand. In this case it was ligature, which means something was used fine to tie around her neck and pull. Especially regarding struggle, if there is struggle it can vary greatly. I cannot tell you, but in this case, there was a struggle, and we have evidence of that struggle. If there is no struggle it would take three to four minutes for a person to die."

"Did you determine what ligature was used?"

"Yes. It was the neckline of her tee shirt. Ligature marks coincide with the blood on the neckline of her shirt, you can see the weave of contusions there." She pointed to the photo with a long pointing rod.

Edward sat mostly by himself in the bench now with Jeff, Yumi and Eiko gone, he was able to sit closer to the isle and see the photos more clearly. As well as the back of Hewitt's head, who was still looking down.

The prosecutor continued, "You mentioned you used a sex battery kit the day before the autopsy was conducted is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Can you explain to the jury the process of how you conducted the sex battery kit?"

"Yes, so… when the body comes in nothing is done to the body until the kit has been completed. I first check the fingernails to make sure they are still intact, as in struggles, sometimes they can be ripped off. I cut the fingernails and package them. Then we put the patient in a gynaecological position, of course this is for women, this was… was a child, but it's mainly a position for the women. The anal examination is done first. Swabs are taken first from there, then the vagina, it is submitted. We take a DNA card which is submitted. They are refrigerated. In this case, it's been many years, but the DNA was conserved through a geneomap. Thus, making it possible to test."

"Can you describe on exhibit A, and Exhibit B what you determined in your examination?"

Pictures shown the genitalia, and immediately people looked away, including Edward who closed his eyes and hung his head down, just listening to the pathologist.

"Yes. So, the vaginal and anal canal endured severe trauma. The anatomy was very distorted by the injuries she sustained."

The pathologist grew sullen in her tone, more spaced out and shaky.

"Two more of these, can you please explain to the jury the injuries sustained in exhibit c, and exhibit d."

People were walking from the courtroom; Edward kept his eyes closed. The pathologist only whimpered, "I need to take a break."

The judge said quietly, "Alright, we'll take a 5-minute recess."

Edward came back out to the court room with Max's family, all quiet and pallor in tone. None outrightly speaking until a few glances were exchanged.

Jiji said coldly, "He should be hanged by the neck."

"Shh…" Sobo hushed.

Yumi came up quite troubled, "A recess already? I feel like proceeding's only started."

"The pathologist became emotional. Asked for a break." Edward muttered back.

Yumi blew out air in a scorn and hissed to them all, "You know it's something when the pathologist, a professional who's been looking at all sorts of dead bodies for years and years can't bear to make it through. That… bastard! If that's not enough for a show of guilt, I don't know what is!"

"It's actually worrying. The defence could make a play that his defendant isn't getting a fair trial because of prejudice due to the pathologist breaking down, influencing the jury." Edward said it aloud, staring down to the floor as he did.

They went silent, without words coming back Edward flicked his eyes up and was met with disturbed glares. He said remorsefully, "I'm sorry, I'm just worried. I want him dead as much as all of you do."

"He's right," Eiko said shallowly, "Her reaction could sway the jury. The defence would definitely try to use that as a ploy for mistrial."

Yumi wiped a single tear and muttered to Edward, "Eiko's an attorney."

"Shit, that would have to be the most outlandish thing a judge could do is allow that. It'll likely get rejected, no question." Eiko assured, staying hopeful in her words.

Clops of high heels came down the hall from the strides of people. Her head peaked around one shoulder and came closer. She waved and whistled, "Hey!"

She caught their attention and a few smiles of relief lit up, "Max!"

She came up with a quick jog as much as she could in high heels and hugged her mom..

"Hey, sweetie."

Max said as she lifted from her mother's shoulder, "How is it going in there?"

"Oh, Hana… not good." Sobo mumbled, "Terrible evil sitting in that room. Terrible."

She went and took Edward's hand and asked, "How long is recess?"

"It's starting soon." He said back.

"Do you know when you're coming up for your testimony?" Yumi asked her.

Max shook her head, "No idea. I've been sitting on my ass for hours, feels like. I'm so sweaty and gross, like just waiting is the worst part."

One of the security guards walked past saying, "Hey guys, court is proceeding if you wanted to take your seats."

Eiko nodded, "Shit. We should get in."

Max said goodbye to her mother, aunt and grandparents with hugs and kisses on the cheek. Edward gave her a peck on the lips whispering, "See you soon. I love you."

"I love you, too."

As her family and boyfriend walked back into court, she turned back to her dad coming out of the washroom, wiping his nose with a Kleenex.

Jeff stopped for a second and his red eyes wilted, he was loudly snivelling and huffing, but breathed a smile and said as normal as he could, "Hi baby."

"Hi." Max said huskily, trying not to cry.

She hugged him and he kissed the top of her head, rubbing her back.

"It's heavy in there… very heavy." He spoke.

Max whispered shakily, "I know. Trust me."

"You going up soon?"

"Soon, I think. I hope."

"You'll do good. You'll show em'," he took himself from the hug but kept his hands to her shoulders, "Been waiting for this day for a long time. Always imagined I'd jump out of the pews and stab him dead. Go to jail knowing I avenged Cece. Now… I just miss her. I miss her more than I ever knew."

"Me too, daddy."

"We got the bastard now. So, let's make sure he goes down, okay?"

"Okay."

Jeff wiped his nose again and coughed, trying to compose himself, "I… uh. Met Edward. Seems like a straight arrow. Kind of awkward but who isn't nowadays."

Max giggled, "Yeah, he is. It's adorable."

"Little old for you, though. Don't you think?"

Max subtly rolled her eyes, "Really?"

"I'm sorry," he chuckled quietly, "Wouldn't be a dad if I didn't worry. It's about time I start worrying about you. Make up for years lost."

"You don't need to worry," assured Max, "He's good. We're good."

Jeff nodded quietly, rubbing the back of his neck and sighing, "God. I don't want to go back in there."

"Then don't. Wait until the photographs are out of the way. I don't… want you slipping back into bad habits."

Jeff wilted his eyes to the floor, having to agree, "You're right. I'm sorry. Here I am worrying about you…"

"You'll be okay, dad. Remember, we're gonna get that prick. Okay?"

Jeff patted her shoulder and nodded, sniffling again before leaving to the coffee machine. Max sighed, hanging her head as she walked back to the waiting room to be called. "It's gonna be a long day."

Back in the courtroom, the pathologist retook the stand to finish. The defence had taken over for the prosecution.

"So, given these events were twenty years ago, can you explain to the court how DNA was matched to Dale Hewitt?"

The pathologist, far more composed, replied, "Yes. Technology in the 90s was not as advanced but regardless, the genealogy and DNA preserved from the sex battery kit in 1998 could be rematched to the DNA from Dale Hewitt. His DNA was already in the database from a recent sexual assault. It was a matter of taking the DNA, crossing it with the DNA of Celeste Atkin's case, and it was a 98 percent match. Even in cases with less than 80 percent match are considered tangible of a match."

"So, in your professional opinion there was no way it could be any other individual's DNA."

"Yes, the DNA within and on Celeste Atkins is Dale Hewitt's DNA."

"No further questions, your honour."

The pathologist left the stand, after thanking the judge and out the court room.

The prosecutor walked back up to the front holding a tape recorder. He announced, "For those who are not already aware in the jury stand, or those who do not remember. At approximately 7:47pm, Saturday August 22nd of 1998, a nine one one call was placed in the California Coast City emergency lines. The caller was Celeste Atkins' father, Jeff Atkins. The family of Mr. Atkins, his wife, Yumi Atkins, and his two daughters, Celeste and Maxine Atkins, were taking a family vacation through the states. They stopped in Webbler Springs at the local campsite at around 4:25pm on August 22nd 1998. For your deliberation, the nine one one call will be played to understand the manner and urgency of this crime. As well as descriptions from the caller regarding the events."

Edward glanced over to Jeff, who was already hanging his head sweeping his hair back his scalp.

The tape was inserted, it clicked, and the recording began to play.

"Emergency services, what's your inquiry?"

"I'm at Webbler campground, in Webbler Springs. Please we need help my daughter has been kidnapped!"

"Sir, where are you?"

"Webbler Springs! Campground! We need police on every dirt road, every route, every highway. You need to set up stops, my daughter, my baby girl, she was taken! She was taken from the park! She's not here we can't find her, please…. Please send as many as you can!"

"Sir, slow down. Slow down, please. Now, tell me what's going on, your daughter was taken from a park in Webbler campground?"

"Yes! Some motherfucker took my girl! Send someone now! She's only eight years old, for heavens sake!"

"What's your daughters name?"

"Celeste Atkins! She's eight, she's wearing uh… uh pink shirt with lady bugs… she's got… a denim skirt. Her hair is black, she wears glasses. She can't see without her glasses!"

"Okay, sir, stay with me, is she black, or white?"

"She's Asian. She's Japanese. She was taken by uh… my daughter, my other daughter said she saw a white van circling the park. She thinks it took her; she thinks she heard it pull up on the road when she was in the trees. Oh God… oh God… what if he's hurting her. What if he's hurting her, please. Jesus Christ, please! Please, save her! Send everyone!"

"Does she know the make and model of the van?"

"No, she's five years old, for Christ's sakes. She doesn't know. She just said a white van!"

"Did she see a driver?"

"Uh…"

"Sir? Did your daughter see a driver?"

"No! My god, just send the police!"

"Sir, the police are on their way now. They will be there soon, but I need some more information, okay? What's your name and phone number?"

"Jeffery Atkins. That's spelt A T K I N S. My number is 303 2456. Ahh… oh God… oh God. My wife is crying. My wife is crying. Please, we… we're not local here, we came here from Blue Valley, Nebraska. We here just taking vacation and my kids went to the park here and… oh God. I shouldn't have let them go alone! I shouldn't, I thought they'd be okay. I never imagined this would happen. Please, please help us."

"Just take a few deep breaths, I know, Jeffery. I know you're scared, but you have to stay calm so I can hear what you're saying. When did this happen?"

"Like… twenty minutes ago. Our daughter came for us ten minutes ago, so I don't know how long. We looked for another ten minutes but we only found her shoe."

"Okay, what are you calling us from?"

"My cellphone. I use it for work, but…"

"Where are you now? What is the unit in the camp you're at?"

"We're at the park, there's a few people here helping us look."

"Alright."

"I… see police cars pulling up."

"Alright, Jeffery, I'll let you speak to the officers, okay?"

"Okay… okay, thank you."

The clip ended, and tape recorder stopped. Leaving an ominous gloom over those in the proceedings. Jeff was discreetly wiping his tears, still craning his head in his palms.

The prosecutor took a moment of silence, letting the impact set in. He then announced, "Your honour, I call Ms. Maxine Atkins to stand as witness in the case."

"Access granted." The judge replied.

A guard went to the back room by the witness stand, and the heads cranes preened up to catch a glimpse of her walking in quite confidently but sternly into the room. A scorn in her jaunt. Edward glimmered a small smile, but seeing her detesting scowl, it fleeted.

She came up to the witness stand, glimpsing a scowl at Hewitt, who glanced up to catch one look of the witness. A little girl he remembered seeing at the park so many years ago.

She pulled the mic a bit closer, clearing her throat. The prosecutor walked up and stated, "Can you state your name for the court?"

"Maxine Kimiko Atkins."

"Age and relation to Celeste Atkins."

"I'm twenty-six years old, and Celeste Atkins was my older sister."

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, so help you God?"

"I do."

"Maxine, you were at the playground when your sister was taken from Webbler campground. I understand you were five years old at the time of the abduction?"

"Yes, sir."

"Can you recall the events you remember in as much detail as possible predating the abduction but not before the arrival to the playground."

"We… rode to the playground on our bikes. It was just me and her at the park, no other kids or adults were around. We were playing a role-playing game on the equipment, pretending to be… pirates. There were no other vehicles coming in or around the road by the park. Except I do remember seeing a white van. It would circle the park, then go back into the road behind the trees, circle back and do another round along the park. My sister, Celeste, was getting worried. She wanted to leave at one point, but the van stopped coming around for a while, so she changed her mind. We kept playing for some time. I noticed that my… stuffed animal, my favourite toy was missing. I started to cry; I was really upset. She told me to go work on the sandcastle we were building at the sand pit, and she'd go and look for my toy for me. I had my back turned but I remember hearing the engine of the van. It was familiar, the rumble. It was really loud, but I didn't think much of it, I was just… building my sandcastle. Then a few minutes went by, Celeste wasn't coming back. I got worried and went to go look, but I didn't see her. By that time, I felt something was wrong and I was alone at the park. I got scared and rode my bike back to our campsite and told my dad. He immediately swept me up, told my mom, and we went back to the park to look. By that time, my father called nine one one."

"Do you remember the make and model of the van now that you're older?"

"Yes."

"What was it?"

"1995 GMC Cargo G-20. It didn't have windows in the back, only passenger and driver."

"That's very specific, Ms. Atkins."

"I've had that van stained in my brain since the day. I only needed to see the kind again to name it."

"Do you remember seeing a driver?"

"No. Windows were tinted."

"Do you remember how many times it circled the park?"

Max thought for a moment, blowing air from her lips, "Like… three times. Each time slow. Like it was going below 15 miles an hour, definitely."

"Did it ever stop?"

"Yeah, behind me before the woodland."

"Anytime before that?"

"No."

"Can you describe the park in as much detail as possible?"

Max tilted her head, looking up to the ceiling trying to recall, "Um. It was… in this huge field. Quarter of an acre. Maybe it's huge, I don't know, I feel like when we're kids, we see things a lot larger than they are. There was a patch of field Celeste was seen last. The park was this typical wooden log park, had a plastic slide, a steering wheel before the slide. There were monkey bars, a teeter totter, marry go round, and the ground was just gravel bordered in logs."

"So, there was a fair bit of distance between you and the white van before the woods?"

"Yes."

"No further questions your honour."

The prosecution left the stand, and the defence stepped up in tandem.

"Ms. Atkins, you seem to have a thorough memory of the collections of that day. Yet, you were only five years of age."

The prosecution immediately struck, "Objection. Your honour, relevance?"

"I'm just simply curious. Not many can account for an entire chain of events when they were just five years of age. I'm just seeking an explanation in the witness's words to disprove embellishments."

The judge said, "I'll allow it."

"Ms. Atkins?"

"My sister's abduction… is still the most prominent moment of my life. It's stayed with me ever since, in every detail. I used to go back and think about what I could have done to change it, or what I did wrong. Every day… since the day. So yeah, I remember every detail. I remember it vividly; it destroyed my family."

Despite the impact of her response, she was entirely stone faced and dark toned, hiding her emotion under a thick layer of façade.

"So, in short this event surely traumatized you?"

"Objection! Your honour, he's patronizing the witness and using her trauma as a scapegoat to null her statement."

The defence interjected, "Did you receive mental health services for your experience?"

The judge clapped the mallet, "I'll strike that, Mr. Coleman. Witness shows no signs of mental illness."

"Very well, sorry, your honour." The defence relented. Max was discontent, biting the inside of her cheek trying to contain her anger. The most of her family and loved ones seething right alongside her.

The judge expressed, "The jury will begin their deliberations now. Attendees will be informed when they reach a decision. Thank you."

"What an asshole." Max scoffed angrily as she filled her water bottle during another recess. Her testimony was over with, yet she had felt like a piece of meat on that stand, getting picked at by vultures.

"That's the only trope a defence has against a witness aimed against their case," muttered Edward, leaning against the wall waiting for her.

Max spun the lid on her water bottle, "Yeah, I'm traumatized. My sister was taken right before my eyes when I was a kid. She was raped, tortured and murdered and I had to watch my life fall apart because of it. Of course, I remember every damn detail of it. Who wouldn't?"

"They know that they're trying to sway the jury as much as they can. Making you look crazy or unreliable is grasping at straws. Shows how desperate they are."

Yumi came up to Max and gave her a secure hug, kissing her temple, "You did so good, honey. I'm so proud of you."

Max sighed, "Thanks, mom."

"Don't take what the defence said get to you," mentioned Eiko, "It's their job, they need to defend their client at any costs. The more bang to rights the client is, the more cutthroat the defence is. It's a good thing, means they're going down with a sinking ship."

Edward nodded in agreement, "That's pretty much what I said."

Max gloomed, "We all know he's getting guilty, that's no contest. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about his sentence." She said to Edward, "I'm gonna sit outside for a while, I need some air. You coming?"

"Of course," he smiled. He looked back to Eiko and Yumi to give a wave, they smiled and waved back. As they watched Max and Edward walk down the isle, silence bitterly joined again.

Eiko broke it, "So, did you speak to him?"

"Who? Eddie?"

"No, sis. Jeff. Did you talk to him?"

Yumi went blank, "Oh. Yeah, I mean a little. Man still just as chatty as he was ten years ago. We didn't say much."

Eiko sneered, "God. Worse enough we gotta deal with Hewitt's fucked up mug, much less Jeff. Fucking Jeff."

"What?"

"He has the nerve to sit in our pew with us. Lucky I didn't backhand him into the one behind us."

Yumi scoffed, "Max wanted him to sit with us."

"What? So, Max and him are cool now? Last I checked, Max was pissed at him."

"Not anymore. It's fine. Her relationship with her father is her own. Just like how our relationship is our own. I think he's just thinking about Celeste. Besides, he's sober."

Eiko drolly groaned, "God, I hate how addicts use the sobriety chip bullshit. Like it magically erases all the fucked up things they did when they were pissed. Like he's not three shots away from becoming a raging psychopath, too."

Yumi hissed, "Jesus, Eiko, would you chill the fuck out?"

"Don't tell me you've forgiven the prick."

"He's Maxine's dad, it's been ten fucking years. I'm not holding onto grudges at my daughter's murder trial, you asshole."

Eiko then froze, grabbing her shoulder and asking sternly, "Do not tell me what I think you're thinking."

"What?"

Eiko's eyes went dull, "You're happy he's here, aren't you?"

Yumi rolled her eyes and dragged her feet from Eiko, who hastily followed. Eiko continued, "Ten years and the absence is growing the heart fonder, am I right? You're gonna retreat back into the snake pit?"

"Are you fucking mental?"

"Be honest. I've been watching you following him with your eyes."

"Oh, get fucked, would you."

"Yumi!" Eiko pulled her back, "That man abused you! He left you and your child. Ten years or twenty years. Doesn't take back what he did to you. And Max."

"You remember who he was when he was in the drink. When Cece died. You forget who he was before that. Before Cece, being with Jeff and the girls was… the happiest days of my life. He changed for the worst because the worst happened. Took me a long time to forgive him, Eiko. Remember that. Don't mean I want him back, you dipshit. Means I chose to forgive. If you can't do that, that's fine. Don't give me shit for doing it, alright?"

Max came stepping back through the hall with Edward in tow, "There you guys are."

"What's up?" Eiko asked.

"They reached a verdict."

There was a blanket of silence in the court through the proceedings. It was the very nature of the court. How it instilled the obedience and importance of its mortar and wood. However, this moment in court was silence of gut-pulling anticipation. The first jury came to the stand. A middle-aged man with a balding head and small glasses. He seemed inward coming up to the microphone. As he caught a glance of the defendant, his timidness turned to vindication almost instantly.

"We find the defendant guilty of abduction of Celeste Atkins. We find the defendant guilty of child endangerment. We find the defendant guilty of aggravated assault. We find the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual assault. We find the defendant guilty of sodomy, sexual assault of a minor under the age of twelve, strangulation, and unlawful confinement. We find the defendant guilty of first-degree murder of Celeste Atkins. We find the defendant guilty of indecency to a body. We find the defendant guilty of all charges the state of California has placed against Mr. Hewitt in regard to Celeste Atkins' case."

With each verdict, the crowd in the pews would clap, not obnoxiously despite the urge to, but enough to show the appreciation for the verdicts. Max and her family clapped, but they knew his verdict would undoubtedly be guilty. Their anticipation was the sentencing hearing, where the true debate of his mental capacity would come into play.