Chapter 46- The Verdict

"Mom!" Maxie set the vase down, then knelt beside her mom. She pulled off her blazer and pressed it to the wound. "Mom, you're going to be okay. Just stay with me."

"Maxie…." Felicia looked up at her, then glanced down. "Pocket…."

Maxie pulled out her phone and dialed 9-1-1. "Yes, this is Maxie Jones. I'm at the Port Charles Courthouse. The attorney's lounge. My mom was stabbed in the stomach by Dex Heller. Please, we need an ambulance. Dex fled. He's probably left the property by now. Hurry!" She dropped her phone and continued holding pressure to the wound."

"Maxie… pocket," Felicia said again.

"What?" She kept one hand on the wound and checked her mom's pockets and pulled out the flash drive and note, blood spilling on them a bit.

They quickly heard sirens in the distance.

"Take to… courtroom," Felicia said. "For Frankie."

"Frankie?" Maxie asked. "You mean Esme?"

"Please…."

The paramedics rushed in.

"Mom, I need to go with you," Maxie said.

"No, help Frankie…."

Maxie backed away to let the paramedics do their job and she clenched onto the flash drive. "I love you, Mom." She grabbed her phone again and texted Lucas. You at the hospital? Mom is coming in. She was stabbed. Please stay with her until one of us can get there.

GHGHGH

Esme glanced back again, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Esme, you need to listen to what the judge says," Nora said.

Esme turned to the judge.

The judge cleared her throat. "After hearing the testimonies from a bunch of immature and disgruntled young adults who haven't seemed to have acquired the social skills to get along with each other, and the confession from Miss Prince to harassing Ms. Jerome and setting her car on fire, it seems that Miss Prince did have the means, motive, and opportunity to commit these crimes. However, the recording doesn't prove anything other than the fact that Miss Prince doesn't have amnesia anymore and clearly has maternal issues. There doesn't seem to be enough proof that Miss Prince committed unlawful surveillance, cyber sexual harassment, two counts of administering a noxious thing, and framing of Miss Robinson. However, the testimonies seem to indicate enough to find Miss Prince guilty—"

The door burst open and Maxie rushed in.

"Maxie…." Mac stood up. "Are you okay? You're bleeding."

"It's not my blood, Mac," Maxie said. "It's Mom's."

Everyone gasped.

"Dex Heller stabbed her," Maxie said.

"What?" Mac asked.

Carly and Josslyn gaped at each other.

Fresh tears released down Esme's face. "I want to go to my mom…."

Nora grabbed her arm. "I'm sorry, Esme. But you can't leave yet."

"Mac, go be with her," Maxie said. "She's on her way to the hospital."

"I'll drive you," Cody offered, and he and Mac rushed out of the courtroom.

"Continuing…" the judge said.

"Your honour," Maxie said, stepping through the gate. "My mom gave me this flash drive. She said it's for my sister and will help her. Can we please play it?"

"I was in the middle of the verdict."

"Please, your honour. This is a matter of the truth. Do you really want to send a young girl to prison without having all the facts? Assuming you were going to sentence her, I don't know…."

The judge groaned. "Very well. Hand it over to the court clerk."

Maxie passed it over, then gave Esme a small smile and a thumbs up, before sitting with Robin and Emma.

The clerk brought the clips up on the screen and whispers filled the room when they saw Dex, and Esme not wanting to go through with it.

The judge checked her watch. "I'd like to call another recess—15 minutes—to mull this over."

GHGHGH

Mac and Cody arrived in the ER and found Lucas standing with Finn.

"How is she?" Mac asked. "How's my wife?"

"I was just telling Lucas that Felicia was very lucky," Finn explained. "The knife didn't go very deep. It didn't hit any arteries or any organs. The biggest concern is she lost quite a bit of blood and the wound will take some time to heal. But she's going to make a full recovery."

Mac sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God."

"I have her on an antibiotic to prevent infection," Finn continued. "And pain medication. But she won't need surgery. We'll keep her overnight for observation, but as long as there's no setbacks, she should be able to go home tomorrow."

"Thank you, Finn," Mac said. "And thank you, Lucas."

GHGHGH

Spencer chewed his fingernails after watching the footage. Josslyn grabbed at her hair and Carly rubbed her back.

"It was Dex…" Josslyn said.

"I'm so sorry, baby," Carly said. "Dex fooled us."

The judge took her seat after the fifteen minutes. "In light of the new evidence, I have put out an order for Dex Heller's arrest. It seems clear to me that Mr. Heller was blackmailing Miss Prince, based on the footage and on Miss Prince's testimony. While Miss Prince did try to hold back, she was easily manipulated by Mr. Heller to help him. The court finds Miss Prince guilty of criminal harassment and arson against Miss Jerome, and guilty of aiding and abetting Mr. Heller in administering a noxious thing, unlawful surveillance, cyber sexual harassment. But she's cleared of the count of frame-up."

Ava grinned.

Maxie jumped up. "That is absurd! After hearing her testimony?"

"Sit down or you will be in contempt," the judge ordered. "I have not finished speaking yet."

Robin took Maxie's hand and prodded her to sit down.

"Continuing, the court is taking into consideration Miss Prince's abuse and manipulation from her father, the pressure from Mr. Heller, and her mental state. While the court does find Miss Prince guilty, she will not receive a full sentence. Miss Prince will serve time through 60 days of community service and the court is mandating therapy for Miss Prince for a minimum of one year. But Miss Prince is free to go. Case dismissed." She struck the gavel.

Ava scoffed.

Maxie, Robin, and Emma made their way over to Esme, who wouldn't move.

"Congratulations, Esme," Emma said. "Maybe this means we can hang out again."

"Yeah, this is great news," Robin said. "Your mom will be so relieved."

"And I think therapy will be really good for you," Maxie said. "It will help you feel better."

"I'd rather go to prison," Esme mumbled.

Maxie sighed. "Esme, this is really good news."

"But you don't have to think about that right now," Robin said.

"Yeah, we need to get to the hospital," Maxie agreed. "Would you like to ride with me, Esme?"

Esme's glossy eyes moved to Maxie, then back at the table. "No."

Maxie frowned. "That's okay. I understand."

"You can come with me and Emma?" Robin suggested.

"I don't deserve to go!" Esme cried. "It's my fault she got stabbed. She's gonna die because of me. I don't want to lose her…."

"Esme, no one blames you," Maxie said. "Least of all Mom. And she's not going to die."

"And she'll want to see you," Robin added. "In fact, she'll be really sad if she can't see you. She'll want to hear the good news from you."

"I want to see her too," Esme said.

Esme glanced up when Kevin and Laura walked over to her.

"I was very happy when I heard the verdict, Esme," Kevin said. "You don't belong in prison. I just wanted to tell you that Laura and I are just a phone call away if you or Ace ever need anything. And we're going to pray for Felicia." He gave her a small smile and they walked away.

Robin took Esme's hand. "Let's go to your mom."