Chapter 15
The meeting was intense and divisive. Noah sat at the table next to Ashley and held his ground. Detectives Gonzales and Stevens sat on each side of him, stone solid pillars, muscular arms crossed with fierce, unwilling expressions. Noah’s attorney, Matt Ramsey, tried to sway his client.
“Your decision, Noah and Ashley, is not in the interest of the law or the general public for that matter. Jason committed a felony and must pay the price.” He clicked his pen and tapped the steel bolted table in front of him.”
“I think we all agree when I say this is a mistake. A huge mistake. And one you may come to regret. These kinds of people always go back to their roots. I—we have seen this time and time again.” The detectives gave terse nods to their supervisor.
Mr. Ramsey spoke again. “Mr. and Mrs. Smith, you’re opening the door for not only this young man but also his father, whom we all have to admit is a serious threat to the community...and to your family,” he added pointedly. “Please reconsider your decision.”
Ashley turned to examine Noah as the detectives’ and lawyers’ words sunk in. Noah’s eyes closed, and his lips moved in a silent prayer. One look at his face when he opened his eyes, and she knew what his response would be.
Noah spoke in an unheeding tone. “Detectives, and Mr. Ramsey, I respect your concern and assure you this is not a decision that was made lightly. My wife and I understand the implications and are prepared and willing to do everything we can to give this young man a new chance at life.”
“I understand Jason had a tough life and a horrible father. But he almost killed you and left you for dead, man!” Detective Stevens’s voice rose in anger.
“Your wife was a hair’s breadth away from being a widow and your girls growing up without a father.
Do you really think it’s fair to your family to let him go free and not have any punishment?—? ”
Noah lowered his head and held his temples between his hands. Ashley placed a hand on his.
After a couple of minutes, he sat up and spoke in an unremitting voice. “I’m not condoning Jason’s actions or the actions of his father. But I’m willing to forgive him as Christ forgives us.” He placed his hands on the table and stood painfully to his feet.
Noah looked each of them squarely in the eye. “That, gentlemen, is my final answer.”
Mr. Ramsey stood and shook his hand. “I’ll go file the petition.”
Jason curled up in the back of his bunk as heavy boots clunked, and steel doors clanged open and shut.
His hands fisted when the boots stopped outside his cell.
In the past week since Carlo had left, he had done everything in his power to evade contact with the other inmates.
He avoided the showers and weight room and had only left his cell to devour a meal or report for work detail.
However, he did not miss the threats and name-calling when others passed by his bunk. Somewhat protected by his metallic cage, he dodged the spit and other gross body substances thrown his way through the bars. Guards ignored the taunts, not wanting to get involved in turf scuffles.
He sat up when the whoosh of an electric release and the heavy grind of a hinge opening reached his cell. He brushed his greasy hair out of his face. A new roommate? Hopefully not another Carlo. His heart beat faster as the guard directed him to follow.
Hesitantly, he stood and stepped forward. He walked down the hallway as the cells burst with a roar of fists beating on steel, shouted slurs, and vile obscenities. Cowering, he stayed close behind the guard and lowered his head to avoid eye contact.
A door was unlocked and opened. The guard pressed his baton into Jason’s back and pushed him into the room. Two jacked looking guards with buzzed heads entered the room and stood like twin peaks of granite. Each placed their hands on the butt of their guns, pepper spray at the ready.
Jason’s mouth gaped as his gaze landed on the person seated at the metal table. He was face-to-face with the man he had been trying to avoid—at all costs—these past few months. The man whose life he had almost taken… the reason he was locked in a cell. Noah Smith.
His mouth immediately went dry, and his pulse raced. A pretty woman with a tight expression sat next to him. He recognized her as Noah’s wife. What the…?
Noah braced his hands on the bolted down table and slowly stood. A grimace of pain shot across his face. Jason flinched with the knowledge that he was the cause of this man’s agony.
“Jason. I’m Noah Smith. This is my wife, Ashley. Please sit.” His voice was no nonsense but kind.
Jason’s legs shook, and he sank into the bolted chair before they gave out.
Noah turned to the suited man seated on his other side. “This is my attorney, Mr. Matt Ramsey.”
The attorney nodded, a curt purse to his lips as he unlatched his leather satchel. He pulled out a stack of papers and set them neatly in a pile in front of him.
Speechless, Jason’s mind raced. Why are they here? What’s happening?
Noah looked at Ashley and held out his hand. After a few moments, she gave him a tight-lipped nod, unclasped her hands, and took his.
Noah closed his eyes. Jason could swear his lips were moving, but there was no sound. Weird. Is he… praying?
Cold beads of sweat formed on the back of Jason’s neck. His hands began to shake, and he tucked them under his folded thighs. Were they going to move him to the adult prison?
His vision tunneled at the thought of being incarcerated with Carlo… and his father. They would kill him. Probably after a period of time when he would wish he were dead. His heart pounded with dread. If only he had been able to use the shiv on himself before it had been confiscated.
Noah watched as a slender, young woman with a studious air, short bobbed hair, and glasses entered the room. Jason raised his hand in a slight motion toward her as she sat down and gave him a reassuring pat on his pinched shoulders. She set her legal pad and pen in front of her on the desk.
The room filled as three more muscled men with don’t mess with me expressions arrived. They were dressed in casual business wear but had empty holster straps across their chests and ID cards fastened to their shirt pockets.
As they settled, Noah took a quick peek at Ashley.
He sensed her foreboding, but knew in her heart she agreed with his decision and would support him fully.
Compassion filled his soul as he observed the terror in Jason’s eyes.
The room was heavy with tension, and he was well aware that not everyone agreed with the decision he’d made.
Mr. Ramsey spoke in a raised tone over the clamor of the room. “Jason, do you remember your court-appointed attorney, Ms. Spencer?”
Jason turned to the young woman beside him and tilted his jaw upward in a small movement of recognition.
Mr. Ramsey continued with the introductions. “This is Captain Adams. If you recall, you already met Detectives Stevens and Gonzalez the evening of your dad’s arrest. They’ve been following this case since the accident. The men nodded, and one waved a hand.
Detective Stevens spoke up. “Hey Jason.”
Jason acknowledged them with a slight jaw raise.
Noah took a sip of water from the bottle in front of him, then plunged ahead. “Jason. Ashley and I want to say?—”
His words were interrupted by his attorney. “Noah. Please stop. I want to make sure this is done by the book and on the record.” Mr. Ramsey nodded at a guard who left the room and re-entered a few moments later.
He replaced his hand on his baton. “I can confirm that this room has a camera and is being recorded.”
Noah turned to Ashley. Her face softened as she contemplated the terrified teen who had a wild-eyed expression. He appeared as if he wanted to bolt like a wounded animal. She lifted the gold cross on her necklace and brushed her fingertips along the edges. It was time.