Chapter 28 Final Decision Point #5
“You’ve had your say, and NOW I am having mine. Bring the laptop!” the judge ordered. The bailiff brought the laptop. “You have your three minutes to produce this call Miss Sutton, or I will have to charge you with Perjury.”
“Thank you, your Honor,” Kelly said and started typing rapidly. Robere’s eyes went wide as he realized what she was doing. He jumped to his feet and ran for the door.
“Bailiff, restrain that man!” the judge ordered and Robere was tackled before he made the doors.
“Here it is your Honor, but if you don’t mind,” she paused and looked at Carry and Cassie. “I don’t think this should be heard by everyone,” Kelly said softly. “It’s rather explicit about the orders that were given.”
“This Evidence has not been reviewed by the prosecution or the defense. To protect the defendants rights the court will empty. Only the participants and the current witness will remain. I want everyone else out of this room to protect the integrity of the evidence being offered and preserve the defendants rights. Bailiff, empty the gallery.”
“The Gallery will exit the court by order of his Honor, Judge Robinson. The Jury will depart to the ante-room until the judge has ordered your return.”
It didn’t take long for the gallery to empty and for the jury to be removed.
Greg, Carry and Cassie were standing together looking at each other, pensive faces all around.
Katie stood over to the side with Veronica, slightly worried about what was happening.
“That was supposed to be all of us?” Cassie slowly asked barely audible.
“Sounds like Jenny wanted to eliminate all her threats at once,” Carry said. “You said you felt like she was keeping something back from you. Now you know.”
“Relax, both of you,” Greg said softly. “That threat is gone. The only one that remains after today will be Jenny herself. Keith and Brick are on it. I don’t know what they are planning, but they assured me that it’s all handled.”
“Alright. I just want this over with,” Cassie said sadly. Greg grabbed her and pulled her to him. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Anytime, Cassie. You are family now. No matter where you go, my home will always welcome you.”
“Cousin, things will get better once those two in there go to jail. Then we can concentrate on the last two standing, your mom and Aunt Suzy.”
“You don’t have to worry about Aunt Suzy,” Katie offered. “She lost her mind over Lance’s death. She was institutionalized. It seemed to have upset Jenny some. Mom said she seemed to be losing it after that point.”
“WOW!” Cassie said. “Then the rumors must have been true.”
“Rumors?” Carry asked, confused.
“That Lance was her lover. From all the servants you can hear all the juicy tidbits if you just blend into the background. They forget you are there and start blabbing.”
“Anyone interested in getting something to snack on or drink?” Greg asked.
“Your fiancé is,” Veronica said as she came up and took his left arm. “I see your fiancé coming, Carry,” she said looking down the hallway.
“I just got word,” Billy said as he arrived. “Jenny is here. She’s been watching from the balcony. From what I understand she’s stepping outside because they don’t allow smoking in the building.”
“SO,” Carry said. “Jenny is here to watch the trial of her nephews?”
“Yeah, and from what Marvin said, she’s not at all happy with the lawyer’s performance so far,” Billy said seriously.
“You said she was stepping outside?” Greg asked and Billy nodded. “Where?”
“According to Marvin, it’s down the hall and on the left.”
“Should we go check?” Cassie asked.
“No,” Veronica said quickly. “Leave her be. She’s the police’s problem, not ours right now. Let’s just deal with the two little vermin inside.”
Outside the courthouse, Jenny has stepped outside to smoke a cigarette.
She moved into the smoking area, and turned to put her body between the wind and her cigarette as she lit it.
She froze in place as she felt the hard object stab into her back.
It pressed in pushing her slightly off balance, then she felt the warm breath on the back of her neck.
“Don’t move Jennifer. IF you do, my feeble hand might pull this trigger and I know you don’t want that. ”
“GRACE!” She said in a biting quiet voice. “Can’t you just ever die.”
“Your dead Loverboy couldn’t hit the mark with me,” Grace taunted. “And your incompetent nephews inside couldn’t hit a barn from five feet away unless they were driving drunk.”
“What is it you want, old hag,” Jenny said with vitriol.
“I want you to agree that Carry and I are untouchable, and that we can live in peace.” Grace leaned in. “Unless you want me to deprive you the way that you deprived me. Tony sure seems lonely these days.”
“You already took Millard from me, what more do you think you can take. Tony was a marriage for power. You knew that. Hell, even Thomas knew that. Too bad he didn’t react fast enough when Millard showed up to remove that obstacle from my path to the top.”
“You sent Millard after Thomas?” Grace feigned the surprise. “I thought Tony did that.”
“HELL NO YOU STUPID OLD HAG. I HAD THOMAS KILLED. I HAD GERALD KILLED,” she cackled. “And your stupid perfect daughter and her child with him. That secured me the family leadership. Then somehow you escaped when Millard torched your house.”
“You bitch!” Grace said. “You took my family. I should end you right here.”
Jenny turned and stared directly into Grace’s eyes.
The coldness made Grace flinch and step back.
“You’d never shoot me,” she said with a smile forming on her face.
“You don’t have the guts to do it. As for your granddaughter, I’ll deal with her later.
She’s as dead as my own daughter. As dead as my sister.
I can’t believe she walked in on Millard and I? ”
“What?” Grace said, stunned. “Walked in?”
“Yes, old woman. Suzy walked in while Millard was taking care of my needs, and he shot her by instinctive reaction. Such a waste of a wonderful planning mind. But then, that’s life within the Family as you well know.
” She brought her cigarette up and took a drag on it then blew the smoke in her face.
“Grace, you’re not worth the time to deal with now. I’ll see you later.”
“Don’t you come around my granddaughter,” Grace called back.
“I’ll kill that little bitch myself. She’s never taking the throne from me, no matter what your husband or son in law put in their wills.
” She stepped back over and leaned in. “She won’t be a threat for much longer, and when I’m done with her, then I’ll deal with the likes of you.
I should have killed you myself instead of ordering it done.
I’m going to enjoy watching the life leave your eyes.
” She spun and started walking away. Within seconds, armed federal agents had her surrounded and on the ground being arrested.
Grace walked over as they lifted Jenny to her feet. “What did you do?”
“I was wired, Jennifer. You shouldn’t have been so cocky.”
“I felt that gun you shoved into my back. You need to arrest that woman for assault with a deadly weapon,” Jenny seethed. She watched as Grace pulled the pistol from her pocket and fired. A stream of water hit her in the face several times.
“This old thing,” Grace laughed. “Why it’s as harmless as I am. Enjoy prison Jennifer,” she said as she walked over to Brick, Danny and Keith. “Everything you ever wanted.”
“Its perfect. The judges were listening to the whole thing live,” Brick confirmed.
“You really hammed that up,” Keith added.
“Nice job Grace,” Danny added as Roddy stepped out from around the corner.
“I couldn’t have done better myself, Grace. Congratulations.” Roddy beamed widely.
“Thank you all. I’d like to see my granddaughter, please.”
“Certainly. Let’s head inside,” Brick said and took the lead to head back in.
Greg was looking down at his watch to check the time when Kelly came flying out of the court room. She paused for a moment then finding Katie she ran over and hugged her so tight Katie squeaked out, “You’re crushing me mom.”
“IT’S OVER, KATIE. IT’S ALL OVER!” Kelly shouted. “We can go home now,” she said as she lowered her voice to normal.
“What do you mean?” Veronica asked.
“Those boys just accepted a plea deal to turn on Jenny because she’s just been arrested here after a full confession caught on wire and played live in the courtroom. All those nasty things she said to Grace,” she was shaking her head when Carry cut in.
“Did you say Grace?” Carry looked with pleading eyes.
“Yes, Carry. She’s coming in the building now,” she said and pointed down the hall. Carry was off at a dead sprint heading for Grandma Grace, and Billy took off after her.
“GRANDMA!” Carry yelled as she ran with both arms extended overhead.