45. Hannah
Hannah
T he judg e isn't happy that we're presenting new evidence after the recess.
Neither is the prosecution.
"Your Honor, this evidence wasn't submitted in discovery." Niles is spitting mad, his face and a little vein popping out of his forehead.
"That's because it was left on our doorstep this morning, and our resident computer genius was looking through it to see what it was. He found out there's evidence in support of our cause." Brody is quick to jump in. He's really selling the story that it was given anonymously.
"And you have no idea where it came from?" The judge asks, looking over his glasses. "Who is the alpha that discovered it?"
"That would be me, Your Honor." Noah raises his hand and stands.
Judge Doyle sighs. "Approach the bench, please." Noah does, and then the judge looks him up and down. "What time was this left?"
"I discovered it right when I was about to leave for the courthouse. About eight fifteen." Woah. Noah could've been an actor.
"Is there any surveillance in place at your house?"
"Yes, actually. I have video footage of someone leaving it in an envelope on our doorstep, but they're wearing a mask and they approach on foot, so there's no license plate to track."
"Do you have any idea of why someone would just drop key evidence on your doorstep?" He asks, raising a brow.
"Your Honor, I believe that you'll be able to draw your own conclusions on that once you see the evidence for yourself."
"I see." Judge Doyle rubs the bridge of his nose. "We will adjourn for today, review the evidence to determine if it will be submitted, and we will reconvene tomorrow at nine in the morning."
"Oh, also, Your Honor," Brody interrupts, "we'd also like to submit a video taken during recess today as evidence."
"Very well." Judge Doyle looks over the room. "Anyone else have any evidence they want to submit? Any more mysterious submissions? Phone recordings? Morse-code logs?"
When nobody says anything, he bangs his gavel. "Court is adjourned. Both sides will have an opportunity to review the evidence tonight. I'll see you all tomorrow at nine."
We're all tired the next day when we show up to the court house, ready to continue with the trial. Kieran stayed with us, and though we weren't really prepared for a guest, Austin brought out all the stops with his stress-baking.
"You ready?" Brody asks, straightening his tie.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I yawn, running a hand through my hair. "After today, no matter what happens, I won't have to worry about this anymore."
We take our seats, with me sat between Brody and Enzo, and the rest of my pack sat behind us.
The judge enters. "Evidence submitted yesterday will be taken into consideration, though be warned that there will be an investigation as to how the evidence was obtained."
I'm not worried. Noah is the best of the best and if anyone can cover his tracks, it's him. He still wouldn't tell me what he found and put on the USB though. He says my surprise needs to be genuine.
Plus, he actually does have video of Titus walking up to our front porch dressed in all black and ski mask, leaving the USB on the ground in an envelope.
"Your Honor," Brody stands, "I believe that the fact that Ms. Elizabeth Pearson is not in attendance is admittance enough of the validity of the evidence we submitted, but allow me to elaborate.
" My jaw drops as I glance over at the table where Cat and Rue are sitting, stone-faced and angry.
Did she…did she flee? What is on that drive?
"Exhibit A. On this screen," Brody walks over to a tv-stand next to the judge's podium, "you will see a photocopy of every identity Elizabeth Pearson has ever held.
" The screen populates with dozens of drivers licenses, all with different names.
"She would use these when she would move to a new town and dupe packs with an illegal hormone alteration pill.
These packs would think they were her true scent-matches, and she would spend a few months with them before accessing their account information and wiping out their bank accounts.
This is a testament to A, her character, and B, her desperation for money.
So desperate, that framing her step-sister for elder abuse is almost kinder than what she's done to these other packs. "
I hope they don't give these other packs a hard time, thinking they fed us information about Birdie, though that's probably exactly what Noah is going for.
Judge Doyle's expression is tight as he studies my two remaining step-sisters, who shrink under his gaze. "That has been taken into consideration."
"Exhibit B."
Then, the video that Kieran took yesterday is played on the screen. We hear Cat admit that she broke Charlie and I up all those years ago, proving she has a vendetta against me, as well as her basically saying she doesn't actually think I manipulated Nana.
"Exhibit C." The ranting and raving voicemail that Cat left me right before I met my pack, which seems like such a long time ago.
"Your Honor, now that we've established the character of the prosecution, let us establish the relationship between the defendant and the deceased Sylvie Pearson.
Exhibits D through M." Photo after photo of Nana and I.
Me in my cap and gown at High School graduation, even though it was online school.
Her sitting in my salon chair while I do her hair, my cheek pressed to hers.
A selfie of us at Christmas, looking at the lights.
One that Marie took, so it's a little off center and slightly out of focus, but of us wearing goofy hats and making silly faces during one of the assisted living facility's family days.
More and more photos, snapshots of our life together as she gradually gets a little thinner, a little more gaunt seeming.
My mind bookmarks the first photo after we found out about the cancer, and then so many photos later… the voicemail.
The last voicemail she left me before she passed.
"Hi there Nana. You don't have to worry about calling me back, I just wanted to check in and see how you're settling into your new apartment.
I'm hoping it's better than the last one.
" Her coughing fit. "I wondered if you've met any of your neighbors.
I worry, with you living all alone. Now, I know what you're going to say…
you're an adult, and you're fine. But, blood or not, I'm still your Nana, and it's my right to be worried.
I do want you to know that I love you, and I'm proud of you, Hannah.
You're so damn strong, and…" More coughing, and tears sting my eyes as I hear the words that I know are coming next.
"I know you'll find your pack. The ones that are perfect for you—oh?
Okay, I have to go, Netty says the bridge game is about to start.
But I love you! Talk soon ." By the time the voicemail ends, tears are streaming down my face.
My Nana. I finally got what she always wanted for me, and she's not here to see it.
"We have a few witnesses as well, unless you'd like to make a direct verdict, Your Honor." Brody has a damn glint in his eye, and I can't help but have a good feeling about this. The Herman brothers rise to their feet, ready to argue, but Judge Doyle shoots them a look, effectively silencing them.
"Yes, I have a verdict. Order, please." The room settles, and right as the judge opens his mouth, the courtroom doors slam open.
A familiar, slightly winded voice calls out, "Objection!
" I shoot to my feet, spying Marie charging into the courtroom, followed by a bunch of ladies I recognize from Nana's bridge club and some employees at the assisted living facility.
Marie stands out among the women with her pink hair, but it's her expression of fury that commands attention.
"I say, objection, Your Honor!" Marie shouts, and points a finger to me.
The bailiff moves towards the gaggle of elderly women, but Judge Doyle raises his hand, a slightly amused expression on his face. I suppose this isn't the kind of thing you see every day and curiosity is winning out. Hell, I'm pretty damn curious.
"Hannah is innocent, I tell you!" Marie says fiercely, raising a fist. "Sylvie loved her biological granddaughters, but all they cared about was her money, and Hannah was the one who loved and took care of her!
Hannah was the light of that woman's life, and she wanted Hannah to inherit the estate, dammit!
" Marie's eyes are wide and she's breathing like she just won a 5k.
"Are you done?" Judge Doyle asks in an amused tone.
"Um, yes, Your Honor." Marie says, a little confused.
"Okay then. As I was saying, I have a verdict.
" My heart pounds in my chest, and I can hear it in my ears as he looks at all of us.
"Based on the evidence presented by both sides, it is clear that Sylvie Pearson and the defendant had a loving and genuine relationship, and that she truly did leave the entirety of the estate to Ms. Beckham.
She will be maintained as beneficiary to the estate.
Ms. Beckham, I apologize for letting this go to trial to begin with. Court is adjourned."
Relief and joy fills my bonds immediately. "No!" Cat screams, banging her fists on the counsel table like a toddler having a tantrum, and she's promptly told to shut up by one of the Herman brothers.
With that, the judge bangs his gavel, stands, and leaves the courtroom.
"Congratulations, Hannah," Brody turns to me with a huge grin. "You've won."
Immediately, Enzo sweeps me into a hug and I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Oh my gods," I breathe, my head falling back. "It's over. I can't believe it."
Then I'm being passed to Charlie, who dips down and kisses me breathless. "Fuck, I love you," he says, squeezing me tight.
"Congrats, darlin'," Austin grabs me next, planting a kiss on my cheek. "I'm so damn proud of you. I am sad I never got to meet your Nana though. She seemed like an amazin' woman."
"She was," I smile wistfully, "and she would have loved all of you. She would have put you to work making those chocolate chip cookies all day though." I laugh, and Austin chuckles.
"I woulda done it happily."
"I know you would have." I kiss him, and then Noah has me.
"You did this." I poke a finger in his chest.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, princess.
" He winks, and then leans in close to my ear and whispers, "But hacking is the least of what I would do to protect you from this world.
There isn't a line I wouldn't cross for you.
" His words send a shiver down my spine and I nod as he pulls his head back. "I love you."
"I love you too." Fuck, is it like really misty in here or something? No? Just my eyes? Cool.
"Stop molesting my best friend's granddaughter for one second, young man!" Marie calls out and I burst out a laugh.
"Marie! He wasn't molesting me!"
She grins deviously. "Oh, I'm not saying to not enjoy it, I just wanted to be able to talk to you for a minute."
"What are you doing here? How did you even know about the court case?" I mean, not that it didn't make me tear up all over again to hear her defend me, but it doesn't make any sense.
"Well, apparently, a gal pal of yours came to the salon to tell them about the trial and how you'd be out of commission, and I was there, getting my hair done by that Lilah girl, who, by the way is not nearly as good as you—"
"Marie," I interrupt, "focus."
"Right," she laughs, shaking her head. "Well, that gal pal of yours told me all about the trial and said that she wished someone who knew both you and Sylvie could go testify, and I thought, well why not? So here I am, and I daresay I did a pretty good job of it, too."
"This gal pal of mine," I ask, "was her name Cady? Long blonde hair, purple tips?"
"Yup!" Marie snaps her fingers. "That's the one!"
Of course it was. Smiling, I make a note to rip into her for dragging retired ladies into my business when they should be resting. Marie and I talk for a second more before Kieran comes up to me. "I guess I wasn't needed after all," he says thoughtfully. "I'm glad I came though, I missed you."
"I missed you too! You should stay for a while." He gives me a thoughtful look. "Maybe I will. I could get used to the big city life."
Then, the bailiff starts telling everyone to clear the room, and I leave the courtroom with my alphas, only to run into Cady, Wren, and their packs waiting on the courthouse steps where they wrap me in a hug.
We give them a play by play of what happened in court, all the things we found out about Birdie and how she duped different packs over the years.
I feel lighter than I have in months, and it hits me, I'll finally get to just live life with my pack, without the threat of the trial looming over us.
It's the first day of the rest of our lives.