Helios Awakened (The Helios Chronicles #1) (29 page)

“James!” Aaron shouted down the hall.

Senator Bowers stopped and turned. “Aaron.”

“What the hell are you doing?” Aaron asked as he got closer to him.

“I believe I am walking to grab a cup of coffee. Would you like one?” Senator Bowers asked casually.

“No, I don’t want a cup a coffee,” Aaron replied frustrated. “Why are you interfering in this case?”

Senator Bowers gave a charming smile to the coffee barista and took a sip of his coffee as he placed his hand on Aaron’s shoulder, leading him away from the crowd.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Aaron. I am simply observing and hoping for justice for my son’s assailant.” He nodded and grinned at a few passersby who looked their way.

“Don’t forget I know you, James.”

“Are you threatening me, Aaron?” he said, stepping closer to him. “That is so unlike you.” He smirked before leaning down close to his ear, “Did you finally grow some balls?”

“Senator Bowers,” a voice said nearby.

James looked up and smiled radiantly at the person. “Sam, it’s wonderful to see you again,” he said as he squeezed Aaron’s shoulder.

Aaron moved out of his reach while Senator Bowers talked committees and funding with his constituent. Meanwhile, Aaron stood there wondering how someone like James Bowers had made it so far politically. He had always been a bully in school but when push came to shove he smiled that 'boy next door' smile and people were putty in his hands. When the man finally walked away, Aaron looked at the ground for a moment and then eyed him with disdain.

“Stay out of my nephew’s trial, James, or the world will learn where Jimmy picked up all of his wonderful views on women.” Now it was Aaron’s turn to get close to him. “I’m thinking that might mess up your presidential aspirations, don’t you think?” Aaron hissed at him before stepping back and turning to walk away.

“Aaron.”

Aaron stopped and turned back around.

“It’s out of my hands.”

“You better hope that my nephew doesn’t pay the price for your interference.” He walked up to him again. “Because if he does, I guarantee that you will regret it.”

Aaron turned before Senator Bowers could respond. He didn’t want to hear anything else from him. As he got closer to the courtroom door he saw that Mr. Bennett was waiting for him He had his hands in his pockets with a curious look on his face.

“Is there something I should know?” Elias asked.

Aaron shook his head. “We went to high school together.”

Elias stared at Aaron for a moment as he stepped passed him and entered the courtroom. Elias looked over at Senator Bowers who no longer seemed to have the cocky and smug expression he had been carrying earlier. Elias turned and stepped inside as well, following Aaron to the front of the courthouse. Tonight would be a long night.

Andrew stared in the mirror. He had replayed the last couple of days over and over in his mind, worrying himself into a frenzied state. Madison had been a calming elixir for him, something he hated to leave. As he had left her and began the short walk to his aunt’s home, the gravity of the situation began to overwhelm him. It was as if he had been entombed in a shroud of despair. As he stared at himself, he tried to see Madison’s Andrew; the one whose eyes shone brighter when he looked at her, the one who had survived not only prison, but life on the streets, addiction and abusive parents, but all that he saw reflected back at him was fear. Fear of losing it all. He had tried to hold it together with Madison but he sensed that she had picked up on his distress.

“Andrew.”

He heard his aunt’s gentle voice in the hallway. His hands held on to the edge of the sink as he breathed in deeply. He shook his head slightly, trying to rid himself of the wary thoughts he was having. He needed to be strong, just in case he was to go back to prison, as that would be imperative. Love was a weakness inside. He swallowed as footsteps approached. A gentle rapping of knuckles on the door signified Olivia’s presence.

“Andrew, hon, it’s time to go. Are you okay?”

He could hear the tension in her voice. She was trying to be strong for him, to not let him see that she was worried as well. He cleared his dry throat and then turned abruptly to open the door, nearly knocking Olivia down. He grabbed her arm to steady her.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

She offered him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “Everything will be okay, Andrew. I believe that.”

He nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

She followed him as he made his way into the living room where Aaron was waiting for them. Andrew noticed the look of concern on his face as well. They left silently. Andrew was happy for that. He didn’t think he could manage conversation right now. He wanted to get to the courthouse and find out his fate.

~*~

Madison waited patiently for Andrew to arrive. She could tell he had been troubled. The way he made love to her told her that he thought it might be the very last time they were together. That worried her. She knew that Mr. Bennett was good; she just hoped he was good enough to sway the jury in their favor. She smiled when she saw Andrew walking towards her with his aunt and uncle.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, wrapping his arms around her.

“Hey,” she mumbled against his chest.

“Hello everyone.”

Andrew and Madison broke away from each other as Elias, Jayden and Callie walked up. Elias could see the worry and concern on everyone’s faces. He tapped Andrew’s shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.

“We better go inside.”

Andrew took a deep breath and held on to Madison’s hand. Everyone nodded as they made the slow march inside the courtroom. In less than fifteen minutes the district attorney and other observers started taking their seats. Elias tried to reassure Andrew that things were under control but he sensed that Andrew was preparing for the worst. Soon the judge and jury were seated and prepared for the commencement of the trial.

“Mr. De Luca, you may begin your closing arguments.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.”

Arturo stood and casually walked over to the jury box. He once again displayed the pictures of Jimmy to the jury. He spread them out along the railing, ensuring that each juror could see what Andrew had done. He then stood back and crossed his arms, making eye contact with the men and women sitting before him.

“In spite of what Mr. Bennett has tried to show, this case is really cut and dry,” Arturo began. “A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he or she attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another or causes such injury purposely, knowingly, or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. So the question is; does the attack on Mr. Bowers fall within this realm?”

Arturo let his hand float over the pictures on the railing before taking hold of one of them, the most damaging one. He held it up as he walked back and forth, displayed it to the jury.

“As you can see before you, the answer is a resounding yes. You have heard testimony that Mr. Bowers stopped fighting back, yet the defendant continued his assault. You have also heard testimony that people were screaming at him to stop, but the defendant didn’t. You have also heard testimony that it seemed as if the defendant wanted to 'kill Jimmy'.”

Arturo gathered the pictures and walked to the table, placing them down unceremoniously.

“It’s easy to be swayed by the idea that the defendant had a hard life. That he grew up fighting, which is why he couldn’t stop himself. It’s almost romantic to think that he was fighting for his love and defending her honor but, once again, that’s not why we are here.” Arturo then turned to Andrew and pointed at him. “We are here because, for whatever reason, the defendant showed an extreme indifference to human life.” Arturo turned and faced the jury again. “He purposefully and knowingly caused bodily injury to Mr. Bowers. He didn’t do it for love or for honor or anything else so noble. He did it because he was angry and out of control. If the police had not arrived when they did we would be here for murder instead of assault.”

Mr. De Luca tapped the railing of the jury box and looked at them sincerely.

“Life is hard for many people but that does not give us permission to do as we please. It’s time that Mr. Harrison learns that valuable lesson. It’s time to show him that he isn’t allowed to act violently towards others, that there are consequences to his behavior and that he must now pay the price for his actions. I ask that you put aside your personal beliefs and look at the law, because that is what must be done, and when you do, you will see that a guilty verdict is the only right and just thing to do.” He finished with a genuine smile. “Thank you.”

Mr. De Luca sat down and glanced at Mr. Bennett, giving him a smug grin. Mr. Bennett ignored him as he stood, straightened his tie and walked over to the jury.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this case is anything but cut and dry. Yes, a fight ensued but the key here is whether Mr. Harrison showed extreme indifference to human life. Did he act with the purpose of destroying Mr. Bowers? Did he show nonchalance for the well-being of another?”

Mr. Bennett walked from one side of the jury box to the other, making eye contact with as many of the jurors as he possibly could. He needed them to side with him, to see that Andrew was not some vile and loathsome being who deserved to rot in prison.

“The end result of the fight is not the issue at hand. We have not once contested the fact that Mr. Harrison and Mr. Bowers fought. You can look at the pictures Mr. De Luca enjoys showing you to see that.”

He waved his hand lazily towards Mr. De Luca who was sitting with his arms crossed and a visceral stare. Mr. Bennett gave him a smirk before turning to the jury.

“It's quite obvious that they fought and that, well, Mr. Bowers lost this particular fight,” he continued, offering one of his dazzling smiles and an eyebrow arch to which several of the jurors chuckled slightly.

Mr. Bennett held onto the railing with one hand and turned slightly. He first looked at Andrew, and then Liam, who was watching him intently. Elias turned back to face the jury. He gently tapped the railing of the juror’s box and took a deep breath.

“When people we love are threatened, it is difficult to think straight,” he said looking up at the jury, his eyes were softer, gentler and the jury responded to him immediately. “As individuals, we see the line, it is very clear. Right...” He raised his right hand. “Or wrong.” He raised his left hand. “But in the midst of chaos and disorder, those lines become blurred. Even the gentlest man can become violent and the proudest can freeze.” He looked down and closed his eyes for a moment before looking at the jury again, his eyes pleading. “Who’s to say that any one of us in a similar situation would make the 'right' decision?” he said with air quotes. “When faced with danger to someone we care about, all notions of right and wrong evaporate as their safety becomes the only thing that matters. Would we stand there and watch someone we love being hurt or would we fight?”

He eyed some of the jury and his eyes involuntarily became moist as he remembered what he experienced in Texas and not being able to protect Liam. It was something that still haunted him.

“Could we forgive ourselves if we did nothing?” He took a deep breath and placed his hands in his pockets. “I know I couldn't.” His voice cracked slightly as he looked at the jury, some of the women already had tears in their eyes. “Could any of you?”

Several of the jurors looked visibly distressed, moved by Mr. Bennett’s words and show of emotion.

“What Mr. Harrison did was protect the person he loved and cared about. He tried to avoid a conflict. We have heard testimony that showed he backed away on several occasions. We have also heard testimony indicating that Mr. Bowers kept goading and pushing for a response from Mr. Harrison. The defendant’s girlfriend has also testified that she felt uncomfortable around Mr. Bowers and still feels he is a viable threat to her safety. Mr. De Luca wants you to see this as a simple case of assault, that Mr. Harrison showed no remorse and that he was indifferent.”

Mr. Bennett shook his head and then brought his finger to his temple, tapping it there like he did in his opening statement.

“I want you to 'see' more than that,” he stated, looking at them intently. “Mr. Harrison never wanted to fight Mr. Bowers, but Mr. Bowers left him with few options. By the time the fight occurred, Jimmy’s behavior had escalated to the point where force was necessary. Mr. Harrison avoided Mr. Bowers as best as he could until he no longer was able to and had to not only defend himself but Madison as well. It was the only viable option left. Ladies and gentleman, this case is anything but cut and dry.”

He placed his hands firmly on the juror box. He scanned the jurors faces, all were staring at him intently.

“Although Mr. Harrison and Mr. Bowers had an altercation, it was not done in malice, it was not done with reckless indifference to human life, and it certainly was not done by a man out of control. Because of this, we humbly ask you to come back with a not guilty verdict because that, my friends, is what he is,” he said, nodding at them. “Thank you.”

Mr. Bennett walked over and sat down, giving Andrew a reassuring smile as the judge gave the instructions to the jury and then released them. Andrew immediately stepped over the railing and sat next to Madison, placing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to him, needing to feel her warmth and love.

“How long do you think it will take, Mr. Bennett?” Olivia asked thoughtfully.

Mr. Bennett was watching Liam, who had a hopeless and forlorn look on his face. They were both thinking the same thing and he was desperate to reach over and grab him to tell him he was sorry once again for what happened to them in Texas. When Mr. Bennett heard Mrs. Montgomery speaking, he broke his gaze from Liam and shook his head slightly before turning to her.

“It’s hard to say, Mrs. Montgomery. You do not need to stay here though. They will call us when the jury is finished deliberating so if you want to get some coffee or fresh air, feel free to do so. Hopefully we will have a verdict before the end of the day.”

“Do you want to go for a walk?” Andrew asked, kissing the top of Madison’s head.

She nodded. “Yeah, let’s get outta here.”

Madison walked out with Andrew but before she did, she turned to look at the friends and family who had gathered to support him. She saw Aaron comforting Olivia and Callie comforting Jayden. Liam was leaning towards Elias, gripping his hands on the railing and whispering intently to him while Elias had a pained look on his face. Madison sincerely hoped that look wasn’t about the trial and Andrew’s chances. Madison then turned and beheld Andrew, who tried to offer her an uplifting smile but it seemed forced to her. Once they were outside the courthouse, Andrew directed her to a bench near the pathway.

“I really don’t think I helped you yesterday,” Madison said nuzzling against his chest.

He pulled her onto his lap. “It doesn’t matter, Madison.”

“Yes, it does,” Madison practically screeched. “If they send you away because of me, that definitely matters.”

“Like I told you last night, if they send me away, it will be because of me, not you,” Andrew said, kissing her softly. “Baby, let’s not talk about what might happen, okay?” He kissed her again. “Let’s just pretend that everything will be fine.”

Madison nodded and entwined her hand in his hair, bringing his lips back to hers. Andrew knew that the possibility of him being sent back to prison loomed in the background but he refused to go there. Mr. De Luca’s argument was very convincing but he had also seen the jury respond to Mr. Bennett. They liked him and he had made them feel that what Andrew had done was what any normal person would do. Of course Andrew had heard the sharp intake of breath Liam had made as Mr. Bennett spoke of doing nothing. Andrew knew what Mr. Bennett was referring to and that he obviously still harbored a great deal of guilt about what had happened to them in Texas. Andrew couldn’t imagine how difficult that must have been, to stand by and see that happen to someone you cared about. Andrew knew with certainty that he would rather die than witness something equally horrific happen to Madison. But was Mr. Bennett’s plea for mercy and understanding enough? Had he been able to sway the jury to a not guilty verdict? Andrew didn’t know.