Chapter 21

JACE POV (second time in a row I know but I really want to get the Elaine part over with.)

I really wish I could blow my brains out; this is such an annoyance. Everything in my life is working out fine but she just has to be her standing in front of me and giving me confident smirks, not knowing that I have a smoking gun that will blow that empty hole in her head away.

Currently I am in court and the hearing is about to begin. All this while has been endless preparation for the custody battle which will take place soon.

It was a long treacherous journey getting here today at this point where I am about to receive closure from this woman who has caused my family so much pain and not even have sympathy for her own son, she really is something else. I left Henry at home with the kids and asked my brother to look after them since there really isnt anyone trust with them right now and that is going to have to change today. I am going to put my past behind me in this court and when I leave here today am going to be someone new that only want to get married to the love of his life and raise his children in peace.

The wedding is going to be an intimate affair because there really is no need in having a blown-up ceremony when I just want it to be just us tying ourselves to eachother in holy matrimony. Being married was not something I ever planned on doing again since the first one crashed and burned. Burned so bad that I have to come to court to resolve the whole thing.

Speaking of court, I was awoken form my perusal by a hand on my shoulder. My lawyer was trying to get my attention.

“Jace the Judge is going to be here soon lets go over everything. And since you want to be done with this quickly, we better hurry I would also like to get home. My wife is making lasagne tonight and trust me I do not want to miss that.” The minute he is done saying those words the sound of door opening catches everyones attention.

“All rise!!” Everyone in the court stands anticipating the arrival of the judge. As she takes her seat, so do we.

“Court is in session.”

“Miss Elaine Montgomery is fighting for the custody of her children from her divorced husband Mr Jace Cormack, the defendant shall now begin his opening statement.” It's showtime.

My lawyer Keith gets up to make the opening statement and what is to be known as the beginning of the end of this case.

“Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. This is the case of a mother who has been absent in the lives of her children coming to make case against a man who has done nothing but love and care for his children since her departure. I kindly urge the jury to see this case not from the mother who left her children but from the only person the children have perceived as a parent their whole lives. Thank you.”

He said all this while making eye contact with the judge and the jury making the argument compelling and as emotional as possible to win points with the jury. When he was done, he made his way back to the seat. Elaines lawyer gets up to begin his own opening argument.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury I plead with you to not judge my client for the actions that she had committed in the past because she is here now trying to amend her mistakes and the only person that is stopping that from happening is here in this court. She just wants to be able to be with her kids and give them the love they deserve and the mother that they long to have and I hope the court does not deny an aching mother that. Thank you.”

I saw members of the jury nodding as if considering what he said. He really got them fooled with his heart warming words. Elaine, she makes me sick like I could just throw up on her if given the chance. They seem to be satisfied with what they've heard.

The judge seems to be writing something down.

“Since the opening argument is over, I want you to present your cases individually and I warn you, no raised voices in my court and no crude words. I want a relatively boring case no fights and no surprises. You may proceed.” The judge said, her words said in a way that could intimidate anyone due to her years of experience in her field of work having been faced with tough criminals and the like. Elaine is called to the stand for questioning.

She is sworn in by the bible not that its going to stop her from being her sneaky, evil little self even in front of all these people.

She seats and takes the cue from her lawyer who is going to be asking the questions. I'm sure she is going to make them eat out of the palm of her hands with the water works. I know I'm being a cynical bastard, but I can't help it, she poked the bear and she will get the claws.

“Ms Montgomery, is it true you left your children?”

“Yes.” She says, the crocodile tears already making an appearance.

“Can you tell me why you did?” she nods her head and dabbed at the tears in her eyes.

“Yes, Jace told me to leave, he threatened to take my kids away from me if I didnt leave. I didn't want to, but I didn't have a choice.” She is full blown crying by now painting me out to be the bad guy but I'm glad they went there; it just makes this a lot easier after all this whole thing started because she couldn't handle having kids.

“How long ago was that Ms Montgomery?” she sniffles before answering.

“Three years.”

“Three years members of the jury, she spent three years without holding her children in her arms, three years yearning for her kids, three years he kept her away from her kids. I think we should agree that that no woman should be intimidated into staying away from her own kids.” Her crying gets louder. She really knows how to work the crowd.

“No further questions your honour.” He moves to take his seat and its time or my lawyer to work his stuff. I don't know why I am being this free right now I should be angry but I'm not. I am going to take her down and laugh in her face while doing it.

“Ms Montgomery, I understand that you were sent to leave your house where you lived with your children and then husband correct?”

“Yes correct.”

“My question is, why did he ask you to leave?” Her face freezes with tension and she starts stuttering. Honestly, she should have seen this coming.

“Um, well I guess he didn't want me in the relationship anymore, maybe he didnt love me and didnt want- well I guess he couldn't handle me anymore.”

“He couldn't handle you.” Keith (the lawyer) smirks and looks at the judge before coming back to the table to smiling at me then opening his suitcase, he brings it out. The big gun. This is going to be fun. I almost can't hold in the anticipation as it sparks in my body.

“Do you know what this is Ms Montgomery?” He asks showing her what he brought out from his suitcase, a flash drive.

“That's a flash drive.” Confused cannot even begin to describe the look on her face.

“Precisely, a flash that contains evidence that you abused your children that you have claimed to love.” She gasped in shock.

“Objection.” A futile effort from her lawyer. The judge gives a very firm response.

“Denied.” A very futile effort. Youre going down bitch.

“You're wrong, I would never hurt my kids, I love my kids why would I hurt them.” Then comes the tears. Ugh can't she do anything without begging for sympathy in this court room. The jig is up.

Keith takes the disk to the judge and gives it to her while the judge signals for them to bring a laptop and projector all the while Elaine is trying to stop them from believing the accusations.

“You have to believe me I didn't hit my children."

“But you did Ms Montgomery and you put your son in the hospital by pushing him down the stairs. Now can you tell me again why you were chased out of your house.” She starts crying louder not being able to come up with a response.

“Objection your honour, they withheld evidence.” The Judge looked like she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

“Denied and no more objections till I see the evidence. Play the video.”

The video starts and its very painful to watch. It was surveillance footage gathered of every time she hit Alfie and how she ignored the twins after they were born all with the audio. All the mean, wicked things she ever said to Alfie and how she hurt him mentally and emotionally, many of the viewers were shocked at how cruel a woman could be to her children.

Once the video ended, there was silence in the court room. It was so quiet reeling with the aftermath of the video.

Judge Bailey took one look at Elaine unable to hide the look of disgust and disdain for Elaine for showing on her face.

“No further questions you honour.” The court breaks out in loud murmurs and outrageous slurs throwing insults at Elaine.

“Order, order in the court.” The people are silenced by the banging of the gavel.

I am called to the standby Keith for questioning as per standard procedure. A bible is brought in front of me as I am sworn in.

“Do you swear to say the truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth so helpyou God?” I place my hand on the bible and respond.

“I do.” I take my seat.

“So, Mr Cormack, how did you react when you found out what had been happening?”

“I asked her to leave my house and never show her face near me or my children again. I trusted her with the life of our kids as anyone would trust a mother to take care of her children, but she failed to see to their care. All she wanted was that I kept giving her money. Even now, I have on record that the only reason that she even came back for the kids was because she wanted the money that came with them.”

Smiling I continued, this time facing Judge Bailey.

“I knew who I was dealing with, so I recorded all our conversations when she came back to fight for their custody. She is selfish and a monster and the only reason I didnt turn her in then was because I didn't want a time to come when they asked for their mother and I had to take them to meet her behind bars. But she just made things worse. My son is afraid of her, he saw her once when she came back and hasn't been the same since and I will not stand for it. I am doing what I should have done a long time ago.” She nods and takes the audio record from Keith.

“This court hearing is adjourned and will resume after a decision has been made.” Bailey hits the gavel before she gets up to leave.

Several voices start talking at the same time, I heard the word bitch a few times. I look over at Elaine and she hasn't said a word since we saw the video. The confident smirk no longer present.

“So how was that for success?” Keith asked me.

“It went well, hopefully she spends the rest of her life in jail.” He laughs at that.

“We can only hope for the best. Come on lets stretch our legs you have to be tired from sitting in court all day long I know I am.”

“Yeah, you're right, my butt is killing me.”

“Hey baby, I'm really missing you. God I just want this to be over with so I can come back home to you.” I say really wishing I was home so I could kiss his pouty pink lips.

“Really!! Aww I'm missing you too. How is the court hearing going? I just want her to leave us alone.” Me too baby, me too.

“She will baby. After today she will never be heard from again okay so dont worry about a thing, I'll handle it.” Keith gives me a signal.

“Alright baby I got to go but I'll call you as soon as its all over alright, I love you.” With that I end the call.

The jury has come to a decision so our presence is needed in the court room.

“Well what are we waiting for lets go.” Hopefully after all this I can go on the vacation I promised myself a long time ago. I'll sit by the beach sipping coconut or something and this time I will be with people that matter although I will have to wait till Henry gives birth since he can't really fly right now.

Matter of fact I must wait till the child is old enough to fly. Maybe that vacation isn't coming for a long while but at least I get to be free of all stress at home.

In the court room, everyone is tensed in anticipation of the entrance of Judge Bailey. Even Elaine looks defeated, serves her right she brought the cat out of the bag, now it done scratched her on her face.

“All rise.”

Judge Bailey enters the room and takes her sit.

“The court is in session. There will be order and I will not condone any outrageous behaviour in my courtroom.”

“Now after long delegation, I have come to a decision. With the case of the custody issue, Ms Montgomery you came to this court to fight for the custody of your children. That motion has been denied. Not only will you not be getting your children, but you have been found guilty of double counts of child abuse and attempted murder.”

“No please, I didn't mean to I swear, I didn't want to have those little bastards, I just wanted the money, but he wouldn't give it to me. When I got pregnant the first time, he started buying me stuff and I got hooked, its not my fault. You can't send me to jail.” Elaine tried to plead her case, but it all fell on deaf ears.

“You are sentenced to twenty years in jail with no chance of parole, guards take her away.” She bangs her gavel in one final show of authority. With Elaine screaming how much she hates those little bastards and how they ruined her life. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

“Ms Montgomery, you are one of the most despicable human being I have ever met, and my job doesn't give me room to take sides in my cases, but I sincerely hope you rot in jail.”

Judge Bailey said and left the room. I have to say I have never felt more satisfied in my life watching them drag a screaming Elaine to face her punishment. Things are really starting to look up.

“I really didn't expect that, but I'm glad it did.” Keith said packing up his things and smiling at me.

“Me too man, finally I don't have to worry about her ever again and if my kids do ask then I just hope they are old enough to understand why she is in there."

“I don't think that they would want to ask. Anyway, I must get home for dinner with the wife. You are welcome to join me.” We shake hands when we get to where our individual cars are parked.

“No man, I have to get home to my own family, I've left them alone long enough. Thank you for everything man, I really appreciate it.”

“Anytime. Hopefully I don't ever have to represent you in court again for any reason, stay on the straight and narrow. See you later.” He gets into his car and drives off while I do the same. I'm coming home baby.

PHONE CONVERSATON IN ITALICS.

Hi guys, I just wanted to drop this little gift here tonight, I really put a lot of thought into it since I really don't know what really happens in court except for what I see in movies.

I want to thank all my readers for following, voting and leaving comments and I urge you guys to be patient since the book is almost over save for a few more chapters. I have a lot on my plate but I am trying my best to write when I can so enjoy it. Oh and please bring any mistake to my attention, I want to know what I did wrong since no one is above mistakes.

Thanks guys. Have a goodnight/morning.