The Deeper We Get (20 page)

I don’t know how long I sat out there before she came to find me, could
have been minutes, or hours.

“Hey, why aren’t you in bed?” She yawned and plopped down on my lap.

“Just enjoying the night, that’s all.” I wrapped my arms around her.

“We are so lucky. To have found each other so young and to live in this house together. All of the shitty stuff sort of pales in comparison doesn’t it?”

She had a point. “We are lucky. I would gladly walk through the gates of hell and back if I knew you were waiting at home for me.”

She laughed
. “Well hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”

We sat in silence for a while, listening to the waves. I was sure I wouldn’t sleep, the trial was weighing on me no matter how prepared for it I was. Seeing Tom again for the first time since it all happened.

“You’re nervous.”

“Not nervous. Just restless.” I sighed.

“It’s almost over honey. We’re in the home stretch.” She kissed my cheek.

“Go on to bed, I’ll be in soon.” I helped her off my lap and watched her walk inside. I hoped this trial wouldn’t break her.

I finally made my way inside a while later and collapsed on the bed next to her. She instinctively rolled against me, throwing her arm across my chest. Even in her sleep she craved me. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

Trial day. The day I
had been both anticipating and dreading at the same time. Once this was over we could finally move on.

Becca and Ruth were making tons of noise down in the kitchen. I walked down the stairs with a scowl on my face.

“Morning sleepy.” Ruth smiled and set a mug of coffee in front of me at the counter.

“What on earth are you guys doing down here that was making that much noise?” I grumbled as I took a sip.

“Just making breakfast,” she said cheerily. “Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and hash browns.”

“Mmmm, what smells so good?” Scarlet smiled happily as she sat down next to me.

“Help yourself to a plate.” Becca slid one down to her and directed her to the stove where all the food was laid out and steaming.

“It’s like our own person IHOP.” She grinned and loaded up her plate.

I snagged a bit of bacon from her before heading back upstairs with my coffee to shower and get ready.

I turned the water as hot as I could stand it and stood under the spray for a while. I was mentally preparing myself for this, for all the questions the defense attorneys could possibly ask me. I was as ready as I was going to be. He needed to be put away for the rest of his life so he couldn't hurt anyone else ever again.

I got out and dressed quickly in my suit. Scarlet came in as I was struggling with my tie. My fingers kept fumbling with the knot.

“Here, let me try.” Her tiny hands deftly tied the knot and smoothed out the tie in no time.

“Thanks.” I kissed the tip if her nose.

“Anytime gorgeous.” She walked to the closet and pulled out a simple black dress and heels and laid them on the bed. “Too funeral? Or do they work?” She chewed her lower lip.

“Perfect,” I reassured her.

“Thanks. Now scoot out of here so I can get ready.” She blew me a kiss and disappeared into the bathroom.

Ruth and Becca were already dressed and ready when I came down this morning. I joined them in the living room to wait for Scarlet.

“You look like you didn’t sleep much.” Becca frowned.

“I didn’t,” I responded.

“This is the beginning of the end honey.” Ruth smiled. “You’ll get some sort of resolution soon.
”

Scarlet descended the stairs a bit later and even in funeral clothes she took my breath away.

“You look beautiful,” I whispered into her ear as we walked out to my car.

“Thanks baby.” She squeezed my hand.

Greg was waiting for us outside of the courtroom when we walked up. “Are you ready?”

“Yep.” I nodded.

“We will be sitting on the right side and your father will be on the left. They probably won’t bring him in until we are all inside and seated.”

I followed him inside to where Ashley was seated. Scarlet, Ruth, and Becca sat behind us.

I didn’t realize how many people came to trials. There were so many people filling the rows of seats behind me. The jurors slowly filed in and took their seats in the jury box.

A small door by the judge’s desk opened and the bailiff walked out with my father. He looked beat up
and tired. The weeks in jail hadn’t been kind to him. He smiled sadly at me but I just looked away.

After the judge came in things moved quickly. Both attorne
ys made their opening remarks. I watched as Tom’s lawyer walked up to the jury box. “Ladies and gentleman of the jury, Tom Langer has already paid his debt to society for his crimes. He is nothing more than a sad father who wanted nothing more than to renew his relationship with the son he hasn’t seen in years.” He paused. “I’m sure we’re all guilty of doing things we know are bad for us right? It’s easy to fall back on old habits that you know are wrong. That’s what happened to Tom Langer, he made some mistakes and fell back on old habits. I urge you to listen to all of the evidence we present and make the right decision and find my client not guilty.” He nodded at them and took his seat again.

Greg stood up and smiled. “My colleague would like you to believe that all Mr. Langer is guilty of is falling back on bad habits from his past. He failed to mention that those habits were using drugs and abusing his son. Listen carefully to the testimony from the people who were there and find him guilty. There can be no other conclusion.” He took his seat.

The judge directed Greg to call his first witness, and my heart thudded in my chest.

“Your honor, I would like to call Chad Langer to the stand.”

I got up and walked to the witness stand where I swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth with my hand on a bible.

Greg directed me to tell them exactly what happened from the start to the night he abducted Scarlet. When I was done he asked me a few questions. There were pictures passed out of me in the hospital, of the wounds inflicted by the knife. It was hard for me to look at them.

“Chad, when your father first came to your door can you describe what you felt?” He asked.

“Anger
,” I said slowly. “Immediate anger. For all that he had done to me and my sisters.”

“So you didn’t want to have a relationship with him again?”

“No, not at all. In fact I told him just that every time he came by my place which was a lot.”

“Isn’t it true you helped him get into an apartment though?”

“I did. Over time he wore me down, and I started to believe that maybe he really had changed. I was wrong.”

“How were you wrong?”

“Shortly after I got him into his new place he started asking me for money. It all pointed to drugs, so I asked him, and he admitted it.”

“Can you describe what you felt when you walked into your apartment and saw Miss Doyle with your father?”

“Panic. In my head I knew I had to get her away. She was already hurt, and it broke my heart.”

“No further questions.” He sat down and gave me a thumbs up.

It was finally the time for Tom’s attorney to cross examine me. This was the part that made me uneasy.

“Chad, why was it that you didn’t believe your father when he told you he had changed?”
he asked me.

“I had no reason to believe him. It had been fifteen or so years since I had seen him last. My last memories of him were of him killing my sister in front of me.”

“So it was impossible for you to believe that in fifteen years he could change?”

“No, not impossible. I said before that over time I did start to believe him.”

He nodded and made some notes on a piece of paper. “Have you ever done something out of habit?”

“Objection your honor. Chad is not the one on trial, and his habits are not the concern of this court.” Greg jumped to his feet.

“Sustained. You would do well to remember who is on trial.” The judge looked over at Tom’s lawyer.

“No further questions your honor.”

“Very well, you may step down Mr. Langer, and we will go on a ten minute recess before the next witness is called.”

Scarlet hugged me tightly when we got into the hall. “You were great.”

“I was so nervous.” I leaned my head against hers, thankful that my part was over.

“You’ll be called next and it will be just like with Chad.” Greg put a hand on her shoulder. “I don't think this will be a long trial. They don't have any witnesses to call.”

“Is that normal?” I asked.

“Yes, it can be normal. I wouldn't be surprised if we had a verdict by the end of the day.”

The bailiff came out to call us back in and my heart was in my throat as I waited for Scarlet to be called.

“Please call your next witness
,” the judge said to Greg.

“I would like to call Scarlet Doyle to the stand.”

I watched as Scarlet made her way to the stand on shaky legs. My beautiful brave girl, my fierce princess.

Greg led her through her testimony and there were tons of photos of her injuries. Pictures of her bloody and bruised face and her taped up ribs were passed to the jury members.

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she spoke about the terror she felt when she was abducted and the pain of being beaten up by my father.

Greg asked her a few questions that were directly related to her testimony.

“When you saw Mr. Langer did you at any point think he would strike you?”

“I did yes. He looked angry and was making a lot of wild hand movements.” Greg nodded.

“When Mr. Langer collapsed on the floor after subduing his father what was your first thought?”

“I thought he was dead
,” she whispered and wiped a tear away.

“Could you please repeat that a bit louder?”
the judge asked.

“I’m sorry. I said I thought he was dead. He was so still and there was so much blood everywhere.”

“Thank you for your time Miss Doyle. No further questions.” Greg smiled at her and sat down.

“Your witness.” The judge looked over at the defense table.

“We have no questions for this witness your honor.”

“Miss Doyle, you may step down then.”

Scarlet walked past me and I gave her a weak smile. Hearing her up there was rough.

“The prosecution rests.” Greg stood up.

“Very well, you're up Mr. Garcia.”

Tom’s lawyer stood up. “The defense rests your honor.” He had a grim expression on his face.

“Chad, I’m so sorry. I made a mistake. That’s all this was, just a big mistake.” Tom was on his feet and pleading with me.

“Mr. Langer, be seated and control yourself. I will not tolerate any more outbursts from you.”

“Chad, forgive me please son. I'm so sorry,” Tom called.

“Bailiff, remove Mr. Langer from my courtroom.”

I watched as Tom was dragged from the room, screaming about how sorry he was the whole time.

“The jury will now deliberate.”

Half a day and the trial was basically done. We just had to wait for the verdict, and we could be done with all of this. Whatever the outcome, I was done with it.

It only took the jury twenty minutes to reach a verdict. We all filed into the courtroom and waited for the foreman to read it.

“How do you find the defendant on the count of attempted murder?”

“Guilty, your honor
,” the foreman said loudly.

“How do you find the defendant on the count of kidnapping?”

“Guilty, your honor.”

I let out an audible sigh of relief. Guilty, he was found guilty. He could never hurt me or my family again. The judge was saying more, something about sentencing, but I couldn’t hear him. My brain couldn’t get past guilty.

“Thank you so much for everything Greg.” I shook his hand.

He gave us some more information about when the hearing was for sentencing, but we were basically done with all of it.

The rest of the day was a blur of celebration. Everyone came over to the house and Ruth ordered in enough food to feed an entire city.

“I’m so proud of you.” She kissed my cheek. “The way you handled yourself on the stand was amazing.”

“Thanks Mom. I’m so happy to be done. To put it in the past and move on.”

“If anyone deserves a happily ever after or a ride into the sunset it’s you.” She hugged me tight and wandered off to find Becca.

I sat and watched everyone for a while. The people who had become my family by birth or by choice. Ruth was right before, I had made a life here. I was now the man I was supposed to be, I had found myself.

“You look serious.” Scarlet snuggled up against me.

“No, just thinking about how happy I am. How happy you make me.”

“You make me happy too.” She smiled up at me.

“I never want you to stop smiling baby, for the rest of our lives I promise to do my best to never make you cry.” I kissed her gently.

“That sounds like a deal I can get behind. I promise to be the woman you need from here on out. I’ll always listen to you, no matter what.”