Chapter 15

Deloria in the company of her family drove into the court premises in two SUVs, escorted by armed Policemen.

The eagerly awaiting press pounced at them and were soon sandwiched; Blinding lights from the cameras flash continuously, and questions after questions that were thrown at them went unanswered until they disappeared into the court building.

Few people were allowed into the courtroom, a complete departure from the previous sitting where the overcrowded hall generated so much noise that impedes smooth dispensation of justice.

All stood up as the honourable judge, justice Mark Angelo walks in and took his seat.

Protocols were observed before court proceedings began.

Erecting from his seat, the lanky but loquacious attorney prays the court allows him to arraign before it, Delima Hebdo, an officer of the Swiss Guard regiment is brought forward to the witness box to be quizzed. His prayers were approved of by the judge, and soon, Delima Hebdo was brought in by the Police in handcuffs and paraded before the judge.

"Delima Hebdo, you were intercepted by the cameras at the entry gate to the Holy City on the New Year eve day, giving unusual recognition to a white Chevrolet with special registration number, even though at your capacity as a superintendent officer in charge of the Guards stationed at the entrance are not tolerated to do so, are you aware of that?"

"I was very much aware of that, my lord."

"So, you intentionally lay down the supreme laws of the Vatican city to satisfy your selfish desires?" "Objection my lord!" Contested his attorney.

"Counsel, rephrase your assertions," said the deep trembling voice of the judge.

"Officer Delima Hebdo, I want to believe that you had a premeditated plan with the occupants of that car that led to the tragic death of unsuspecting worshipers on the New Year eve day. If otherwise, tell the court why you did not allow your subordinates to carry out their duty diligently?"

"My lord, the insinuation of me having a preplanned arrangement with someone I've never seen nor met before is misleading and lacks bases. On why I did not allow my subordinates to discharge their statutory obligation as they should, my lord, like a man standing at the watchtower sees miles afield and raises alarm against external aggression, so I did at my capacity as the head of a military unit; I reserve the right to do what I deemed to be in the best interest of the state of Vatican.

My lord, standing at a vantage point, I saw what I suspected to be a potential danger approaching which non of my subordinates did and I tried to abort it. In the course of the routine check that I performed on the vehicle, I found nothing incriminating against them and so, I granted them a pass. My lord, I think I should be awarded with a medal of honour rather than subjected to accusations and counter-accusations for my excellent troubleshooting skills in doing what the myopic eyesight of my men could not do."

"Hmm, indeed," said Mr Shaldon, the prosecuting attorney. "A blurry face of a woman believed to be your colleague during your training days at the Defense Academy and also an accomplice was seen. Mr Delima Hebdo, you had a close shave with that woman in question. Could you tell the court who that woman is and for how long you knew her?"

"Objection my lord!

"Okay, Mr Hebdo, you said and I quote: 'In the course of my routine check performed on the vehicle, I found nothing incriminating against them, end of quote. Officer Delima Hebdo, the occupants of that car believed to have perpetrated the dastardly act and their faces could not be substantiated by the third eye, now, here is someone that has had close contact with them. For the sake of helping to unravel the identities of these people, could you please tell the court who those people were and whether they were whites, blacks or even aliens from another planet, how many they were, whether they were all men or women or of a mixed-gender?"

"My lord, I was drafted to that duty post not to go and check whether humans are men, women or aliens but to look out for dangerous arms that may be imported into the city to unsettle it." Deloria blushes so did the audience.

"And the city was indeed unsettled for your short-sightedness and professionalism, officer Hebdo!"

"Objection my lord, do not attack my client's personality!"

"You should be rounding up with the cross-examination, counsel." Said the judge.

"Your honour, before I rest my case, I have two more questions for Mr Delima Hebdo. Mr Hebdo, after the assailants were done with their shootings, there was an order from the highest decision-making body of the Guardia Svizzera Pontifica to shut all route leading in and out of the Papal city, but you again, officer Delima Hebdo, threw the decree to the dogs to enable the villains in their flight to safety."

"That was true, my lord," said Delima Hebdo, "but such proclamation came seven to ten minutes after the alleged culprits have passed the gates.

"Finally, Officer Delima Hebdo. Tell us how you manage to make such colossal amount of money discovered in your account; a sum that when put together the whole of your life savings wouldn't have amounted to what was revealed in your coffers."

"My lord, my late father, Dr Hebdo Normalcy, may his soul rest in peace in the blossom of the lord, was a shrewd chartered accountant of international repute, whom until his untimely death was the financial controller of Mortley Full's Trading Platform. He died and bequeathed huge sums of money in the region of ten million Euros. My lord, the team of detectives sent to investigate me didn't carry out their homework to the best of their abilities. If they did, they would have arrived at the sources of the substantial amount I am being accused of by the state as a kick-back."

"Agreed, Mr Delima Hebdo that your father left that sum for you; but after a pensive investigation, it was revealed that eighty per cent of the said sum was given up by your father for the upkeep of the homeless and the needy, and the little that was left for you could not have amounted to the remaining amount in your bank account. Hence, my question to you is that, where did you get that extra amount of cash?" Delima Hebdo was speechless. "Your honour," said the cross-examiner, "I think am through with the officer."

Counsel to Delima Hebdo sprang to his feet and said, "Officer Delima, I want to congratulate you for a great leadership skill you displayed while in a difficult situation at the post of duty, you are a fine breed of a soldier whose greatness is left unsung by those that matters."

"Thank you, my lord,"

"Mr Delima Hebdo, if you can cast your mind back to, let's say…, twelve months from now, I believe there could be moments when friends and associates might have done some random act of kindness to you by sending into your account some money. Can you drag one or two such periods into the present by telling the court?"

"Objection, my lord! He cannot put words into his mouth like that!" barked the prosecuting lawyer but the judge asked him to go ahead and answer the question. This cast a gloomy look on the face of the prosecuting counsel. Deloria grinned and readjusted, ready to scoop more of the unfolding drama.

"Can you recall such moments, officer?" "I am thinking, my lord,"

One minute of silence passed, then his solicitor asks again, "Mr Delima Hebdo, have you recall any of such moments?" Officer Delima Hebdo said, "I am still thinking."

"Well then," said judge Mark Angelo, "while you still think, the court goes on a sixty minutes break. By the time it resumes, you should have been ready with your answers."

The judge pounds the gavel on the table and everyone stood.

Rafeal Massimo was disheartened that his friend, Epifany was not featured in today's hearing; he missed him so much and wants to see him after months of being held behind bars. All efforts made to get him was repelled by the reformatory officials due to the sensitivity of his case.

Deloria couldn't conceal her joy that Delima Hebdo did not falter nor cede crucial information that could indict her further, even after the baptism-of-fire experience he went through, but was however saddened that some vital answers did not come through for him despite vast chances of them saving him some mind burgling pronouncement by the judge down the lane.

The break has elapsed and everyone takes position in their respective seats, expecting the judge to do the same shortly, "and here he comes," said Deloria to her mother.

"Mr Delima Hebdo," says his lawyer, "maybe you did not get the previous question I ask of you?"

"No my lord, the question was clear and well understood."

"So, say something, the court is dying to hear from you."

"My lord, am sorry, I can't remember any of such incidences."

"Thank you, Mr Hebdo, you may take your seat."

"Anymore cross-examination?" "No, your honour, there's no more cross-examination."

"In the absence of that, the court convenes in two days for judgment pronouncement."

*****

Matilda Begot got a table size calendar for herself and placed it beside her bed and began the epic countdown to the seven days, striking out each past day with a red boll pen. The previous day makes it the seventh day and nothing nasty happened. She waited till midnight, still, Deloria did not request for her to be in her bed. She then brought out the champagne and pops it while the music of Pharrell Williams, 'Happy' was streaming in the background.

Without prior notice, the door to her room flung open and in came Deloria. "What are you celebrating, Matilda?"

"Nothing, madam," answered Matilda with a terrifying look on her face.

"Okay, come with me to my room," she said and then walks away.

"Not again!" Screamed Matilda, punching her bed hard before going after Deloria.

"Look," said Deloria, "pointing to the side of her bed, "see what mess I've wrecked?"

Matilda breezed through the clean up in less than the usual time it would have taken her to execute the job.

"Madam, am done,

"That was fast, Matilda, okay, good night and have a wonderful celebration."

Matilda's teeth twinkled like the star of Bethlehem in a flourishing smile and took a flighty step out of the room before she changes her mind.

After that episode, what joins Matilda to Deloria was the ethical services she renders to the boss lady and nothing more. The next day, Matilda took her off day to celebrate her freedom for parting ways with the horrifying experience.

While she was done with the celebration, Rafeal was warming up for another round of a fling. On reaching home, Rafeal knocks at her door and winks at her saying, "let's do it again tomorrow."

Shock was not enough to describe how Matilda felt on hearing the proclamation.