CHAPTER 22

Before Henry could rant any further, the bailiff made an announcement that court was about to start. They took their seats on the left side at a long oak table. The man in the suit was seated to the right. John slid onto the bench behind him.

The bailiff then yelled, "All stand for the Honourable Judge Ira Fitzwater."

Charlotte stood beside Henry, her mind buzzing. What was she going to do? This wasn't just about her. This involved other people's lives. Good people's lives.

"Be seated," the judge commanded.

Charlotte was grateful for the chair's support as her legs shook.

'I know you'll do the right thing.'

'When are you going to take responsibility for your actions?'

Henry took out a document with the governor's logo on it from his briefcase. All she had to do was remain quiet and she could go home.

She glanced sideways at John, but he was staring straight ahead.

'Tomorrow justice will take a back seat.'

'The same as when his wife had been killed.

"Your Honor, may I approach the bench?" Henry requested.

The judge singled for him to proceed. Henry picked up the folder and made his way to the judge's bench. This was it. Did she accept full responsibility for her actions? Or did she rely on Henry to handle her issues the same way he always had?

The latter was unacceptable to her for the first time in her life. She was standing on trembling legs. She held onto the table.

"Your Honor, may I say something, please?" came out in a voice similar to Daffy Duck's. She took a calming breath.

Henry whirled around. "Sit down, Charlotte. This will be over in a minute."

The brainless-child treatment hit her like scalding water. Her backbone stiffened and her jittery indecision vanished.

"I will not sit down. I have something to say."

"Your Honour, could I please have a moment with my client? Henry enquired.

"By all means." The judge reclined.

"No," she said firmly. "I want to represent myself."

Henry hurried her side. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I would like to speak for myself, Your Honour." This time, she spoke clearly and loudly, ignoring Henry's angry face.

"Have you gone insane?" Henry hissed.

"Are you certain, Ms. Lily?" Judge questioned. "You're facing some serious charges."

"I know exactly what I'm facing."

Her past, so she could face her future with pride.

"So I don't think your skills are needed, Mr. Henry."

"Your Honour, my sister has gone through a terrible ordeal because of the sheriff's department's negligence, and I don't know if she's in her right mind. I request a few minutes with her."

"Your Honour, I'd like to make a statement." Now that she had made up her mind, nothing could stop her.

"Charlotte.."

She turned to face her brother. "Go home, Henry. Sorry for calling for your assistance. I don't need it. I'm looking out for my own life this time."

"Go ahead, Ms. Lily," the judge said and Charlotte watched surprised as he typed something into the laptop on his right. She was unaware that this small town had Internet access.

She took a deep breath, her fingertips pressing against the hardened surface of the table. She only needed to speak the words. Clearing a lump that felt like a pinecone from her throat, she said, "I plead guilty to all the charges. I was speeding through Horseshoe without any regard for the safety of others."

"My God!" Henry sank into his seat.

"I was wearing ear buds, so I genuinely didn't hear the siren. When I did pull over, I was angry that the sheriff had stopped me. I couldn't wait to get to a party in Dallas. When I realized he wasn't going to cooperate, I made him an offer of $100 to let me leave."

"Henry buried his face in his palms."

"Anything else, Ms. Lily?"

She swallowed the rest of the pinecone. "Yes. In the jail the man, Tosin, kept pestering me about marriage. I told him to leave me alone and that the only thing I wanted was to get out of jail. I didn't realize he had diminished mental capacity and I should have, it was very evident. He took my words to mean I'd marry him if he got me out of jail, which he did. I tried to get away once we were outside, but I couldn't. He was very strong. And--" she curled her hands into fists "this isn't easy for me to admit, but if I had gotten away from him, I would have tried to make my way to Austin. The jailbreak was my fault and I don't hold anyone responsible but myself."

"What the hell is she doing?" John spoke in a low voice to the D.A., but Charlotte heard him clearly. "Do something. Get Ms. Lily out of my town."

The judge ignored the sheriff's muttered tirade and remarked, "Ms. Lily, I don't believe anyone has ever been this honest in my courtroom."

"Or this insane," Henry said.

The D.A. stood up and fastened his jacket's buttons. "The state respectfully drops all allegations against Ms. Lily. Your Honour."

The judge extended a hand. "Not so fast, Wayne. Ms. Lily is being honest and the court wants to honor that."

The D.A. glanced at John and back to the judge. "The state respects her integrity and apologizes for whatever difficulties she may have had while in our jail."

"Now Wayne, you and John seem to be very ready to cover up a crime. I don't do good-ol'-boy tactics in my courtroom."

"Your Honour--"

"Sit down, Wayne."

The judge turned to Charlotte. "I respect your honesty and desire to put things right. That requires courage. He gave the paper file in front of him a quick scan. "I'm throwing out the jailbreak incident. There's enough fault to go around on that one. But I don't take the bribery charge lightly, even though our esteemed district attorney seems to." He spared the D.A. a glance.

"I am sorry for what I did," Charlotte said, "I'm ready to serve whatsoever punishment you think is just.

After giving the request some thought, the judge wrote something in the file folder and entered some information into the laptop. "In Horseshoe, Texas, 300 hours of community service. Perhaps you'll think carefully the next time before attempting to bribe a law enforcement official."

Charlotte shifted her weight to one foot. "I hate to sound dumb, but I'm not clear what community service means."

Henry sighed.

"It implies that instead of doing time in prison, you'll spend it giving back to the community by doing things like picking up trash or caring for the elderly. Volunteers are needed for the Meals on Wheels programme. Like a job, this will be completed during the day."

"Can I return home on the weekends?"

"No. Not until you've served your hours. You will be with us for around two months if you work eight hours a day, five days a week. I'm hopeful, Ms. Lily, that you'll develop a greater respect for both yourself and this community."

Henry stood. "Your Honor, could the sentence please be commuted to Austin?"

"No," the judge replied promptly. "Ms. Lily will work out her sentence in Horseshoe where the crime was committed. Sheriff Stark will oversee her duties and find her a place to live."

John was instantly on his feet. "Ira, that's not in my job description."

The judge looked up. "It is now."

John mumbled a curse word under his breath.

Through the rim of his glasses, the judge peered. "John, this is a good deal. You'll teach your cops to be more cautious when dealing with cunning prisoners like Tosin, and Ms. Lily will learn to respect the law."

"May I have my car back, please?" Charlotte enquired.

"I'm not inclined to grant that, Ms. Lily. It might prove too much of a temptation." The judge banged his gavel. "This court is adjourned."