Out of the Darkness - Bethlee (little bear else holmelund minarik txt) 📗

blood vessels in her eyes from her excessive crying.

The media lurked everywhere. As I watched, reporters blockaded the exits like hungry jackals waiting to pounce on any juicy morsel of trivial gossip. There was no way she was going to get a fair trial as long as these jerks kept their cameras focused on the smiling lawyers instead of the innocent.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten the term “innocent until proven guilty”—everyone except for Cat. But for some reason she wasn’t sitting at the counselors’ table. Instead, she sat powerless in the row of chairs directly behind Amelia.

With the trial’s progression, I realized from Amelia’s body language she had already accepted defeat. The once empowered woman, who could capture the heart of terminally ill children and encourage them with her zest for life, had given up.

Deciding I had to do something, I followed the judge into his chamber, determined to find some answers.

He was at his desk talking on his phone when I found him. I listened to his side of the conversation. “Walter Joneson, Judge Robert Hollingsworth here. We need to discuss Amelia Snow.” He loosened his tie and leaned back in his chair.

Who is Walter Joneson and what does he know about my Amelia?

Hovering closer to his chair, I hoped to hear both sides of the phone conversation. Unfortunately, I still could only hear the judge.

“Well, no, not exactly,” the judge said. “I am following up on our last conversation.” He nodded his head as he listened. “I think you were correct, but my people cannot figure out how they are doing it. They are both being closely watched, and―oh, I see. Remember, she is only twenty-one years old. Will she be safe?” He rested his elbows on his desk.

The silence that followed was deafening. Desperate for information, I moved beside him and raged, What do you mean, will she be safe? Are you talking about Amelia? She’s innocent, you idiot! Get her out of here!

How frustrating he couldn’t hear me.

Slamming his fist down onto his desk, he raised his voice. “Is there no other way? This is not right. There has to be another way without setting her up as bait. Surely someone else is involved.”

Instantly I was in the judge’s face. What do you mean bait? Bait isn’t safe! Bait ends up dead! Get her out of here, you moron!

But of course he didn’t respond.

The judge leaned against the back of his chair. “Okay, if that is what they think is best. The jury should deliver their verdict tomorrow. I guess it will tell us exactly how bad her situation is.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I want it on record that I do not support this decision.” He slammed the phone down on his desk.

Getting in his face I yelled, You idiot! What is going on? What have you done?

But he never responded.
Instead, he poured himself a drink. After downing it, he poured himself another and went to stand by the window. He stood staring outside long after the courthouse had emptied and the street lights came on.

Hovering in disbelief, I watched him, knowing Amelia’s only chance was gone. No one was going to save her.

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Publication Date: 12-31-2012

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