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T
he days leading up to the trial were tough. Both David and Angela were in different places, which made it harder for them to comfort each other and remind each other that this was all a part of a bigger plan, and Angela wanted actually sue David.
All conversations were made through the burners. Some days no conversations were made at all because either David or Angela would be caught up in something.
While Angela was busy making the case look like David needed to be put on trial without making it seem like he was the aggressor himself, David was busy dealing with the repercussions that came with the trial.
Not only were his investors getting iffy about his notoriety and increasing media presence but also worrying about how it may harm the business.
Moreover, the general day-to-day proceedings of the business needed David's attention, too. Many of his customers and users were withdrawing their usage of the service after the news broke out. And since Alveris was already not using his service, profits had stopped coming in from that channel, too. For the best, David had thought.
Moreover, even though he had arranged for Angela and Toby's security, he still had to keep an eye on them to make sure Alveris wasn't planning a sneak attack. He had his hands full.
Not to mention that his lawyers were nagging and coercing him every day to take the Angela trial more seriously. They believed that even though the trial had little substance, Angela was a damn good lawyer who could spring something up.
May, on the other hand, was given the duty to record all of Alveris' activities. She kept a close monitor on where he went, who he met, what he was doing, and what other transportation services he was using to transport his special kind of goods. She knew a breakthrough was near, so she was hot on the trail.
When the day of the trial finally came, Angela chucked another newspaper into the bin. Lately, all the headlines had only been targeting her rather than supporting her in her quest. She downed a huge cup of bullet coffee because she knew she had a long day ahead. The steps of the courthouse were once again laced with reporters cramming the area back and forth. Everyone wanted to get a snippet of Toby, Angela, or David.
And Angela knew she had to keep her mouth closed this time; she was only focused on getting the trial going. Luckily enough, the Alpha security company had come through. They had sent two men to guard her at her apartment. One would stay outside her door at all times, while one would stay down the fire escape. The shifts would rotate with two other men after every eight hours.
The men kept to themselves. Never interfered, barely talked. And only warned. Angela would make sure to send them food and coffee at all times of the day. They were so committed to their job and so vigilant that even a fly couldn't bat its wings without them taking note of it. This one time, Angela had called one of them in to play checkers with Toby and her, but apparently, that was against the protocols.
The NYPD sheriff would come by to visit once a day. But soon, it became once a week because of 'duty calls.' Even today, one of the two men from the Alpha security company had stayed back at the prime time, while the other was with Toby and Angela. He made sure to clear their way and allowed them to safely enter the building.
Upon entrance, she headed straight to the courtroom and set up her stuff. David and his lawyers had not come yet. She took a deep breath and started going through her notes. She knew what her plan was, and although she knew what she had cut out for her, she knew she had to stay calm and quiet-minded.
Before David and his lawyers could make their way into the courtroom, a huge cohort of reporters entered the room and started pelting Angela with questions.
Angela kept a straight face and looked ahead. She noticed that all of them were wearing "authorized personnel" badges. And that's when she realized that she had called for a public trial of David so that Alveris could truly believe the rift between David and Angela.
As the news reporters clamored about how Angela might just be trying to get back at David for a salty breakup or was jealous of his fame or using him for clout. Angela fought back thoughts to answer them. She didn't need to prove anything to them. This trial wasn't to gain anything for her but all for him. And them knowing that wasn't necessary.
At that very moment, the doors of the courtroom flung open, and Angela could tell who it was. She could tell by the weight of the footsteps who it was. Oh, how she had missed those footsteps. She kept her back straight and forward, fighting back the urge to look back. She was greeted with the perfume of a similar scent.
The voices in the courtroom grew louder. The press had more questions for David than they did for Angela. And as expected, David knew how to keep his cool. One repeated question being echoed in the courtroom was, "David, you might go back in handcuffs; how do you feel that your own ex is suing you?"
David stopped in his steps. He was standing right next to Angela at this point. He bent down and spoke in her ear, "I do love a bit of a challenge, don't I?"
Angela smiled to herself as David made his way onto the plaintiff's side. He was wearing a fitted black suit with shoulder pads and the finest cuts. He carried himself with a swagger and looked dapper. Angela could tell at that moment what women all over the world liked about him. She couldn't stop looking at him. Was it because this was the longest they had been apart and she missed him immensely, or was it because he looked attractive no matter what his demeanor?
Angela made eye contact with him as he kept looking straight toward her. And then the door flung open again as the honorable judge entered the room. The room went quiet. All the cacophony of the press had died down as everyone shuffled into their respective seats.
Everyone stood up with respect for the judge and remained until the judge sat down in her place. "You may be seated; the court is in session now," the judge announced, and everyone sat in their places. The judge was briefed on the prospects of the case, and Angela was asked to stand up.
"Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor, my client Toby here lost his dear friend Darren over the course of last summer. Darren was a student at Stanford University. He had a 4.0 GPA; he held many accolades and honors. He graduated as the valedictorian of his high school and had a stellar record. He has no prior record of fines or crimes. And that is exactly why he was able to land the coveted internship at Haywire Industries.
Your honor, Darren had no history of any mental health issues or depression. In fact, his peer recalls him as cheerful, chirpy, and full of motivation. Your Honor, that begs the question as to why he decided to take his own life while interning at Haywire Industries.
Over the course of last summer, all he did was work there. And suddenly, he took his own life? Right before he took his own life, Your Honor, he happened to record this little snippet. The recording was cut off. We don't know if it was deleted or something else happened."
Angela leaned forward and handed over the recording to the proctor, who played it for the judge.
"That's not all, Your Honor. After we lodged this case on Darren's behalf in the court of law, both my client and I felt unsafe. In fact, my client, Toby, was abducted from the safety of his own home by four men, who were armed. If it hadn't been for Toby's quick wits, he wouldn't have been here with us. Moreover, after we informed the NYPD about this, they were able to identify two of the four men, and all of them happen to have a criminal record.
My client Toby isn't involved in any illegal or shady activities, as verified by this police report." Angela handed in another analysis. "So, can you tell me how did four men end up in his apartment? How did they decide to kidnap him one fine morning? And how did it happen to occur right after this case was lodged? Was this just a funny coincidence? I think not," Angela concluded.
She went over the back and forth and then started speaking again. "I'd like for M. David here to be charged with both crimes of murder and withholding someone against their will," Angela added.
"I object, Your Honor," David's lawyer finally spoke up. "Proceed," the judge allowed him, so to speak. "Your Honor, frankly, Miss Angela's allegations are nothing but absurd," the lawyer chuckled.
"I mean, where is the proof? My client here spent most of his summer closing deals in Cancun. He couldn't, frankly, care less about an internee. And what's to say the internee didn't fall at odds with someone else? And that led to his murder? If it was a murder. Miss Angela here seems to grant a lot of weight to police reports and analysis. Then let me read out the official police report from when Darren's murder was reported by his own friend Toby; here, mind you. ‘Body was hung from the ceiling fan. Marks around the neck, no signs of struggle on the rest of the body. Doors and windows are locked, no forced entry. No wounds, clear blood report.’ The incident seems to be a suicide,” said the lawyer.
As he read out the details, Toby squirmed in his seat and was clearly agitated. This must be extremely difficult for him. Reliving the experience of his best friend’s murder? Brutal. He lunged forward and hurriedly had a glass of water. And then spoke up, "That's not true. Darren would never take his life. It's fabricated. The report’s fabricated. You're telling me someone with contacts like David couldn't fabricate a story," Toby said all in one go.
"Order, order. Order in the court. Miss Angela, please ask your client to remain silent until spoken to or he will be asked to leave the courtroom," the judge remarked.
"Yes, Your Honor. I apologize," Angela said as she motioned for Toby to calm down.
"Woah, that's an accusation right there. But let me go back to my original words; this is not supported by evidence. My client wasn't found at the scene of the incident. My client has not been connected to the abduction of Ms. Angela's defendant. These are baseless accusations. We need substantial proof, otherwise, frankly, it's a waste of my client's time and the court’s, too," the lawyer justified.
"How do you justify the recording?" Angela asked. It made David's lawyer gasp for air for a moment. "Um, I would like to have it checked for fabrication, and umm, again, what if he wasn't sane of mind when he said that. Again, circling back to what I said, even if for a moment, if we believe what you say is true, where's the proof? Where's the evidence, Your Honor?" David's lawyer questioned the judge, who then intervened.
"Miss Angela. I'm afraid I would need more than arguments to rule my judgment against Mr. David. How can you prove the men from Toby's abduction are affiliated with David? And how are we sure that Darren really was murdered? The last time I checked, the police didn't revise their official judgment. Neither has forensics." The judge looked dead straight at Angela.
"Honorable judge, I am on my quest to uncover this story, but I cannot do so without a warrant from the court of law and with Mr. David abducting my client," Angela asked.
"You can get the warrant from the DA’s office. The next hearing will be in a month, in which I expect there to be solid proof; otherwise, I see no reason but to dismiss this case. The court has been adjourned," announced the judge as she left.
This wasn't as bad as Angela had thought. She thought the case would be dismissed right there and then, and Angela would lose. There was no substantial evidence; it was all hearsay. Angela was expecting this outcome rather than hoping for it. It meant she wouldn't lose, but the case would go on, allowing David enough space to set squares with Alveris.
