When the court reconvened, there were not as many people present. News photojournalists were in attendance because of the unusual circumstances.
Elaine sat on the front bench behind Joe and was surrounded by members from the agency. She had gotten better control of her emotions and was not sobbing aloud. Every now and then she would wipe her eyes.
Bailiff Markee was in place as he is required to be about half an hour before the court session. He now stood straight and tall with a commanding expression on his face.
“Hear ye, Hear ye, the court is now open and in session. The Honorable Judge Martin Sheldon will be presiding. This is the second day of the case of the state of Ohio verses Mr. Joseph Harper. Would you all rise, please?”
Everyone stood and Judge Sheldon came in looking solemn but not tight-faced. He looked as if he wished he were anywhere but there. He looked over the courtroom and rapped his gavel. “Be seated.”
“Attorney Crum, do you have anything you wish to add?”
He stood. “No, your Honor.”
“Attorney Winston, do you wish to add anything?”
He stood. “No, your Honor.”
Judge Sheldon looked kindly at Joe. “Would the accused please stand?”
Joe stood and Maurice stood by him.
“Mr. Harper, how do you plead -- guilty or not guilty?”
“Your Honor, to be honest I don’t know what to plead. It’s true that Miss Archer died after I pushed her away from me and she hit her head. I did not plan to have any physical contact with her and was shocked at the outcome. I realize that I did wrong by covering up and, as a result, obstructing justice.
To say I’m deeply sorry for my part in the incident is a weak statement, I know. I am sincerely sorry and am prepared to accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate.” he stood with bowed head.
“Mr. Harper, this has been a most unusual case. Because you did not fight, or object, to the charges, a jury trial was not needed. I have the right to decide how this case will end. I know you did not plan on anyone’s death, but you did hide the evidence. If you had come forward as soon as you realized she was dead, any judge would have probably put you on probation and community service. Especially with all the testimony from your friends that we heard. However, I must assign punishment as my duty to the public and according to law because of your actions afterward.”
He hesitated. “I am giving you five years in prison with time of for good behavior. When you are released, you will serve one hundred hours of community service. May God go with you.” He rapped the gavel and stood up.
Bailiff Markee looked perplexed and quickly stood at attention. “All rise.” When everyone stood, Judge Sheldon walked out of the courtroom.
The bailiff took Joe back to the holding room, with his attorney and Elaine, to prepare for transfer to a cell. He would be taken to a prison within a day or two.
Elaine was inconsolable. “Oh, Joe, my darling, what will I do without you? No, I must be strong and give you encouragement to do the best you can with your life. I’ll always love you and will always be with you,” she sobbed.
“Elaine, my love, please get hold of yourself. We have a lot of friends at the agency and at church who will watch over you. The time will pass more quickly than you realize and I will get time off for good behavior. You can rest assured, I’ll do that. In the meantime I think I’ll try to write a book about this experience and hope to advise others to not hide, but be brave and face the truth.”
The bailiff took Joe away to a cell and Maurice escorted Elaine back out into the courtroom where ladies were waiting to take her home. They had to clear the courtroom for another trial would start in a half an hour.
* * * * *
Jason and Steve were having dinner together at a restaurant. “I have no excuse to stay any longer,” Steve laughed. “I wanted to know the outcome of the trial and see how the system worked here.”
“I hate to see you go, but I understand. You’ll always be welcome to visit any time you wish. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will want to see you before you leave.” Jason said with a smile.
“My CO has been after me to return for a medical check-up and my parents and siblings want me to come home. I guess I’ll ---” He stopped when Chief Aaron Mason sat down by him.
“Hello boys. I’ll apologize for dropping in on you like this, but I felt that I should tell you something in person.”
Steve and Jason looked puzzled at each other.
“Steve, I ran an extensive investigation on you and your work. You have an exemplary record. Your CO was more than complimentary about you.
The city council and I have had a couple of meetings and we would like to meet with you, at you convenience, in the next day or two.”
“What is this about?” Steve asked haltingly.
“I’m not supposed to tell you, but I will and please don’t give me away. When the council talks to you, act as if what they say is a surprise.”
“Yes, yes. Go on.”
“I’m planning on retiring at the first of April. We have a great group of officers, but the majority of them have very little experience in law enforcement. Too, if I choose someone among the men, there will be hurt feelings. We would like for you to consider the job with your education and experience putting you far ahead of anyone else.”
Jason whooped and then ducked his head when people turned to look at them. He grinned and turned his back on the other patrons. “There’s a chance for you to stay with us. We would all be tickled pink. I know I would. Your family can come visit you here.”
Chief Mason continued, “You will have time to go home and wind up any business you have there. Or, if you decide to not accept the position, we’ll have to muddle through. We really need you. Our Village has not had a lot of crime, however, more people are moving in and more people are driving through. We are near some fairly high crime districts. I hope you’ll consider this carefully and be prepared to accept. I know I’d retire with an easy mind if you accept. This is my home and I love the place and the people, therefore, I want someone in office who will be as faithful as I have tried to be.”
“I need to think about this,” Steve said. “I know I should be grateful that I’m considered, but it does come as a complete surprise. I’ll be prepared for the meeting with the city fathers,” he said with a grin.
“Thank you,” the Chief answered as he left.
Jason was startled when someone slipped in and sat beside him. He was surprised to see DA Crum. “Hello gentlemen. I’ll apologize for sitting down without being invited, but I’ve been waiting for a chance to speak to you. I waited for the chief to leave.”
Jason looked puzzled. “I hope we’re not in trouble of any kind. Maybe it’s just a guilty conscience, but I can’t think of anything I’ve done---”
“Oh, no,” the attorney laughed. “I wanted to say that I was so sorry for Mr. Harper during his trial. I fully understood his situation, but I had an obligation to the taxpayers and to our court system.”
Jason reassured him. “We know you have a job to do. I could not respect you if you did less.”
Steve interrupted. “One thing has bothered me. There was absolutely no mention of relatives of any shape, form or fashion for Margaret Archer. Wasn’t anyone notified?”
“We couldn’t find anyone. Surely there’s someone somewhere, but they’re either too far away, or there’s no one close.”
“That’s shocking. No wonder the poor woman was so determined to find someone. People so alone are so sad.” Jason mused.
“Yes, they are, but we don’t always know what’s in another person’s life until it’s too late.” Attorney Crum wished them a good day and left.
Jason blew a long breath out. “I feel so badly for Margaret, but she didn’t have an appealing personality. I guess we, as humans, need to be more thoughtful and kinder to other people.”
“No, we can’t know what’s in everyone’s life. We might feel helpless, but we honestly can’t do anything about it. Look how my goddaughter sneaked around and got herself killed. No one knew she was even online with what she thought was a college freshman. I wish we could make young people understand that we can’t just accept people without knowing more about them. Be kind to people but find out all you can about them before you get involved with them.” Steve looked sad.
* * * * *
A few days later Jason went into the office to find an excited Greg. “Hey, Jason. I’ve found a chance to get a lot of money with little trouble. I just buy into this group and invite others to join and I’ll get paid for that.”
“Greg! Where have you been? That’s a pyramid scam. The only people who make money on something like that are the people at the top of the pyramid.”
“What?! Explain, please.”
Jason explained how someone started the idea. As people joined they would get the benefit of those people’s money. The only way the next layer of people could possibly get any money was to talk others into investing money. They would get a tiny bit, but the major part of the money would go up the pyramid.
“Gee. I never heard of anything like that. What should I do.”
“What you shouldn’t do is give them any of your money. That’s a gamble and a risky one at that. If you want to earn some extra money, study the stock market and invest. It’s slower to come to you, but it’s much more reliable than a scam. Are you in need of money, Greg?”
“Not really, but I was thinking how mother scrimped and saved and still didn’t have enough to pay her medical bills. I don’t want that to happen to me.”
“Let’s hope it’ll be many more years before you have to worry about something like that,” Jason gently poked a fist at Greg’s shoulder.
Going on back to his office, Jason thought of all that had happened in his life. His father’s abusive nature, the death of his beloved mother, his grandparents loving him and raising him then their death, the horrible death of his wife and then the problems with Margaret. Life itself is a gamble. We never know from one day to the next what will happen or if we’ll even be here. Grandpa used to say, “Live each day as if you know for sure it’ll be your last day on earth.” I guess he meant to trust in God and live the best that we can.
At the next agency meeting, Jason felt good inside looking at the couples who had found each other. He was happy for them. He gave a start of surprise to see Steve and Lisa Madison head to head in a corner alone. Whoa. Something’s going on there. I hope Steve will decide to stay with us and it looks as if Lisa thinks the same. Golly. All of my buddies have found someone and here I stand, as usual, alone.
Jason gave a start when his thoughts were interrupted by a touch on his arm. He turned to find Siobhan, Linda and Tiffany smiling at him.
“You were looking kind of sad or thoughtful,” Siobhan said. “We thought we’d be rude and come to keep you company.”
Jason laughed. “I’m not sad. To tell you the truth I was just looking around at my friends who have paired off and I’m happy for them.”
“Don’t you ever want to get married, Jason?” Linda asked.
He looked at her, pursed his lips and told them briefly about his Linda and what had happened to her. They were upset thinking they had said something to make him remember unpleasant things.
“It’s been long enough until I’m accustomed to thinking about it now without breaking down. What have you girls been up to?”
As the evening drew to a close, Jason found himself in a large group of people. He laughed and enjoyed the company, but felt he must get home and prepare for church the next morning. He would be singing a solo, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”. His beautiful baritone would sing it wonderfully well.
Siobhan walked to his side. “I hope to see you in church tomorrow.”
“You will. I’m singing a solo.”
“Outstanding! I would love to join the choir but I hesitate to invite myself,” she laughed.
“Come early and I’ll take you in the choir room with me. You have such a lovely soprano that the choir director will be ecstatic to welcome you.”
“I’ll do that. See ya.”
Jason drove home feeling much happier than he did coming from his house.
Siobhan was waiting when Jason arrived for church. He took her into the choir room and introduced her to the director and the choir members. She was warmly welcomed. She thoroughly enjoyed the entire service and assured them that she would return.
Two Sundays later the choir director asked Siobhan and Jason if they would sing a duet the next Sunday. They looked at each other, grinned and agreed to sing. During the week Siobhan went to Jason’s house so he could play his piano and they could practice. They decided to sing, “How Great Thou Art.”
For a few weeks, Siobhan went to Jason’s to practice some of the songs with him. They began to have dinner together a few nights. Jason asked Siobhan to look over his house and give him suggestions for making it look more like a home.
Siobhan loved the house and complimented him on the lovely old furniture he had. She finally said, “I just have one suggestion; you need window dressing.”
Jason laughed loud and long. “Hello. Windows don’t wear dresses.”
“Silly, you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t really know, but I can guess. You think I need curtains over the cream-colored vertical blinds.”
“Give the man a lollipop. Yes, that’s what I mean.”
“Well, what do you suggest?”
She walked between the living room and dining room looking and thinking. “Have you given any thought to carpets?”
“No. I like this beautiful wood. It cost me a fortune to get them sanded and waxed properly.”
“I love them, too, but think about it. Carpeting would help keep the house cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather. Wood is beautiful, but you have to keep it up at least once a year. With carpet you just vacuum and replace it about twenty or more years.”
“You’re making sense, but I’ll have to think about it. Now, back to the curtains.”
“I suggest hunter green drapes with a pleated valance and a gold roping. Why don’t you go to a store and see what they have displayed and get some ideas.”
He looked sheepishly at her. “Would you be willing to go with me some time? I know next to nothing about the subject.”
“I would love to go with you. It’s time I headed home. Thank you for your hospitality.” Siobhan left. Jason watched her back out of his driveway and turn to go home.