Chapter 9 - The Courtroom Battle
|
The courtroom smelled of stale wood polish and old paper. Mariana sat rigidly at the plaintiff's table, her knuckles white as she gripped her pen. Mateo sat right beside her, wearing a borrowed suit that felt too tight across his broad, athletic shoulders.
"Your Honor, this man is a convicted child abuser," Mariana argued, her voice echoing off the high ceilings.
"He tortured this boy for years. Allowing him within fifty miles of this county is a gross negligence of justice."
The judge, an older man with tired eyes, adjusted his glasses and looked down at the sprawling legal files before him.
"Ms. Torres, I understand your emotional distress," the judge said in a measured, clinical tone.
"It is not emotional distress, Your Honor. It is a calculated threat assessment!" she fired back.
Elias sat at the defense table, looking infuriatingly calm in a cheap, ill-fitting gray suit. His court-appointed lawyer, a slick man with too much hair gel, stood up with a patronizing smile.
"Objection, Your Honor," the lawyer drawled. "My client has served his mandated time. He has completed anger management and parenting courses. The terms of his parole dictate he cannot contact the minor, which he has not legally breached."
"He was at our fence yesterday!" Mateo shouted, unable to hold back his fury.
"Order," the judge commanded, banging his gavel sharply.
"He was on a public sidewalk, Your Honor," the lawyer countered smoothly. "There is no restraining order currently active that prevents him from walking on public property in his hometown."
"Then grant us the restraining order today," Mariana pleaded, leaning forward over the wooden table.
The judge sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.
"Ms. Torres, the police report from yesterday indicates no direct threats were made. Without evidence of an immediate, physical threat, I cannot restrict a paroled citizen from residing in this county."
"He is the threat!" Mariana yelled.
"The motion for a permanent distance mandate is denied," the judge declared, striking the gavel with a final, sickening thud.
May you like
"However, Mr. Elias is warned to stay away from the foundation property lines."
Mateo felt his stomach drop into a bottomless pit. He looked over at the defense table. Elias wasn't looking at the judge. He was looking directly at Mateo, and a cold, victorious smile stretched across his scarred face.
