Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Judge Hudson pointed her gavel at him.
“For the last time, overruled! And if I hear one more word from you, Councilor Troy, I’m holding you in Criminal Contempt.”
Zach’s lawyer sat back down with a sullen look on his face and Zach immediately began whispering earnestly to him. The judge turned her attention to the jury.
“Madam Foreperson, I understand you have a verdict for us?” she asked.
“Yes, Your Honor.” A woman who looked to be in her fifties with long silver hair rose from her seat.
“Proceed to read it please,” Judge Hudson directed her.
The woman cleared her throat.
“Ahem. We the jury find the defendant, Commander Torus not guilty of any of the charges the plaintiff, Zachary Wyndham, accused him of because Commander Torus was defending his wife, which he has a right to do.”
“I see.” The Judge nodded. “And the countersuit?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” the woman nodded. “We the jury also find Zachary Wyndham guilty of inflicting emotional pain and trauma on Molly Byrne and of ruining her career and her good name with his malicious actions. We unanimously voted to award Ms. Byrne eighty-eight million dollars to compensate her for her pain and suffering. Thank you.”
Judge Hudson nodded.
“Thank you, Madam Foreperson. And may I say that I find your judgment to be extremely fair. You—”
“Eighty-eight million dollars!” Zach’s anguished howl interrupted her words. “That’s all of it! That’s everything I have! Hell, that’s more than I have—I’ll have to sell my houses and cars to pay that fucking amount!”
Whack-whack-whack!
Judge Hudson pounded with her gavel.
“Councilor, instruct your client to be quiet!” she exclaimed. “I will not have this kind of outburst—or that kind of language—in my courtroom!”
“Be quiet!” Zach’s attorney hissed at him. “Be quiet or you’ll get us both in trouble!”
“But it’s not fair!” Zach whined. He glared at the jury. “You can’t fucking do this to me! You’re going to be sorry—all of you!”
“That’s it!” Whack! Judge Hudson banged her gavel again. “How dare you threaten the jury in my courtroom? You, Sir, are going directly to jail!” She pointed at the police officer who had come in with Molly and Torus. “Officer Hatchet, I’m sorry but you’ll have to question Mr. Wyndham from his jail cell. I’m charging him with Criminal Contempt and ordering that he be held for the next thirty days without any option for release.”
“Yes, Your Honor.” The officer nodded respectfully.
“Thank you. Now, I understand that everyone wants to go home. I want to thank the jury again for their time and patience in this matter. You have all discharged your civic duty extremely well,” she said, nodding to the jury. Then she looked at Molly. “Ms. Byrne, I hope the money awarded you will enable you to live the life you want. I know that no amount can make up for the last five years, but I want you to know this Court wishes you well in your future endeavors.”
Molly nodded.
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
But her head was spinning. Eighty-eight million dollars? What would she do with so much money? And was it really going to wipe Zach out financially? She certainly hoped so!
She watched as her ex was dragged away with a bailiff on either arm.
“You can’t do this to me!” he was saying. “Do you know who I am? People like me don’t go to jail! I have too much money to go to jail!”
“From what I hear, you and your money are about to be parted,” one of the bailiff’s remarked, chuckling. “Don’t worry, though—there aren’t many millionaires in lock-up. You should get along fine—maybe even make some new friends.”
“Well, sweetheart—are you ready to go?” Torus murmured.
Molly looked up at him.
“I’m so ready. I wish we could go back to the ship, though.”
“I’m afraid we have to answer some questions at the police station first,” Torus said regretfully.
“Actually, if you folks promise me you won’t leave the area, I’ll let you come to the station tomorrow to make your statements,” Officer Hatchet, who was sitting on the other side of Torus, said. “It sounds like you’ve been through an awful lot today.”
“Thank you, Officer—that’s extremely kind of you,” Torus told him. “I believe my wife needs some rest after everything that’s happened. I promise we’ll stay on my ship, which is parked just two blocks from here, and come to your station in the morning.”
Molly felt a wave of relief wash over her.
“Thank you,” she said to the policeman. “Thank you so much. I just want to get out of here!”
“I understand.” He nodded at them both. “Have a good night’s sleep and we’ll see you in the morning around say, ten.”
He gave Torus the address of the police station and then left—presumably to get a statement from Zach.
“Well!” Councilor Paige, who was sitting to Molly’s right, exclaimed. “That went even better than I hoped!” She looked at Molly. “But are you all right? I can’t believe Wyndham had you kidnapped! Lone bespoke me and told me all the details—I’m so sorry!”