Chapter Three

When I was standing in the courtroom doing my opening statements in front of the jury and the people of the courtroom including Judge Handle, I was explaining to everyone that the defendant Burla Divas, is a fifty year old woman who is responsible for killing her boss at her company she worked at as an executive director.

I explained to the people of the courtroom that Burla is a murderer and she deserves to be punished.

"Burla Divas is a murderer. She killed an innocent person. She knows that her actions will be taken against her. Burla. Burla Davis is sitting here in this courtroom today feeling like she has no responsibility for her actions. Is she innocent? Will the jury see her as someone who should be held accountable for their behavior or will they walk out of this courtroom?" 
  
Once I did my opening statement, I turned around and I sat down at the prosecutors table. It was the defense attorney Kamara Husjf who is an public defender trying to defend her client against the prosecution of a second degree murder. When I went back to my office, I had a meeting with one of my clients who is a victim of a domestic violence incident. She's a victim of domestic violence because her husband tried to attempt to kill her. Her name is Gabriella Buckley.

She's in her 30's, and has been with her husband Migel Buckley for two years and the abuse started a couple weeks after they got married.

"Gabriella, did your husband try to kill you before?" I asked.

Gabriella was scared to come forward because she was afraid that if her husband found out, she would get caught and then get into trouble.

"Gabriella?" I said, wondering.

"Yeah," answered Gabriella, in a quiet tone of voice.

I nodded my head, understanding Gabriella. As I was still talking to Gabriella I had another flashback of Heather committing suicide. After the flashback ended, I continued to listen to Gabriella about her husband almost killing her, and I wanted to desperately prosecute this guy. I told Gabriella that she will need to testify under oath. She must be honest at all times during trial.

So after Gabriella's husband was recently arrested, he was being charged with attempted murder. The trial of Miguel Buckley began six months later and after the trial lasted two weeks, Miguel tried to kill Gabriella by running over her with his car while Gabriella was walking in the park with her parents after she decided to leave him. Unfortunately Miguel was watching her every move.

So I decided to charge Miguel with attempted murder. After another on for my work days has been done, I heard an email go through on my iPhone. I was sitting on my bed reading my book and I turned my head looking down at the nightstand. I sighed and I put down my book onto my lap.

I grabbed my iPhone work my nightstand and I opened my phone screen before going onto my Gmail app and reading my email that was sent from the anonymous person once again. The message said: Heather was innocent. It made me suspicious. I put down my phone onto my nightstand and I picked up my book once again and began to read my book once again.

Eventually, another email has been sent to me. I looked down at my phone and I picked up my iPhone before opening the email once again. The email said this time: Heather is innocent. I just frowned and I was confused. Who was sending me these emails? It had me suspicious because what if Heather was income all along?

Did this person force Heather into accusing Jacob for the crimes he never committed? Until Mandy came into our bedroom and she said, "Are you okay?" I answered back and nodded my head, "yeah," I said in a quiet tone.

"Are you sure?" wondering Mandy.

I nodded my head yes. "Yeah," I answered back.

Mandy went into the bathroom after she just stood where she was wondering why I was acting so strange. I picked up my book again and I started to read my book continuously. I looked down at my phone once again. Then I just glanced back at my book. I looked at the bathroom  and there was steam coming from the bathroom. Mandy is taking a shower.

I had to think for a moment. Until I closed my book after I put in a bookmark in the chapter I hadn't finished reading. I put down my book on my nightstand next to me. I lay flat on my back and I just stared at the ceiling. I then turned to my side and I sighed once again. I then fell into a deep sleep.

Eventually, my thirty-first birthday came. Mandy and I were both eating at a fancy restaurant at Maxwells in West Fargo. I was taking a sip of my red wine. Soft music was playing. Mandy wishes me a happy birthday and she handed me a birthday present. I took the birthday present from Mandy. I chuckled.

"You didn't have to get me anything," I said to Mandy.

"Just open it," says Mandy, chuckling.

I took a deep breath and then I removed the wrapping paper from this gift bag. I took out this box and it was a new watch that Mandy had bought for me. "Thank you, I like it," I said, chuckling.

Mandy smiled. I sighed as I put away my watch back into the gift bag. I put the gift bag aside on the table. I then began to smell this odor that gave me a flashback of Heather's death.

"Oh," I said, covering my nose as I closed my eyes.

"What is it," asked Mandy. 

I was trying not to let the smell trigger me. I opened my eyes. "I'd just smelled this weird odor. It brought back memories of Heather's death," I said to Mandy.

"I didn't know that PTSD can do that," says Mandy.

"Yeah," I said to Mandy, nodding my head.

I sighed. I then looked down at my red wine, and it gave me a flashback of Heather's blood. After the flashback ended, I began to get anxious. My heart started racing. "Honey?" says Mandy. I put down my wine glass on the table and I sighed.

"Can we celebrate some other day?," I said.

"Yeah, sure,," says Mandy. "Come on, let's get you home," says Mandy, continuing.

She stood up from her chair and I did too. We both grabbed our stuff and just left the restaurant after Mandy left a tip on the table for our server.

After returning home, I was in our bedroom and I was sitting on my bed, untying my tie. I had another flashback of Heather. The gun made a noise. After the flashback ended, I just swallowed. I was really missing Heather. She was a very good friend to me and to Jacob.

A young sixteen year old girl named Danielle Anderson was being charged with illegal drugs. Intentional drug use is prohibited in North Dakota. Most drug offenses carry a class A misdemeanor sentence. A class B misdemeanor is charged when someone under 21 uses marijuana or THC concentrate (medical marijuana excluded). I told Judge Radians who was the judge in the case that Danielle should be prosecuted and charged with a class B misdemeanor since she was carrying marjuana under the age of twenty one to her classmates in school. Judge Radians agreed.

"Young lady, you're looking at a long sentence here,"  says Judge Radiance to Danielle.

Danielle scoffed. "Your laws are stupid," says Danielle. Danielle's attorney Bella Channing  told Danielle to not say another word and let her do the talking.

"Your Honor, my client didn't know that the drugs were illegal. She exclusively told the police that it was a non illegal drug. And." Bella Channing stopped talking because she was interrupted.

"The prosecution said that your client needs to be charged with a Class B misdemeanor. And I agree. Your client knew what she was doing and that is all I can say," says Judge Radiance as he hit the gavel on his desk.

I sighed. "Thank you, Your Honor," I answered back. I began to grab my stuff together and I looked at Bella. Bella sighed and she looked at her client. Danielle was taken to prison. While I was gathering my documents together, I put them inside my black briefcase. I zipped up my briefcase and I grabbed it and hung the strap over my left shoulder. I left the courtroom and I saw Charlie. Charlie walked up to me.

"So, I'm thinking the defendant Danielle Anderson was charged?" wondering Charlie. I sighed.

"Yeah. She's facing a serious criminal charge for selling illegal mirijuana to her classmates at school and she is under the age of twenty one. And in the date of North Dakota she's looking at a Class B misdemeanor," I explained to Charlie.

"Yeah. I remember when I was a troubled teenager. Now here I am as the lead attorney," says Charlie.

"Well, what did you do?" I asked.

"I mean, I stole fifty dollars from my mother and she grounded me for a month for stealing fifty dollars," says Charlie, chuckling.

I just raised my eyebrows at Charlie. "Sorry. I'm just making in front of myself," says Charlie, once again.

I couldn't help myself so I chuckled along with Charlie.

"I was always the good one in my family. Except when I told my parents that I didn't want them to make me as Jacob's legal guardian if they died," I said.

"Ah. Well, how are things going for Jacob now?" Charlie asked.

"He's doing pretty well, actually," I answered back.

"Ah, good. How about you? How are you holding up?" wondered Charlie.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I mean, with losing my little brother's nanny and stuff, it's been a struggle," I said, sighing.

"I'm so sorry, Ryan. I wished that never happened to you," says Charlie.

I softly smiled at Charlie.

Okay, I'm going to go now. But I'm glad you're doing better, Ryan," says Charlie.

"Thanks, Charlie," I said, softly smiling at Charlie.

Charlie smiled back at me and I turned around and I started walking down the hall of the courthouse. Charlie sighed as he just stood where he was and watching me walk down the hallway inside the courthouse. He eventually turned around and went back to doing his own business as a lead attorney.