This chapter is dedicated to IamMariska - sorry for not updating earlier, but I hope this chapter was worth the wait :)

33 – Showtime

Rena's POV

When the cell door opens, I peek from underneath the blanket at the morning guard with a frown. For ten days, everyone has left me rotting in my cell – no visitors, not even Noel, to let me know what's going on. The only one who has been stopping by frequently was Ryan who summoned me to an interrogation room where we stared at each other for hours without exchanging a word. Though the vicious glow in his eyes made my insides wail the entire time, I was able to keep it together.

"Get up, Cooper," the guard demands. There is nothing but boredom on his face. "You're going to court."

"Court?" My frown deepens. "What for?"

He shrugs. "Judge Oak's office called and said he wanted you over by nine. I just do what they tell me, so get up."

I swing my legs out of bed, covering my knees with the paper suit as much as possible. My efforts are unnecessary – contrary to that pig Roland who gave me a hard time when I stayed at the jail during my murder charge, this one has never even looked at me. All he ever does is smack his gum around.

He sets an orange jump suit next to me on the cot. "I'm right outside. Knock on the door when you're done."

I take my time changing, miffed that Noel didn't even stop by yesterday to go over my testimony again. In his defense, we had been set when the hearing was postponed due to Tivon's accident after days of revising. Noel probably figured I didn't need to prep further or he might have been busy with another case.

The weather outside is as miserable as my mood. Black clouds hang low over the city, a slight drizzle chilling me to the bone on the way to the van. My arms and legs are shackled and I can't even protect my hair from getting damp. I probably look like a total mess. Since I was on suicide watch, they took my rubber bands to hold my hair back, allowing the wind to angrily rip through it.

Slight nausea crawls up my throat as we drive along the bumpy roads. I try to calm my racing heartbeat by taking long, even breath, but a tingling sensation keeps spreading through my body. This is it. In a few hours, my son's fate will be decided by a man I hardly know and who will judge me based on what he will hear in court today. The concept of justice is odd. How can someone like Oaks even know whether he made the right decision? If I was him, I could probably not sleep at night, always wondering if I screwed up someone's life.

They take my shackles off before ushering me into the court room. Noel is already seated at the table and smiles when he sees me. To my surprise, Detective Tate is huddled with Marcus in a back row, whispering to him while he stares ahead with a thin smile. Ryan is there with Hannah, yet there is no sign of Charlotte.

"What's going on?" I ask Noel when I sink into the chair next to him.

"I don't know. The judge called me yesterday just before midnight and said we will proceed this morning. I objected since I really wasn't ready, but he told me he'll explain in chambers before the hearing. I'm just waiting to be called in."

I nibble my thumb. This is all very odd. Ryan's face is strained and he avoids looking at Hannah, but other than that, everyone appears calm and composed. Hannah is flipping through a magazine like she doesn't have a worry in the world while Marcus actually laughs at something Detective Tate told him. Their body language is open – they seem like the best of pals.

The bailiff appears behind the judge's bench. "Attorney Harlan, Attorney Fallon. The judge is ready for you."

My eyes dart to Noel. "Should I come?"

He and Hannah exchange a glance. "No, stay here."

She doesn't seem fazed at all – I could bet she knows what is going on. Before she leaves her table, she reassuringly squeezes Ryan's shoulder, her lips splitting to a small smile. Yet, I am taken aback by the hostility in her eyes. She looks like she is about to murder him. Not that I would mind – one less abuser in the world would benefit everyone.

Ryan's fingers drum silently on the table while we wait. The seconds hand of the clock on the wall seems almost frozen in place as the minutes wind down in agonizing slowness. There is total silence in the courtroom – I could bet one could hear a needle drop.

I almost fall off the chair when the low squeaking of the main courtroom door startles me. Sam pokes his head in.

"This is the right one," he whispers to someone and when the door swings fully open, I stare right into Alex's grinning face.

Next to me, Ryan sucks in a sharp breath. "What the fuck–?" he mumbles more to himself, but his words still manage to break through the silence of the courtroom. All eyes land on him before my attention zooms in on Charlotte who has appeared behind Sam. Ryan couldn't have phrased the question any better.

His mouth opens, probably to demand some type of explanation, when the bailiff returns. With a loud "please rise", he announces the arrival of Judge Oaks. Noel slips beside me just as Hannah reclaims her seat next to Ryan. There is also a man with her who looks like he just made a casual stop on his way to the gym. His jeans have holes in them, an olive bomber jacket complementing his thin hoodie.

"Mr. Clark, you wish to make an appearance in this matter?" the judge enlightens us as to his presence.

"Yes, Your Honor. I'm representing the Petitioner Charlotte Parks. At this point, we also wish to sever the petitioners."

I stare at Noel. "What does that mean?"

"That they're no longer a team. Char–" The rest of his sentence is cut off by a warning glare from the judge.

"Very well. I will also substitute Ms. Harlan for Attorney Goldstein as Mr. Parks's lawyer since the appearance was for the offices of Goldstein & Partners." He scribbles something down in the file. "Ms. Harlan, are you ready to proceed?"

Before she can reply, Ryan hisses something in her direction. Hannah shakes her head, about to rise, when he blurts out, "The hell, I'm not ready. I demand an explanation. My wife can't just show up here with her own attorney. I'm sure not gonna pay for him."

Judge Oaks swings the gavel when mumble erupts. I almost burst out laughing. This is turning into an episode of 'Law & Order'.

"Mr. Parks, I caution you to watch your language in my courtroom." Judge Oaks regards him sternly. "One more outburst like this and I will hold you in contempt. Your wife is within her rights to hire her own lawyer. No one has asked you to pay for Mr. Clark's services."

"I still want to know what's going on," he repeats.

With his pushed out lip, he reminds me of a bratty child. I cover my mouth with my hand to stifle a giggle.

Hannah has finally managed to get on her feet. She smooths down her jacket, her jaw clenched when she shoots Ryan a venomous look. "We're ready to proceed, Your Honor. As our first witness, we call Charlotte Parks."

"I don't want to call my wife," Ryan protests. "Truthfully, I don't even want to be here. Screw this petition." He shoots up like a rocket. "I'm leaving."

Out of the corner of my eyes, I see three hands moving under various coat jackets. Sam blocks the door while Alex has taken up post in the middle of the aisle. Only Detective Tate is still in her seat, but has risen to her feet.

The judge's gavel interrupts the mumbles one more time. "Mr. Parks, you will have to remain in the courtroom until these proceedings have finished. I warned you not to interrupt me. You are hereby fined five hundred dollars."

Ryan's face turns beet red. He looks like he is about to have a heart attack, but plops obediently back in his seat. "I will sue you all," he mutters under his breath.

"What was that?" Judge Oaks asks through narrow eyes.

"Nothing." Ryan wipes the spit from his mouth with the back of his hand. "I apologize, Your Honor."

Judge Oaks glares at him for a moment longer before he finds Charlotte in the back row. "Mrs. Parks, could you please come up here and take the stand."

She shuffles forward, her face burning up. I can't tell if it's embarrassment for her husband's impossible behavior or pure hatred for him. Her chin is up a little, yet her shoulders are slumped. Tears glisten in her eyes when she takes a seat in the witness box.

"Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" the bailiff asks after Charlotte raised her right hand.

She stares right at Ryan who can't hold her gaze. "I do."

Hannah walks up to the podium with a notepad but no pen. Whatever Charlotte's testimony will be, she either already knows it by heart or must not consider it important enough to take notes.

"Charlotte, could you please state your full name for the record?"

"Charlotte Constantia Parks."

"And how are you related to the child Noah Kade Cooper who is the subject of this petition?"

"I'm his paternal grandmother."

"And your deceased son, Brent Franklin Parks, is the father of the child?"

Charlotte clears her throat, her eyes still fixed on her husband. "Yes."

"And Charlotte, you and your husband filed a petition seeking custody of Noah Kade Cooper. Could you tell the court why?"

She clears her throat again, followed by a sip of water. Her hand is slightly shaking as she brings the glass to her mouth.

"When we filed the petition, I felt it would be in Noah's best interest to live in a stable household. Rena is young and still lives with her dad. She doesn't have a job, is on probation, and requires intense therapy. I thought that raising a small child would be too much for her. I was afraid that one day, she could snap and hurt Noah."

"I guess we can all relate to your concern." Hannah's tone is soft.

I glance at Noel, expecting him to object, but he is frozen in place, a small smile tucking at the corners of his lips. Charlotte's lawyer leans back in his chair, playing with the strings of the hoodie. His eyes are almost closed – he appears to be ready to snooze off.

"But those weren't all of your reasons why you wanted custody?" Hannah asks.

Charlotte shakes her head. "I was also furious because Rena killed my son. I didn't feel she deserved to raise a child when she tore my own away from me. Those were selfish reasons and I want to apologize."

When our eyes meet, there is so much pain. For the first time, I understand the hell she's been through. If some woman killed Noah, I would have probably done the same.

"But you've changed your opinion in relation to custody, isn't that right?"

Charlotte is just about to answer when Ryan interrupts. "Isn't this like leading the witness? I object."

Judge Oaks gazes at him over his reading glasses. "Mr. Parks, you can't object to the questions of your own lawyer."

"Well, I don't want her to represent me." Ryan's lip is once again pushed out in that stubborn way. "I would have never hired her. She doesn't even practice Family Law. Now I'm stuck with her because she happened to be Goldstein's partner? That's unfair. I want someone else."

The judge exhales for a long time, his fingers drumming on the podium. "Mr. Parks, you could have filed for a substitution of attorney after Mr. Goldstein's death, but you chose not to do so. That's not the court's problem. Allowing you to find a new attorney will mean to postpone these proceedings again. Since Ms. Cooper has spent already more than two weeks in jail pursuant to my contempt order, I can't tolerate any further delays. This matter will conclude today."

"Well, then I want to fire her and represent myself," Ryan says.

Judge Oaks sighs. "Okay, if that's what you want." He turns to the court reporter. "Let the record show that Ms. Harlan is no longer the attorney for Mr. Parks and that he is pro se." He grins at Charlotte's attorney. "It's showtime, Mr. Clark. It's always such a pleasure to have you in my courtroom, even if I have to constantly remind myself that you're indeed a lawyer. Do you think you'll ever buy a suit?"

"I doubt it, Your Honor." Clark walks up to the podium with a chuckle while Hannah clears the field. "Putting six kids through college costs a lot of money."

I lean into Noel. "He got six kids?"

"Eight, but two are still in high school." He smirks. "He's an odd character but a really good lawyer. A judge fined him once for wearing inappropriate clothing in the courtroom which he took all the way to the State Supreme Court. He won and I think that got a little to his head. Since that time, I'm surprised he doesn't wear flip flops."

Clark waits for Hannah to gather up her things and leave the courtroom before his attention focuses on his client. "Mrs. Parks, could you please tell the court what your current position is in relation to custody of Noah Kade Cooper?"

During the whole banter between Clark and Judge Oaks, I had failed to keep an eye on Charlotte. Her whole demeanor has changed. With folded arms, she glares at her husband with a scowl. From the amount of daggers shooting from her eyes, I'm surprised that Ryan is still sitting straight in his chair.

"I don't believe it would be in Noah's best interest to live with Ryan."

"Oh." Clark pauses like he is trying to set up a stage for a bombshell. "And why is that?"

"Because my husband is very abusive and unfit to raise a child. He killed our son Jared."

So, that's it. Ryan's secret is out in the open with Charlotte taking revenge for Tivon's death. I'm sure that many of you suspected that this was coming down the line. For the next two weeks, you get the whole story when we jump back into the past one last time to take a peek at Jared's last day.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As you know, I always like to write courtroom scenes. This one is written in tribute to my mentor who was just like Bryson Clark - very unconventional, but with a huge bite. Definitely the best criminal defense lawyer I've ever met.

Please don't be shy with your feedback and don't forget to vote if this chapter deserved it. See you next week and for all of you who celebrate Easter, have a great time over the holidays and stay safe.