Chapter 48

It was the day of the hearing for Thomas and Charlie. A few others had been found as accessories to the crime, but their involvement was so minuscule, they only got thirty days in jail. Amber walked into the Intelligence room, not looking up to prevent eye contact with anyone. After she went into Hank's office and the door was shut, that's when Kim started to talk.

"What's the deal with you and her?" Antonio asked.

"Do you really want to know?"

"I take it you already don't like her?"

"Got that right." Kim rolled her eyes.

"What did she do to make you hate her already?"

"This past Friday night, her and Leslie went out."

"On a date?"

"I don't even know what they classified it as."

"What happened?"

"I got a call from Leslie at one that morning, begging for a ride home. Amber was completely wasted and couldn't talk without slurring. I went off on her and said she was lucky to even be in this unit at all."

"Yeah I know. I've worked for the guy for seven years now."

"How are we ever going to have time to mourn Julie's loss? When they think it's okay to just drop some random chick in here? I don't get it."

"I don't either. I don't think I'll ever understand why they did that."

"All because someone dies, that doesn't mean we can be short staffed. We just have to accept what is and not make a big deal of it." Alvin said, scooting his chair back from his desk, making himself visible.

"I don't think you get it. Julie meant a lot to us. It was because of that girl that we became friends. Don't expect us to move on. It's not going to happen!" Erin snapped.

"I know what you're going through, but you need to accept what is. We need to move on with our lives. It's what she would've wanted."

"She died being held hostage! That wasn't doing what she loved!"

"Erin, All because of her efforts, she saved those other hostages in the bank, she took the bullet for them."

"She was a wife and mother, Al! Her kids are only six years old. What are they supposed to do when they're older? Wonder why everyone has a mommy and they don't?!"

Hank came out of his office. "Erin that's enough."

He looked at everyone. "We all have to attend the hearing, in support of the children. Mikayla, Hannah, Brayden, MacKenzie...they have to go up on that stand."

"Wait just a minute." Jay sat up. "Who said my daughter has to testify?"

"Your daughter was a victim."

"She's not dead, so she's not."

"Jay, she was injured in the bombing. If they are convicted, they'll be paying her hospital and physical therapy bills."

"And what about Hannah?" Adam asked.

"The same for her. We can sue them for everything they've got."

"They're both still in the hospital. Are you sure they're well enough to stand trial?"

"Let's go get them."

Silence struck the court room as Charlie and Thomas were escorted in, hands cuffed. Everyone stood up when the judge walked in.

"Please be seated." He said, putting his glasses on and opening the case file.

"State of Illinois vs. Paglizzi & Gibson is now in session." He banged the gavel.

Sitting next to Charlie and Thomas was a man who looked familiar to Hank. The man stood up and walked around to the front of the table.

"Trevor Langan representing Charles Paglizzi and Thomas Gibson, your honor."

"And representing the minors?"

"ADA Justin Voight, your honor."

"Objection!" Trevor stood up. "It's against policy for family members to represent other family members in a case."

Justin looked over at him. "I'm not family, Mr. Langan. I have no blood or marriage relation to the minors."

"You are the son of their parents' boss, am I correct?"

"Relevance, Mr. Langan?"

"I withdraw your honor. Defense calls Hannah Ruzek to the stand."

Hannah slowly walked up the stand and sat down in the chair. Trevor walked over.

"Hannah, would you be able to tell me where you were when the bomb went off?"

"I was at my locker getting crayons. My brother and one of his friends wanted to color. I said I had extra crayons and I went to get them. He went up to the art room with Kenzie to get some markers. A big noise happened. I was bleeding. The police were called and my daddy came in."

"Did you happen to see where the bomb was?"

"I saw a backpack leaning against the wall where my room was."

"How do you know that was bomb?"

"I just said I saw a backpack. I never said it was a bomb."

"Did you see the person who left the bag there?"

"No."

"You were in school all morning, you must've seen something."

"I didn't!"

Justin stood up. "Objection your honor. This is badgering the victim."

He looked over at Trevor. "Mr. Langan, please get on with your question. I do not need you badgering a minor."

"I apologize your honor."

Hannah glared at him. "Anymore stupid questions?"

Adam tried not to crack a smile.

"No, you may step down."

She ran through the gate and into Adam's arms.

"Defense calls Mikayla Halstead to the stand."

Mikayla stood up, giving a dirty look to Thomas when she passed him.

"Now Ms. Halstead, where were you when the explosion occurred?"

"I was in the bathroom washing my hands off. My class had been planting flowers in the atrium."

"I see. And why didn't you run outside and notify your teachers that a bomb had gone off?"

"Maybe because I was trapped under a cement slab and couldn't move?"

"Did you attempt to remove it?"

"Are you an idiot? I said it was two hundred pounds! How do you expect a ten year old child to move a two hundred pound cement slab?!"

"I asked a question and I expect you to give me a straight answer."

"My answer is you're an idiot and I'm done here." She went to get off the stand, but the judge told her to sit back down.

"Can I talk to someone who isn't a complete moron?" She asked him.

"Ms. Halstead, answer the question."

She glared back over at Trevor. "No I didn't. I was trapped against the floor. There wasn't a thing I could do."

"Did you see anyone acting suspicious?"

"I saw some dude with a dark blue hoodie hanging around outside, but that was it."

"Could you see if there was anything in his hands?"

"Like what?"

"Like a cell phone or something?"

"He had a small, remote looking thing in his hands."

After her statement was done being given, she sat back next to Erin.

"Mom?"

Erin looked at her. "Yeah sweetie?"

"Don't ever make me talk to that jerk again."

"You won't have to. He's representing two of the biggest idiots. He won't win."

"Can I say something?" Hannah raised her hand.

"Go ahead, Ms. Ruzek." The judge told her.

"Charlie and Thomas, I would like to ask you guys a question."

They turned around so they could face her.

"I would just like to say you're both stupid."

"Hannah, stop it." Kim hushed her.

The judge looked over at the jury pool.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?"

"We have, your honor. We find the defendants Charles Paglizzi and Thomas Gibson, guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree. We also find them guilty of endangering the welfare of minor children in the first degree."

Before banging the gavel, the judge looked at both of them. "I order you both to serve fifty years each in the Cook County jail. You are ordered to pay any and all medical expenses for the minors for the rest of your lives."

He looked back at the jury. "The state of Illinois thanks you for your service. Court is adjourned." He banged the gavel and everyone started leaving.

When Charlie passed by Kim, he gave her the evil eye. "You'll pay for this!"

She slapped him in front of everyone. "I'm not paying you anything. Have fun in jail." She said as he was escorted away.