Thursday - 3/31
SALEM COUNTY COURTHOUSE
CHLOE: How was the wedding yesterday?
BELLE: It was really nice! Parker looked so adorable in his suit! I can’t believe he’s gonna be twelve this year!
CHLOE: Tell me about it! I’m with him most of the time when I don’t have to travel and even I can’t believe how time’s flown by.
SHAWN-D: It was really cool of you to let him come.
CHLOE: Well, Melanie is his sister, and he adores her. Plus, he and Philip have always been close. I’m glad you guys had a nice time. I’m sure he’ll tell me all about it on the drive home this weekend.
BELLE: I’m sure. It was a great night. They played some great music, and let Claire sing a song during the ceremony.
CHLOE: Oh, that’s great! What’d you sing?
CLAIRE: For All We Know.
CHLOE: Carpenters. Excellent choice!
CLAIRE: Thanks!
CHASE: She was fantastic!
ALANIS: The judge has been in there for a while.
Joey nodded.
JOEY: I can’t tell whether that’s a good or bad thing. Back when that creep Dirk was on trial, the jury only took half an hour to make a decision. Then again, they were twelve people, the judge is just one, so maybe it takes him longer.
ALANIS: Maybe. Hopefully he’ll make the right decision for Jade, Claire and her parents’ sake.
The bailiff stuck his head behind the door to the judge’s chambers. He came back a moment later.
BAILIFF: All rise.
Everyone stood up as Judge Danforth came back into the courtroom. The room was silent.
DANFORTH: Be seated.
They all sat down.
DANFORTH: Thank you for bearing with me. This is a difficult case, and the decision that I have come to, I have not made lightly. I have heard the case from both sides and have come to a decision. The appellant will please stand.
With assistance from the officer watching her, Jan stood up, as did Mr. Blaire.
DANFORTH: Jan Spears, you have appealed for early release from Salem County Women’s Correctional Facility. After careful consideration of the facts, as well as the testimonies given by yourself and many others, I have come to a decision. You are to be released on a probationary trial of six weeks beginning immediately. During these six weeks, you shall attend meetings with a probation officer on a daily basis to check on your progress. If, at the end of these six weeks, the probation officer reports that you have been without incident, you shall be fully released. However, due to the nature of the crimes you were arrested for, I am putting a restraining order on you. You shall not interact or be in the same room alone with Mr. Shawn-Douglas Brady, Mrs. Isabella Brady, Mrs. Claire Jennings, Miss Jade Michaels or Miss Emerald Michaels. The only times at which you may be in the same room as any of the above is if there is another person outside of these proceedings present in the room. I wish you the best of luck. I will see you again in six weeks. This court is adjourned.
The judge banged his gavel.
JADE (whispering): Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no!
Eric put a hand on Jade’s shoulder, and Nicole wrapped an arm around her. Joey muttered an expletive. Shawn-D and Belle put their arms around each other, as did Claire and Chase. Chloe’s mouth fell open. Everyone watched in a mixture of silent horror and rage as the officer released Jan from her handcuffs. She shook hands with Mr. Blaire.
JAN: Thank you for everything, Mr. Blaire.
BLAIRE: You’re quite welcome. Good luck with your probation.
He handed Jan a card.
BLAIRE: Should you need me for anything in the future.
JAN: I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.
Jan walked over to the group sitting in the first two rows of seats. She smiled.
JAN: Well, this has certainly been an eventful day. I just wanted to stop by and tell you all that there’s no hard feelings. I don’t blame any you for testifying against my release. I would have, too, if I was in your position. But I promise you, things are gonna be different this time.
Jan looked over the group, her eyes lingering on Jade for a few seconds longer than was necessary. Most of the group were avoiding her gaze, but the few that did look at her were glaring.
JAN: I’ll see you all later. I’m looking forward to the reunion in a few weeks.
They watched as Jan left the courtroom. There was a collective sigh.
ERIC: I think we should probably be going now.
Aiden nodded. Slowly, everybody walked outside. Nicole still had an arm around Jade. Don walked alongside them.
DON: The hearing didn’t go our way today, but we can fight it. I know that we can. Please, don’t give up, Jade, we will see justice served.
JADE: Thanks for trying, Mr. Craig.
NICOLE: Let’s just get out of here for now, okay?
Jade nodded.
JADE: I need to get Emmy from the Horton Center.
NICOLE: I’ll drive. Come on.
Don sighed as he watched Jade and Nicole walk away. Justin walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder.
JUSTIN: We did our best.
DON: I know. I’ve been in practice a long time, I know we don’t win every case, but that can be cold comfort sometimes.
Justin nodded.
Shawn-D, Belle, Claire and Chase were also walking out together.
SHAWN-D: You guys still up for dinner? It won’t be quite the celebration we had in mind, but we all still need food, right?
CHASE: That sounds good to me.
BELLE: You should come, too, Chloe.
CHLOE: That would be great, but I promised Joy we’d have dinner together.
SHAWN-D: Invite her along, too.
CHLOE: Really? Thanks! I’ll text her when I get back to the car.
CLAIRE: Chase and I will meet you guys tere. Just let me check and make sure I’ve got my meds with me.
Claire dug into her handbag while they were walking. She wasn’t watching where she was going, and stumbled off of the curb, just as a car was coming fast out of the parking lot in that direction.
CHASE: Songbird! Look out!
