Three Months Later

Walking into the courtroom I see the whole room is filled with people, waiting to see what the outcome is on the fraud case against Casey and Clara and the accomplice to the deeds Ronnie Abercrombie.

Eliza's sister, Nina is sitting behind the accused seats. She leans over the barricade and whispers something to Ronnie. Which he nods in returns. She slowly turns her attention to me and smiles.

At least she doesn't hate me for dragging her husband through this mess.

Ronnie keeps his eyes trained to the front and his hands form into fists. He looks around the room nervous about what's about to happen.

Casey is cuffed as she enters the room. Her eyes are trained on Ronnie and she looks guilty as she takes him in. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this." She says. She whispers something to Nina before taking her seat.

"Please, rise." The male Sheriff says as he looks around the courtroom.

Everyone stands up and we all wait for Judge McNally to enter the room. She's wearing a black gown and her blonde hair piled on top of her head. The glasses on her face makes her look fierce. She doesn't smile as she takes her seat.

After she's seated we all follow suit. She looks towards the jury. "I know we've had the longest three months of this hearing. Have you come up with the verdict yet?"

The foreman, Ellis stands up and he looks at the judge. "Yes, we have, Madame."

She nods. "I'll let you tell everyone the verdict in a moment." Turning her attention to the three accused she says. "I know you have remorse for what you've done. However, the crime of fraud has happened and we can't allow that to happen to innocent people. No hard-working person deserves to have their money taken from them. If you want more money work hard for it. Don't use and steal from others." Her eyes are trained on Ronnie. "For you Mr Abercrombie. Don't stand by and watch this type of fraud happen to your friends. I read how Mr Wilde and you were friends. Also, your wife doesn't need to have her partner behind bars when she gives birth. That looks like that's going to happen for you."

Ronnie turns towards Nina and whispers. "I'm sorry. I love you."

The door to the courtroom opens gaining everyone's attention. I turn slowly and see Eliza walk into the room. She moves to the front of the room and sits next to her sister.

What's she doing here?

Nina smiles at her. "Thanks for coming. I was hoping that someone from our family would be by my side."

It looks like she's forgiven her sister for the way she treated her. I wonder if the rest of her siblings have been forgiven too. After all, blood is thicker than water and not being angry at your family doesn't last long.

Calvin leans forward and grips my shoulder. "She looks like she's about to give birth."

"I know." A smile spreads across my face. "Is it weird that I'm nervous about meeting my daughter?"

Calvin shakes his head. "It's normal. I was the same when it came to Amara having my kids. Each birth was different too. Which makes things difficult with new additions to the family. Have you changed your mind about going to the hospital when she gives birth?"

"No, I'm staying away. If I need to be there I will. We all know she has the new guy with her and it's now his job to be there for her."

He goes quiet and as he's about to talk the judge beats him to it. "Foreman, Ellis. How do you find the defendants?"

Foreman Ellis looks towards Casey and says. "For the following frauds, we find Casey Jackson. Guilty, of deception. Guilty, for property fraud. Guilty, for dishonesty. Guilty, for financial advantage."

There's an uproar in the room and the judge bangs her gravel. "Silence,"

Leaning towards Dean I whisper. "That's not a surprising outcome for her. Ten Years behind bars is what she deserves."

Casey stands and looks at the judge. "Judge McNally is it okay if I have the floor?"

Why the hell would she want the floor? Is she willing to disgrace herself further in front of us?

Judge McNally eyes her for a moment before letting out a breath. "If you want to do that sure. You've wasted three months of our time. What's another couple of minutes?"

I laugh at that. Whispering to Dean I say. "This Lawyer is great. I'd love to work in her courtroom when I get my license back."

Dean shakes his head. "It's not easy to get Judge McNally in a courtroom. She normally has a full schedule. If you can fit something into her schedule then you'd get her."

"How did you get her?"

A smile spreads across his face. "I have a few cards up my sleeve and she finds fraud cases entertaining."

Fraud cases aren't entertaining. You have to prove that the accused did. How they did and for how long. Not all people that have done fraud are caught and they skip town. I'm lucky that Casey didn't skip.

Looking around the room I try to find Angela, but she's not in the room. "Have you seen Angela?"

Dean looks at his phone. "She's not coming to the trial. Angela and her partner disappeared with Casey's kids. No one is going to find them and I think that's a better life for those kids. Not the one they were living with Nick, Casey and Casey's mother."

"I don't get how all of them could live with lies and secrets. From a distance, they seemed like a perfect family. Up close it's not what you expect." Turning my attention back to Casey.

Casey begins her speech. "Hi, I would like to apologise to all my victims. I'm sorry I used and stole from you. You all deserved better than what I did to you. Someday, I hope you can forgive me. I'll be doing time for the crimes I did. It's the least I deserve and I don't have ill feelings towards you."

Judge McNally clears her throat. "Thanks, Casey. Take your seat so we can get on with the rest of the cases."

The foreman finds Clara guilty of everything too. And for Ronnie. He's found guilty too.

Judge McNally hits her hammer. "Okay, there will be another hearing for sentencing." Her eyes land on Ronnie. "However, Mr Abercrombie. I'm going to let you go with a five year probation period. Six months, you'll be monitored by an ankle monitor. Then you'll have to regularly check-in."

Ronnie stands and looks at Judge McNally. "Thank you, Madame." He moves towards his wife and hugs her. "I'm coming home, baby. Let's get out of here and celebrate."

Nina looks at him and says. "We can't. You need the ankle monitor before we go anywhere. It's going to be a hard six month. Promise me you won't do stupid things."

"I won't. I have you back and I'm going to change and make sure that you're with me for the rest of my life." He kisses her in front of everyone.

I'm going to be sick watching them act like that.

Ps. This is the last chapter before the epilogue