Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 16:50:40 -0500 From: Miguel Sanchez Subject: The Pilot III Ch 21 - Revised Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and that of love. Any resemblance to actual places, events, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This story may contain erotic and/or sexually explicit behavior between consenting teens and or adults. If it is illegal for you to, or you find this sort of work offensive, don't download or read it! The people in this story do not use protection because diseases don't exist here. However, in our world they do so please use caution and protection. This story is protected by copyright. It may not be downloaded or copied for other than your private enjoyment and may not be changed in any way without the expressed written consent of the author. This story may not be put on any pay to view site. I reply to all emails, except flames. You may write me at miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com I hope you enjoy this story. Miguel Sanchez The Pilot III Shane and Robert's Life Chapter 21 - Revised "It's not me judge," Curtis said again. "Mr. Curtis," Judge Henry started saying. "If this isn't you on these forms, you can take the stand and refute them." "Fine," he said. "Put me on the stand. I'll refute that stuff alright." Mr. Harris looked at his client and said, "I really don't recommend that." Curtis was acting very cocky then he said, "I don't care what you recommend, put me on the stand." Christine now knew that Curtis would take the stand and Jake and Shane wouldn't need to testify. She didn't want Jake in the courtroom because he didn't know exactly what he would say. But very shortly, she was going to find out. She turned at looked at Dad and mouthed, "I just gave him the rope, now I'm going to hang him with it." Christine looked at the Judge and said, "At this time we would like to enter into evidence the school registration from of Jake Curtis." Christine reached for the form then Linda removed it from the file and handed it to the judge. Judge Henry looked at it and said, "So entered. This shall be marked State's 2." Christine knew there was other information in the file that she could use against Curtis when he took the stand so she said, "You Honor, at this time we would like to have Jake's entire school record entered into evidence." The judge took the file and said, "Very well, it shall be entered as State's 3." "I have no further questions for this witness at this time." Christine said. The Judge looked at Mr. Harris and said, "Your witness counselor." "Mr. Harris stood and said, "I have no question for this witness." "You may step down," Judge Henry said. "Call your next witness Ms. Mellon." Christine looked at the Judge and said, "The State rests." "Very well Ms. Mellon," Judge Henry said looking at Mr. Harris. "Call your first witness Mr. Harris." Mr. Harris stood and said, "Your Honor I advised my client that taking the stand and testifying is not in his best interests. He is going against my advice and wants to testify anyway. Therefore, I call Timothy Curtis to the stand." Curtis stood and walked towards the stand when he was sworn in. He accepted the oath then took the stand. Mr. Harris said, "Is Jake Curtis your son?" "No he is not," Curtis said. "What about that birth certificate that says you're his father?" "Not me," he said. "Wrong Timothy Curtis." "So nothing here that says Timothy Curtis is you, is that what you're saying?" Harris asked. "That is correct," Curtis replied. "Mr. Harris said, "No further questions, Your Honor." "Your witness Ms. Mellon," Judge Henry said. "Thank you Your Honor," Christine said. "Mr. Curtis, you claim that you're not the Timothy Curtis listed on Jake's school registration form, is that correct?" "It is," he said. She took the form and said, "Then why does the address on this form match your current address?" He looked at the form and said, "I wasn't living there at this time." "Alright," she said. "If that is the case maybe you can tell me this. I took the liberty of subpoenaing your driver's license information from the Division of Motor Vehicles. I had them go back to the time on the school registration form and do you know what it said?" Curtis just sat there not saying a word. She pulled the DMV printout out of her papers and said, "It says here that you were in fact living at that address. Can you explain why your driver's license would show that address if you weren't living there?" He hadn't answered the question so Christine said as she opened the school record, "Well, maybe you can answer this then. Here are various forms signed by your wife and you listing your address on them. The same address where you currently live. Is this your signature?" She handed him the form and he looked at it. She waited for an answer but it didn't come. She pulled another piece of paper out and said, "Here is a copy of your driver's license Mr. Curtis. As you can see, it shows your signature. Is this your signature?" Judge Henry was getting perturbed by the man's silence. He looked at the defendant and said, "Answer the question sir." He still sat there even after the judge asked him to answer the question. The judge looked at him and said, "I'll not tell you again sir, answer the question." Christine saw Curtis getting flustered and his face was showing anger. The longer he sat there the madder he got. The judge started to say, "Answer the." "Alright damn it," he spat. "That's my signature. The DMV record is also correct." "So you were living there at the time Jake was registered?" She asked. "Yes," I was living there," he said. She decided to see if he would go for the whole nine yards. She looked at him and said, "Then Jake Curtis is in fact your son, is that correct?" "YES," he shouted. "That little shit's my son." "Is what he said true?" Christine asked. "Is it true that you threw him out of your house hours before a hurricane was due to his us?" "Yeah it's true, he admitted. "And if I had to do it again, I'd do the same thing." Christine had her confession. She gave him the rope and he hung himself with it. She was now toying with the idea of asking him why he put the boys out. She hoped if the judge hears his reasons for putting Jake out, Curtis would get more prison time but she didn't want that information as part of the court record. She did her job and would get a conviction so she said, "No further questions of this witness." Mr. Harris just said, "The defense rests." "Does the defense wish to make a closing statement?" Judge Henry asked. Mr. Harris stood then said, "No Your Honor." "Does the State wish to make a closing statement?" He asked. Christine presented her case and the Judge knew it. She looked up and said, "No Your Honor, the State has presented its case." "Very well," Judge Henry said. "Since it's almost noon, we will recess for lunch then we will reconvene at 1:30PM. Court's in recess." They all stood while Judge Henry left the bench. Deputies came in and took Timothy Curtis back to a holding cell then Dad and John went and talked with Christine. Christine came on the other side of the rail as Dad asked, "How did you know he'd take the stand?" "I knew if I baited him long enough he would," she said. "He kept saying it wasn't him or I wasn't living there. Once I had his DMV information, I knew he was sunk." Dad, John and Christine went to the witness room where Jake and I were sitting there watching television. We heard the door open and we saw them as Jake said, "What's going on Granddad, I'm hungry." I looked at Christine and said, "For once I'm in agreement with Jake, what's going on?" "Come on guys," she said leaving the room. "Just relax now, let's get some lunch and I'll explain everything." Tony and I went outside as Dad and John saw Jake was still nervous as he took their hands so Buck sat down and held Jake by the waist. He looked into his eyes and said, "I want you listen carefully son. Everything is under control and you can relax. I know you have questions but just hang onto them until we reach the restaurant. Alright?" Christine took Tony aside and said something to him and he left for lunch. We walked out of the courthouse and started heading up the street. As we were walking Jake had John and Dad's hand because he was still in the dark as was I. I looked at Christine and said, "OK darn it, out with it. I guess the biggest thing I want to know, are Jake and I going to have to testify." She started giggling as she remembered how she gave Thomas all the rope he needed to hang himself earlier. I looked at her and said, "What's so funny?" "Nothing sweetie, I just remembered something funny in court," Christine said. "Just relax please it's all right, Shane. It's under control. I'll explain it when we sit down. I'm dying for something to drink." We came to a little restaurant and she opened the door for us to go in. She spotted a table in the corner as we went over there and sat down. A waitress brought us some menus and we looked to see what we wanted. "OK, we're here girl," I said. "Now spill it, the suspense is killing me." No sooner were we seated when the waitress brought some water then said, "What can I get you all?" Jake looked at her and said, "I'll have the half pound cheeseburger, fries and a large Dew." That sounded good so I said, "I'll have the one third pound cheeseburger, fries and a Dew too." John said, "I'll have the roast beef sandwich and iced tea." Dad was still looking so Christine said, "I'll have the chef's salad and iced tea." Dad eyes jumped when Christine ordered then said, "I'll have the same as her." The waitress wrote our orders down then said, "I'll be right back with your drinks." As soon as we were alone Christine smiled and said, "I know I've been keeping you and Jake in dark but I wanted to sit down before I talked with you. First, we've rested our case before the judge so neither of you will have to testify." Jake's eyes got big when he heard that and said, "How? I mean I thought I would need to tell everyone that he was my father and why he tossed me out." "Yes son," she said patting his hand. "I thought I was going to need that too. But with Linda on the stand I tried something different. I didn't know if it was going to work, so I needed you and Shane there so I could do as I first planned." "What was that?" I asked. Christine was about to speak when the waitress came with our drinks so she waited until she served them then left. Christine stirred her tea then said, "I had Linda tell how she first met Jake and what he told her then I asked her if she went to try to confirm that Mr. Curtis was Jake's father. I got Jake's school records admitted as evidence and in it was his birth certificate along with his initial registration form." Jake was lost and he said, "What good was all that?" She sipped her tea then said, "Well your father jumped up and started shouting saying that it wasn't him. When the judge got him quiet I made mention that your mother's signature was on the form and again he started shouting. The judge told him that if the information was wrong he had the right to take the stand and say so under oath." I was starting to giggle because I would have loved to have seen him acting like a total ass. I took a mouthful of my drink and said, "So I take it he took the stand?" "He sure did," she said smiling. "Once he told the court that it wasn't him and he wasn't living at the house at that time, I knew I had him." Jake looked at her and said, "That house is the only one I can ever remember living at. I hated it because I had to walk to school cause we lived to close for me to ride the bus and mom just wouldn't get off her ass to drive me." The waitress came out with our food and as soon as she had set Jake's and mine down we dove into it. We all ate and Jake asked, "How much time do you think he's gonna get?" Christine swallowed her mouthful and said, "That's hard to tell, especially with a trial by Judge. With a jury I usually have a pretty fair idea but I'm not sure. The max he could get is 30 years. 5 years for the neglect and 25 for the abandonment but what the judge will give his is anybody's guess." John looked at her and said, "If I was the judge I would give him the max just because of the way he acted and the lied in court." "Thanks John," she said. "He will tack on another 5 for perjury and I'm real sure of that. When we get back I'll file the charges." Jake looked at her and said, "I just want him out of my life and not my father any more." She finished her salad then said, "After the judge gives his verdict I will put a motion before the court requesting his parental rights be immediately terminated and if he's found guilty, I'm sure he'll grant it." It was now 1:00 and we had to get back to the courtroom. Jake and I went to the men's room and peed. Jake sighed and said, "I'm glad I didn't have to testify. I don't think I could have said what Tommy and I were doing." I looked at Jake and asked, "Do you want to go in and sit with our Dads and hear the verdict?" We washed our hands and rejoined the others. Christine paid for lunch then we walked back to the courthouse. I took Jake's hand and said, "Jake, he can't hurt you now. I've heard you tell me how much you love your new Dads. Well you gotta start trusting them. They will protect you plus you have Dad, Robert and me too. But you need to start trusting your new family." I saw John take his hand and look over at Jake. "I guess you're right Uncle Shane," Jake started. "I do trust you Dad. It's just that I'm really scared of what he will say when he sees me." John squeezed Jake's hand and said, "If he looks at you just smile at him and if he says anything to you, ignore it." Jake was quiet most of the way back and as we reached the steps to the courthouse he looked at John and then over to Christine and said, "If it's alright, I would like to come in to the courtroom." Christine just nodded her head then went into the lady's room. Dad and John had to pee too so I waited with Jake. I looked at him and said, "You'll be surrounded by people that will protect you. I know this is easy for me to say but try not to be scared. You're already a much better person than your father every will be." Jake thought about what I said last then said smiling, "Yeah Uncle Shane, I am a better person then him." Dad, John and Christine came out of the bathrooms and we all went into the courtroom together. Christine went back to her seat as we all took a seat in the gallery behind her. Mr. Harris came back in then the deputies let Jake's father in. Jake started shaking and I felt him squeeze the hell out of my hand. I looked and saw he was also squeezing John's hand. We started rubbing Jake's shoulders when his father stopped and glared at him. His father tried to spit over to Jake when a deputy covered his mouth and shoved him into his seat. The deputy looked at him and said, "Don't even think of trying that again." Jake went to the rail and looked at his father and said, "You don't scare me you bastard. You can't ever hurt me any more. I hope you're happy with what you did to your life. At least I finally have a decent family who really loves me." Jake came back and sat down then leaned his head against John and quietly cried. I could tell he was shaking like a leaf but he got that off his chest. John got him composed as a voice said, "All rise, this court is once again in session." Judge Henry came in and said, "Be seated. I had you come back at 1:30 so I could review the evidence to see if I could reach a verdict without having to put the court back in recess. I carefully studied the evidence and I have reached a verdict. Will the defendant and his counsel please rise." Jake's father rose as did his lawyer. The Judge looked at him and said, "Mr. Curtis, you have been charged with 1 count of felony child neglect and 1 count of felony child abandonment. I find you guilty on both charges. You took the stand and tried to tell the court that the state had the wrong person when you knew full well you were the child's father. I also find you guilty of perjury for lying to this court while under oath. You will return to this court in 7 days time where I will pass sentence pending a pre-sentencing report unless you wish to wave that, then I am ready to pass sentence." Mr. Harris conferred with his client then said, "We'll wave the pre-sentencing report." "Very well," Judge Henry said. "Your Honor," Christine said. "Yes Ms. Mellon," he said. "Before you pass judgment," she started. "The State would like to put a motion before the court." "Let's hear your motion," Judge Henry said. Christine stood and said, "Your Honor the State requests that Mr. Curtis' parental rights be terminated immediately since he has been found guilty of child neglect and abandonment." Judge Henry looked over at the defendant and said, "So ordered. Mr. Curtis, your parental rights to your son Jake are hereby terminated." Jake smiled when he heard that. Judge Henry looked at Jake and said, "Are you Jake Curtis, young man?" Jake started shaking when the man spoke to him. John patted his shoulder and Jake stood saying, "Ye-yes Sir." "It's a pleasure to meet you son," the Judge said. "Please accept the courts sincerest apology for the cruel treatment your father put you through. I can't imagine how you managed to survive the hurricane but I am truly glad you did and are now healthy. Are one of these men your foster father?" Jake smiled and said, "Yes Sir. This is John Phillips, he's my foster Dad." John stood and the judge said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Phillips. The court thanks you for caring for Jake in his time of need. And who are these other people with you?" Jake looked over at Dad then me then said, "This is my extended family. This person is the man who probably saved my life. This is Shane Taylor. He is the paramedic who found me outside." The Judge looked at me and said, "Thank you Mr. Taylor. You brought great credit to yourself and to the department." Jake then said, "And this man is Shane's Dad, Buck Taylor. They are my new Uncle and Granddad." Judge Henry smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you too Mr. Taylor. You must be proud of your son sir." Dad just smiled but didn't say anything. The Judge then looked at the defendant and said, "At this time I am ready to pass sentence since you decided to wave the pre-sentencing report. It is the judgment of this court that you be incarcerated for a term of 5 years for the child neglect and that you serve a term of 25 years for the child abandonment to be served consecutively. I also sentence you to a term of 5 years for the perjury also to be served consecutively. The court is adjourned." We stood as Judge Henry left the bench the Jake jumped into John's arms and said loud enough for the defendant to hear, "I love you my new Dad." A deputy came over and took Mr. Curtis away as John said, "It's over now. He's going to jail for a long time." Christine came through the rail in walked with us out of the courtroom and said, "One down, one to go." Jake looked at Christine and said, "Thanks for everything. I take it we will have to be here for that trial?" "Not unless she accepts the plea I offered her," Christine said. "But I have a feeling when she learns her husband was convicted and the sentence he received, she'll take the plea." It was just after two when we reached our vehicles. Jake looked at me and asked, "Would it be alright if I came over and saw the twins for a little while?" John nodded his head so I replied, "I guess that would be alright for maybe an hour." "What time do they get home?" John asked. "They're usually home by 4:30," I said. John thought for a minute then said, "When we get home you can ride your bike over. I want you back home by 6." Jake gave Dad and me a hug before heading home with John. We walked over to the Yukon as Dad said, "I'm sorry you were in the witness room son. You would have loved to have seen that guy. Christine's plan worked." "I know," I said. "I would have liked to have seen that but Jake needed me in the witness room, he was really nervous. I'm glad there was a television there." It took about 45 minutes to get home because the traffic was a nightmare. Dad and I got something to drink then I went and got out of my good uniform. I sat down on the couch then I heard the phone ring. I grabbed the cordless handset, "Hello." To be continued