Chapter 13 - Devils in Heaven, Angels in Hell

 



Court goes into recess until 9 a.m.

 

  Melissa is taken back to her room and Dalton hangs back with her attorney.  As soon as possible, Jon and Beth high tail it out of there and grab a cab.  As the cab pulls out from the psychiatric hospital they needed to work through some paparazzi.  Jon and Beth are pro's at covering their faces and hiding when need be. 

 

Once they are on the highway back to the city, Beth lets out a sigh and rests her head on Jon's shoulder.  He can't resist kissing her head, it was something that he's always done and something that he will always do.  "Are you alright?" he asks her.

 

"I'm drained." she yawns, "I feel like I have been run over." 

 

"I know how you feel." he rests his head on hers, looking down, he takes her hand and holds it.  He wanted nothing more than to just be there for her. 

 

"I don't know what to say or do."

 

"You don't need to do or say anything." he assures her.

 

"I wanna go home." she says, and that was a shot to his heart.  He didn't like to think about her leaving, he had wiped that thought from his mind, several times today. 

 

He knows that there is nothing that he can say or do that will change the way that she's feeling.  He has no doubt that she can't wait to get on a plane and get back to California as soon as she's able to.  The thought of that kills him, but he knows that pleading with her or trying to get her to stay would be pointless.  "Just think, this time tomorrow you will be on a plane back home."

 

"It seems so far away."  She takes his hand into hers and squeezes it tight, not letting it go.  "I want to wake up from this nightmare."

 

"Do you want to talk?"

 

She picks up her head and looks at him, "I can't believe that all of this happened because I didn't notice him in the park.  Do you know how many people that I pass in a day and never notice?"

 

"He's crazy, you know that."

 

"But can you believe that all of this was because of that?  He manipulated me from the beginning and I didn't see it.  Am I really that stupid?"

 

"He's a psychopath, both of them are, and as far as you being manipulated - you're a trusting person and you had no reason to believe that he was anything but genuine."

 

"Jon, it went on for months."

 

"I know." he gently reaches up and brushes her cheek, "There isn't anything that we can do about it now, except hope that they keep Melissa locked up and Dalton disappears of the face of the earth."

 

She leans into his hand, loving his touch "Why do you think that she didn't testify?  I thought that was odd."

 

"She would probably incriminate herself, maybe leaving her open for more charges?  Who knows."

 

"Do you think she'll get out?"

 

Jon shakes his no, "There is no way in hell.  I could see the judges face while he was listening to Dalton talk, I really don't think she stands a chance."

 

Beth focuses her attention on the passing cars, losing her self deep in thought.  "What if she does?  What if she walks out of there tomorrow?"

 

"We can deal with that then, don't let it worry you tonight."

 

 

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"Given the circumstances surrounding this case, and the depravity of the crime that you have been convicted of, I feel that it is in the best interest of society and the Bongiovi family that you serve out the sentence that you were given at your trial.  You and Mr. Patterson plotted and schemed to manipulate and hurt Miss Adams and the Bongiovi family, without any regard to the consequences of your actions."

 

Beth starts to cry, they won.  The were the team that they always needed to be and faced the unimaginable together and they conquered the demon that they were faced with.  It was their worst nightmare come true and with commitment and a common goal, they persevered and beat the Dalton/Melissa team.

 

"Miss Adam, Mr. Bongiovi" the judge directs his attention to them.  "I am so sorry that you had to come here and relive the nightmare that was caused you by these two here in the court room.  No mother and father that lost their child at the hands of another, should never have to face them again and fight to keep their daughters killer behind bars.  Please know that what I heard in this court room yesterday did not fall on deaf ears.  I have ordered a team of investigators to look into all that was discussed and if there is a way, I will get Mr. Patterson back behind bars where he belongs.  You should never have to worry about either of them ever again."

 

Jon and Beth acknowledge the judge and give him a smile, to let them know that they are thankful.  After Beth gives the judge her silent thank you, she looks over to Dalton and Melissa.  Melissa has her face in her hands and she is crying the sobby kind of cry and that was music to Beth's  ears.  When she looked at Dalton, she was able to see that he was nervous and wants to get out of there before the judge does something to him.  When he squirms in his chair, he looks back to Beth and his expression falls.  He can see that she and Jon are very happy with the outcome of the hearing.

 

"Mr. Patterson, you and all of your agents, passed and present and future are to stay 1000 feet away from Miss Adams, Mr. Bongiovi and his family.  If you are caught within 1000 feet of them, ANYWHERE, I will see to it, personally that you are locked up again and for a very long time." he leans  back in his chair and sets his pen down before he begins, "And all I have left to say is, may God have mercy on your souls."  The gavel bangs the desk.  "We are done here."

 

Jon, Beth and Peter immediately leave the court room and never look back.  Peter had to catch a flight back to LA from Philly, so his car took him there.  Jon and Beth walked out to Jon's car, since they drove to Trenton.  As fast as they could, they left Trenton in the rearview mirror.

 

He looks over at Beth while he's driving and can see that she is relieved.  She has little tears rolling down her cheeks, and they land on her smile.  She's smiling because she faced her worst fear head on and she won.  They won.  They both are happy, hell, they both are thrilled.  "When is your flight?" he asks her with that damn lump in his throat, "When do I need to get you to the airport?"

 

She looks at him, reaching over to rub his leg she says, "I haven't booked my flight home yet.  I didn't know how long this would take" 

 

"Do you want to stay at the house with me?" he hopes, he prays.

 

"No, you can take to me to the train station, I can take a train back into the city."

 

"I'll take you into the city, Beth.  You will not ride the train."

 

"I have the Waldorf booked through the week.  Again, not knowing how long all of this would take."

 

"Do you mind if we stop at the house for a minute?  No one is there."

 

"Yeah, that would be okay."