Chapter 32

Jennifer

 

It was of no surprise when Mrs. Anderson was called to the stand. Well no surprise to me and Ryan, Roberto seemed extremely surprised. I had a feeling he really had tried to kill her. The look on his face was a mixture of surprise and anger. Anger that she was alive and about to testify against him.

“Mrs. Anderson, did my assistant and I talk to you about your testimony for this hearing?”

“Yes.”

“Can you share with this court what you told us about that day you witnessed the murder of your husband.”

Mrs. Anderson looked around the room at Roberto and then back at the judge.

“We didn’t talk about the murder of my husband. We talked about the pizza restaurant murder.”

Ryan’s face went white as he looked at Roberto and me.

“We ask that the murder of Mr. Stan Anderson be considered in this hearing.” The defense attorney quickly jumped up.

“Mr. King. You did just open this door.”

“Yes, you can include evidence from the murder of Mr. Anderson.”

The prosecutor seemed elated, like a school boy on the last day of school. Something really bad was about to go down. I just didn’t know what it was.

“Can we have a recess?” Ryan said to the judge.

“Five minutes.”

Ryan and I made our way into a side room and I saw peer panic on his face.

“This is bad Jennifer. This is so bad. They are going to nail him now.”

“What? Why? What’s going on?”

I didn’t understand how one additional murder charge was really all that bad. Roberto had already been charged with so many things.

Ryan paced the room and seemed to be in a bit of a panic. As the five minutes was up the bailiff came for us but Ryan didn’t respond. He was breathing heavy and totally out of it.

“Ryan, we have to go back in there,” I said as I grabbed his hand.

We walked slowly into the courtroom and I saw the concern on Roberto’s face when he looked at Ryan. He too must have known something was going wrong with his case.

“I’m sorry Dad. I’m so sorry.” Ryan whispered in Roberto’s ear as we sat down.

Roberto reached over and grabbed Ryan’s hand firmly.

“Do your best.”

It was actually a very touching scene. Something between them was better than ever before and they had bonded. Roberto seemed genuinely concerned when he saw Ryan. It was nice to see.

“Mr. King, you can proceed with the examination of Mrs. Anderson,” Judge Henry commanded.

Ryan just sat still and looked pale as a ghost. I wrote down a couple questions for him and ripped off the paper and put it into his hand. He read them slowly and then stood up.

“Mrs. Anderson, how many times have you changed your story of the night of the pizzeria murder?”

It was a good question. In all reality, she had changed her story at least three times. Most likely because Roberto forced her to, but still it would give a possibility of doubt to whatever else she said later on in her questioning.

“Three times, but…”

Ryan cut her off.

“So there have been three different version of what you saw that night? How are we suppose to know what you tell us here today is the truth then?”

“Well, I only changed my story because I feared for my life. My husband had been murdered by Roberto Calvertino…”

“Objection your honor that is not a proven fact.”

“Mrs. Anderson we need to only state facts as you know them,” The Judge said to Mrs. Anderson.

“Yes, your honor. That is a fact that I know.”

The courtroom erupted in chatter and the judge had to pound his gavel to calm everyone.

“Mrs. Anderson. You saw Mr. Calvertino murder your husband?” The judge asked her straight out.

“Well no.”

“See your honor. She is just making up stories,” Ryan said as he returned to the defense position.

“Your honor, I saw Roberto and Marco Veneto kill my husband.”

Again the courtroom erupted in chatter, but this time it could not be calmed. The judge tried to talk over everyone and continued to bang his gavel a few times.

“Exit the jury,” The Judge said to the bailiff.

The jury was quickly moved out of the courtroom. The judge again pounded his gavel to command order in the courtroom.

“Your honor, we request a brief recess to get Mr. Marco Veneto from the state penitentiary and bring him to testify.”

“One hour. I want this wrapped up today.”

The judge pounded his gavel again and we went with Roberto to the back room to discuss this crazy turn in the case.

 

***

 

“Oh God Dad. They are going to find out. I don’t know what to do. I’m going to get charged.”

Ryan went to his father and Roberto wrapped his arms around him. I just stood in the corner.

“No. Here’s what you do. Deny everything. It’s the truth. You had no idea what happened until years later. I’m sorry it happened.”

I had no idea what they were talking about. Were they talking about the pizzeria murder? Were they talking about Mr. Anderson’s murder? I didn’t know and I wasn’t about to ask them.

“I will just discredit him when he is on the stand. There is nothing he can say that I can’t talk around. Right?” Ryan said as he looked at his father.

“He’s a lying cheating bastard, Ryan. He will do anything to get back at me. He will try to get you because he knows it will get me.”

“I won’t let him. I will not go to prison over this!” Ryan yelled and slammed his fists onto the table.

I jumped at the loud noise and the anger in Ryan’s voice. It scared me. It reminded me way too much of his father. I wanted to run. I would have left in a second if I had not already promised Ryan that I wouldn’t leave.

My stomach churned, though. It sounded like Ryan was admitting that he knew something about these murders or some murder. He was afraid. Ryan was seriously afraid.

For the remainder of the hour, Ryan and Roberto sat at the table and discussed their tactics for how to go about dealing with the testimony of Marco Veneto.

I knew Marco from the press around Roberto’s case. Marco had pretty much been the man who committed crimes for Roberto, but all the press was that he had strong-armed people and took bribes. His conviction wasn’t for murders. That was what they charged Roberto with. It made sense that Roberto probably wasn’t the person who actually committed any murders, though. He never did anything himself, always had others do his dirty work. I suspected that Marco Veneto was the one Roberto had paid to actually do the murders.

“So did Marco cut a deal and that’s why he wasn’t charged with the murders?” I said from the corner of the room where I was curled up in.

Roberto looked over at me and grimaced.

“He threw my Dad to the prosecutors and took a deal.”

“So he was the one who actually murdered those people and not Roberto. But he got off?” I know I sounded like a naive school girl, but I didn’t know it until after the comment had already come out of my mouth.

“The real world doesn’t work how we want it to little lady. Yes people you trust turn against you.”

“But he’s the one who actually murdered those people.”

“Jennifer, they wanted my Dad. He’s the one they wanted. They would give anyone any deal they could in order to get my Dad.”

I just shook my head as I tried to make sense of everything.

It was weird that Ryan was suddenly calling Roberto his Dad. I couldn’t get that out of my head. Something was wrong, or different. Maybe it was just because they had made up with each other, but I felt like there was something else going on.

“Why don’t you go back into the courtroom and let us finish up here,” Roberto said.

I didn’t want to be in that room anymore anyways. I quickly made my way out and back to the defense desk.

Again the urge to flee came over me. I really didn’t know what would happen next with this trial and the anxiety over it was driving me crazy. I just wanted Ryan, none of this craziness. I didn’t even care that he had tons of money or was in the press all the time. I certainly didn’t care about his million dollar home or his private jet. All I wanted was to be away from the chaos and in bed with him.

I sat in the courtroom and waited for Ryan and Roberto to come back out. The people filled the seats behind me and I did my best to look professional while they made their way into the room. Soon the prosecutor and his team were there and then the bailiff brought the jury in.

Roberto and Ryan were still not back.

“Miss, you need to get Mr. King and Roberto Calvertino back in here.” The bailiff said to me.

“They are just in the conference room. Can you let them know it’s time to start?”

The bailiff made his way to the side door to the conference room and went in. It was only a minute before he returned.

“They are not in there.”

The shock on my face must have instantly alerted the bailiff and he went straight back to the judges chambers.

Panic set in. Where could they have gone?

Suddenly I flashed to all that research I had done on Russia and how it would be the perfect place to escape to. I wouldn’t have expected Ryan to go with Roberto though and there was a guard on the other side of the conference room, I didn’t know how they would have escaped.

Sweat formed on my brow as I tried to look calm, but inside I was screaming. I felt my breathing as it became faster and I wanted to just get up and leave the courtroom. It was filled with people now and I couldn’t be the only one sitting at the defense table when the judge came out of his chambers.

I tried to take a few deep breaths but the room was getting dizzy and I felt myself having a hard time sitting upright.

“Please rise for the honorable Judge Henry,” the bailiff yelled.

I held onto the table while I stood.

“Ms. Roy, where are Mr. King and the defendant?” The judge asked me.

“Um. I …They were in there,” I said as I pointed to the conference room.

The room was silent as the judge talked with the bailiff. I sat down because I was going to fall over if I tried to stand any longer.

I couldn’t believe Ryan and Roberto had left me there. Ryan had just made me promise not to leave no matter what and then he and Roberto sneak out and take off. It was not anything I could have expected.

The bailiff got a radio call and went to the back door of the courtroom and opened it. Roberto and Ryan came walking in, Roberto was being escorted by an officer.

“Mr. King, nice of you to join us,” the judge said annoyingly.

“I’m sorry Judge, Mr. Calvertino needed a restroom break.”

I could tell in Ryan’s voice that the restroom had not been what just happened. There was something else going on and it was starting to piss me off that no one wanted to include me in the details.

“Alright, let’s continue.”

The prosecution called Marco Veneto to the stand.

“Mr. Veneto, did you work for Roberto Calvertino for the last twenty-five years?” The prosecutor asked.

“Yes. We were like brothers growing up.”

“Mr. Veneto, Did Mr. Calvertino pay you to murder people?”

“No.”

The prosecutor seemed surprised by that answer.

“Mr. Veneto, Are you telling me that Mr. Calvertino never paid you to participate in any murders.”

“That is correct.”

“Then why are you here today Mr. Veneto. It was my understanding that you had confessed to the state prosecutor.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

‘Mr. Veneto. This is not some game. Did you participate in the murders in question?”

“Yes.”

It was hilarious to see how frustrated the prosecutor was getting with Marco Veneto. The prosecutor looked like he might actually explode. His face turned red and he was holding his breath as he thought of each question.

“Ok, explain to me what I’m missing here. Yes, you participated in the murders, but no you were not paid for them. How is this possible?”

“That is correct.”

Marco just smiled at the attorney as he got angry again.

“Mr. Veneto did you or did you not commit these murders under payment from Roberto Calvertino.”

“I did not.”

I had to laugh. The frustration of the prosecutor was hilarious. He threw his pen across the room.

“So yes, you committed the murders.”

“Yes.”

“And yes, Roberto Calvertino was the mastermind who paid you to complete the murders.”

“No.”

“Judge can you please advice Mr. Veneto to answer the questions.”

“Mr. Veneto, please answer the questions truthfully.” The judge said to the witness.

“I am. Yes, I committed the murders but no Roberto did not pay me to do them. I committed them because he was family and asked me to.”

“Roberto Calvertino is your family?” The prosecutor asked.

“Figuratively speaking. He was like my brother.”

“So he asked you to commit the crimes but did not pay you.”

“Yes.”

Finally, the prosecutor had what he was looking for.

“The prosecution rests.”

Ryan took a deep breath and then stood to cross-examine Marco.

“Mr. Veneto. Did the state make promises to you in exchange for coming here to testify against my client today?”

“Yes.”

“What did they promise you?”

“They promised me the minimum sentence.”

“So basically they bribed you to come here?”

“I guess. But it wasn’t any different than the bribe you gave me.”

Again, the courtroom was filled with the chatter of everyone. The judge banged his gavel, but no one calmed down. Had we all just heard what we thought? Did Marco Veneto just say that Ryan had tried to bribe him?

“Both attorneys in my chambers now.” The judge yelled as he stood up and made his way toward the door that led to his chambers.

The courtroom continued to talk and I just sat there stunned. What the hell was going on? Ryan wouldn’t bribe anyone. I knew him well enough to know this. Or at least I thought I knew him well enough.

Roberto sat still and without any reaction.

“What are they talking about Roberto? What did Ryan do?”

Roberto just ignored me.

“Roberto! He can go to jail for bribing a witness. Tell me what the hell is going on.”

“It’s not for bribing him recently. A few years after Ryan’s partner was murdered, I gave Marco money and said it was from Ryan to keep his silence about the murder.”

“Marco murdered Ryan’s partner? Did Ryan know about this?”

“No, Ryan didn’t know. Ryan wouldn’t have agreed to it. Only years later did I tell him. And before you ask. No, Ryan did not actually bribe him.”

My mind swirled as I tried to make sense of everything that is going on. Surely if Ryan didn’t really know about it, he couldn’t get into trouble. But then again, at some point he did know about it. Oh God, I had no idea what was going on.

After a few minutes, Ryan and the prosecutor returned to the courtroom. The judge took his spot and the trial continued.

“We have nothing further,” Ryan said as he sat down.

I expected that the prosecution would want to re-examine the witness, but he didn’t say anything. I looked at Ryan in hopes that I would get a clue to what was going on, but he just sat there and looked forward.

“Jury, you are instructed to disregard the testimony of Marco Veneto.”

Oh my gosh. That was great. I looked at the prosecutor again to see if he was angry or agitated. But he also just looked straight forward. The judge continued with his instructions to the jury and then dismissed them.

It was over. Just like that the hearing was over and we were left to wait for the verdict. The bailiff came to take Roberto back into custody and I saw a bit of a panic on his face.

“It’s alright. Just standard while we wait for the verdict,” Ryan said as Roberto was taken away.

As soon as Roberto was gone, Ryan grabbed me and brought me into the conference room off to the side.

“Stick with me Jennifer. Please, I know it looks bad.”

His body pressed against mine and all I could do was shake my head yes. I was going to stick this day out. I was going to see what the ending to this story was, even if it turned our Ryan was taken away to jail after it all.

“Ryan, you can go to prison you know. If you knew about that murder.”

Ryan grabbed my face and pulled me toward him. Our mouths landed on each other and I forgot about everything else in the world.

“Jennifer, it’s going to be alright. Please trust me.”

I desperately wanted everything to be alright, but I couldn’t see how that was possible at all. Ryan had probably very clearly known about all of his father’s murders, but having him implemented in his partner’s murder was going to look really bad for him.

“What did the judge say to you guys when you went back there?”

“Nothing to worry about. Everything is going exactly as planned.”

“What! Exactly as planned? How is that even possible Ryan? Everything is a mess. Marco just said you bribed him, you pretty much admitted you knew your father was killing people. I have no idea how any of this is alright. Your father might like you right now, but you are in so much trouble.”

Ryan shook his head in affirmation as I talked, but he didn’t speak. We sat there in silence as we waited for the jury to come back with their verdict. It was already four o’clock in the afternoon so it was entirely possible they wouldn’t be able to come up with an answer in such a short time.

I let my head lay on the table and Ryan stroked my hair with his hand. We sat in silence as we waited for the final verdict to come in. There were so many emotions. I didn’t want Roberto to be let free, but I really thought if they convicted him then that would give them a clear battle to come after Ryan. It was heart wrenching.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Ryan said.

It was a bailiff with Roberto. I sat up.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Roberto said as he looked at the two of us.

The bailiff didn’t leave the room this time and stood over near the door. I wanted to leave so bad. My anxiety was through the roof and I couldn’t just sit there another moment. The only good thing for the moment was that Ryan and Roberto seemed to have made up.

I hated the man; Roberto was the scum of the earth. But if it meant that he wouldn’t come after Ryan then I was happy they had made up.

Roberto and Ryan hugged and I watched as they talked to one another. They talked so quietly that I couldn’t tell what was being said, but it seemed like they were saying their goodbyes.

Another fifteen minutes went by and the court officer opened the door in a hurry.

“There is a verdict,” he said firmly.

Roberto and Ryan looked at each other and hugged one last time. I stayed behind them as we walked back into the courtroom.

I could feel my pulse as it thrust into my ears. I was so nervous. I could hardly remember to breathe as I sat down in the chair between Roberto and Ryan.

As much as I disliked Roberto, I did hope they would overturn his conviction and we could just be done with everything. But deep down I knew, even if Roberto was free, he would never let Ryan go.

“Honorable Judge Henry presiding,” the bailiff said as the judge took his seat.

The jury was brought in and I saw it in their face. They were going to convict Roberto. None of them looked at him, they just looked straight ahead.

I had to wonder if they feared for their own lives at all? I know I would if I was them. Roberto was a scary man.

The judge was handed a piece of paper and read it before having the bailiff hand it back to the head of the jury.

“Jury have you reached a verdict?” The judge asked.

“Yes, your honor we have.”

“Please read your verdict.”

“We the jury find the defendant guilty on all twenty-seven counts as previously convicted.”

As the courtroom became noisy, I reached over to Ryan and grabbed his hand.

“I’m sorry.”

I also looked at Roberto and said the same thing.

Roberto didn’t seem as angry as I thought he would be. He seemed at peace with the verdict. I had really expected that he would yell or scream or at least threaten to kill someone. It was nice to see him just sitting there.

“Thank you for your service,” the judge said to the jury before they were removed from the courtroom.

“Mr. Calvertino, do have anything you would like to say?”

Roberto stood up and addressed the judge.

“I am deeply sorry for the actions I have taken over the years. I admit to my part in the murders and want to say that my son Ryan had no knowledge of anything I ever did with regard to such wrong doing.”

“Mr. Calvertino, you are remanded back to the state penitentiary to complete your original sentence. We are adjourned.”

The judge slammed his gavel down again.

Ryan and Roberto hugged and Roberto was taken out of the courtroom.

That was it. It was over, now we just had to wait and see if Roberto would freak out on Ryan and try to kill him; or have him killed.

“Mr. King I need you in my chambers, sir,” the judge said to Ryan as the courtroom emptied.

Oh no. This was it. They were going to charge him. I couldn’t stand it another second. As Ryan went to the judge’s chambers, I made my way out of the courthouse as fast as I could.

My body was filled with adrenaline and I just needed to run.

I ran down the front steps and started to run down the street, I needed some relief from the horrible feeling of dread that had built up inside of me.