The Inheritance: Chapter 5 - Part II (Updated 11/14)
magma067:
I luv it, cant wait till the next update i hope they find poor betty innocent thats so unfair, u cant arrest someone if u have no proof! i really hope dante doesnt think for a second betty killed chaira and attempted to kill him. right now i'm not liking him one bit!
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter 4 - Part VIII
November 1964
You can learn a lot from the conversations that people have in a courtroom. As I made my way to the defendant's table, I overheard snippets of a conversation by my friends who had gathered, whether for support or because they would testify.
Paolo came to sit in the back of the courtroom. I hadn't seen him since the night of the shooting. It had been too confusing to seek his presence after the shooting, and he seemed content to keep his distance. He was talking to Judith.
"I'm sure she'll be acquitted," I heard Paolo tell Judith, who was wringing her hands. "I'm sure of it."
I opened the gate and stepped up to the table; the prosecutor was standing near the table talking to my attorney. They didn't look up as I approached. I heard the prosecutor say, "There's still time to make a deal. Ten years for third degree murder."
"We'll take our chances," said my lawyer. I had already told him that I did not want a plea agreement: I was innocent.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Dante standing there, looking downcast. He tried to offer me a smile, but it came off more as a grimace.
"Feeling all right?" he asked me awkwardly.
I nodded, swallowing hard. "I think so."
"I'm right behind you," he said and patted my forearm.
"Thank you," I said. Judge Vicenzi came across to his desk and gaveled the court into session.
"Order! Order in my courtroom. The prosecution may begin."
The prosecution called Judith to the stand and proceeded to harass her about my role in the departure of her husband. "She helped me," said Judith hotly. "She didn't hurt anyone, she didn't hurt my husband. He just left."
And then finally...
...it was my turn.
"Signora Moretti, when did you first find out about your husband's affair with Singorina Castelli?" asked the prosecutor.
"Capricia Volante hinted about it in...I believe it was the first weekend in August. I heard conclusively later that month."
"You found out about it the same day that Giovanni Giorelli went missing? The day that Signora Giorelli's house was robbed?" demanded the prosecutor.
"That's what I understand, yes."
"And where were you that evening?"
I hesitated. "I don't know. I...I spent the evening with a friend and I...well, I'm afraid I had too much to drink and I blacked out." I blushed profusely at this, flames rising in my cheeks.
This continued until the prosecutor ended his questioning. My attorney began his cross-examination. "Signora, you fell asleep and woke up at the same place that night, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"And you have no reason to believe that you left that location under the influence of alcohol?"
"No."
"The prosecution has no evidence to suggest that you did, either. And the night of the shooting, you were upstairs."
"Yes."
"Signora, at any point have you conspired with, paid, asked, requested, or been otherwise party to knowledge about a plot to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, your husband and his assistant?"
I raised my chin defiantly and said firmly, "No."
"No further questions."
The prosecutor stood to re-direct. "Signora, if you were at a friend's house, why have you not named them? Why have they not come forward? Are we expected to take your word on this matter? You could have been organizing your husband's assassination and stealing the rifle to use in the shooting."
"I ... I can't," I said, flushing profusely. What would they say if they knew the truth? What would my husband and friends think if I'd spent the night, drunk, in the house of a single man? "It's...I wasn't doing any of that. I was..." I was interrupted when someone else shouted in the courtroom.
"She was with me," Paolo said loudly. "I was the one who told her that Signor Moretti was having an affair. She had too much to drink so she slept on my couch."
The courtroom went into a roar, and the judge banged the gavel, shouting angrily, "Order! Order! I will have order!" He pointed his gavel at Paolo. "You sir, come forward."
Paolo came forward; I covered my mouth in embarrassment. The judge said, "State your name and business."
"Paolo Esposito, your honor."
"And would you take an oath on the truthfulness of your...outburst?"
"I would, your honor."
He waved the bailiff forward and Paolo was sworn in. "It was all true, your honor. The Signora was there the whole night."
"Your honor," said my attorney, drawing the prosecutor's attention. "Sir, with all due respect, I ask you for a mistrial. The prosecution's entire case was that my client could have broken into the Giorelli house and could have kidnapped Giovanni Giorelli, framing him for the assassination. Since she has a sworn alibi, the prosecution has no case."
The judge frowned. "I want both of you in chambers. We will recess for ten minutes."
Ten minutes later...
"The defendant will please rise," said the judge.
"Ladies and gentlemen; Signora Moretti," began the judge. "I am hereby declaring a mistrial. To be honest, I had misgivings about issuing a warrant for your arrest, Signora, on the slim evidence that the prosecution had, but it was sufficient."
He turned to the prosecutor. "Signor Bemelli, bear in mind that should the state wish to re-issue charges against the Signora, you will need a far stronger case. Frankly, you haven't got it."
"Signora," he said, turning back to me. He offered a sad smile. "You are free to go with the court's apologies."
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter 4 - Part IX
November-December 1964
I gathered with Judith, Angela, and Adela in the hallway outside the courtroom. We all embraced to celebrate my victory. "Well," said Adela, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve, "Now that you're free, you can get back to hosting our gatherings."
"We've been fasting," Judith explained. "No gatherings without you!"
"It'll be so good to be home. They're unsealing the villa so we can move back in," I said with a relieved sigh. I could hardly believe that the trial had ended so abruptly. "I..."
My voice trailed off as I looked across the hall.
"Could you ladies excuse me?" I asked. "I'll be in touch...we can plan a get together after the holidays."
"Sure," said Adela, and I moved over to Paolo.
"Thank you," I said, embracing him. "You saved my life."
"It was the truth," said Paolo, smiling. "It was the very least I could do to prevent a serious miscarriage of justice."
"Elizabeth?" a voice said from behind me. I turned to see Dante waiting.
"I have to go," I said. "Thank you, Paolo. Goodbye."
It was dark when we stepped out of the courthouse and began the drive home. I was elated and couldn't help but to gush, "Oh, what a relief. I'm so glad to be able to be back with the children. They must've been so worried."
"They were," said Dante dully.
"What's wrong?" I asked. "Is anything the matter?"
"Nothing, except the whole town knows our personal business," said Dante. "And Chi--Signorina Castelli's killer walks free." He glanced covertly at me.
"You can't possibly think--" I began, then fell silent. "I was cleared, Dante!"
"You weren't found not guilty. The charges were dropped."
I gaped at him. Could he honestly believe that I would hurt him? That I would hire someone to shoot at a house that had my friends in it? My children?
"You do, don't you? You think I was behind all this."
His silence spoke volumes. We continued on in silence for several long minutes.
"Dante," I said coldly, without looking over at him. Struggling to keep my voice in control, I said simply, "I want a divorce."
Two weeks later...
Christmas was in the air, and Dante and I had decided that we would try to make this a pleasant Christmas for the children before we officially filed for divorce.
Josephine and Marco came home a week before Christmas, and that Saturday, Josephine and I went out shopping for gifts.
When she came out of the store she had left me outside of, we began walking up the street to another shop. "So how are you holding up, mom? Are you and dad working things out?"
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Do you think Marco could use a new desk set? He's always saying how much he writes."
"I got him a diary," said Josephine. "But really mom, I mean it. How are you?"
We stopped to look into a shop window and I hesitated. "Do you feel like some coffee?" I asked. "I know a nice little place nearby, and it's so chilly."
We settled in for coffee. "Oh!" said Josephine before I could bring myself to tell her. "Mom, do you think we could have Mrs. O'Reilly and Donovan over for Christmas dinner? He's going to be in town."
I smiled at her. "Of course, dear. The more the merrier." I reached out and stroked her hair lightly. "Just promise not to wear that ridiculous hat."
"Deal," she said. "So tell me about you and dad."
I hesitated. "I wasn't going to say anything because it's Christmas, and I wanted it to be pleasant for you kids," I said. "But I know you're relentless and won't give up until I come clean."
"And?" asked Josephine.
"I asked him for a divorce."
The look on my daughter's face, of resigned sadness and mingled shock, sent guilt rolling in my gut. I took her hands between mine and offered a smile, tinged with my own sadness.
"Marriage takes a lot of sacrifice," I told her, tears welling in my eyes. "But I don't think I can live with a man who believes I tried to kill him."
"Don't worry, mother," said Josephine, squeezing my hands. "I completely understand."
But I don't think she did. I hoped that she did not and never would understand what it felt like to be betrayed by the man you loved on a level even deeper than infidelity.
She deserved better.
Glamily:
O.O wonderful, where do you get your inspiration?
shibby559559:
ooh i love this story, you are such a good writer! I wish I was as good as you!
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