Page 12 of Into These Eyes
Even when she’s all alone, her strength and conviction never waver.
I’m probably deluded, probably latching onto anything I can, but I believe I know who she is on the inside. Simply from observing her body language. And those eyes.
One day I’ll change that loathing into something else. Something warm and forgiving.
One day, I’ll tell her what she surely must be wondering about her mother’s last moments.
As soon as the justice system works its magic.
Because I have faith.
Faith that innocent people don’t go to prison.
Chapter 7
Jamie
After almost a year of waiting, the day of closing submissions has finally arrived.
Alone yet again, I seat myself in the gallery and glance around at the others here to gawk. As the trial progressed, Dad’s presence had ebbed away until he couldn’t bear to attend court. I suppose today isn’t the verdict, but his excuse that his employer thinks he’s had too much time off work feels like a lie. If he’d told me he was taking Anika out of daycare to look after her himself, Iwouldn’t have minded so much. But when I need him most, he’s not here for me, or her, and that hurts.
When hewashere, I’d noticed he refused to look at Gavin Lake. I figured, if he took one look at the killer in the dock, he’d leap over the small barrier and murder the guy right there in front of everyone.
Speaking of the devil, the Corrective Services officer leads the vile arsehole into the courtroom and deposits him in the dock.
As they have every day of the trial, his eyes instantly find mine. And once again, I glare daggers at him. He stares back like he truly believes he’s innocent, and it drives me wild with fury. Worse still, he’s a brilliant actor.
When he looks at me in a certain way, I almost believe him. The devastating pain and utter despair in his eyes occasionally slip through my armour of hatred and tear at my heart. Pathetic.
He’s doing it right now. It doesn’t come across like he’s feeling sorry for himself because he got caught. It comes across as if he’s sorry forme. Like he empathises with my loss. Even my anger. Which makes no sense, since he’s the cause of it all.
Wrenching my gaze from his, I stare straight ahead, ashamed of myself for feeling anything but rage toward him. Still, I feel his eyes on me, just like I have every day. What he hopes to accomplish, I don’t know. Though his staring doesn’t seem threatening, I hate it. But I don’t let that keep me away. There’s no way on earth I’d let him deter me from being here. I’m not just here for myself, I’m here for Mum.
After the thug’s lawyer raves on with a bunch of lies, the prosecutor addresses the jury. I tune into him, my gaze sliding over to the killer himself. I don’t care if he stares at me, I want to see his reactions to everything the prosecutor says.
“Let’s begin with what the defence has presented. The word of the accused. The word of a killer, a man whose own father testified against him. That is all they have. Nothing else.”
Gavin Lake’s jaw clenches, his eyes briefly skittering over to the prosecutor as the man strides closer to the jury.
“Now, let’s look at the actual evidence. You all saw the footage from the security guard’s vehicle. The accused kneeled over the victim, one hand on the lethal weapon, the other strangling her. He then tried to flee the scene. The accused was covered in the victim’s blood and his fingerprints were the only prints found on the murder weapon. All compelling evidence, none of which can be denied. On top of that, we have motive.”
The murderer stares into my eyes, pleading with me. It’s so ridiculous, I almost laugh. It’s like he thinks the evidence against him is a lie. But he’s the only liar in this room.
“The accused had a violent altercation with his father over his dissatisfaction with his father’s new relationship. Clearly in a rage, the accused obtained a weapon from the kitchen before leaving. Upon seeing the victim outside his family home, the angry young man lashed out, ending the life of an innocent woman, leaving behind a grieving husband and two motherless children. This is an open and shut case, ladies and gentlemen. There is no reasonable doubt here.”
When Gavin Lake shakes his head in denial, I want to scream. It’s not enough that he’d killed my mother, but he then had the audacity to drag our family through this hell? If he’d just pled guilty to begin with, this trial wouldn’t have taken place. I never would have laid eyes on him. Though, truthfully, I needed to see the monster who killed my mother. I need a picture of him in my head, an image I can call upon to keep my hatred for him alive.
The next morning, as I sit in the gallery, Detective Reid seats himself beside me. At least I’m not alone.
Then the jury foreperson announces their decision.
Guilty on all counts.
Utter relief washes through me. Although sentencing might not take place for a few weeks, I’ve done my research. He should get sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of twenty years.
I find Gavin Lake’s pitiful face and glare at him. Chin trembling, he stares back. When the Corrective Services officer approaches him, he shakes his head, tears brimming in his eyes.
Good.
