The officer nodded and exited the cellblock. Mr. Zimmer waited for him to leave before speaking. “How the hell could you have done this, you stupid asshole? You utterly disgust me, you filthy pervert!”
An anger like no other fell over Seth. He got to his feet and gripped the bars of his cell so tightly his fingers turned white. “I didn’t do a goddamned thing, shithead!”
“Yeah right, Seth. That’s what guilty people say.”
“I’m not guilty!”
“I always knew you were up to something—but this? This is just too much.”
“Goddammit, would you listen to me?”
Mr. Zimmer’s face hardened. “Good-bye, Seth.”
The only thing Seth could do was scream and violently shake the bars of the cell. Suddenly the door buzzer beeped and the officer dashed back into the cellblock. Mr. Zimmer fell to his knees. The officer rushed to his aid. “You all right, sir? What’s going on? What happened?”
“It was terrible. Seth came at me between the bars and tried to put his big strong hands around my neck.”
The officer sat Mr. Zimmer down on a bench across from the cell and then turned back to Seth.
Mr. Zimmer coughed. “I’m ready to go now, Officer.”
The officer turned and helped Mr. Zimmer to his feet and slowly headed back to the door. Mr. Zimmer placed his hand behind his back knowing Seth was watching and gave him the finger.
Later that evening, Seth was sitting in the bed with his back against the wall, trying to figure out how he got tangled in this traumatic situation.
The door buzzed, and an officer entered the cellblock. A few moments later the officer opened the door. “Let’s go!”
Seth remained seated.
The officer waited a couple of seconds before repeating himself.
Finally Seth clued in. “Oh, can I go?”
“No, sir, you’re being booked.”
Seth’s face became pale, and he began to tremble. “What?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop have decided to press charges and settle this in a court of law.”
After the booking, Seth sat in an office of the police station. He was deep in shock. The office clerk entered from the back room and then sat back at her desk.
“Okay, Mr. Zimmer,” The clerk waited a few moments for Seth to acknowledge. “Mr. Zimmer?”
Seth slowly turned to the clerk. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
“You are to appear in court one month from today.”
Seth thought for a moment. “Is that it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I get no options, no bail? It’s just straight back to my cell?”
“No, you have bail. It’s set at $5,000.”
“Holy shit! Are you freaking kidding me? Who the hell can afford that?”
The clerk began organizing Seth’s paperwork. “I’m sorry, but that’s what it’s set at. There’s nothing I can do. I guess you could always ask a judge to lower it, but good luck.”
Seth was suddenly hit hard with a deep, overwhelming emotion, and even though he already knew the answer, he asked anyway. “And what happens if one can’t afford the bail?”
The clerk cleared her throat, turned to Seth and lowered the handful of paper. “Well, Mr. Zimmer, if one can’t afford the bail, which is usually the case, one must go to a federal holding cell until his court date.”
Seth was given a bright orange jumpsuit and led down a long hallway of cells. He entered his new home, a dark, drab, cold, lonely cell. The guard lightly shoved Seth inside and gently closed the door. But to poor Seth, the sound was earth shattering.
The guard walked back down the hall. Seth slowly walked over to the bed and took a seat. He exhaled deeply and began to cry.
Over the slow course of a month, crying was the only thing Seth could do. Finally, the court date arrived. Seth was led into the courtroom by an officer.
“All rise for the Honourable Judge Arthur Vines!”
Everyone in the courtroom rose as the judge made his way to the bench.
After the judge got comfortable, he told everyone to be seated. “I will now listen to opening statements.”
The Hyssops’ attorney got to his feet and buttoned his jacket. “Good morning, Your Honour.”
The attorney turned and addressed the jury and the courtroom. “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Sam Petrillo, and I represent the Hyssop family. We’re here today to give the Hyssop family justice after the crime that was bestowed upon them”—he pointed at Seth—“by Seth Zimmer. A neighbour, a friend, someone the Hyssops trusted. I am of course talking about the nude photos of the Hyssop children, taken by Mr. Zimmer here, the person the Hyssops trusted most,”
Mr. Petrillo turned and looked at Seth dead in his eyes. “Or so they thought.” Mr. Petrillo got eerily quiet for a moment and looked around the room.
“But the statistics show, children are a victim of some kind of sexual crime by someone they know, such as a parent, an uncle or a neighbour.” Mr. Petrillo got quiet again as he scanned the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop are hardworking, honest and law-abiding citizens. At the conclusion of this trial, it is my hope in the interests of my clients, that justice prevails, and Mr. Zimmer’s heinous acts are stopped once and for all, thank you.”
As Mr. Petrillo gracefully walked back to his seat, the attorney Seth was appointed took the floor. “Good morning, everyone. My name is Max Durocher, and I represent the defendant, Mr. Seth Zimmer.”
Mr. Durocher turned to the jury. “Before I begin, I would like to thank you all for being here today and for doing your civic duty as jurors. It’s an important role, and my client certainly appreciates it. I know it’s inconvenient in this modern day to have to give up a whole day to be a juror, but rest assured, we’re grateful.”
Mr. Durocher cleared his throat. “You all have heard Mr. Petrillo explain his hopes. But what he deliberately failed to mention was the true facts about his hardworking and law-abiding clients, the Hyssops.”
Mr. Durocher scanned the room. “Both Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop have a police record as long as my arm, and on this includes spousal and child abuse; multiple charges of public menacing, including being drunk in public; sexual assault; possession of and growing cannabis…”
“Objection your honour!” Shouted Mr. Petrillo. “This has nothing to do with the case.”
“Granted! Please stick to the facts of this case, Mr. Durocher.”
“I’m truly sorry, your honour.” Mr. Durocher fixed his tie and continued.
“My client works hard for his money. He slaves over a keyboard and stares at a computer screen for hours, just to make a buck. It’s hard work but honest work. They say the camera doesn’t lie, and I intend on proving that, proving my client wasn’t behind the camera that snapped the photos evidence will reveal. In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, please keep an open mind and listen to all evidence presented before the court before coming to any conclusions. My client is nothing more than an innocent bystander.”
Mr. Durocher scanned the room again. “Thank you.”
After half a day of lack of evidence and harshness toward Seth, Seth was finally called to the stand.
After sitting, Mr. Petrillo slowly approached. “Mr. Zimmer—Seth. Can you please tell everyone what you do for a living?”
“I’m self-employed.”
“What is the name of your business?”
“Digital Studios Media House.”
“And what exactly do you do at Digital Studios Media House?”
Seth stared at Mr. Petrillo for a moment. “Digital scrapbooking, photography and filmmaking.”
A look of intrigue whisked across Mr. Petrillo’s face. “Photography, really? Do you ever have photo shoots?”
“Yes, but o
nly when a client orders one.”
“That’s it? You’re telling me the only time you have photo shoots is when somebody orders one? You never do photography on your own accord?”
“Correct.”
“So you never gather friends, family or neighbours to dress up or undress and take photos?”
Seth was becoming annoyed. “No.”
Mr. Petrillo stared at Seth for a moment. “Interesting, thank you.”
Mr. Petrillo walked back to his seat, and Mr. Durocher approached.
“Seth, can you please tell us how long you’ve known the Hyssop family?”
“I’ve known them since they moved in next door in 2007.” Seth turned and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop. “Unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately, Seth?”
“Yes, I never liked them. From the first day they moved in I absolutely hated them!”
“Please correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you use the Hyssop children in your latest film?”
Seth swallowed hard. “That’s correct, but it wasn’t my choice. There were a few factors that made me come to that cataclysmic decision.”
“Such as?”
“Time, patience and some convincing from my friend Vance.”
“Why did your friend have to convince you?”
“Because they were children that were close at hand. Vance figured instead of wasting time putting up casting call notices, just ask the kids next door.”
“Why did you need children in the first place?”
Seth took a deep breath. “Because the one character in the film had two children, and I didn’t feel like doing a complete rewrite.”
“For this film of yours, did you use a digital photography camera or an actual video camera?”
“I used my JVC Everio HD video camera, as I always do when I make a film.”
Mr. Durocher slowly backed up and walked over to the evidence table. He picked up Seth’s video camera and then walked back to Seth.
“Have you ever recorded to a micro SD card before?”
“No, sir. I don’t even own one.”
Mr. Durocher studied the camera for a moment. “Tell me—what’s this silver button behind the zoom do?”
Without even looking at the camera, Seth answered, “That’s the photo button.”
“Photo button? Meaning this video camera is also capable of snapping still photos as well?”
“That is correct. But I never use it. I keep my video camera for film and digital camera for photography.”
Mr. Durocher smiled. “Thank you, Seth.” He looked at the judge and gently nodded.
The judge turned to Seth. “You may step down, Mr. Zimmer; thank you.”
Seth walked back to his seat.
“Your Honour,” Mr. Durocher said, “I would like to call Bart Hyssop Jr. to the stand.”
A nervous Bart Jr. slowly made his way to the stand.
Mr. Durocher turned to the jury and spectators. “Ladies and gentlemen, please focus your attention on the screens. We’re going to put up the photos that my client allegedly took, but please don’t worry. The nudity will be blurred.”
After a moment two big projection screens were lowered, and the images of Bart Jr. and his sister appeared.
Mr. Durocher approached Bart. “Now, can you please confirm that that is you up on the right screen and your sister on the left?”
Bart looked at the screens for a moment and began to sweat.
“It’s quite alright, son, no need to be nervous. You can’t get in trouble here. Can you please confirm that that is you and your sister, Rihanna’s, photos up on the screens?”
Bart slowly turned and nervously looked at his parents.
Mr. Durocher followed Bart’s line of sight. “Why are you looking at your parents? You’re quite safe here, and you won’t get in trouble for telling the truth.”
Bart’s nervousness suddenly turned to anger. “Yes! Okay? It is!” He hyperventilated for a moment.
“Great, thank you, Bart.”
Bart started to calm down. He looked up at Mr. Durocher. “May I go now?”
Mr. Durocher smiled at Bart. “Of course.”
Bart Jr. started to get up.
“But only after you tell me how my client, Seth Zimmer, forced you and your sister to posing nude for him.”
Bart’s eyes got wide. He froze in fear.
Mr. Durocher put his hands behind his back and paced the floor. After a moment, he approached Bart again. “Come on, son. If my client is as guilty as your family says, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Mrs. Zimmer exhaled deeply and shook her head.
Mr. Zimmer turned to her. “What is it?”
“There’s something not right about those pictures.”
“Of course there’s something not right about them. It’s photos of naked children.”
“No, besides that.”
Finally, Bart Jr. was released, and Rihanna took the stand.
“Ms. Hyssop—Rihanna. Can you please confirm to the court that that’s your photo on the left screen and your brother Bart’s on the right?”
Rihanna took a moment to look at the photos. “That’s correct. That’s us.”
“Perfect, thank you. Now, can you tell us how my client, Mr. Zimmer, forced you and your brother to pose nude for him? And remember, Ms. Hyssop, you’re under oath.”
Rihanna took a deep breath and quickly glanced over at her parents. “Well, it was the day we finished the principal photography of the film. Bart and I were playing on the trampoline out back when Seth approached the fence. He asked us what we were doing and then asked if we were interested in playing Xbox with him. We followed him back to his house and up to his bedroom. His camera was already out on his bed. Bart picked it up and asked Seth how it worked, and Seth grabbed it from Bart. That’s when …”
Rihanna tried her best to fake cry, and after a few seconds she actually forced a tear. “That’s when he asked us to pose for him.”
Mr. Durocher placed his hand to his face. “So what you’re saying is that Seth just bluntly came out and asked right off the bat if you and your brother would pose nude for him?”
Rihanna took a moment to think. “Uh-huh.”
Mrs. Zimmer said under her breath, “That’s it.”
Distracted, her husband looked over at her again. “What?”
“They’re all claiming that the photos were taken in Seth’s bedroom, but Seth doesn’t have painted walls, nor does he have a single bed.”
Mr. Zimmer got quiet. A look of disappointment struck him.
“After taken a few photos of us with clothes on, Seth reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and took out $200.” Rihanna took a moment to sob softly.
“And what did my client do with the money?”
“He …” Rihanna took a moment to build up the tension. “He told Bart and me he’d give us each $100 if we’d get pose naked for him.”
The courtroom gasped.
Mrs. Zimmer jumped to her feet. “No!”
All eyes in the room turned to her.
“My son had nothing to do with this!”
Mr. Zimmer quickly reached up and yanked his wife back down. “Shhh! Would you keep your goddamned voice down? Who knows, maybe Seth did do it, but that’s for the court to decide.”
Mrs. Zimmer remained quiet as the hearing continued.
But then she said, “I can’t take any more of this. Seth didn’t do it. Those photos are nothing more than pure and simple lies, and I’m going to say something!”
Mr. Zimmer quickly and angrily turned to his wife. “Like hell you are! You just sit there and keep your big mouth shut!”
Mrs. Zimmer sat in shock. “You think our son is guilty.”
“I’m
not saying he is and I’m not saying he isn’t.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Mr. Zimmer thought for a moment. “He’s always walking around with his camera. He could’ve snapped a few risky pics.”
Mr. Durocher paced back and forth. “And what did you and your brother do?”
“It was a lot of money, so of course we took it.”
Mrs. Zimmer leapt to her feet again. “Liar! All of this is lies!”
“Order!” shouted the judge as he slammed his gavel. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Mrs. Zimmer swallowed hard. “You see, Your Honour—”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Mrs. Zimmer, Seth’s mother.”
The judge turned to Rihanna. “Ms. Hyssop, I think I’ve heard enough. You may step down.”
Rihanna got up and trotted off. The judge sat silent for a moment.
“Mrs. Zimmer, you may approach the bench.”
Nervous, Mrs. Zimmer made her way up and sat. The judge took a few moments to gather his thoughts. “Mrs. Zimmer, it’s in every good mother to want to protect her children no matter how old they get.”
“I’m sorry, Your Honour, but as hard as it would be to see some compelling evidence and hear some convincing statements, being a humanitarian I would have to favour them. But in all honesty, I’m not seeing or hearing anything compelling or believable.”
The room grew silent.
“Is that so? Well, Mrs. Zimmer, I would love for you to share your thoughts.”
Mrs. Zimmer took a deep breath. “The Hyssops want you to believe that the two photos were taken in my son’s bedroom, correct?”
“That is correct, ma’am.”
“But Seth’s room is all white. Not one bedroom in our house has been painted in the 25 years we’ve lived there. Also, Seth has a queen size bed, not single. So between the blue walls and single bed present in the photos,”
Mrs. Zimmer looked at the Hyssops. “I’m not buying it.”
The room quickly filled with whispers. Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop panicked and scanned the room.
“Thank you, Mrs. Zimmer. Was that all?”
“No, Judge—”
“Objection! Your Honour,” Mr. Petrillo shouted.
“On what grounds?”
Growing Pains Page 12
