"Your objection is upheld Madam Crown Prosecutor," the Judge ruled. "Justice Shuker, you will confine your questioning to how the witness is directly involved in this case. The jury is to disregard the latest question. Miss O'Sullivan you do not need to answer any questions about your personal life that does not directly involve the defendant."
When the Crown's case was completed The Defence called witnesses who built up a picture of Brooks being an upright and successful business manager of Fredrick Brooks Holdings, a family firm. He also belonged to several service clubs and sporting groups. As is usual in western democracies no mention was made of his previous convictions for assault and petty crime. What was unexpected was that Brooks was not called to the stand to defend himself. This was a clever ploy for Diane Tate could not cross-examine him with questions about his life that Ian had discovered.
The final summings-up by both attorneys were really a summary of the evidence given by witnesses with the judge's final statement being more important.
"This is a sad case where an infant died in a fatal car crash. Both the prosecutor and defence attorneys acknowledged that the crash was not an accident but was caused by Miss O'Sullivan's vehicle being sabotaged by a small explosive device that was either remotely detonated or set off by the use of a timing device. That, ladies and gentlemen of the jury is of no consequence in this trial. You must concentrate on the defendant and whether, without a reasonable doubt you consider he was the cause either directly or indirectly of the explosion that killed the infant.
If you consider that the defendant aimed to kill Miss O'Sullivan but not the infant, that still constitutes murder. However, if you decide there is a reasonable doubt that he was directly involved you must find him not guilty.
You must next deliberate on the second charge of the attempted murder of Jocelyn O'Sullivan by re-examining the evidence from that perspective. Two verdicts will thus be ruled upon.
This has been an extremely emotional trail but you must place aside your feelings of remorse or sympathy for anyone or everyone involved and deal with the evidence and that alone. If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict after a reasonable time the court will accept an all-but-one majority verdict."
After the jury left, the judge also retired and the court clerk advised that the trial was in recess and would reconvene when the jury returned. The courtroom quickly emptied and Renee followed the spectators onto the forecourt with a strange empty feeling inside her mind. The verdict shouldn't really affect her at all but in reality, she was deeply involved. This was probably the last chance for Larry Brooks to be brought to justice for his evil behaviour over the years that she had known him.
She called Tyler on her iPhone and brought him up to date on the trial and said she would tell him what the verdict was as soon as it was in. Aza had arranged to meet her as Sofia was now back at work but that would not be for another hour. Renee thought she might see Ian but he was nowhere around so she guessed he was busy. She decided, therefore, to go to a nearby coffee bar and relax for a while.
As she went to walk away she felt a light touch on her arm and turned to see a young woman standing there who appeared quite hesitant. She realised who it was.
"You're Renee Stevens who gave evidence at the trial, aren't you?" the woman asked.
"Yes I am and you're Jocelyn O'Sullivan."
"Whatever the outcome of this trial I would like to thank you for giving evidence. You know Ian Rogers don't you?"
Renee nodded and Jocelyn continued speaking.
"Ian told me that he approached all those other women but they were all too terrified of Larry give evidence but you did. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"That was the least I could do," Renee replied. "Look, I was about to go and have a coffee; what say we find a quiet place and have one together?"
"I'd like that," Jocelyn replied. "The coffee bars close to the courthouse will be crowded but I know of a wonderful little place only a couple of blocks away that I often visit."
"Sounds great," Renee replied and stepped in beside her companion to walk away from the forecourt.
JOCELYN WAS A SLIM attractive woman about a decade younger than herself. Renee inwardly grinned for she that was about her age when she was married to Brooks.
"So you had a rough time with him, too?" Jocelyn began after they sat in a corner table of the coffee bar with their coffee and some savouries.
"Yes, it was a hard time in my life..." Renee continued speaking to give a brief summary of her time with Brooks.
"So when did he become violent?" Jocelyn asked.
Renee frowned. "I can't remember any exact time. He just became more moody but I blamed it on his job. This grew worse and he began hitting me whenever I stood up for myself or refused to do exactly what he said." Renee sipped her coffee before continuing. "Little things such as having a meal a few minutes late would set him off, he began to drink more and often came home drunk and in a foul mood. I found out he was having an affair and fronted him about it. He flew into a violent rage and ... well it was more or less exactly what I said in the court."
"I didn't hear," Jocelyn said. "As a witness myself I wasn't permitted to hear your evidence."
Renee nodded and gave Jocelyn a summary of the time leading up to her being so violently beaten that she lost her unborn child. "Larry was brought up on an causing grievous bodily harm charge. His well-off family managed to pull some strings and he pleaded guilty to common assault. He ended up with a fine and community service. I left, him, changed back to my maiden name and was divorced two years later."
Jocelyn stared at her coffee. "He was so nice when I first met him, confident, happy and fun to be with. I shifted in with him and for a while, he was everything I wished for. Gradually though he became demanding and bossy, I guess the word is. He began staying out late and disappearing over the weekend. I found out he was having an affair but unlike you, was too scared to confront him about it."
Her account was similar to Renee's own experience and possibly of the other five women Ian had contacted but refused to testify.
"So we wait for the verdict," Jocelyn concluded. "Have you any idea how it will go?'
Renee grimaced. "I honestly don't know, Jocelyn. I do know his lawyers attempted to have him placed on trial on a less serous alternative charge. This time though, the Crown Prosecutor's Office decided on an all-or-nothing approach. Their reasoning was that if there was a lesser charge it could become an easy way out for any jury. Ian told me that it is a risk but one that is justified."
"I hope so." Jocelyn glanced up. "Can we keep in touch, Renee?"
"Sure. I'll give you my details. If you want a holiday down south some time, you're welcome to visit. We're a long way out in the country but it is a beautiful place with plenty of snow in winter and long hot summers. At the moment the whole countryside is parched and we've had a week of thirty degrees Celsius."
"Different from Auckland?"
"It's another world, Jocelyn. My partner Tyler and myself would never come back to the city." Renee smiled and reached for her mobile to send a message to Aza saying where she could be picked up. Ten minutes later Aza walked in and across to where she and Jocelyn were still chatting.
"Hi," she said when introduced to Jocelyn who replied and shortly later excused herself.
Aza watched her leave and turned to Renee. "God, she looks like a high school kid."
Renee laughed. "I know. It makes one feel old, doesn't it?"
"Yeah," Aza laughed and ran a hand over her tummy. "Especially in my condition."
TWO DAYS LATER IN THE late morning Renee was with Aza back at the same little coffee bar when she received a message on her iPhone from Ian. She had spent the previous two days close to the courthouse, as she wanted to be there for the verdict,
The jury is returning. Can you get over to the courthouse?
The spectator gallery was packed with only standing room but one pleasant guy gave up his seat to Aza just
as the last juror was seated and the court clerk asked for silence in the courtroom.
Larry Brooks was led in and stood in the dock with his eyes downcast but otherwise appeared emotionless.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked the foreperson, an elderly looking woman.
"We have Your Honour."
She held out a slip of paper to a court clerk who took it across to the judge who unfolded and read the contents. His expression conveyed nothing.
"To the charge of first degree murder, does the jury find Larry William Brooks guilty or not guilty?" he finally asked.
The juror appeared nervous but her voice was heard throughout the courtroom. "Guilty, Your Honour."
A rumble exploded throughout the room and a television camera focused on Larry Brooks in a close-up view that could be seen from a monitor above the spectator gallery. Renee studied his face. He had turned white while his hands that clung to the front of the dock shook. His mouth opened but no words came out. To Renee, though it appeared that he had mouthed, "Bastards" as he staggered and almost fell.
The Clerk of the Court stood and demanded silence.
"And to the second charge of attempted murder of Jocelyn Francis O'Sullivan?" The judge asked.
"Guilty, Your Honour."
The rumble wasn't as pronounced as the first time so there was no need for the court to be silenced. The judge turned to Larry and gave a brief but stern comment about the trial result. He next pronounced that there would be a mandatory life sentence for the first verdict but the exact details would be announced in a sentencing trial in three weeks time. A frail looking Brooks was led away, the jury thanked and dismissed and the judge left.
It was over!
Renee glanced across the spectator gallery where she noticed Jocelyn in the front row. She was sitting there with her head down and obviously sobbing.
Renee glanced at Aza. "Come on," she whispered. "Jocelyn looks so alone. Shall we go and comfort her?"
Aza nodded and together they pushed through the exiting crowd and walked across to the distressed woman still seated in that front row.
CHAPTER 12
Renee was glad to be almost home at East Ridge after Tyler picked her up from Christchurch Airport. As they drove though the parched Canterbury Plains she glanced up at the mountains that still had snow on their peaks. Everywhere else though, was parched land with the traffic on the highway, typically light. However, there were quite a few campervans that were probably driven by overseas tourists who flew into Christchurch. When they turned into East Ridge she expressed surprise at the number of vehicles there. As well as two campervans, both houses that they rented out had vehicles parked in their driveways and several people were walking around or relaxing in the shade beneath some of the larger trees.
"I had a last minute booking for Cottage 3," Tyler said referring to the second house that they rented out. "One of the travel companies in Christchurch called us. I plugged those campervans into the power at the smaller shed and everyone is having a great time."
"But who are they?" Renee asked.
"All overseas tourists, mainly Chinese families." Tyler grinned. "I had fun trying to understand their needs but a couple of the younger ones speak quite fluent English so they translate into Mandarin for me."
"And what are they doing?"
"One group has tramped up to the top tank and another group is swimming in the stream across the back of our property. The rest just take photos and relax in the sun. I was worried about entertaining them but they all seem quite content."
He pulled in beside their house where Apricot the cat sat watching them. Sam the dog rushed up with his tail wagging, obviously pleased to see her.
"So how's the building going between Number 3 and 5?" Renee asked.
"Slowly," Tyler said. "I ended up getting a contractor to do the roof for there are so many new regulations that I couldn't comply with. They did it in a few hours."
After unpacking and having a coffee, Renee strolled across to the two cottages. They were across the road from the two already renovated ones that the tourists now occupied and were built close together with only a narrow driveway between them that led to a back yard.
The new part that Tyler was constructing joined the two buildings together with their ultimate plan to have a backpackers and cyclists lodge. The new joined section would become an entrance with facilities to cater for winter clothes and equipment as well have having easy access bathroom facilities. Old Cottage 3 was being made into a large open-plan living area with a large kitchen that could cater for several groups, while Cottage 5 became the sleeping area with two bunkrooms, two smaller bedrooms and several bathrooms. They would be basic in design but comfortable with the idea that the bunkrooms could be rented out individually to tourists or to one large larger group of twenty or so people such as high school students on a field trip.
"Wow, you have done a lot," Renee said when she saw the framework for the new part all ready for cladding. The roof was complete except for spouting that still had to be added and new windows were already installed.
"I put the windows in yesterday," Tyler said. "All pre-assembled so it's just like giant kit set. The roofing contractors will be back next week to finish off. As well, the plumbers and electricians are coming then." He grinned. "I hope the bank appreciates how we're using their money."
"And the store?" Renee asked about the store and coffee bar on the corner of the main road.
Tyler hesitated and reddened a little. "It was getting so busy I couldn't handle it all myself so I hired someone. " He grinned. "She's doing a marvellous job."
"Who?"
"Sandra Garrett. She lives at East Ridge Station where her husband is a shepherd. At the moment she's doing five hours a day. We're selling more gas, too. Those overseas tourists with campervans like to keep their tanks fill before they tackle the Arthur's Pass. You'd think it was a thousand kilometres to Greymouth instead of just a hundred and fifty"
Renee grinned. The highway had been upgraded with new viaducts curving through the pass and with numerous close ski-fields there were really plenty of facilities, but if visitors wanted to full up with them, it certainly helped their income.
Leaving Tyler to get on with his building, she strolled down to the highway and entered the store. There were a couple of customers having coffee and Sandra, a woman in her fifties glanced up.
"Hi Renee, it's good to see you back." She hesitated. "I guess Tyler told you he hired me? Tell me if you don't like the changes we made. Tyler said it was okay but that the shop is really your domain."
Renee glanced around and noticed a few little changes, the cabinet containing food for the coffee bar now had a sliding front door so customers could serve themselves rather than having to ask for something and there were several new colourful signs.
"It looks great," she said. "How are the sales?"
"Tyler said they are picking up. Those tourists stopping for petrol often come in to have a coffee and buy souvenirs. We actually sold out of postcards of the mountains and the new road."
OVER THE FOLLOWING week Renee was busy in the shop, helping Tyron with the new additions and looking after their farmlette. The lawns had become parched with no rain but they had plenty of water pumped in from the back stream that was fed from the mountains and still had plenty of water flowing. She kept the gardens watered and had a sizeable vegetable garden as well as a colourful flower garden, often commented on by visitors.
Aza and Sofia called on the iPhone quite regularly but Ian had not contacted them since he called after the sentencing trial to state that Larry Brooks had received a minimum non-parole time of seventeen years. Apparently Brooks lack of remorse had influenced the judge. Renee felt relieved that justice had finally been served and she could get on with her life.
It was Sunday evening after a quiet day with most of the tourists gone. Renee and Tyler were having their evening meal when the landline telephone rang. She answered and
was somewhat surprised to hear Ian's voice.
"I thought I'd let you know before it got over the news networks," he said.
"Know what, Ian?"
"Your ex."
Renee sighed. "What has he done now? Got beaten up in jail."
"More than that, I'm afraid. He committed suicide. Hung himself in his cell earlier today. He had already been isolated from the other prisoners after a fight."
"Oh hell!" Renee repeated the news to Tyler. "So what happens now?"
"Oh the usual. There'll be a coroner's report, the usual moans in the news media about violence in our jails and it'll all fade away."
"Have you contacted Jocelyn?"
"Yes. She was actually quite upset. I think that in spite of all he'd done she loved the guy."
"Could be." Renee's feelings about the news was mixed. After a brief chat she clicked off and turned to Tyler. "Sounds a typical cowards way out," she muttered.
RENEE WAS SERVING COFFEE to a group of European tourists in the shop when she noticed a BMW pull into the kerb along from the petrol pump so the driver hadn't stopped for fuel. A man in a suit, more suitable for Queen Street in Auckland than East Ridge tucked a satchel under his arm and walked in. Sandra walked across to the man and pointed across to her.
He came across. "Ms Renee Stevens?" He asked and extended his hand.
"I am. How can I help you?"
"Jonathan McKay, from the law firm Whittaker, McKay and Associates. We have offices in all the New Zealand main centres."
"So how does that concern me, Mr McKay?" Renee asked.
"Can we speak somewhere private?"
Renee escorted him through to the small back office and nodded at a chair. She was about to apologise for the lack of facilities but stopped. Why should she? If this guy in his upmarket car and flash city suit wished to call, why should she be apologetic?
"I am based in Christchurch but was asked by our Auckland office to contact you. I've been doing business up at the local ski field and decided to call in rather than just speak to you on the phone." He opened his satchel, withdrew an official looking document and placed it on the table.
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