Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Deanna by: Dr.  Paco Jones

   copyright 2012

   Chapter 22 - The Verdict - The Nightmare Finally Ends



   They all got up bright and early on Wednesday morning and after their
cleanups headed out to get some breakfast.  Tom had also predicted that the
jury wouldn't take long and if this were a capital case, they'd want to
strap him in the chair right then and there.

   He was reminded a couple of times that it wasn't a capital case, and he
just got a knowing smile.  He'd raise his eyebrows and nod at whomever was
giving him the lecture.

   After the third "lecture" he looked around the table and chuckled then
said, "It IS a capital case ladies, because he will be executed.  It just
won't be the state doing the killing.  Quite honestly, I hope who ever does
it doesn't get found out.  That's justice!"

   When they got to the courtroom there was a bevy of activity awaiting the
appearance of Judge Barrtel.  He was actually about ten minutes late.

   The judge apologized to the court, and proceeded to give the jury their
instructions on the case.  What they could or couldn't find, the options
they had to choose from then he sent them on their way.  It was time for
deliberations.

   The girls wanted to go somewhere to do something to kill whatever time
they'd have to wait.  Sometimes it took days to deliberate on thirteen
counts.  Tom just looked at them calmly and said, "Just stick around.  By
the time you get somewhere to do something the jury will be back.  Mark my
words.  They'll take one vote on each count, write down the unanimous
results on the sheet the judge provided, and they'll be out to send the
bastard to hell once and for all."

   It was the assault and attempted murder on a police officer that was
going to fry his little pussy ass, and Tom knew it, but it would put him
away for a long time.

   It turned out that the prophet Thomas was pretty close to right on the
money in his predictions.

   The jury was out a whole two hours and ten minutes before buzzing the
judge to let him know they had reached their verdicts.

   When the court was opened and quiet, the judge asked the jury foreman if
they had reached their verdicts and received an affirmative answer.

   The judge looked at the jurors, and then instructed the defendant to
stand and face the jury.

   "Fuck you," was the response.

   At that, two very burly sheriffs' deputies jumped in behind him and
literally jerked him out of his chair.  One was heard to say, "The judge
said stand up and face the jury shithead, and that's exactly what you're
going to do." Then looking at Tom with a grin, "Or we'll ask our SEAL
friend if he would like to help convince you." Tom's exploits in the
capture of the defendant had reached "the troops".

   "Please read your verdicts," instructed the judge after reading his
copy. Tom could see what the results were in the Judge's body language, but
waited with everyone else.

   So the jury went through all thirteen counts finding him guilty on all
thirteen.

   Since there as no motion to postpone sentencing Judge Barrtel, thanked
the jury for their service to the community, and released them back to
their lives.

   He then looked over to Tom and Tara, then to the defendant who was still
being held in place by the two law enforcement gorillas that had been
assigned to the judge Barrtel's court for exactly this reason.

   Tara was nervously holding Tom very tightly waiting to hear what the
judge was going to do about sentencing, but Tom had been right about
everything else, she was hopeful that he was right about the sentences. 
What do you think?

   He started at the top and worked on down the list passing sentences for
each count.  He did get 25 to life on the assault and attempted murder of
the policeman; he got 25 to life for the assault and attempted murder of
Tara.  Additionally he got 25 to life for his assault on Tom.  On down the
list until he came to the last one at which time he looked at the defendant
and told him, these sentences will not be served concurrently.  These
sentences will be served consecutively.

   Essentially what the judge had done was to give him a sentence of life
with no parole because he'd serve the first 25 to life, and if he made it
through that one he'd then serve the second 25 to life and so on.  The
total years he was sentenced to was 140, so it was not likely that he'd
ever breathe free air again.

   Of course he went ballistic and gave the deputies all they could handle.
He was cursing, and yelling how he was going to kill that sleazy cunt and
that faggot boyfriend.  He spit it out while turned and looking directly at
Tom.

   In front of god and everyone Tom just smiled coldly at him and said,
"Say 'hi' to Bubba shithead, and get used to having your hands around your
ankles tough guy." While he was saying that he made a circle with the
fingers of one hand while the index finger made its way through the circle
in the age-old signal.  The message had been received because suddenly
there was a look of shock and fear in his evil eyes.  Looking at Tom's
face, he saw nothing but an ice cold big smile and Tom's fingers doing a
"toodleoo" wave while he put his other arm lovingly around Tara who was
still petrified.

   "It's over honey.  He's on his way and he'll never get out.  Because of
his attitude and demeanor I'm sure he'll go to a maximum-security facility.

   "What did you signal or say to him Tom.  He suddenly turned white and
got a look like the fear of God."

   Tom repeated it for Tara, and said he told him to get used to his hands
around his ankles.  He came to the realization that he was going to get it
in the ass once he got into the general population.  He was going to find
out he wasn't as tough as he thought.

   They all left the courtroom after thanking the prosecutor.  Tom looked
up to the judge and received a wink with a smile.  Tom gave him a nod to
thank him.

   Tom had driven over; on the way back to the house he took a slight
detour, and stopped at the club.  Everyone knew what was going on, so when
the six of them walked in there was a little trepidation until they saw the
looks on their faces.

   Tom looked at the bartender and with a grin said, "Drinks all around
Frankie.  We have something to celebrate."

   Frank looked at Tom with a smile and said, "The first round is on the
house Tom, and for you six it's on the house until you leave."

   "Thanks Frank, we appreciate it."

   "So, what happened," he asked with interest.

   "They convicted him on all thirteen counts, and the judge sentenced him
to around 140 years.  All of the sentences to be served consecutive not
concurrent, he'll never get out."

   Then as an afterthought he said, "Hey, I offered a bet with the ladies
that he'd be dead inside a month.  I bet a night's tips, any takers?"

   Nobody stepped up so Tom's tip jar was safe.  He figured it was safe
anyway.

   So life went on, somewhat back to normal or at least some semblance of
normal.  Now that there wasn't much danger of him "finding her" Tara went
out, rented an apartment for her and Dee, and promptly moved in.

   It was a tearful parting, but Tom knew he had an open invite because
she'd already voiced it to him.  She told the ladies they were welcome to
visit any time and that she would come by every now and then for some fun.
The girls let Tara know that she could drop Dee off any time and they'd be
happy to keep her entertained.

   Tara didn't go pick up Dee right away.  She wanted to make sure things
were just so, and had to go to the other house to get both hers and Dee's
things and arrange them.  Tom came over to help her move all the things. 
She didn't want to stay in that house, as there were too many bad memories,
ghosts.

   He told her he understood, and while they were working around the
apartment getting things set up, she dragged him into the bedroom more than
once.  He always went back to the house with a smile on his face, and Marie
knew what had happened.  He did not neglect Marie at all.  She was happy
that he felt the same, but she also knew he was side tracked by Tara.  She
just thought it's not such a bad thing.

   About two weeks and a couple days after things started to return to
normal, they'd received a call at the house, well Tom picked it up.  It was
the public service officer at the high security prison they had put him in.
They had found him cut to pieces, literally, in his cell that morning. 
They had an idea who had done it, but no proof, so it may go unsolved.

   Tom thanked him for the information and said he'd let Tara know.

   He picked up the phone to call Tara.

   She answered cheerfully but his somber tone made her instantly uneasy.

   There was no "I told you so" or gloat in his voice when he told Tara
that he'd have won his bet.

   "Tom?" she asked breathlessly.

   "Last night baby.  It's totally all over.  You'll never have to be
concerned about him again." He saved the gory details knowing she didn't
need to hear that part.  "Need to know".

   After some hesitation Tara replied, "Thanks Tom, I appreciate you
letting me know.  I don't think I'll tell Dee, at least not right away."

   On a more cheerful note, he had called Tara for a couple reasons, and a
date that night was one of them.  Instead she invited him over for dinner.

   "Oh.  And by the way Tom, Dee is here now and she's very much looking
forward to meeting you."

   "Well you tell her that the feeling is mutual," he said cheerfully.

   "I'll do that.  See you at six sweetie."

   Tara had accepted the job with a local start up company, and it was
taking most of her time.  Dee was relegated off to day care most of the
time and those times seeing Tom were getting further and further apart.

   Even so he was always there for Dee whenever he was needed.  It was just
that Tara wasn't always around when he was.  He knew she loved him.  She'd
said so on numerous occasions, but she said she had to concentrate on her
job.

   ----

   Suddenly Tara felt her shoulder being shaken.  With a start and a weak
squeaking "eek," she was suddenly awake.  Julianne was shaking her and
looking into her eyes with worry.

   "Tara," she heard.  "Tara honey.  Are you alright?" It was Julianne's
voice.

   As her mind started to return to consciousness, she realized she had
been dreaming.  More like having a nightmare, but she could feel that she
was sweating.

   "I'm ok Julianne.  I just fell asleep and was having a nightmare."

   "Apparently!" the attendant said emphatically.  "You sounded like you
were in a lot of pain and I was beginning to worry about you."

   "Oh.  I'm sorry.  I was dreaming about a really bad part of my life and
how it has affected me today.  I'm sorry that I startled you."

   "It's ok sweetie, as long as you're ok."

   "Thanks Juli, I'm ok, she said sheepishly.  "I guess I shouldn't sleep
on an airplane after 3 drinks."

   They both chuckled and Julianne looked down at her and with a giggle,
"Can I get you a drink Tara?"

   "Damn woman, are you the master of torture or what?" Tara asked
laughing.

   The flight went on and Tara visited dreamland again, but this time had
nothing but good dreams about Deanna and Tom, and how much love there was
with all of them.

   When she awoke, there was about an hour and a half left of the flight,
so she had slept close to 16 hours total, with short interruptions for
meals, another drink or two and the one wake up from Julianne.

   When she woke up she got up and went to the forward restroom to relieve
some pressure and while she was up and around, she ran into Julianne
sitting in one of the seats reading a book.  For the most part her job on
this flight was finished.  Most everyone was still asleep so there wasn't
much demand for her.

   Tara slid into the seat next to her and smiled.  Julianne closed her
book and met Tara's eyes with softness.  The two women took each other's
hands and both smiled knowingly.  Tara began to lean, and seeing that
Julianne moved to meet her.  Their kiss was very sensual and while their
tongues were exploring the mouth in the next seat, both reached up with
their hands to cup the others breasts.

   Soft moans escaped from both while they explored each other once again.

   Looking into Julianne's eyes, Tara asked, "How long are you going to be
on stopover Juli?"

   Julianne smiled while she gently pinched one of Tara's breasts, "This
flight is four days.  Then in a couple weeks I'll be back for another four
but that's as far as I know the schedule so far.  It should be four or five
days every couple weeks." She smiled at Tara.

   "I'll be in the same place for probably the next year," Tara sighed. 
"This is my last trip over though so you'll have to visit at the other end.
I've got some stories for you this trip!"

   A couple of the people near them started to stir coming out of their
sleep, so they went back to just sitting and chatting.  It was usually like
this on the flight, but they had actually had enough time to make love with
each other on one flight.

   Tara wondered if Dee had sensed something the last two trips home, at
least until she'd brought Julianne home last time.  There were a few times
when she caught Dee looking at her in a "strange way", but she wouldn't say
anything.  Dee was that way.  If Tara wanted to talk about it, ok.  Dee
wasn't going to broach the subject because it was private.  Now it was
moot.

   When the flight landed Tara went to claim her baggage and waited in the
claim area for Julianne to join her for the quick ride to her apartment in
town.  They would spend a couple days becoming reacquainted with each
other.

   Then Julianne would have to jet off for the next flight assignments, and
Tara would have to return to the factory to see how it had gone during the
time she wasn't there.

   She was very pleased with what she saw and heard.