“Thank you, Mr. Adams,” the judge says.
I nod my head and sit down, my body trembling from my heart beating so hard against my chest. I made it through one of the hardest parts of this. As hard as it was to do it – I did it. My poor mom is still a sobbing mess. I know there is no way she can get up and speak to the judge. However, I’m okay with that, it will be easier on her, and I’m confident that the words my dad and I spoke will make a difference.
It’s been excruciating waiting for the DA to call us back once the judge has a decision. Plus, Kinsey’s friends have been coming up to us nonstop. Today almost seems as hard as her funeral with all of the people that we are forced to talk to. But finally things have settled down and I’m so glad it’s almost over. Arion and my dad went to grab us coffees while I sit with my mom.
The hallway is quiet; her hand is wrapped comfortably around mine.
“Bain, I love you,” she says.
“I love you too, Mom.”
“I’m proud of you for today. I’m sorry I couldn’t get up there and speak for her.”
“Thanks, Mom. And no need to apologize. I followed my gut like you did and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
She smiles at me and I look to my left, catching sight of Arion and my dad as they approach. They are in deep conversation, both looking content. Before they reach us, they stop and hug. My mom squeezes my hand and then all at once our peaceful world is interrupted.
“The judge is ready,” the DA says, holding the door open for us. This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. My dad sets our coffees down on the bench where my mom and I were. We all make our way back into the courtroom.
We take our seats and then have to watch Anthony get brought back in. My body tenses again, seeing him. I wish he were being sentenced to life in prison or to death. Not twelve to twenty years. Regardless of what he gets, it will be hard to feel satisfied.
The judge isn’t but a minute behind him. Order is called in the court, and then as we take our seats again, the judge calls Anthony up to the bench and asks him if he has anything to say. His response, “No ma’am.”
The judge shakes her head and then begins to read the sentence. “Mr. Eldridge, the charges against you are severe, you do realize that?”
He nods his head.
“So you’re sure there is nothing that you would like to say?”
“Correct,” he responds.
“On the charge of tampering with evidence, I hereby sentence you to seven years. On the charge of kidnapping in the first degree, I hereby sentence you to the maximum penalty allowed under your plea deal with the State of New Jersey, which is twenty years, and for first degree murder, you are sentenced to another twenty years.”
“What?” he shouts. “That’s not part of the plea deal.”
“Order! Order in the court,” the judge yells, banging her gavel. A police officer goes to Anthony reminding him that he needs to be quiet.
“Your Honor, I apologize for my client’s outburst,” his attorney says. “But the plea deal Mr. Eldridge took was for a maximum twenty-year sentence.
“Yes, sir, it was. And with 76A, the New Jersey law that recently passed, with any plea deal in this state an inmate takes, the judge has the right to punish based on the charges as a whole, or individually. Anthony, you took a young woman’s life. You do understand that, don’t you?”
“Uhhh…yes, ma’am.”
“Then you really have no basis to argue. In some cases murderers are sentenced to death. In my opinion, you’re getting off lucky. You’ll be out of here by the time you’re seventy. That sentence is nothing compared to the life you robbed Kinsey Adams of.”
Hearing the judge say those words allow a rush of relief to flow through me. For the first time in almost a year, when I think about my sister, I finally feel like I can breathe again. Him being sentenced will most certainly not bring her back, but I do feel deep in my heart that today justice was served.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Nash asks me.
I knock back a swig of my beer and look around at all of the people gathered together for his birthday. His girl put together a pretty sweet party and with alcohol coursing through my system, I feel pretty good. “Yeah, this is great,” I tell him.
He sits next to me on the couch and says, “Thanks for coming. I know it’s not your scene, but considering everything you’re doing for me, it’s good to have you here.”
“Thanks for dragging my ass out.”
“Any time,” he says raising his bottle to me. I do the same and we cheers. “Listen, I know you’re not over Arion, but see that girl over there?” He points to a group of girls dancing.
“Which one?” I ask.
“The redhead. She was talking to my girl about you.”
“And?”
“She thinks you’re hot.”
“Well, good for her.”
“Come on, don’t be such a bitch,” he says jokingly.