“I’m okay, Mama,” Mr. Hanson said, his voice calm, soothing. “I’m okay. Please, don’t cry.”
If you were unaware of the atrocities this man had committed against innocent women and children, you might have pitied him. Instead, Abby was hit with a wave of disgust that anyone cared about this waste of a human being.
A few moments later, the Honorable Betsy Crabtree entered the courtroom, and court was called into session. There was a lot of legal back and forth between the lawyers and the judge. Abby tried to follow what they were saying, but after a moment, she gave up, deciding none of the legal jargon really mattered. She snapped to attention when she heard the judge ask if Mr. Hanson’s victims were prepared to speak. The order of the testimony had been decided by Elijah for maximum impact. Missy went first, her voice soft but powerful. Abby watched Rick but he barely even blinked.
“When I met my husband seventeen years ago, I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world. He was intelligent and charming, dedicated to his work and to our marriage. I believed that he was a good man. Sadly, I have come to terms with the fact that I ignored the signs that he was evil, ignored the signs that he was using me for my money. I cannot change my role in any of this. But I am not here for Rick. I am here to apologize. To Lily Riser and her family. To Shaina Meyers and her family. And to Bree Whitaker’s family. We cannot escape the past. We’re bound by it. All I can say is that I am sorry for all that you’ve lost. I am so sorry for the wounds that Rick inflicted upon you. I will never be able to escape the things that he did nor my role in not seeing who he truly was. But I am truly, truly sorry.”
Missy sat down, sniffling into her tissues, her mother patting her gently. Abby appreciated her sentiment, but her resolve didn’t budge. That bitch deserved every moment of suffering she endured and then some.
Judge Crabtree turned to Bree’s mom, Elizabeth Whitaker. She was a tiny woman, drowning in a floral dress two sizes too big. Her coke-bottle glasses could not hide her haunted eyes or ravaged expression.
“My daughter Bree was an honor student. She was a cheerleader who loved making people happy. She didn’t have to get a job, but she wanted to pay for her own prom dress and her senior trip to Europe, so she decided to wait tables. She is… she was such a special soul, and that man; he stole her from all of us. The only comfort I have is knowing that she’s with her Savior. The only other comfort is that Rick Hanson will have to pay for what he’s done.”
Silence reigned in the courtroom for several long minutes. The judge cleared her throat. “Mr. Meyers, would you care to make a statement?”
Shaina’s father Bert stood up. He was sweating, dabbing at his forehead with a handkerchief. His hands trembled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a torn-off piece of notebook paper. He read, each word loud and punctuated with loss.
“My daughter used to laugh. Nonstop laughter could be heard in our house at all hours of the day. I am lucky, because my daughter is alive, but the laughter is gone. Rick Hanson did not kill my daughter but he stole her from us. She doesn’t sleep. She barely eats. She may never be that same joyous, happy-go-lucky girl, and I may never… I may never hear my daughter laugh again. I am not a believer. It might be easier if I were. All I know is that whatever happens to Rick Hanson will never be enough. No punishment will ever be enough for what you’ve done to all of our families.”
He sat down, his wife holding his hand and leaning into him.
“Miss Riser, it’s your chance to address the court. Whenever you’re ready.”
Abby fought to control her own nerves. She gave Lily an encouraging nod. “You’ve got this.”
Lily slowly stood up, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles on her slacks. In spite of Lily’s trembling, on the surface, she appeared completely composed. Lily stared right at Mr. Hanson, and still he didn’t blink or show even a hint of remorse. Abby gripped her hands, fighting not to lose control. She wouldn’t ruin Lily’s moment. She couldn’t. Lily began.
“I lost three thousand one hundred and ten days. During my imprisonment, my father died. My sister battled drug and alcohol abuse and nearly took her own life. My first love fell in love with someone else.”