Page 24 of The Captive Missing

“It is, your Honor.” The lead attorney stood, bracing his plump hands across the wide wooden table. “We thank you for granting us this hearing on such short notice. As you know it was necessary due to the difficulty in tracking down this witness and assuring her continued presence for testimony.”

“Well, as you know this is a criminal case concerning Captive Law, so we have our own set of rules and procedures. The trial date has not been set and we have not yet selected a jury. Is it your request that we proceed today without a jury present?”

“It is, your Honor.” The lead attorney bade Jason stand. “My client waives his right to a jury trial and requests a bench trial in this matter.”

“Do you understand the implication of that choice Mr. Riggs?” The judge leaned forward, looking critically at Jason.

“I do, your Honor.” Jason’s voice was steady, he did not look away.

“Then you may proceed.”

* * *

Over the next hour the notarized documents obtained by Val in the Maldives were presented to the judge as well as the prosecution. The lawyers argued back and forth about the manner of evidence, but the documents were not new to the judge nor were they new to AG Collins.

In order to get the hearing, Jason’s attorneys had submitted the packet of papers already, and everyone knew they would be accepted by the court today. This part of practicing law was just heavy-handed posturing. But the longer it drug on, the more nervous Val became.

Wringing her hands together in her lap, Val did her best not to look at the Cambric representatives that sat calmly in the audience. Their upright demeanor, clean appearance and pleasant expressions belied the command and control that was exercised in private. She recognized one. Shane.

He had been the head of the training program in which Val had been raised. He was an overseer, not an instructor, but he often waited at the back of the room, observing. Average height, fit, but not overly so, his blonde hair and light eyes gave off a cold appearance. Or maybe that was just how Val saw him, because he was present at each disciplinary session, seeming to take great pleasure in the handing down of punishment.

When the court finally called her name, Val jumped visibly. Theresa and Senior exchanged a look, but the matter was out of their hands, now.

Biting at the inside of her cheek, Val rose as gracefully as possible and made her way to the witness box. They went through the familiar routine of swearing her in, stating her name and leading her through the events of that night on the yacht. The night where Jason had walked in on her and Gabe wrapped up together in an embrace.

She testified that Gabe had been the one to demand the five million dollar pay out, not Jason. She swore he came up with the idea alone, and that he also came up with the amount.

Then Jason’s attorney walked her through the notarized statement signed by Gabe in the Maldives. It corroborated her testimony, confirming that Gabe was not beholden to Jason. That Jason did not own him, support him or control him, and that in fact Gabe had officially reimbursed Jason for every dollar paid out. In effect, Gabe was now the harborer of his own self, technically speaking.

“Thank you, those are all the questions that we have for this witness, your Honor.” The defense attorney gave Val an encouraging smile before resuming his seat.

Blowing out a breath, Val let herself lock eyes with Jason. He gave her the slightest of smiles. It was everything she could do not to smile back. Even here in this room full of people, he had the ability to make her feel as if they were in a world all their own. Throughout her testimony, she had sensed his stare, but remembered Senior’s warning well.

She was not here as Kelly, she was here as Val. The last time that the public had seen her, she was sitting in this very courthouse, offering testimony against Sharon Baine. At that time, she no longer belonged to Jason and their separation was well televised for months afterward.

“Miss Val, is it?” AG Collins stepped into her line of sight, and gestured over her shoulder. “How well do you know the defendant?”

“I was owned by him for a little less than a year.” Val refocused her attention on the imposing woman.

“And in that time did he ever lie?”

“Lie?”

“That’s right. Have you ever known the defendant to tell a lie.”

Val thought for a moment, knowing that she was under oath and trying to make certain of her answer. The AG stood patiently, letting the silence fill the court with its own weight. The longer she let this go on, the more uncertain it would make her answer seem.

“I don’t remember specifically,” Val said finally.

“When is the last time you had sexual relations with Jason Riggs?”

“Objection!” Jason’s attorney shot to his feet. “Relevance? Your Honor, this is a highly inappropriate line of questioning.”

“He’s right, Counselor. Sustained.”

“I’ll move on.” AG Collins ducked her head in apology. “Were you aware that Jason Riggs is married?”

“Yes.”

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