Read Online Otis by Scott Hildreth - Free Book Online

Blackburn.
    “You testified that you told lies through the course of your work to preserve the investigation. My question was this: Are you being paid for your testimony today? Are you working ?” Kurt asked.
    “Yes, I am,” Blackburn grunted.
    “No further questions,” Kurt said as he turned away.
    “Boom!” Avery whispered as she slapped my knee.
    After two short closing arguments, and the judge providing the jury with an instruction booklet, the jury was released to their deliberation room. After they were carefully tucked away, we were dismissed. As we filtered into the hall amidst the ATF agents and US Marshals, Axton stepped to my side.
    “Pretty good trial, that attorney’s on the fucking ball,” Axton said.
    “God damned right he is,” Avery snapped back.
    “So what now?” Sydney asked.
    I reached over and patted Sydney on the shoulder. She looked exhausted, and I suspected she probably didn’t sleep at all the previous night. Toad also looked as if he hadn’t slept for a few days, and appeared to be on an entirely different planet.
    “The jury deliberates. They read the instructions, and they decide guilt or innocence. The court will call Kurt when a decision is made, and he’ll call us. It’s 3:30 now, so he’ll probably dismiss the jury at 4:45. There’s really nothing that will happen tonight. Sometimes it takes six or eight hours, and other times it takes two or three days. You never know,” Avery explained as she walked around me and toward Sydney.
    “I just. I want this to be over. I feel so sorry for him. I hate for him to get his hopes up and then, you know…” Sydney shrugged.
    I watched as Sinners got on the elevator eight or ten at a time, and went down to what I assumed was the ground floor. Several others took the stairs, talking quietly as they did so. I turned to Axton and shrugged my shoulders.
    “Slice, I feel like I’ve been on trial; that was fucking exhausting. What’s the plan, boss?” I asked.
    “Hell, I had no idea when we’d get out of here, looks like we’ve got the afternoon to ourselves. Hell, the suns shining and it’s a beautiful fucking day. What do you say we gather up the fellas and go terrorize a bar?” he said.
    “We go rolling in sixty deep, everyone wearing their cuts, and they’ll think we’re gonna shoot the place to pieces,” I laughed.
    “Let ‘em think what they want,” Axton shrugged.
    “Sounds good to me,” I nodded.
    “Up for a beer, Toad?” I asked as I slapped Toad on the shoulder.
    “I’m up for whatever. I’m just fucking tired, brother. Haven’t been sleeping for shit, been worried about Syd’s brother and all,” Toad nodded.
    We hadn’t been in the hallway ten or fifteen minutes, and Kurt stepped into the corridor, holding his phone in his hand.
    “Jury’s reached a verdict,” Kurt said.
    “What?” Avery snapped as she spun around.
    Kurt nodded his head, “They’ll be bringing them back in.”
    “Holy shit,” Avery said under her breath.
    Sydney covered her mouth with her hands and spoke between her fingers, “Avery, what’s this mean?”
    “Well, they say a verdict like this means only one thing. The jury decided the case long before they trial was over. Just take a deep breath, either way, it’ll be fine, Syd,” Avery said as she leaned over and hugged Sydney.
    The few of us who remained in the hallway walked back into the courtroom and sat down while we waited for the judge to enter the room. After about a ten minute wait, the judge entered, and we stood and after he was seated, we all sat down. Instead of sixty Sinners, there was maybe fifteen or so seated. The ATF agents watching the trial, however, remained in full force. As I glanced down the row of Sinners, I watched as Axton gave one bearded ATF agent the shittiest stink eye I’ve ever witnessed. Only after the ATF agent broke the stare did Axton lean into the back of his seat and exhale.
    “Counsel, please stand,” the judge