Chapter 4 - Into the Courtroom
The rumble of the bikes died down, leaving an intense, heavy silence over the courthouse plaza. The reporters held their microphones suspended in mid-air. Arthur Bellamy’s confident smirk wavered for a fraction of a second as Bear stepped out first, opening the van's side door and extending the ramp.
I pushed Caleb out into the bright morning sunshine.
He wasn't hiding his face. He sat straight in his wheelchair, wearing the small silver patch Bear had pinned to his blazer lapel right before we arrived. As we moved down the human corridor formed by the bikers, each Iron Guardian placed a gloved hand over their heart, standing at attention for the ten-year-old boy.
Arthur Bellamy spat on the granite floor as we approached the top of the steps. "Pathetic circus," he muttered loud enough for the press to hear. "Bringing a sick kid out for publicity."
Caleb turned his head slightly as we passed him. He didn't flinch, nor did he yell. He simply looked Bellamy dead in the eyes with the quiet, terrifying composure of a child who had already stared down death in a hospital room every day for six months.
Inside the building, Assistant District Attorney Evelyn Reed was waiting for us near the security checkpoint. She was a sharp-eyed woman in her late thirties with dark hair pulled into a tight bun, holding a thick legal briefcase.
"Hannah, Caleb," Evelyn said, kneeling down instantly to stroke Caleb’s shoulder. "You made it. And I see you brought some backup."
"They made sure we arrived in one piece, Ms. Reed," I said, feeling my voice tremble for the first time all morning as the adrenaline began to subside.
Evelyn looked toward the heavy double doors of Courtroom 4B. "The defense filed three emergency motions this morning to dismiss Caleb’s testimony. They argued his chemotherapy medication renders his memory compromised, and that the stress could cause him physical harm. Judge Harrison denied every single motion."
She looked at Caleb, her eyes softened with genuine concern. "Caleb, you don't have to do this if you feel too weak. The prosecutor's office can rely on circumstantial evidence if we must."
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Caleb adjusted his blazer, his fingers touching the silver patch on his chest. "Ms. Reed, those men beat that man until he stopped moving. They thought nobody was looking because it was dark. I was looking."
Evelyn let out a slow breath, a proud, sharp smile breaking across her face. "Then let's go give the jury the truth."
