Courtney Moore Ch. 04 - Final

"Does this look ok?" Her voice was a little shaky.

"You look lovely. Are you sure your going to be ok? Is Harley going to be there?" Despite not liking Harley, Courtney needed someone with her as she had asked me not to go. Reluctantly I agreed. Unsure why she had said for me to not be with her seemed odd, I did what she wanted. Knowing this was tough enough without me pressuring her further. I decided to go into work instead, to keep myself busy.

"Yes, she is picking me up." She gave me a slight smile. I could see she was not too good, her face was very pale.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"Please Josh, I need to do this." Nodding, I kiss her before leaving for work.

Arriving at the station, I was immediately called into my Sergeants office.

"Josh, you need to go to the hearing, David is there and Fin has been called away. Get down there now."

I leave the station and head over to the courtroom, I got stuck in traffic, then had to find somewhere to park. Arriving at the courtroom, the hearing was about to start. I walk in, seeing David, I sit next to him. Courtney was sat with her solicitor and I could see the man sat in the dock.

I couldn't help but stare at him. Courtney was unaware of me being there, not noticing me sit down. I see Harley sat a little bit in front of me, she had not notice me either.

"ALL RISE." A man shouts as the judge walks in.

We all stand and wait for the judge to take his seat. As he sits down, he reads the papers in front of him and we all sit down. The judge introduces himself. I sit and listen carefully. I keep my eye on Courtney. As he starts to speak and identifies the defendant, silence fills the court, hearing only his words.

"In the case of Bates vs Moore-Bates."

My jaw dropped. Wait what? My mind goes blank as I continue to listen, shock and devastation flooding through me. I stare at Courtney as she was also listening, unaware of me being a couple of rows behind her.

It was said that the defendant, Gary Bates worked as a builder though took a job locally as a taxi driver. He was actually Courtney's husband. Courtney had filed for a divorce, though it seems it was never finalised. Courtney had left him due to extreme violence within the marriage. She had tried to start again. She had changed her name from her married name of Bates back to her maiden name of Moore.

Thinking of what she had told me, she had always said he was unfaithful, though this was obviously a cover story.

She had been Ms Moore for over three years. I continue to listen.

It was told how Gary had tracked her down, after searching for nearly three years trying to find her. When he finally did, he began stalking her. Photos of them on their wedding day were shown and photos of him now, showing how he had changed his appearance, gaining weight and growing his hair and a beard to disguise himself.

It was heard that when he found out what her new job was, his rage took over. This is when he planned to attack her. They had found a mobile phone with text messages he had sent her. He had started off with insults before being threatening. Disguised as her taxi driver, he had the perfect way to get to her.

I continue listening as further details were released.

The attack he unleashed on her was brutal, with the intention to cause her serious harm. It was heard how he had cut her repeatedly with a knife, over 14 times as well as beating and violently raping her. He had tried to strangle her too. He'd admitted he had intending on killing her. However, he was disturbed by a couple walking past, they have not yet been located. This made him panic and leave the scene.

He was seen running away by a man walking his dog, who saw him getting into his taxi before driving off at speed. The evidence was presented, the defendant had admitted his part and had signed his statement which was also read to the court.

The judge was shocked by the violent nature of the crime and how the defendant plotted his attack. Due to this he sentenced him to 5 years. I sat in the chair, I could not believe what had just happened. Courtney had nearly been killed by her husband! 
David, who was still sat next to me could see the shock I had from hearing everything.

"Hey Josh, are you alright?"

"Did you know?"

"Mate, we were told not to tell you, figured she would have said something to be honest, clearly she didn't." He looked at me, seeing the despair on my face,

"She knew?" I stare at him.

"Yeah, when we showed her the photos of him, we told her who he was. She identified him. We told her we knew she was his wife, linking the names Bates and Moore"

"Fuck....she didn't say." My heart sank. Why hadn't she told me? This was huge. It wasn't a random attack at all, it was a vicious attack by her own husband. He had planned it out, with the intention of killing her. Courtney had known for three months who her attacker was. This also meant she knew that her divorce was also not completed. Fuck!.

"I have to go, sorry."

I leave the courtroom. As I walk outside into the cool fresh air, I feel dizzy and sit on the steps. Putting my head in my hands. I felt sick from the shock, still trying to process everything that had just happened. The last two and a half hours were swirling around in my head. Just then, I see Courtney walk past me with Harley.

Courtney was talking to her, they don't see me. She was showing Harley something. I stand up to greet her. As I go to tap her on the shoulder, I notice what she was holding. It was a photo, a scan photo.

She was pregnant. As I realise this, I hear her say something that sends a cold shiver down my spine.

"I think it's Gary's"

I fall to the ground, as though my bones were made of jelly.

Both Courtney and Harley continue down the steps. Unaware of me behind them. I watch them walk out of sight. My entire world has just been crushed within the space of seconds and I had no clue what I was going to do.

End.

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