Chapter 132
Jonathan’s POV
Heading Towards The Airport – After Leaving the apartment
As we were driving towards the airport, my mind was in a mix of emotions.
She was heading over to meet her mother, a time I should be with her,
Yet p>
Here I was chasing Fredrick.
“Jonathan,” John said, looking over at me as he was driving.
“Don’t worry, we’re doing this for Veronica,” he said. “Aren’t we p>
“I know being with her is also important, but this is more important p>
“If Fredrick leaves the country, everything will be over p>
“I’ve already called the Federal agents,” he said.
“They’re on their way p>
“According to me, he managed to get a seat on a private jet that’s going out of the country p>
“I know,” I said looking back. “If he leaves, it’ll take us years to get him back p>
“And knowing he has connections to people with diplomatic connections, makes it worse p>
John accelerated as we drove closer to the airport.
Soon the airport was in view.
Today wasn’t the first time I was chasing him,
But today was different,
Today I wasn’t chasing a fraud businessman,
Today I was chasing the man who destroyed my wife’s life.
“What?” John said as he read the message notification on his phone.
“His place is preparing to take off,” he said.
“Damn,” he said, banging his hand on the steering wheel.
John slammed the brakes as we reached the entrance of the private terminal.
The Federal agents had already surrounded the runway.
I saw the private jet didn’t turn it’s engine off, and was actually running along the run-way.
If the plane took off, Fredrick would cross the international border and coming back would be indefinite.
As we drove towards the run-way, I saw the ground vehicles driving over to corner the plane as the traffic control was ordering the plane to stay grounded.
Finally, the plane had to stop as before it could take off, it was cornered.
The Federal agents, ground staff, ambulance, and fire brigade had cornered the plane.
For several seconds p>
The plane just stood there.
Finally, the cabin door opened.
One Federal agent spoke through the mic.
“Fredrick Harmon, step outside. You’re cornered p>
Then I saw an image walking towards the entrance.
It didn’t take long to recognize it was Fredrick.
I shook my head in disbelief as he stood completely composed.
There was no sign of any panic or confusion.
It was as if he knew this would happen.
Even I questioned myself,
Did he purposely make us capture him?
His calmness unsettled me more than when I was chasing him.
I stepped out of the car as I walked towards the aircraft with John.
By the time we reached over, one of the agents had already confiscated his passport, as another one was searching his luggage,
“Officers,” he said. “I’m a humble businessman, apart from clothes, files, paper, you won’t find a thing p>
“You know exactly what and why we stopped you,” an agent said as he calmly adjusted his suit.
One would think he was being escorted to attend an emergency board meeting.
As he was being escorted, our eyes met for a brief moment.
This moment p>
I had imagined countless times.
I imagined yelling at him,
Demanding answers as to why he did what he did.
Yet p>
All I did was just look at the man who not only stole my wife’s childhood, but even after that he didn’t let her live.
He gave me a polite smile back,
The same way he would give me every dinner party back when I was beginning my career.
Today, I realized how terrifying that smile really is.
And the fact he still thought he was untouchable.
Just then one agent pushed him to walk forward and soon he was made to enter a car and escorted.
I stood there for a while and I saw his car disappear before me.
John didn’t say a word as he knew this moment spoke more words than real words could.
Years of anger were vented up inside of me.
Normally,
A person would have vented it all out at that moment.
I p>
Didn’t say a word.
Instead he spoke saying, “So, still going to protect Veronica p>
I also remained calm, and replied, “Never backing out p>
I realized the reason I was quiet was p>
Now I no longer needed to prove anything to him, as my actions did that.
Finally, I exhaled as the convoy headed for the federal courthouse.
I also along with John drove off to the courthouse.
Courtroom – a few hours later
As I entered the courtroom with John, Vance was already seated.
We both took our seats as the judge arrived.
“State the case,” the judge said.
“Your honor,” Vance said. “Today’s case is against Fredrick Harmon p>
“Charges included are identity fraud, tampering with hospital records, conspiracy, kidnapping, switching of babies, and suppressing evidence p>
“These charges are made against him for the crime he initiated, acted, and executed himself thirty years back p>
I remained quiet even at several places Veronica’s name was used in legal documents, and pleas.
The reason I remained quiet was p>
Today her existence would be officially acknowledged.
“You may submit the case p>
Vance signed the case file and gave it to the judge.
Vance even arranged for the retired nurse to come and testify.
The nurse gave a sworn testimony.
She told me about the missing identification bracelet, and about the changed discharge paperwork.
She told the court about the conflicting infant records that never made any sense.
And about being told time and time again to not question the alterations.
After Vance showed her some records,
She confirmed they were the official records.
Every word she spoke became evidence against him.
The nurse broke down as finally she was able to tell about the weight she had been carrying for more than three decades.
Vance thanked her for her courage.
As Vance was questioning a driver,
A hospital administrator approached the judge with some archived records.
Then an internal audit was ordered.
The administration admitted several maternity files were altered during his term.
He admitted pages were replaced.
Identification logs were re-written.
Original records were removed.
And they were told to never question.
As the case was being telecast live,
Within an hour into the case,
Hospital officials issued an apology on their website.
Apart from Veronica who’s file was tampered by her own father,
The other infants were the ones who had no family, so couples who didn’t have children paid the hospital to list them as their own child.
That’s when I realized an institution may fail,
But when instigated, they can also admit their mistake.
Finally, the original infant register was placed as evidence.
Then the moment came.
Vance had sent John to bring Veronica and Jane, while the court sent orders for Imelda to arrive.
As they all arrived, Veronica and Jane sat on my side, while Imelda sat behind Fredrick’s.
A twist came as Fredrick’s lawyer proved Jane betrayed her and Veronica is that man’s daughter.
I leaned forward and was about to backlash him, but Vance stopped him.
“Your honor,” Vance said.
“I would like the court to officially do a DNA test between Veronica Rollings, Jane Harmon, and Fredrick Harmon p>
“And between Fredrick Harmon and Imelda Harmon p>
Everyone in the court began to whisper as the judge ordered for the DNA.
As the doctor came back with the results,
The judge spoke p>
“Yes, doctor,” he said. “What’s the outcome p>
“Your honor,” the doctor said. “Mrs. Veronica Rollings is ninety nine point nine percent daughter of Jane Harmon and Fredrick Harmon p>
Whispers broke in the courtroom.
“Your honor,” the doctor said.
“In front of these files I studied stating Mrs. Veronica isn’t Fredrick Harmon’s daughter p>
“Is a false forged report p>
“No report can manipulate the real human body’s biological facts p>
I smiled quietly as the doctor spoke.
Finally, the truth was out in the open.
Then the proceedings paused for a lunch break.
As we waited for the proceedings to begin,
My mind drifted back to the day I first found out Veronica was an orphan and grew up in an orphanage.
Back then, I really wanted to know how her parents died.
Now p>
Standing inside the courtroom,
All I wanted was justice for my wife.
A woman who not only lost her identity, but her childhood as well.
Having a mother, she lived a life watching other children with their mothers.
Today my anger had a purpose.
Just then John placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Your work has paid off,” he said, pointing towards Veronica talking happily with her mother.
“Will it all end well?” I asked.
“Jonathan,” John said.
“From the witness testimonies, the DNA evidence, the hospital records, and the financial transactions p>
“We have lots of things to back on p>
“Everything supports what we stand in court for p>
“He may have hidden the facts for three decades, but no more p>
“These truths,” he said.
“He cannot erase p>
I nodded quietly.
For the first time since the case began,
I felt we would get justice.
Just then the judge walked back in.
Fredrick was ordered to stand.
The prosecution outlined the allegations.
The judge reviewed the preliminary evidences presented in the court.
Fredrick’s passport was confiscated and was ordered to remain in the court’s jurisdiction until the case is closed.
I watched him silently, still standing calm as ever.
Then I saw his gaze turn towards me.
As he was being escorted to the temporary federal vicinity,
He paused in front of me and looked at me.
He straightened his tie.
“You think this is over p>
I didn’t say a word as she smiled faintly.
“Money can buy everything p>
I scoffed and said,
“Influence buys life-long trustworthy friends p>
He still kept smiling.
“I’ll be out soon, see you p>
I didn’t flinch as I knew he may be right.
After all he does have connections.
I knew this was only the beginning,
But the battle had began, and victory won’t be long away.