Chapter 33- Prelims Part 2

Part Two

The low buzz of chatter went around the room as Tami stepped inside. Her eyes immediately landed on her family a few seats down.

Her heart warmed at the sight. After everything that has happened, plus what just happened outside with Malik, their support meant the world to her. Especially Amy. She has been warming up to Tami again ever since Raphael’s arrest.

Slowly, she learnt and understood why Tami stayed and considered her feelings. Tami acknowledged that she hurt them greatly, and she will forever live with it, especially not being there when their dad died.

But they were on the road to recovery. All the Knowles women, together.

And to make it better, last night they all had dinner with Raphael for the first time. They simply forgot about what would happen the next day, and acted as if they were simply a family meeting Tami’s love interest for the first time.

Turns out, Amy liked Raphael the most. Her ‘don’t judge the book by its cover’ theory became more real last night, and she of all people wanted to see Raphael free with Tami more than anything.

It was beautiful.

Tami waved at them quickly before her eyes began scanning the room for the one person she wanted to see from the moment she drove up. She saw him briefly this morning in his hotel room, when he woke her and told her he was leaving.

She had decided to go home with him last night so they could go to the hearing together, but Raphael had to meet with Steven, and so Tami had to travel alone.

She didn’t mind though. She understood the intensity of the day. Everything has to be perfect down to the T.

Someone tapped her on her shoulder, and she spun around quickly with a smile on her face, already knowing who it was. His scent was recognizable from miles away.

Indeed, the man of her dreams filled her view, looking as sharp as ever in a crisp suit with a new shave and bright smile.

He leant down to press a kiss to the corner of her lips, not caring for the views they got from in and around the room. Tami blushed sheepishly as she swung her arms around his neck. Their events from last night in his hotel room resurfaced by the very feeling of his body flushed against hers.

This man would be the death of her.

“How are you?” Raphael asked as he pulled away. Tami shrugged as she let him go.

“I’m fine, I guess. I just want this to be over, so we can go back home.”

“Home?” he questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, I was thinking a lot about your house back on Grand Bahama-“

“Hold that thought Tami.” Steven, Raphael’s lawyer, came into view almost immediately out of thin air, looking just as sharp in his suit. Tami was both annoyed and impressed by the man.

He made it hard to choose what emotion to feel towards him. Steven was that type of person.

“We start in two minutes. I might have to steal him for a second. You know? To save his ass,” he joked with a playful pat on Raphael’s shoulder.

Tami chuckled a little but yielded nonetheless. “Okay. I’ll talk to you later. And you better save him. Save us.” She said that last part to Steven, all jokes and humour aside.

Just like always, Steven understood clearly and nodded in agreement.

“I will. Don’t worry.”

Feeling satisfied, Tami gave Raphael one last glance before taking her seat beside her mom and sister. Everyone else took their seats, and from the corner of her eye, Tami saw as Malik walked in and sat beside the bartender from Peaches’ Pub. A short, young woman sat with them too.

Tami recognized her as Raphael’s assistant. The bartender was an understandable witness, but Maddie? Tami couldn’t imagine how betrayed Raphael must’ve felt, yet he didn’t seem bothered.

It didn’t seem like he liked her very much as an assistant. But Tami was worried about what she had to say. After all, she would be one of the closest persons to Raphael to see his every move.

Nick, his driver, was also asked to testify, since he was the one to take Raphael to the airport that night. But only the three of them knew, since Nick refused to testify.

He even denied taking Raphael to the pub at all that night. Now that is a loyal worker. Raphael didn’t ask Nick to lie for him, and Tami both admired and respected him for that.

“All rise for The Honourable Judge Stennet,” A bulky policeman said as an elderly short man walked inside. He took his seat as the court retook their seats.

Tami’s anxiety rose as Steven stood up again. Raphael relaxed in his seat, but not too much to make him seem unbothered. But oddly, he was looking forward to this hearing.

“Good morning, Your Honour. I am Steven Wright on behalf of Mr. Raphael De Léon. Today is the time and date set for a preliminary exam, and I’ve had discussion with my client and I’ve had discussion with the people and at this time my client has elected to proceed with the preliminary hearing with the plea of not guilty for the charges of kidnapping in the second degree.”

Most heads turned to Raphael, while some turned to the judge as he spoke.

“Is this true, Mr. Léon?” the judge asked in a monotone voice.

Raphael nodded. “Yes, Your Honour.”

“And is the prosecutor ready with all evidence to proceed with this hearing?”

Mrs. Richman stood instantly with her hands folded beneath her stomach. “We are, Your Honour,” she said before turning to Steven. “We propose that the defendant waive this hearing, so that it will go straight to trial.”

“The defendant refuses,” Steven immediately objected, and Tami’s heart slowed after picking up greatly when the woman suggested that Raphael should basically surrender and take this to trial.

Luckily, they knew what they wanted.

“Very well then,” the judge, who still seemed bored, concluded as he leaned back in his seat.

He then called for Steven’s and Mrs. Richman’s opening statements. They both were good and convincing. This would be a long day.

Mrs. Richman first presented evidence that the police had found prior to Tami and Raphael’s return, which could be easily dismissed.

She then brought out the big guns. She presented the video that Malik found of Raphael leaving with Tami passed out in his arms.

Nobody could tell that he drugged her or if she was asleep. But Mrs. Richman wasn’t dumb. This was where she called for her witnesses.

First it was the bartender who served them that night. He could easily recall Raphael’s face, since it was a new face and he always easily registered new faces.

He stated that he served them two separate drinks. The first was with their meals, and the second was a few minutes before he saw Raphael leaving with Tami.

That was all he said, after which she called Malik to the stands. Malik stared at Raphael nonstop throughout his testimony, telling everyone how Tami invited him to dine with them that night, and if she was planning on leaving, he knew she wouldn’t have left like that.

Everyone seemed to have believed that she was indeed drugged. Seeing that she was wide awake one minute, and the next, she was out cold.

But as if that wasn’t enough, Maddie scored the winning points.

She boldly testified that Raphael had her shop for female clothes and belongings all day, only a day before Tami went missing. This even got Tami’s mother considering whether Raphael pre-planned this or not.

Maddie even brought up Raphael’s sleeping pills—the very ones he used to drug her, telling everyone that just the right dose could knock out anyone for a couple hours.

Raphael didn’t anticipate this at all, and it surely got him worried. This was why he kept people at a distance. He only had Maddie buy those pills for him once, and now she’s using it against him.

Tami’s leg began to shake as she listened to Maddie blab about sending all the female stuff to a house in Grand Bahama—the very house where a search party with warrants went only days ago, finding all the belongings that Tami had.

But what really shocked Tami out of her skin, was when Mrs. Richman presented something she never even remembered about—something that Raphael didn’t even know about.

She found the logs.

They are truly screwed.