Justice Ch. 06: The Gift of Freedom

The man next to Tina and Edwin introduced himself as their defense attorney, John Hultner. Edwin started to ask him something, but John held up his hand.

"Quiet," he said. "Do not speak unless the Judge addresses you. Do you understand?" Edwin nodded his head and kept quiet. "You two are facing very serious charges. Your eternal destiny is at stake here. How do you wish to plead?"

"Not guilty," Edwin snarled quietly. John nodded his head.

"Very well," he said.

The judge consulted a book for some time before addressing the defendants. They couldn't help but be riveted by her petite form and eyes, burning like fire. Her voice, however, was like thunder.

"Tina Eastland and Edwin Skitz. You have been charged with multiple counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, kidnapping, illegal detention, and assault," the judge said. "How do you plead?"

"John Hultner for the defense, Your Honor," John said. "The defendants wish to plead not guilty." John's statement drew chuckles from the people around the table, except for the strange cowboy who apprehended them. He simply sat there, a grim expression on his face.

"So noted," the judge said. "Then let your deeds be made known to one and all," she added, motioning for everyone to face the wall on the defendants' left. As they turned to look, the entire wall changed, and they saw Tina and Edwin in a hospital room in front of a bed where her husband lay.

"How..." Tina began, shocked to see her image on the giant screen.

"Quiet!" John commanded. They turned their attention to the giant video screen. They saw Tina on her knees before Edwin, his trousers around his ankles. She had just finished sucking Edwin's cock to completion and held a considerable amount of his semen in her mouth.

"Now, go feed your husband, my dear," Edwin said with an evil grin. They watched as she stood, walked to James, who followed her movements with his eyes, then held his nose, forcing him to open his mouth to breathe. She bent over, dumped Edwin's semen directly into her husband's mouth, and continued holding his nose until he swallowed.

James tried spitting the foul stuff out of his mouth but couldn't, as Tina continued holding his nose. She closed his mouth and covered it with her hand as tears fell down James' face.

"That's it. Swallow all of it like a good little cuckold," she cooed. "Maybe if you're a good boy, I'll feed you like this every day," she added as Edwin laughed. James mentally fought down the waves of nausea to keep from vomiting and possibly smothering in the bastard's slimy seed. But the humiliation wasn't over. Edwin walked to the side of James' bed and urinated on his face.

"Here's something to help wash that down, James, old boy," Edwin sneered. "Clean him up," Edwin told Tina. The video stopped at that point, and Adrestia spoke to Edwin.

"You are supposed to be a doctor. A healer. Someone who alleviates pain," Adrestia said.

"I performed surgery on his brain," Edwin declared. "He would've died if I hadn't worked on him."

"SILENCE!" Adrestia commanded, her eyes flashing brightly. At that moment, Edwin found he couldn't speak. He tried opening his mouth but could not, as his lips were sealed shut. His eyes grew wide as he tried to open his mouth.

"Yes, you performed surgery on him, but then you used your knowledge to keep him in a catatonic state to turn his wife against him," Adrestia said. "Then you billed his insurance company so you could profit off of the pain YOU caused him.

"There's more. Mr. Eastland was not your first victim. There have been many others over the years," Adrestia added. Faces of numerous men flashed on the giant video screen. "Men you used and abused. And when they were no longer of any use to you, you disposed of them. You even denied them a decent burial.

"And let's not forget the women whose lives you completely destroyed. First you drugged them, then you used them for your sick perversions. And once you were through with them, you either tossed them to the street to die, alone and miserable, or you sold them into slavery," Adrestia added.

"And what about the people who work for you? The ones who dedicated themselves to you and supposedly looked after your victims? What did you plan for them? You planned to murder them using compounds you placed in their water or their coffee." Adrestia leaned forward, her eyes burning even brighter.

"You, sir, are the embodiment of all that is evil. This court finds you guilty of all charges. Death would not be sufficient for your transgressions. Therefore, I sentence you to suffer. As you have done to others, so shall it be done to you. FOR ALL TIME," Adrestia boomed.

"Guilty. Guilty. Guilty." The words continued to echo off the chamber walls, and Edwin looked around, frightened. The hooded figures turned their faces toward him, and he saw a mixture of sadness and anger. Suddenly, the floor opened up under him, and he fell, screaming.

The figures turned back to the giant monitor on the wall. They saw Edwin tied down to a hard wooden plank as enormous beings with grotesque features and long jagged teeth urinated on him non-stop. Edwin's mouth was still sealed shut, and his eyes were opened wide as the beings laughed at his misery. Tina shuddered to think she would be next.

"And you, Tina Eastland," Adrestia said. She noticed John had raised his hand and turned her attention to him. "Yes, Mr. Hultner?"

"Your Honor, I have filed Form 9834510-stroke-17A, revision 5 in regard to the case against Mrs. Eastland," John said.

"Yes, Mr. Hultner, I see that here. Thank you," Adrestia said, picking up a piece of paper. She read it before turning to Tina. "Tina Eastland, this court finds you guilty of grievous acts against your husband, including your knowledge of Dr. Skitz's plan to murder him.

"Under the circumstances, your crimes would carry an immediate death penalty. However, I am temporarily suspending your sentence. I do not believe in making the innocent suffer," Adrestia added, causing Tina to look at her in confusion.

"Yes, you are currently with child. Dr. Skitz's child, to be precise. While you are guilty of all charges against you, your child is not. Therefore, I am giving you a reprieve. How long that reprieve lasts is entirely up to you. I have no doubt your husband will seek a divorce, and local law enforcement may very well wish to have a few words with you regarding Dr. Skitz and his activities.

"But that does not mean you have escaped my justice," Adrestia added sternly. "In fact, you may find that living with the consequences of your actions will be far more difficult than dealing with the fate I had originally planned for you." Tina gulped when she heard that. Adrestia continued.

"Without wading into the great 'Nature vs. Nurture' debate, this court observes that your child potentially carries some very odious genes. It is up to you to raise him well so that he does not follow his biological father's dark path. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Tina said quietly.

"Good. Know this, Tina Eastland. I will be watching you. Every action, every word that escapes your mouth, every thought that runs through your head. Never mistake my mercy for weakness. Trust me, you DO NOT want to appear in my courtroom again. Do you understand what I am telling you?"

"Y... Yes, Your Honor," Tina stammered. Adrestia turned to Eli.

"Ranger, would you kindly escort the defendant back to the gallery, please?" she asked. Eli knew what Adrestia had in mind.

"Yes, Your Honor," Eli said.

"Very well," Adrestia said. "Court is adjourned." She banged her gavel and left the bench as everyone stood. Eli turned to Tina.

"Let's go, ma'am," he said quietly. A subdued Tina followed him out of the courtroom.

...

"Who are all these people?" Tina asked as she looked at all the portraits on the wood-paneled walls. There were rows upon rows of portraits showing people from all walks of life, and they were all in distress, as though the final moments of their lives were captured for posterity.

One portrait showed a woman falling into the giant maw of a shark. Another showed a woman as she fell from a high balcony. One portrait showed three women chained to a rock overlooking a large body of water. One showed three people, one woman and two men, hanging by the neck over a sea of fire. There were many more.

"Cheaters," Eli said. "Like you." Tina looked at him, shocked.

"How many..."

"Thousands," Eli said. "Thousands upon thousands," he added, nodding at the seemingly endless rows of portraits that lined the gallery.

"Are they..."

"Dead?" Eli asked, finishing her question. "No. They will spend eternity here, in these portraits, forever living out the final moments of their lives. It would be better for them if they were dead. And you could end up here with 'em. Is that what you want?"

"No," Tina stammered, tears falling from her eyes. "That judge... she did all this?"

"Yep," Eli said. "Been at it since the beginning of human history. She's seen and heard it all. Do you understand now that you've been given a second chance?" Tina nodded her head.

"Yes, I do," she said. "And I swear I'll do my best."

"I hope so, miss. For your sake," Eli said. "And the sake of the child you're now carrying."

"Please, can we get out of here? This place gives me the creeps," she said. Eli understood that. He had seen this gallery many times and often felt the same way. Eli nodded his head and led her out of the gallery.

...

"How is he?" Eli asked when he and Tina walked into the large room transformed into a makeshift ward for the six men rescued from Skitz's clinic.

"He's getting better," Danni said. "It's a slow process, but at least he's able to speak now. Who is this?" she asked, nodding at Tina.

"Eastland's wife," Eli said.

"You mean, soon-to-be ex-wife," Danni said, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Yes," Eli said. Angry, Danni walked up to Tina and slapped her hard across the face.

"What kind of a monster are you?" Danni shouted. Tina held her hand to her face, now red from Danni's slap.

"I... I'm sorry," Tina said. "You don't know how powerful and persuasive Edwin could be. I just wanted to apologize to James. Please."

"I'll pass it on," Danni said. "He doesn't want to see you. Ever again."

"I understand," a contrite Tina said.

"He'll be filing divorce papers against you as soon as possible," Danni said. "If I were you, I wouldn't fight it."

"Please tell him I won't," Tina said. "I've hurt him enough."

"I think you should leave now," Danni said. Tina nodded her head. "I understand Skitz had some apartments for his' harem.' I think she should be taken to one of them," Danni told Eli. "Mr. Eastland doesn't want her in his house, and I've already contacted Judge Stone about a restraining order."

"You know about those apartments?" Eli asked Tina, who nodded her head in response.

"Yes, I do," she said. "I'll stay in one of those for now."

"Alright. Tell me where it is and I'll take ya there," Eli said. Tina pulled out a card with an address and gave it to Eli. He looked at it and nodded his head. "Let's go," he said.

Eli watched as Tina walked around the apartment a few moments later, making sure her stuff was still there. After Edwin began his seduction, she moved much of her clothing and toiletries.

"You gonna be alright here?" Eli asked.

"Yes," Tina said quietly. "There's another girl who lives here, so I won't be alone." She turned to look at Eli. "Tell me something, Ranger. That judge... Did she really mean everything she said?"

"Absolutely," Eli told her. "If ah were you, ah'd stay on the straight and narrow. That is, if ya wanna stay alive and want yer soul to have any chance o' peace," Eli said "Ya got another person ta think about now besides yerself."

"I guess you're right. Who are you? Really?" Tina asked.

"Name's Peace. Justice O. Peace. Mah friends call me Eli," he said.

"Do you think we could ever be friends?" she asked. Eli smiled.

"That remains ta be seen, miss," Eli said. "It's all up to you." Tina nodded her head. "Reckon ah'd best be getting' back," Eli said. "You take care of yerself, and that young'un."

"I will. I promise," Tina said. Eli tipped his hat and disappeared, leaving Tina wondering what she had just witnessed.

...

Epilogue -- Six weeks later:

The weeks following the apprehension of Edwin Skitz and Tina Eastland were busy ones. A nationwide manhunt was on for Skitz, who, news reports said, seemed to disappear into thin air without a trace.

Law enforcement authorities were stunned at the level of details voluntarily given to them by many staffers at Skitz's private clinic. As a result, the clinic was shut down, and all the patients were moved to other facilities.

Tina and the others turned state's evidence and managed to get plea deals to keep them out of prison. Tina accepted a suspended sentence for her activities as part of her deal.

James and the other five men were improving, but they had a long road ahead of them. Max and Adrestia somehow managed to get them placed into a rehabilitation facility once they were strong enough to be moved safely.

The men filed divorce papers citing adultery and cruelty. A good friend of Danni's, Adrienne Hawkins, took the cases at a discounted rate. Tina received a strict restraining order when she was served. After Adrestia spoke with James and Adrienne, he agreed to give her a lump sum to help keep her nose above water and out of the sex trades and other illegal and immoral ways of making ends meet. Tina signed the papers immediately and returned them, not wanting to evoke Adrestia's ire.

I spent some time with Cameron and met his family. It was a bit odd seeing an entire family with those strange eyes. I asked Cameron about all that, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything he told me. All I can say is I'm glad he's on our side...

All that ran through my head as I sat at the edge of the large pond, watching the kids fish with Danni and Grandma Lizzy. Danni and I rode over with the kids on our horses, and Grandpa rode in on his large steed, with Grandma Lizzy sitting on the horse behind him. Bill and Kate Williams -- Danni's parents -- liked to keep the pond stocked with catfish. I looked and saw Grandpa staring wistfully over the pond.

"Penny for your thoughts," I said. He blinked his eyes and looked at me.

"Sorry, was jes' thinking about the day ah took yer great-uncle Obadiah out a-fishin'," he said. "It was a day pretty much like this one. Had a real blast," he added with a smile.

"Kids sure seem to be enjoying themselves," I said. Grandpa looked over and nodded his head.

"Sure are," he said. Just then, little Elizabeth held up a catfish.

"Look, Grandpa! I caught a fish," she squealed with a smile.

"You sure did, pumpkin," he said as we waved and smiled. "That's a mighty big one, too." He laughed and turned to me. "Relish this time with 'em while ya can, son. These are the kinda memories they'll carry the rest of their lives. And longer."

"They sure are," I said, recalling something I read once that said memories are the only things we take with us into the afterlife.

"By the way, you never did tell me about this Justice League stuff," Grandpa said. I pulled out my phone and, seeing I had a pretty good signal, opened my browser and showed him a website about the cartoon characters. His brow furrowed as he looked at the pictures.

"Be a cold day in a hot place before ah'd wear somethin' like that. You really read that when you was a kid?" he asked.

"Sure did," I said. "Dad used to as well when he was younger."

"Yer Grandpa Greg let him read that stuff?" Grandpa asked.

"Yep. In fact, the first Superman comic came out in 1939," I said.

"Well, ah'm gonna have ta talk with that boy the next time ah see him," Grandpa said with a smile.

"Speaking of Grandpa Greg," I said, pulling a small box out of my jean pocket. "You knew what he was going to fly into when you gave him that crucifix, didn't you?" I asked. Grandpa nodded his head briefly.

"Ah had a pretty good idea," he said quietly.

"You didn't warn him?" I asked.

"Ah gave him all the warning ah was allowed to, son," he said. "There's jes' some things a feller's not supposed to know in advance."

"He had it pretty rough in that war, didn't he?" I asked.

"Sure did, son," Grandpa said. "But I'll tell you like ah tol' him. No matter where you go, no matter what yer facing, justice is always riding with ya. Never forget that, son."

"I won't, Grandpa," I said. He smiled as he looked at me. Then we heard a man's voice behind us.

"Well, here y'all are," I heard Bill say. He and Kate rode up to the pond on their horses, stopped, and climbed off. I saw Kate pull a picnic basket off the back of her horse. "How's the fishin'?" Bill asked.

"Pretty good so far," I said, standing up. Grandpa stood with me and shook Bill's hand. Bill had met Grandpa before, but he didn't know the whole story.

"Good to see you again, Eli," Bill said. "That's a mighty big horse you got over there. How tall is that thing?"

"Ah reckon about 30 hands," Grandpa said. Bill shook his head as he let out a whistle. "Gentle as a kitten, though. Ah like to take her out now and then."

"Grandpa! Grandpa," we heard little Elizabeth shout as she came running to us with a catfish on a stringer. "Look, Grandpa, I caught a fish!"

"Why you sure did," Bill said, kneeling down before her. "And that's a big one, too. You want me to show you how to clean it?" he asked. "If you don't mind, that is, Amos," he said, looking at me.

"Go for it," I said.

"Yes, please," Elizabeth squealed. Bill walked with her to the small campfire we made and showed Elizabeth how to clean the fish. We all gathered our fish and headed for the campfire. After we cleaned the fish, Danni and Grandma Lizzy cooked it over the fire. Kate opened the basket and pulled out a container of potato salad. We enjoyed a family meal right there next to the pond.

We spent some time eating and getting caught up. It was a beautiful day for a family outing, and I couldn't help but feel like the luckiest man alive to have such a family. By the time we finished, I was stuffed and ready for a quiet evening at home.

"Listen, I know you two have been up to yer ass in alligators lately, so if you want, the kids can stay with us overnight while you two ... reconnect," Bill said, giving Kate a knowing glance.

"Well, only if it's not too much trouble," Danni said. "I know we could sure use a break."

"Alright, then. Let's break camp and head out," Bill said. "You kids wanna spend the night with us? We got ice cream and cake, if you want."

"Yes!" they both shouted.

"You're spoiling them, you know that?" I asked Bill. He smiled back as he responded.

"Ain't that what grandparents are for?" he asked, causing us all to laugh. We got everything cleaned up and packed on our horses and watched as Bill and Kate rode off with the kids, who waved at us as they left. After they were out of sight, Grandpa and Grandma turned to us and hugged us.

"This was a wonderful day," Grandma said. "Thank you for letting us share it with you and the kids."

"Any time, Grandma," I said. "It sure was nice seeing you again." We said our goodbyes and watched as Grandpa swung up onto his massive horse. Then he lifted Grandma up and placed her in front of him, side-saddle.

"Are you ready, my dear?" he asked.

"I'm always ready, my love," she said. Grandpa pulled on the reins and nudged the horse with his boots.

"HEYAHH," he shouted as he spurred the horse. The giant, muscular beast disappeared in a cloud of dust and smoke. A few moments later, we heard Grandma's voice.

"Oh, Eli, you are so naughty," she said.