JAKE BIONDI
The BOYSTOWN Series
The MAJESTY Series
BOYSTOWN Season Seven Excerpt (from Episode 61)
Autumn in Chicago can be deceiving. One day the sunshine may be warming the city with its soft rays and brilliant glow, but the very next day may be dominated by harsh winds and gray clouds that send chills through the souls of the city's residents. It's a season of transition as summer fades and winter returns with its frost and snow.
Inside the courtroom in downtown Chicago, Ethan Anderson sat quietly in the gallery holding the memory card from Jensen Stone's video camera. When Emmett Mancini and Keith Colgan returned to the courtroom, he slipped it back into his pocket.
"She's ready to share her verdict," Ethan told Emmett. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Emmett replied. "Just stressed."
Keith texted a message to Michael Martinez from his phone: "Looking forward to our romantic night. I love you."
"All rise," the bailiff ordered as the Judge Judy Mitchell entered the courtroom.
Everyone stood, waited for the judge to take her seat, and sat back down.
"Would the defendant please rise?" the judge asked.
Both Sam Provenzano and Jensen stood up from their seats, their eyes fixed on the judge.
"Mr. Stone, you have been charged with murder in the first degree for the death of Rachel Carson. After having carefully listened to the testimony of the witnesses in court here today, as well as reviewing the transcript of the deposition of Hugo Martinez who could not be present in court due to his medical condition, I am ready to issue my verdict."
Keith took Emmett's hand as they both maintained focus on the judge.
"I hereby find the defendant, Jensen Stone, guilty of murder in the first degree."
"No! No!" Keith yelled as the judge banged her gavel.
Tears in his eyes, Jensen turned around to face his friends, recalling the final words that Rachel spoke to him: "Now you'll never be happy."
Suddenly, Emmett's eyes closed and he collapsed onto the floor. Ethan and Keith turned around to find his body lying still on the floor.
"Emmett!" Jensen yelled as he rushed to the railing that divided the courtroom from the gallery.
"Mr. Stone," the judge called from her seat. She turned to the bailiff. "Please take Mr. Stone into custody."
Ethan knelt down next to Emmett's body as Keith yelled out to anyone who would listen, "We need a doctor! Someone call a doctor."
The bailiff took hold of Jensen, who struggled to get free. "He's my friend. I have to make sure he's okay."
The judge stood up from her seat and directed the court reporter to call 911.
"Jensen," Sam said, trying to calm his client. "You have to compose yourself."
"Something's wrong with Emmett," Jensen cried. "He's not getting up."
"An ambulance is on the way," the judge announced. "Please remove the defendant from the courtroom."
"No," Jensen yelled, trying to free himself from the bailiff's grip.
"Settle down, boy," the bailiff ordered in a deep voice.
"Emmett will be okay," Sam assured Jensen. "I'll make sure of that."
"Please, please let me stay until the ambulance gets here," Jensen asked the judge, who simply gestured for the bailiff to get him out of the courtroom.
"Emmett, Emmett," Ethan said, gently shaking his friend to try to wake him.
"Check his pulse," Keith told Ethan as others in the gallery gathered around.
"Everybody stand back," the judge commanded as she stepped into the gallery. "Please."
"Where's that ambulance?" Keith asked.
"It'll be here in a few minutes," the judge stated.
"Emmett may not have a few minutes," Keith said, looking down at the still body of his ex-fiancé.
Ethan looked up at Keith and the judge. "I can't find a pulse."