Chapter 624 - Stay in Jail? (1)

10 June, Municipal Courthouse, City K

Bronwyn stood outside waiting for John to arrive.  When she had returned his call after leaving the Boss' office, she could hear in his words the need to be at the court for the hearing.  Trying to talk him out of it was impossible but given the boss' approval of their marriage and the connections to Colonel Pang, she could use her powers as a military lawyer to supress all the proceedings now based on national security.

Of course, that would not go down well with the press, and she suspected Madam Mo, but the Boss and Head Honcho were right when they approved this tactic, that minimising the material in the media was necessary for National Security.  The only thing that worried her was that it could be playing into the hands of the Devil, given what they knew.  The IT skills between him and his minions would make the exposure of the information if she proceeded with her actions inevitable and would cast the military in a bad light.  It would just have to be a wait and see, and only intervene if it became necessary.

Looking around, Bronwyn spotted John walking towards her and smiled.  The moment he noticed her, she could see he relaxed slightly, before he came over and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek.  Bronwyn, as he pulled back said "You really should not be here."

"I know, but I am grateful despite knowing that you are here.  Honestly, while the s*xual offences unit tried talking me out of being here as I explained, the reality is on the historical charges she will be conditionally released from detention.  But as I reinforced to them, the situation is different with Abigail.  She cannot obey the restraining order and I am the officer who took both her and Paul's initial statements plus I can give firsthand observations of the impacts of her actions."

"You want her to remain behind bars, don't you."

"If you are asking that with me the victim, in some respects no, because if she is free other victims including those, we do not know about are likely to come forward. That will absolutely bury her on those charges.  But as the police officer who witnessed the impacts of her blatant disregard for court orders, absolutely."

Sensing the conflict in John Bronwyn as she squeezed his hand said, "Know that I am here and will back you up regardless of what happens."

After looking at his fiancée, it finally dawned to John that she was in uniform "I would have thought you would have come in civilian attire?"

"You are slow on the uptake.  The reality is simply because she is Colonel Pang's mother-in-law there could be a national security implication.  We are just lucky to date that the media have not made the connection but given how she disowned her daughter on her marriage that is not unexpected.  But guess who has been tasked to monitor the situation and step in if necessary?"

Laughing John said, "You drew the short straw?"

"Actually no.  I persuaded the Boss after he spoke to you about what to do that the best thing would be for me to be here…"

"In other words, making sure that I am kept under control…"

"No, he figured since he has submitted the marriage report approval…"

"So quick?"

"You think he wants to argue with my mother?  Absolutely not, because she is a force of nature, and you heard her yesterday, she will always have your back because she does not doubt what you have disclosed."

"Likely influenced by my mother."

Shaking her head, Bronwyn said "Not something like this.  She could not have survived as long as she has as the type of military wife, she is without being able to detect when people are lying through their teeth and when they are telling the truth.  Plus, remember who she is…"

"The Eng family princess of her generation."

"Even I know what that means.  People constantly trying to befriend you, not because they want to be friends, but because they want something.  It is only the true people that get through the trust barrier with anyone in my maternal family and you did that even before you proposed.  They trust and believe in you because of you, not because of who you are or because I love you."

Bronwyn paused and glanced at her watch and said, "We better get in, because I need to have a word with the civilian prosecutors before the hearing."

Within minutes, John using his police identification and Bronwyn her military identification they went through security and determined the court room where the hearing was going to be.  As soon as John saw the judge's name, he quietly said "This will be interesting."

Bronwyn turned and looked at him before asking "What do you mean?"

"This judge when she practiced as a lawyer, exclusively appeared for defendants.  And ever since she has become a judge, from memory she has only ever kept three defendants in jail before their trial.  Her mantra seems to be that the best way that someone can defend themselves is to be out in the community with the freedom to consult their legal team.  The three cases she kept the defendants in jail were cases where there were multiple witnesses to them murdering someone.  Hard not to say that they committed the crime and that they would not spend years in jail, if not life."

"The Boss was right to send me here if that is the case."

"That could backfire.  She does not like the police, but at least she likes us more than the military."

"I do not care, the law is the law, and if I need to, I will step in."

"I wish you luck," John looked up and noticed in their movements they were outside the courtroom and said, you better talk to the prosecutors, I will go have a word with the police."

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