Andre sits in the front row of the visitor's bench, right behind Aziel and his lawyer. They arrived a bit early, Clairy and her lawyer are not seen around yet. The department where the defendant's family normally resides is also empty. Andre suspects that the people are still in a brief meeting with each other. The judge self has not yet arrived too. Everyone is curious whether it is a male or female judge, there is a fear of stereotyping. On social media, this case is the most discussed topic in politics, social, judicial groups, the opinions are therefore diverse. There is also much speculation about the judge's personal attitude, as many accuse Aziel of all kinds of bad things and curse him a lot. He is mostly accused of late reporting to the police and many think that he just wants to avoid paying child support. But Aziel is mainly supported by a large corps of men. Testimonials have even surfaced from fake accounts that claim to ha
The judge asks Aziel to tell something about himself, she wants an image of the man's current life. The new approach causes a slight buzz through the room, but when the young woman focuses her stern gaze on the room, everyone is silent. Her authority is unquestionable.“Your honor, I am an engaged man, my wife is pregnant with twins and we have another five-year-old son. This case is so distasteful, puts pressure on my wife's well-being," Aziel begins. “I had sex with this young woman against my will, I was drugged and raped and now she says she is pregnant by me. This is not what I wanted, my plan was to have a closed family with my wife and children. And now I am forced to rearrange my plans. But I accept my responsibility if the child is mine, it is innocent in all this," he ends emotionally.The judge looks at him unfazed."I understand that you did your own investigation before you trusted the police enough to do their job," she te
Somewhere in BrooklynFinally, after five years I can go back to the new normal. The time gap will not be easy to bridge, a lot has happened during my absence. I did keep up with the news on a daily basis, both business news and the gossips. So, I know what I'm going to face.This morning I last checked everything and to my delight, the situation has changed in my favor. I know what to do now, I have done good business with a fellow sufferer. Enrique has a house in Saint Maarten that I rented from him to acclimatize. And what I have learned today makes me have to adjust my plans, show my return a little earlier.I grab my belongings from the guards and stand outside this dismal facility where I've stayed for the past five years. I breathe in and out deeply. Fresh air, no recycling of what the criminals inside blow out every day.The taxi I ordered is already waiting. Before I get in, I look at my reflection in the car window. Yes, I've matured,
"What do you mean, she's gone?!"A furiously Aziel stands in the office of the hospital director who has just informed him that Loraine has checked out of the hospital and left with all her belongings. He shows him the form where she personally signed for her resignation and paid the bill with her own credit card.Aziel studies the forms in disbelief and indeed the signature is hers. He just got from her bed for three hours to take a bath and rest for two hours at home. The nurse had reprimanded him for sitting next to Loraine's bed for three days straight without cleaning up. According to the hygiene policy of the hospital, this is unacceptable and poses a risk to the patient's health.And he had indeed left for a while, also to talk to Lorrich and to inform him about his mother's recovery. The boy was inconsolable when he learned that the babies had died. Michelle and Rick, Kaylah and Archer were also shocked, to say the least. Aziel had only focused on
Two months have passed and no one has seen or heard from Loraine.It's as if she's vanished from the face of the earth, none of her phone numbers are active anymore. She doesn't even make contact with Lorrich, her beloved son. Both Andre and Aziel have hired a private detective, but so far it has not yielded any results. Loraine just disappeared without a trace.Lorrich constantly asks about his mother, he has never been separated from her for so long. Some nights he cries himself to sleep, begging her to come back in his prayers. More often he blames himself that she left, that he did not help her enough when she came home tired and she now wants to rest without him. The lively, self-assured boy from before is completely disappeared and Lorrich is now passive and silent. The change in his behavior has also been noticed at school.Aziel officially filed a missing person’s report with the police but has not taken any public action. He fears that Loraine may
Andre and Aziel rush to court early the next morning to find out in which detention center Danner is held. When they received that information, they go straight to Brooklyn, where they are received by the prison warden. He is a polite short man, close to retirement with a potbelly. “Gentlemen, my name is Hen Wansgrid. What can I do for you? I understand you are looking for a distinguished guest who has stayed here for many years?”. With a wave of his hand, he invites the men to take a seat on the chairs in front of his desk. He himself presses his body laboriously on the comfortable leather office chair.“Yes, Danner Winfield. We want to know if he's still staying here. We're linking him to the disappearance of my wife, Loraine Windrug. He was also engaged to her for some time," says Aziel. The prison director looks up at this. “Have you informed the judiciary of your suspicions? The man was very quiet here, but he was supplied with a lot of expens
When they arrive at the head nurse's address, they park in a driveway of an abandoned house. They observe the surroundings, it is a lower- middle- income neighborhood. A little below her social standing for a head nurse. The woman's house is currently being renovated and there is a brand-new car in the driveway. And then they see three children running out of the yard towards a commission shop. It’s clear that they just got some money to buy sweets.They remain in their vehicle for a while, until one of the workmen leaves the place on a scooter.They decide to follow the man. And luckily after a few corners, the man stops at a small shop. Aziel gets out to meet the man inside the store. “Sir, can I have a word with you, please? I really have no bad intentions," he assures the man. The worker stops in his tracks, takes in Aziel's appearance and nods. “What did you want to ask me?”.Aziel holds out a hundred dollar bill to him
Andre can't sleep all night. He twists and turns in the bed, thinking he's meeting the crush of his life in a few hours. Far too early he stands fully clothed in front of the mirror, it's a new suit he brought from Barbados that he knows will look great on him.After taking a final look at himself, he grabs his car keys and phone and makes his way to the garage. When he has taken a seat behind the wheel, he hears his phone informing him that he has a new notification. But he doesn't feel like it now, he drives directly to Aziel's house.As he steps in, he is greeted by a sleepy Aziel sitting at the breakfast table with a cup of hot coffee. “Man, didn't you sleep at home? We don't have to be at the district court for three hours. What is the rush?!” he teases his friend. Andre also pours himself a coffee and sits down opposite Aziel. “I'm in love”, he drops his secret. Aziel is wide awake now and stares at the man in amazement. “Sur