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I shake my hands dry and leave the restroom without another second to think.
“I would be more concerned about yourself rather than me, Willa.”
FIFTY-THREE
THURSDAY, JUNE 29TH 3:00 PM
Two hours have come and gone. Willa left, and I’ve done nothing more than stare at the back of the seat in front of me, the oak wood with a black scratch that looks like a question mark.
The judge returned two minutes ago, which gives me hope that the jury has come to a decision.
Liam is aware I’m sitting back here. I’m not sure when he noticed me today, but he’s peered back at me several times in the last twenty minutes. I maintain a straight line along my lips, making it seem like I didn’t notice his glances. If only I knew what was going through his mind. He doesn’t seem nervous. His attorney must have told him there’s nothing to worry about. Kidnapping is kidnapping though, and they found Fallon in his apartment. Madden admitted that Liam made the plan with her. If anything, he needs psychological help. It would be the best thing for him at this point.
The front right-side door opens and the jury funnels back into their rows of seats, except for the bailiff who is last to step inside. The middle-aged woman with short coffee-brown hair steps up beside the judge and faces the jury. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?” she asks.
One of the male jury members stands and responds, “Yes, Your Honor, we have come to a unanimous verdict.”
“Thank you. Please hand the verdict form to the court clerk, sir,” the judge says.
Another gentleman stands up from a seat near the front side door and takes the paper from the jury member’s hand and reaches it over to the judge.
“Your Honor, I present the verdict of the jury,” the bailiff says.
“Thank you, bailiff. Go ahead and read the verdict, please.”
My heart thunders, my pulse raises, and sweat beads up along the backside of my neck as I bounce my knees in apprehension. I should be grateful I’m not the one sitting in his seat right now because that’s where the Smith family clearly wanted me to be.
“In the Matter of the Abduction of Fallon Smith, the jury finds Lara Smith not guilty of kidnapping. The jury finds Lara Smith not guilty of conspiracy regarding the kidnapping. The jury finds Lara Smith guilty of emotional abuse and child neglect with a penalty of nine months of rehabilitation and psychiatric treatment as well as family counseling. The jury finds Corbin Smith not guilty of kidnapping. The jury finds Corbin Smith not guilty of conspiracy regarding the kidnapping. The jury finds Corbin Smith guilty of child neglect with a penalty of nine months of rehabilitation and psychiatric treatment as well as family counseling. The jury finds William Gellar Hoyt guilty of kidnapping. The jury finds William Gellar Hoyt guilty of Extortion. The jury finds William Gellar Hoyt guilty of Conspiracy.”
“The defendant, William Gellar Hoyt is hereby remanded to custody, pending sentencing,” the bailiff continues.
“Thank you, bailiff. Court is adjourned.” The thuds of the gavel hitting the wooden block sears through my head. I watchas Liam is placed in handcuffs and yet, all he can do is twist his head over his shoulder to stare back at me. There’s so much I want to say to him right now.
All I know is, justice has finally been served.
FIFTY-FOUR
THURSDAY, JUNE 29TH 4:00 PM
While the information is fresh in my mind, I stop at a small park a few blocks away from the courthouse and take my laptop out from under the back seat. I have my eyes set on the shady spot under the tree. The words are practically bubbling out of me, ready to finish up this case study.
Case Prefix:Ethical dilemmas involved in tending to a vulnerable child.
Lack of direct or concise evidence of why a child is acting out can create a challenge in finding the correct solution in a timely manner. Avoidance or ignoring the child’s behavior could provoke a turbulent outcome rather than the child setting their focus on an alternate plan to seek attention. Therefore, addressing the matter with the child is essential to behavioral correction.
The ethics of using varying approaches to address negative behavioral patterns in a vulnerable child are uncertain. Certain methods might be effective by utilizing fabrications to create a false sense of reality, while in other cases, frankhonesty could be beneficial and well-received. This is when the path to proper treatment begins to differ between cases.
Case Objective Question:
Which is more detrimental, a child exposed to only truths or a battery of constant lies?
Case Comparison between SUBJECT Aknown as“[EXPOSED SOLELY TO TRUTHS]” and SUBJECT Bknown as“[EXPOSED SOLELY TO LIES]”:
[SUBJECT A: EXPOSED SOLELY TO TRUTHS]spent the formative first few years of her life exposed only to the truth. She has faced some harsh realities and lost her innocence at a young age, left to navigate right from wrong based on fact rather than a systematic approach to problem solving.
[SUBJECT B: EXPOSED SOLELY TO LIES]spent the formative first few years of her life exposed only to untruths. Being lied to throughout every aspect of her life, she learned to trust only her own twisted instincts and unrealistic portrayals of perfection. This warped view of reality resulted in naivety and a false sense of who she is. This child cannot comprehend the difference between right and wrong.
Case Comparison between [SUBJECT A and SUBJECT B]:
