A Man Already Gone

He projected the paper onto a big screen.

He said in a loud voice, "This is the DNA test report comparing the victim's baby and Jethro Roberts!

"The report says the baby and Jethro Roberts are related by blood."

That report hit us like a bolt of lightning.

It was harder to argue with than the video. The DNA report seemed like solid proof.

Harriet slowly got to her feet, her eyes all red.

"With all this proof, what can you say now?!"

I pointed to the report, not backing down.

"That report's a fake. There's no way Harriet could get my dad's DNA."

Harriet jumped up, her eyes wet with tears.

"How dare you! When will you stop making up stories?!

"They tested a strand of hair I yanked from Jethro Roberts' head when he attacked me!"

Her mom cried to the judge, "Your Honor, it's all true! That's the child of that awful man!

"My daughter is innocent! They've wrecked her life, and they should pay for it by staying in jail for good!"

The whole courtroom got super loud, and everyone watching got really mad.

"The DNA even matches. How can these terrible people still deny it? They need to be seriously punished!"

"Is this guy out of his mind? Even with rock-solid proof, he's still talking back. Just like his dad, he's a total lost cause and a bad guy!"

"I bet he's got issues too. He probably gets a kick out of defending a criminal!"

When the anger in the room hit its peak, I did not admit to anything or give in. Instead, I started laughing out loud.

That laugh, in the quiet courtroom, was extra harsh to listen to.

Everyone stared at me, shocked, like they were looking at someone who had lost their mind.

The lawyer for the other side was quick to speak up, saying loudly, "The defendant isn't sorry at all, and he's even laughing! I implore the judge to take this seriously!"

Harriet's mom was super mad, pointing right at me. "You monster! Just like your dad, you're not even human! You and your dad should both go straight to hell!"

People in the courtroom started yelling, throwing the meanest words they could at me.

I ignored all the yelling, and when the judge nodded, I stood up slowly.

"I deny everything they're accusing me of!

"My dad would never hurt Harriet, and he definitely didn't impregnate her."

When I said that, the whole place went wild.

Harriet pointed at me, her words full of tears as she held her baby bump. "The baby I'm carrying is the terrible result of what Jethro Roberts did!

"How long are you going to keep making excuses?!"

Harriet's mom was beside herself, crying and making a scene. "These two devils still won't admit what they did! They've ruined my daughter's life. They deserve the death penalty!"

Right after she said that, everyone watching started cursing out me and my dad.

"The old one's hiding somewhere, and the young one's making a scene. Like father, like son! Just give them both the death penalty!"

"This guy's in on it too! He was the one setting things up. He has a hole where his heart should be!"

"They're monsters, not humans! They should be shamed, and their whole family wiped out!"

With everyone throwing insults, I stood up slowly, my eyes fixed on Harriet.

"You're saying Jethro Roberts did something bad to you, but that just can't be true. It's impossible."

Harriet shot up to her feet, her hand on her growing belly, looking as mad as anyone could be.

"My belly's getting bigger, yet you're still trying to play make-believe?!"

I did not say a word. I just shot a quick glance at the lawyer who was rushing over.

He nodded, pulled out a paper from his folder, and handed it to me.

I turned to the judge.

"May I please present the first piece of evidence?"

The judge gave me the go-ahead, and I held up the paper for all to see.

Everyone in the room took a sharp breath when they saw what it was.