Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen

Circuit courts in Cook County hear a flood of cases all day long, with defendants accused of malicious assault, arson, rape, drug dealing, murder, and all manner of disgustingly illegal activities.This month alone, Judge Tyler Stanford tried five or six murders, but most of the murderers never ended up going to trial because the defense attorneys for the defendants always offered plea deals, plus the court schedules and prisons were always Full, state courts usually recognize it.Then the defense always strikes a deal and goes to the Stanford judge for leave. However, Hal Baker's case is an exception.

※※※ Hal Baker is a man of good nature but unlucky.When he was fifteen, his brother convinced him to help him rob a grocery store.Hal had tried unsuccessfully to dissuade his brother, and ended up going with him anyway.Hal was caught red-handed and his brother fled.He was released from juvenile reform two years later, vowing never to get in trouble with the law again.A month later, he accompanied a friend to a jewelry store. "I want to pick out a ring for my girlfriend." But as soon as he entered the store, his friend suddenly took out a gun and shouted: "Don't move, robbery!"

After a commotion, a staff member was shot and killed.Hal Baker was caught red-handed and charged with armed robbery.His friend ran away. Baker went to jail.During this period, a social welfare worker named Helen Gowan read his case and sympathized with him so much that he went to visit him in prison.They love at the first sight.Hal Baker and Helen married after he was released from prison.In the next five years, they had four lively and lovely children.Hal Baker loves his family very much.Because of his past, he had trouble finding a job.In order to support his family, he reluctantly worked his life for his brother again, committing arson, robbery and malicious wounding.Unfortunately, Baker was caught red-handed again during a burglary, and he was arrested and sent to jail before Judge Taylor Stanford.

The hour of judgment has come.He is a second-timer and has a record of juvenile delinquency.The case was so clear that the district court paralegals wagered on how many years Judge Stanford would sentence Baker. "He's going to slam the verdict in Baker's face!" said a paralegal. "I bet he's going to give him twenty years. Stanford's been ruthless." Hal Baker felt deeply that he was innocent and acted as a lawyer to defend himself. Standing in the dock in his best gown, he said: "Your Honor, I know I've made mistakes. But we're all human, aren't we? I have a wonderful wife and four kids who are amazing .I want you to see them, my lord. Everything I do is for them."

Taylor sat on the bench and listened impassively.He waited patiently for Hal Baker to say it was all right for him to pronounce the verdict.Did the idiot think he could justify himself with that stupid story trying to win sympathy? Hal Baker concluded by saying: "...So you see, Your Honor, even when I did something wrong, I did it out of necessity: I had to feed this whole family. I don't have to tell you how important they are. If I squatted Prison, my wife and children will starve. I know I made a mistake, but I am willing to make up for it. Anything you tell me to do, Your Honor..."

That last sentence caught the attention of Judge Tyler Stanford.He became interested in the accused who stood before him.I let him do anything!Suddenly, his instinct told him that this man might be as useful as Dmitry Kaminsky one day. To the astonishment of the public prosecutor, Taylor's verdict was completely unexpected.Taylor said, "Mr. Baker, there is exculpation in this case. For these reasons and for your family, I'm giving you five years' probation, but you'll have to do six hundred hours of pro bono service. Go to the judge's office." Come on, let's talk."

※※※ In the judge's office, Taylor said: "You know, I can still keep you in prison for a long time." Hal Baker turned pale with terror. "But, Your Honor! Didn't you just say..." Taylor leaned over to him and said, "You know what impresses you the most?" Hal Baker sat there thinking hard. "I don't know, my lord." "Your sense of family responsibility," Taylor said emotionally. "I admire that very much." Hal Baker's face brightened. "Thank you, sir. They are everything to me. I..." "Then of course you don't want to lose them, do you? If I send you to prison, your children won't have a father, and your wife might run off with another man. Do you know what I mean?"

Hal Baker was in the fog again. "No . . . don't understand, my lord. I don't quite understand." "I saved your family for you, Baker, and I thought you'd appreciate me." Hal Baker said earnestly and sincerely: "Oh, I can't thank you enough, my lord! I can't tell you how much I owe you." "Perhaps you can confirm this to me in the future. I may call upon you at any moment to help me with a little errand." "May I do the work of a dog and a horse!" "Very well. I put you on probation, but if I find anything in your conduct that disappoints me..."

"Just tell me what you want me to do," Baker begged. "I'll let you know when the time comes. Besides, this matter must be kept strictly confidential." Hal Baker put a hand on his chest. "I'm not going to tell it to death." "That's right." Taylor was relieved. Not long after the incident, Taylor received a call from Dmitry Kaminsky.Your father just called his lawyer, who is meeting with him in Boston on Monday to discuss amending his will. Tyler knew very well that he had to see the will with his own eyes, and it was time to use Hal Baker's leverage.

"...the firm is called Longcaster-Longcaster-Fitzgeralds. Get a copy and send it to me at once." "No problem. Leave it to me, don't worry, Your Honor." ※※※ Twelve hours later, Taylor had a copy of the will in his hand.He reads the will, unhappy that he, Woody, and Kendall are the sole heirs.On Monday the father plans to amend the will.This old bastard wants to abolish our inheritance!Taylor said angrily in his heart.We've been through it after all... the billions of dollars are ours.It was all forced on him!There is only one way to stop him. When Dmitry called the second time, Taylor told him, "I want you to kill him. Tonight."

He was silent for a long time. "But in case I'm found out..." "Then don't be found out. You're going to sea right now. Anything can happen at sea." "Okay. Afterwards...?" "An afterthought cash and a plane ticket to Australia are waiting for you." Later, Taylor got a final call from Dmitri that made him feel ecstatic. "I did it. It's easy." "No! No! No! I want to hear the details of the whole process. Tell me everything. Don't miss anything..." The scene described by Dmitry unfolded in front of Taylor. "We were caught in a storm on the way back to Corsica. He called and asked me to come and give him a massage in his cabin." Tyler gripped the microphone tightly. "Yes. Go on..." ※※※ The yacht was like a wild horse in the wind and waves, and Dmitry struggled to maintain his balance, moving towards Harry Stanford's stateroom.He knocked on the hatch, and after a while, he heard Stanford's voice. "Come in!" Stanford yelled.He was lying on the massage table. "Under the back." "I'll make you comfortable. Relax, Mr. Stanford." Dmitry went to the massage table and rubbed oil on Stanford's back.He skillfully massaged the tense muscles with his thick and powerful fingers.He felt that Stanford was beginning to relax. "Feels better." Stanford breathed a sigh of relief. "thanks." The massage lasted an hour.After Dmitri finished, Stanford nearly fell asleep. "I'll get you some water and a hot bath," Dmitry said.The boat was pitching in the sea, and he went into the bathroom.He turned on the faucet of the black onyx bathtub, filled it with hot sea water, and returned to the bedroom.Stanford was lying on the massage table, closing his eyes and meditating. "Mr. Stanford..." Stanford opened his eyes. "I put hot water on for you." "I don't think so..." "Take a hot bath, and you will surely have a good night's sleep." He helped Stanford off the massage table and led him to the bathroom. Dmitri watched as Harry Stanford squatted slowly in the bathtub. Stanford looked up at Dmitry and saw that his eyes were dark.At that moment, his instinct told him something was going to happen. "No!" he cried, standing up instantly. Dmitry immediately held him in the water with his thick hands.Stanford struggled desperately to come out of the water to breathe, but he was no match for Dmitry.Stanford was held down in the water, his lungs filled with seawater, until finally he couldn't move anymore.He stood there, panting, and went into the bedroom. The boat was bobbing up and down in the waves, and Dmitry staggered towards the desk.He picked up a few documents, opened the glass door leading to the balcony, and the sea breeze blew in with a whistling sound.He scattered some papers on the balcony and threw a few more overboard. After everything was arranged, he went back to the bathroom and dragged Stanford's body out of the bathtub, put him in pajamas, pajama pants and slippers, and moved him to the balcony.Dmitry stood by the railing for a while, then pushed the body into the sea.After counting to five seconds, he immediately grabbed the phone and yelled, "Someone fell into the water...!" ※※※ After listening to Dmitri's account of the murder, Taylor felt a sexual arousal.He could almost taste the salty seawater in his father's lungs, feel the terror of suffocation.Then it all came to naught. It's finally over, Tyler thought.No, it's not over yet, he immediately corrected himself.This game of chess has just begun.It's time for a queen.