Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 53. NOAH CONFERENCE

“Then I have to go to court now so that I can get a good seat to be able to see the court proceedings," he said as he stepped back to the main entrance of the police station.

“See you again, everyone.”

He pushed the door open with his back. As he turned to walk out, he bumped into Mr. Arsyanendra who was showing an unpleasant look, followed by a pair of well-dressed lawyers, all of whom tried to enter.

"Jilena Margaretha," his grunts with a frown. Jilena's body instantly froze and her mouth was dry. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He can't leave quickly. Jilena stepped down the stairs and headed to the sidewalk and rushed on foot to the courthouse, which was a few blocks away. Noah's father and lawyer must have been there to prepare Noah before he was brought to justice.

Meeting Mr. Arsyanenda twice in one day is very annoying. Jilena took a deep breath as she slowed down her pace. There is no point in appearing in court with a sweaty body and a confused face.

He reached the courthouse and, after going through a security check, he pulled a wooden door heavy enough to enter the open courtroom and enter the room. Inside the room were already several reporters from around the town of Lembayung, some probably from outside the area, as well as there were also curious townspeople. Jilena tried to find an empty seat in the crowded central hallway, she saw Sarah sitting in the second row of the defendant's side. After passing through the noisy crowd, and passing by the people who were sitting at the end of Sarah's line, he finally reached his seat.

“Sarah?”

Surprised, Sarah looked at Jilena who pulled something out of her bag which was— next to her without a word. Jilena dropped herself on a hard wooden bench, next to her sister. “I didn't know you'd be here.”

“I think Noah will probably need support—you know?”

Jilena nodded. "I understand." He looked around the room. In the press, she was a little embarrassed to say she was a member of the press today, acting like a piranha fish that wanted to eat Noah's meat. The trial was also attended by the townspeople, many of whom he knew, apparently—they came to court today just to gather interesting gossip to spread. That's the problem if you live in a small town.

Jilena and Sarah sit quietly and wait for the charges to begin. Finally Arlina Asyanendra walked in and sat down to the first row, seemingly not paying attention to Jilena in the next back row. She was followed by her husband and then Ratih Arsyanendra, an ex-wife who seemed to want to show family support. It must have felt really awkward for all three. After a long wait with a sense of unease, the court attendant walked in and pointed towards the crowd, with his hands moving up and down in unison, to stand still and take a seat. When order is reached, he speaks. "All rise up," the spokesman ordered in a thunderous voice. "Judge Ezra Wijayanto is in charge."

While the judge entered and took her place on the bench, Jilena took her micron recorder from inside her bag, clicked on it, and held it out, ready to record the course of the trial. An officer escorted Noah in from the side door. The sound of chatter erupted around his sight. He glanced at his parents who were sitting in the first row, then his gaze floated behind them, as if he had just seen Jilena and Sarah in the next back row. He smiled as he curled his lips for a moment, then quickly faded into a somber expression.

"Did you see that?" Sarah said in a low tone. “She saw us here to support her."

"I'm sure she was happy to see some friendly faces among the crowd" Jilena replied.

Is this how Sarah let him go? Noah stood next to one of his lawyers at the defendant's desk, wearing an ordinary orange jumpsuit. The judge hit his hammer several times. “I will continue or I will cancel the trial," cried the white-haired judge. Crowd silent. The Deputy District Attorney, a young man in a dark gray suit with short-cut black hair, who appeared to be in his early thirties, was standing at the prosecutor's desk. "Your Majesty, Ezra Wijayanto." He went on to read the allegations. “Noah Arsyanendra charged with murder in first degree.”

"How is the defendant's brother?" ask judge.

“Not guilty, Your Grace. Absolutely innocent!” shouted Noah.

"Only innocence is enough" the judge instructed.

“Your Highness,” said the Prosecutor, “Country respectfully requested that no bail— be given to this defendant, as we believe Mr. Arsyanendra could have done anything to escape. His father has considerable funds and can easily take his son out of the country to avoid trial.”

"I object, Your Honor," said Noah's lawyer. “Noah Arsyanendra is a citizen of this city who has lived in this city his whole life. She has deep ties to this community, both personally and professionally. He never had any problems with the law. He never had anything other than a few tickets in his records. It would be very unfair to put this esteemed young man in jail until his next trial.”

The judge looked at Noah for a long time, pursing his lips in thought, before turning his gaze to the Prosecutor. “I think that if this young man is stuck in jail for months makes me sick.”

Does that mean he'll release Noah on bail?

“However,” continued the judge, “I have known his father for decades, and I must agree that all possibilities exist could his father would try to smuggle his son abroad to avoid prosecution. Guarantee denied." The sound of a hammer falling violently broke the silence in the courtroom and chaos erupted from the courtroom.

The judge struck his hammer a few more times and the crowd fell silent.

"Trial continues!"

Mr. Arsyanendra rose from his seat. Reaching the guardrail, he placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "I'll do whatever I have to do, to get you out, son."

Jilena held out her recorder as far as possible, but it didn't look flashy, perhaps—can, hoping to capture something from the conversation. Ratih Arsyanendra also stood up and placed his hand on his son's arm. "Stay strong, dear," he said in a tense and attentive voice. Mr. Arsyanendra brought his head to Noah's ear and muttered something to him.

Hopefully these recorders are sensitive enough to pick up what they're talking about. I'm pretty sure they're up to something. I should be able to get something from today's trial.