On January 2nd of the following year Ken received a notice in the mail saying that the trial of the two men who were suspected of stealing his car would be held the following week. He was not being called as a witness since he had not actually seen the theft, but that he was welcome to attend the trial to witness the outcome if he so desired. If the defendants were found guilty, he would be allowed to make a statement during the sentencing phase of the trial if he so desired.
"Brianna, I really want to go and see what happens to these guys. They caused you and me a lot of problems, and I hope they get the book thrown at them."
"Alright honey, I will go with you then. This is not something that you should attend by yourself."
"Boy, Craig is really going to be upset with both of us needing time off", Ken said. "I just hope that he will understand why I feel like I need to be there for the trial."
"I'm sure that he will understand. You will find that he is a wonderful boss, and a very caring person."
Brianna and Ken went into Craig's office the next day and explained the situation. Craig told them that he would not have it any other way. He told them that they were to take all of the time that was needed to get this behind them. They both thanked him, and went back to their respective duties.
On January 10th, Brianna and Ken started out on the trip to go to the trial. It was to be held the next day, and they wanted to drive up a day ahead of time so that they could get up and be fresh and alert the following morning for the whole event.
The following day found them at the courthouse, seated in the front row behind the prosecuting attorney. The trial finally started at one o'clock that afternoon after many delays from the trial that had immediately preceded theirs, and the prosecution presented its case. Ken recognized the policeman who had taken the report from him at the restaurant as the first witness in the case, who was then followed by the actual arresting officer. A video was also played that was recorded by the dash camera in the officer's car that showed the chase and the crash that soon followed. Testimony was given as to the identities of the two suspects, and that the car belonged to Ken and how it was reported stolen by Ken just moments before it was spotted and the chase ensued. By the time the prosecutor had finished presenting his evidence, Ken was sure that the defendants would not find a way to get out of the charges.
The defense attorney started to call his first witness, when one of the men pulled on his sleeve and whispered something in his ear. The attorney then asked to have a recess to discuss the case further with his clients. The judge granted a fifteen minute recess, and the defense attorney and the two suspects were busily talking to one another when Ken recognized another man walking towards the defense table. It was the waiter that had driven them back to the cabin. The waiter evidently did not see Ken at first, and he walked past him and up to one of the suspects and started talking to him quietly. While the waiter was speaking to the suspect, he caught a glimpse of Ken and his face took on a different look, a look of apology and hurt. When he had finished speaking to the suspect, he came over to where Ken and Brianna were sitting and spoke.
"I'm so sorry that we have to meet this way again. In case you were wondering, the man that I was speaking to is my brother. I had no idea at the time that it was he who had a part in stealing your car, and was later captured after the crash. Our parents are dead, and we only have each other, and I felt that he needed me here to be supportive of him. I do not condone what he did to you, and I have made that very clear to him. He realizes that what he did was wrong, and that he should not have been involved with the other man who was captured while driving the vehicle. He said that he simply wanted to go for a joy ride, and that he wasn't thinking about the consequences of his actions. This is the very first time that he has been in trouble with the law, and I am hoping that the judge will understand that when the sentencing phase comes."
Ken spoke up, "Well, they haven't been found guilty yet."