For Better And For Worse
Chapter 118

Rehab.

John and Kevin arrive at the center and ask to speak to Doctor Romuald. They are shown his office and they go there.

John: Hello doctor, I’m Lieutenant John and this is my teammate, Inspector Kevin.

Romuald: hello, what can I do for you?

John signals to Kevin who approaches the doctor, removing a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.

Romuald: what are you doing?

Kevin: You are under arrest, doctor.

Romuald: what am I being accused of?

John: bribery, forgery and perjury under oath.

Romuald: what are you talking about, I didn’t do anything.

John: Oh yeah, listen to this.

He plays the recording for her.

Recording: my name is BRUNO, I gave the sum of 500,000 f to Doctor Romuald so that he could draw up a false medical report…

John: so, you were saying…? Come on, let’s bring him.

So they bring him.

Courthouse.

Meanwhile at the courthouse, Boris and Krist have joined the ongoing trial and are waiting for Judge Gérard to render his judgment.

Judge:…the trial is over!

People start to go out and they approach the judges who are leaving. They replace themselves in a room.

Boris: Excuse me, Judge, I am Commander Boris of the anti-drug squad.

Judge: yes, commander!

Boris: give us a few minutes.

Judge: Yes.

Krist: Do you remember me?

Judge: uh no, not really!

Krist: That doesn’t surprise me, I was declared dead a few months ago. Make an effort, Mr. Judge, take a good look at me.

Judge: no, that’s not up to me.

Krist: Let me refresh your memory, my name is Kristian.

Judge: ah, it comes back to me now. You were convicted a few months ago for a drug case and then exonerated.

Krist: Thank you for remembering, Mr. Judge. Go ahead, Commander!

Boris: Mr. Judge, you are under arrest.

Judge: What are the charges?

Boris: corruption, and false judgment!

Judge: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Krist: of course yes, listen!

Recording: my name is Bruno and I gave two million francs to Judge Gérard so that he can sentence you.

He says nothing more and Commander Boris stops him. They go out and all the journalists run up to them with lots of questions they haven’t answered and they go back to the drug squad. The journalists had gone that far and Boris spoke to them. Krist also decides to speak. After that, he comes home proud of himself and finally free!

Krist’s home.

After dropping Krist off, Master Célestin leaves for home. Krist approaches his mother-in-law.

Krist: Mom, I’m sorry, I had no choice but to make him stop.

She looks at him.

Florence: don’t regret what you did my son, even God would agree. God was very patient with him because he wanted to see him return to the right path, but he abused God’s patience. He could have stopped everything the first time his drugs were seized and he escaped but no, he was stubborn and he bombed the brigade to recover his dirt, causing several injuries without counting the lives of these people his drugs have destroyed. You should be happy to have put such people out of action because they will never again be able to destroy someone’s life.

Krist: I’m so relieved to hear that mom, I was worried you might be mad at me. Will it work for you?

Florence: yes, don’t worry.

Krist: Thanks, if you’re ready to go then let me drop you off.

Florence: okay thank you.

He leaves her and joins his parents.

Vincent: we followed the judge’s arrest live, I can’t believe it. How can someone who is the arm of justice do such a thing?

Krist: the law is nothing compared to money and when man is driven by the love of money, he loses the meaning of things (1Tim6:7-10). However, no one will bring anything from this world, you had to be content with what you have and be upright.

Vincent: really!

Odette: and this prison director?

Krist: he was arrested too mom, everyone who wronged me was arrested.

Odette: ah, praise God, he is truly a God of justice.

Krist: yes mom.

Stella had prepared lunch and they shared it. It was during the night that Krist decided to bring Florence home. She wonders what her life will be like now that she is all alone. She sits down sadly on her couch then turns on the TV. At 8 p.m., it’s the news.

8 p.m. news: today in the morning, the anti-drug squad made several most surprising arrests. Indeed, Mr. Bruno was arrested in his business around 9 a.m. this morning and surprising revelations were made by Commander Boris about him. According to him, Mr. Bruno was in fact leading a double life. Listen to his words.

Boris: Several years ago, our city and our country were sullied by illegal drug sales activities. For all these years, we had searched in vain for the person responsible for these activities because he was in fact hidden under a mask. But we were able to unmask him thanks to Krist who provided us with exact information about his real identity and his hideout where he stored his drugs. So, as you already know, yesterday we seized his drugs and arrested these men, among whom there is Francis, a drug trafficker convicted a few years ago, who received all his years in prison but who decided to start again with the same activity. And this morning, we arrested Bruno who wore Gauthier’s mask to carry out his activities. Today we can say that our streets will finally be clean, swept of the dirt that has polluted them for so many years and all thanks to Krist.

Journal: You are probably wondering who Krist is? Well, it’s a young man who was a victim of Gauthier a few months ago. Indeed, he was unjustly convicted in a drug case and he was pronounced dead a few months ago in a riot that broke out at Komer prison. So how come he’s alive? You will hear it later. Furthermore, Judge Gérard was also arrested this morning around 11 a.m. by agents of the anti-drug brigade. He is accused of corruption and accused of having rendered a false judgment. Indeed, according to the commander’s words, he had accepted bribes from Mr. BRUNO to convict Mr. Krist who, remember, is Mr. Bruno’s son-in-law. Doctor Romuald was also arrested for corruption, forgery, false testimony and lying under oath. He too had accepted bribes to establish a false medical report and give false testimony to convict Krist. But why does Mr. BRUNO feel such hatred towards his stepson? You’ll hear from Krist himself on this.

Krist: My name is Kristian Djimadjimbaye, commonly known as Krist. A few years ago, I fell in love with the most beautiful and wonderful girl in the world. But his father, Mr. Bruno, didn’t want me but our love was so strong that we got married despite his opposition. So my father-in-law decided to make my life hell because I married his daughter even though he had promised her to a rich man. Since that day, my father-in-law has tried every possible means to make my life unbearable. He convicted me unjustly, and he bribed the prison director to kill me in prison, but God did not want it. When the riot broke out in prison, the warden took the opportunity to sell me to a Mexican drug dealer and made it look like I was dead. I discovered that this Mexican drug dealer was Gauthier’s supplier so I collaborated with the local authorities and had him arrested. It was him who told me that Gauthier was in fact my father-in-law, so I came back with the aim of proving it. So I spied on him and found out it was true. This is how I got him arrested and it was he who denounced the judge and Doctor Romuald.

Journal: thank you Krist. I also remind you that the prison director was also arrested by the brigade two days ago. Komer prison is therefore currently under interim management. Thank you, that was all for tonight…

Vincent: what a story!

Krist: yes, what a story, it allowed me to learn a lot about life, dad!

Vincent: you came out of it with your head held high my son, I am so proud of you.

*

Ernestine: it’s really incredible, can we be that bad?

Hervé: there are people who are worse than him, they kill without mercy.

Ernestine: I really had a crush on Krist. Even when he told me he was married, I still had hope but now I realize that they have been through so much together that not even the devil himself can separate them.

*

Delphine: This Krist is truly an exceptional person.

Leon: I agree with you. I’m thinking about a security project and I’d like him to be part of it, I’ll talk to him about it.

*

Séverin: incredible, I never thought that Mr. Bruno was so cruel!

Claire: Appearances are deceiving as they say.

8 p.m. news: today in the morning, the anti-drug squad made several most surprising arrests. Indeed, Mr. Bruno was arrested in his business around 9 a.m. this morning and surprising revelations were made by Commander Boris about him. According to him, Mr. Bruno was in fact leading a double life. Listen to his words.

Séverin: his wife and daughter must be completely concussed.

Claire: Maybe they knew?

Séverin: no, Isabelle hated her father, if she knew it, she would have denounced him.

Claire: Krist suffered so much. And to think that we also wanted them harm!

Séverin: we all make mistakes in life, it was our mistake. I have to go and apologize to him and to Isabelle too.

Claire: yes you have to.

*

Célestin: I can’t believe it, people are really mean. Harassing an innocent person like that just because he married your daughter against your will, no!

*

Florence: should I cry or rejoice Bruno, I told you to give up your nocturnal activities but you didn’t listen to me, now you only get what you deserve. I hope you can get enough years to pay for your crimes.

A WEEK LATER.

Krist’s home.

Krist: darling, it’s still your father’s judgment, you can’t not go. Please make an effort and let’s go.

Isabelle: if I go, it’s only for two reasons: so that he sees all the hatred in my eyes and also to see that he is sentenced to life imprisonment.

Krist, his wife, his mother-in-law and Stella therefore go to the courthouse to attend Bruno’s trial. Séverin had already asked Krist and Isabelle for forgiveness. He is also there with Claire. Boris, Léon, Célestin, etc. are there too.

Special Criminal Court.

Krist’s family arrives at the courthouse and takes a seat at the front.

Judge: Mr. Prosecutor, you have the floor for the requisitions.

Prosecutor: cases no. 00235/2022/TCS/State of DOTTAN against Mr. Bruno, accused of drug trafficking, corruption, attempted assassination against the person of Krist and terrorist attack against the anti-drug brigade.

Judge: The defense has the floor.

Bruno: I decided not to have a lawyer.

Judge: Very good, do you replace yourself guilty or not guilty?

BRUNO: I am guilty, Mr. Judge.

Judge: do you admit the accusations against you?

Bruno: yes, Mr. Justice. I admit to having worn Gauthier’s mask to carry out my drug activities. I trapped Mr. Krist and I paid Doctor Romuald and Judge Gérard to contribute to his conviction; I also kidnapped the families of all the jury members that day to force them to convict Krist. And I paid the prison director so that he could kill him in prison because I wanted my daughter to remarry a man I had chosen…

Isabelle starts to cry. His mother too.

BRUNO:… I also admit to having bombarded the anti-drug squad to recover my drugs which they had seized. I did all that, Mr. Justice, and I am ready to take responsibility for what I did. I just hope my family can forgive me one day.

He looks at them as he says this.

Judge: the jury has now given its verdict, the trial is suspended and resumes in 25 minutes.

The room empties, Krist tries to console his wife and Stella consoles Florence. Séverin, Claire, Célestin and his brother Séraphin also came to give them their support. After 25 minutes, the trial resumes.

Judge: The jury has reached its verdict. Mr Bruno, you are sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment without any possibility of reprieve. The trial is closed.

BRUNO was brought in by the officers. He looks at his family with regret. Krist’s family returns home. Bruno was transferred to Komer prison which already has another director. Director Hector was also tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison for complicity and attempted murder of Krist. His daughter Claire refuses to forgive him. Corneille and Francis were also condemned. 10 years for Corneille and 05 years for Francis. Judge Gérard and Doctor Romuald were sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. All of Gauthier’s men were also sentenced but to lesser sentences.

Krist’s home.

Krist and his wife alone in their room, their baby in his cradle, talking.

Krist: I will finally be able to sleep in peace tonight my love. No one will hurt us anymore. We can now make a fresh start and rebuild our lives. We still have life ahead of us my love and I am sure that from now on we will live better days.

Isabelle: yes, I believe that too.

They start kissing and caressing each other. Their bedroom door was open and all my readers are looking at them. They want to know what they are going to do. Krist looks at them and sees children among them so he gets up to close the door.