As you will recall, authorities found no criminal records or any kind of complaints against the third family either. Their move was a result of their children’s college choices and the parents’ desire to not be too far away from them.
After the break will go further into the treatment sessions we conducted with this patient.
Part 3:
“And so despite the fact that you did not know what fluids were in the box you were carrying you thought it was a safe and prudent idea to store the box in an unventilated garage in a residential neighbourhood?”
“Yes, but … “
“And despite the fact that the entire box had terrified you before, you thought it was a safe and prudent idea to store that same box in an unventilated garage in a residential neighbourhood?”
“I wasn’t thinking straight I just…”
“Yes or no!”
“I really wanted to …”
“Objection, your honour! He is badgering my client.”
“YES OR NO!”
“Objection, Your Honour. Intimidation!”
“Answer me! YES OR NO!”
“Objection! Objection!”
“Side bar, now!”
Judge York Callahan turned off his microphone and leaned forward over his desk. He was careful not to shift any of his files with the long wide sleeves of his robes. He liked order. Order on his desk and in his court.
He looked both counsels in the eyes. They knew better than to try and speak first. Both had dealt with him before. He saw that both were exhausted. The trial had been the result of a very public battle in which the media didn’t even bother to uphold one shred of integrity. It had been a slam dunk case as far as they were concerned and if tar and feathers were available, the defendant would not have made it into this courtroom.
He let his eyes wonder over the court appointed criminal defense attorney’s shoulder and looked at the defendant. She was gasping for air. Her face was red and swollen from the many tears she had shed ever since the explosion and her arrest. Her mental state was more than fragile and he was tempted to call recess to resume tomorrow hoping that she’d calm down. She worried him.
He glanced at his calendar. It didn’t look good. He could call recess but resuming tomorrow meant that several long scheduled trials would again be postponed definitely leading to a flood of Sixth Amendment appeals.
Judge Callahan grabbed his temples and rubbed his bold head. “Counselors, I am breaking up cross and will recess until after lunch. After that I expect patient and civil tones. I think we can wrap this up today. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Your Honour.”
“One request, Your Honour. May my client be allowed to lunch in the conference room with her parents?”
“Any objections from the State?”
“No, Your Honour. No objections.”
“Granted.”
Judge Callahan watched both counselors return to their seats. Then he raised his gavel. “We will be in recess until 1pm this afternoon.”
“All rise!”
Part 4:
“Hey babe, it’s me. How are you holding up?”
“It is hard to see her falling apart. She pled guilty to negligent homicide. I thought I could handle it but… “
“Pull yourself together and man-up! This was YOUR plan and you WILL see it through! Oh, God. I am so sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like that. It’s just that…”
Bitch, you greedy bitch!
“I know, I know. This is getting to all of us but if we want to be together you better keep your cool too.”
If not, I’ll kill ya!
“Yeah. Does she suspect anything?
“Nah, she did once ask me what I did for a living before I met her but I told her it was insignificant. She never brought it up again after I took the engineering job. Hey babe? I gotta go. I meet with the realtors tomorrow early, then the closing, and the lawyers. I will be in meetings all day so I better get some sleep.”
And I don’t want to deal with you right now. I wonder if the guys are playing basketball later this evening. I might still be able to make it.
“How soon will you get the money?”
What the f…
“The realtor from the buyers is bringing the banker’s check so right after my lawyer reads the contract and I sign, it is a done deal. The house is theirs and I get the check. Everything was in my name so…”
“Awesome!”
I am not sharing, babe.
“And the divorce?”
There we have it. Pushing pushing pushing.
“We have to be careful with that. We should wait until her first appeal gets denied and then use that as leverage. I know that I can make her believe that being married to her while she’s incarcerated will be bad for my job situation and all. And I will promise her that we get married again after she gets released.”
“She’ll fall for that?”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure.”
Of course she will. I know her better than anyone.
“And then you tell her that we met again and then what? Will she put two and two together?”
Well, she might. She’s more intelligent than you are. Dang it, I’ll miss that.
“Babe! She has a history of meltdowns and mental illness runs in her family. It will be easy. No worries. I got this!”
As long as you shut up!
“OK then. I trust you.”
And that will be your downfall.
“I trust you too, babe. Gotta go now.”
Yeah, right.
“Night, I love you!
“Yeah, yeah.”
Sarah hangs up the phone. She stares at it for a long time. Why does he never say I love you back?
The End
___
Alice de Sturler is a True Crime Blogger/writer/blog coach.
On Defrosting Cold Cases (https://www.defrostingcoldcases.com/) I blog about unsolved homicides. This blog won in the 2013 American Bar Association’s Top 100 Blawgs (category: criminal justice).
On Your Blog Coach (https://yourblogcoach.com/) you can find tips for blogging, writing inspiration, flash fiction, networking and more.
On the Sampler (nrvblogger.com) you can find local authors/artists from the greater New River Valley.
I am gearing up for NaNoWriMo 2014. The story has a working title: the second mistress.
Happy Blogging and Writing!
Short Stories and Flash Fiction Page 8
