by Sean Russell
andapoliceconstable.
One bullet hit Jade in her back and buried itself in the vital tissues which occupiedthechestcavity.AnotherbullethitAmandainherchestasshe,espying Jimmy’shomicidalintentions, jumpedupand triedtointervene. Theothertwo shotswerewayward,oneofthemgrazingthejudgeonhisinnerthigh enrouteto itsfinaldestination,thewallatthebackofthecourtroom.
Theverdictwasevident.JimmywasgoingtojailandPhil’scourttrialwasover.
*****
Phil sat on the hard chair outside the operating theatre while the surgeons, not even shouting distance away, were working frantically to save the lives of two women who meant the most to him on this earth apart from him mother. He mulled over the recent events, wondering when he would awaken from this perpetualnightmare.Hehadbeensurethathewouldberelievedifandwhenhe gotoverthetrialandavoidedjail.Heneveranticipatedthis.
What was Jade doing with those pictures? Amanda must have contacted her.
Why didn’t Amanda just send them herself? He could not have known that AmandahadalatenightvisitfromPastorSeale,whoinadditiontothreatening her,hadthreatenedAuntMillie.
Uncharacteristically,Amandapanicked.Shesentthepicturestotheoneperson sheknewwouldnothesitatetousethemtosaveherman.ShesentthemtoJade.
EPILOGUE
Itwasanotherbeautifulday.BeautifulbecausePhilwasonthebeachrelishing hisfreedomlikeheneverhadbefore.Lifewassweet.Whatmadeitsweeterwas thewomanlyingbyhisside.Shewasgorgeousandhewasinlovewithher.
Jimmy was many miles away, but his thoughts were on the happy couple languishing in the radiant sunshine. He was consumed by vengeance and rage; healwayswonandhenevergaveupuntilhedid.Hehadjustfinishedaphone
call.Thepartyontheotherendwasverypowerful,veryinfluential,andJimmy hadtheleverageonthispersontoeffectpracticallyanythinghewanted.
Jimmy knew it would not be long before he would be free. The other thing he knewwasthatPhilFergusonandhisbelovedweregoingtoPAY.
Itwasyetanotheruglyday...
