Deceiving Justice

by Stephanie D. Mitchell

up stupid alarm. Shut up!” I hit the snooze alarm and literally rolled out of bed to start getting ready for work. After a quick hot shower and slapping on a little makeup, and getting dressed I go to check on Natalie. I quietly knock on her door with no answer. I slowly open to door and see her fast asleep in bed. I smile at the thought of Natalie back home where she could feel safe. I head out the door and make my way towards work and, but first a detour to pick up an extra-large latte.

  While I sat at my desk sipping my latte I couldn’t help but keep Natalie on my mind all day. I check the time to see that it’s close to noon and realize that I should probably call Natalie to see how she was doing. I put my coffee down and called her to check in. After about five rings Natalie picked up.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey Natalie it’s me. How are you doing?”

  “I’m good. What time did you leave this morning?”

  “Around seven. How did you sleep? Did you sleep fine?”

  “Yes Alex, I slept fine. I’m fine. Did you need anything else?”

  Her sharpness disturbs me and puts me off. “No, Natalie. I just wanted to check in on you and see how you were doing. What you went though. Sucked. It sucks that because you listened to two people who were having delusional thoughts convinced you to kill my best friend. So you know what, I’m sorry for trying to make sure you were ok. I’ll be home late. See you then.”

  I slam the phone down and break out into tears. I try to continue my work but the tears kept appearing before me. I give up on work and just sit in my chair, and stare out the window. I don’t understand why Natalie is so bitter against me. I did everything I could to get her out of the nightmare she was living. I know that Matt was against me the entire time because he didn’t want the truth to come out, but I think he was right when I shouldn’t have pushed getting Natalie released. I should have just filed for appeals and tried to help her that way, maybe reduce the sentence and moved to a hospital. Get her somewhere they could help her.

  I decide to give up on the notion of work and head to my car and go home. The drive home was a quick one. I pull into my parking spot and head up to my apartment. Half up the stairs, someone came flying down and crashed right into me.

  “Hey!” I scurried back to my feet and tried to get a good look at the person, but they were wearing all black and didn’t look back. I was going to go chased them down when my attention went back to my apartment. I ran up the stairs and made it to the bashed in front door. I pulled out my phone and had it on standby just in case. I cautiously walked through my apartment to see if anything was stolen, but only to find it trashed. And I had to find Natalie.

  Happily I found that nothing was stolen, yet devastated that I there was no sign of Natalie. Panicking I called the police to report the break in, but strangely I couldn’t pick up a signal. Freaking out I went to try the land line, getting a dial tone I called the cops and within minutes they were at my door.

  After they were done I overheard Officer Connors voice coming down the hallway.

  “Hey what are you doing here?”

  “I heard the call over the radio and wanted to make sure you were ok.”

  “Thanks, but um you weren’t on duty though.”

  “Wow, what are you are a super detective or something?”

  “No, you are uh wearing street clothes.”

  “Oh yeah look at that.” He chuckled while looking down.

  “Look Officer Connors...”

  “Brad, you can call me Brad.”

  “Brad.” I smile politely, “Look Brad, I appreciate that you came to check in on me and make sure I was ok, but look its ok. I’m fine. I’m great! Couldn’t be better.” I lied. Lied big time. I take a quick look back at my apartment and turn back to Brad, reassuring him with a smile.

  “I’m not a creepy dude, just so you know. Come on just a quick bite to eat.”

  “Just a quick one.”

  “Great, I know a great place, it’s not far from here. Island burger and shakes. You know it?”

  “Yeah it’s a great place, let’s go.”

  To my surprise it was actually really natural when with Brad. Over dinner we discussed everything from our childhoods to the entire ordeal with Natalie, Matt and Jack. Luckily he only made those topics a shirt discussion and went back to discussing the two of us. We sat and just talked until closing and Brad walked me back to my place. When we got there I saw that everything was cleaned up and organized thanks to Brads co-workers. I turned to Brad to give him a kiss goodbye and thanked him for the meal. I closed the door behind him and leaned against it while fiddling with my bracelet. The sound of a door being slammed inside my place snapped my out of whatever it was I was in.

  “Natalie, is that you?” I walked towards her door, but not hearing anything I crept a little closer to see if I could make out a sound when her door suddenly came flying open. Without missing a beat I let out a high pitched scream. “Holy crap Natalie. You scared the living shit out of me.”

  “Sorry Alex! I didn’t mean to. I didn’t hear you come in.’

  “Well what happened? I came from work and the place was trashed. Whoever did it ran me down in the stairwell. Where were you? You are supposed to stay in the house. You have a two months long house arrest remember. You know you can be thrown back into jail if you violate these conditions. Natalie you can’t go back in jail!”

  “Alex relax! It’s ok. I was with my probation officer. I have having a meeting with him. It’s all good.”

  “Okay, well just be careful. I can’t lose you again.”

  “Yes big sister. It will be fine. Don’t worry about it. I’m all good.”

  “Ok, well I’m going to go to bed because I got a really early morning tomorrow. So goodnight!”

  “Goodnight Alexandra.”

  I headed off to my bedroom with most of my worries gone and thoughts of Brad creeping in.

  I jolt to the sound of thumping coming from the other room. I check the time to see that it’s two thirty in the morning. In frustration of being woken up, I get up to find why there is a god awful noise coming from Natalie’s room.

  I open my room just to hear the noise cease almost immediately. “Natalie?”

  “Hey, hey Alex. Don’t come in. Give me a second.”

  “No Natalie, it is two thirty in the bloody morning. I’m coming in!”

  I barge into Natalie’s room to find my worst nightmare. “What the hell is this!? Natalie explain yourself!”

  “Hey Alexandra, how’s it going?” She said carefree.

  “What is this?”

  “Hey uh yeah Alex, you know Matt.”

  “How? When? You are supposed to be locked up!”

  Without a word Matt gets up off the bed and slowly makes his way towards me. I back up from him but run into the door. Before I get a chance to get out of the room, Matt has me pinned up against the door.

  “I’m going to enjoy what’s coming next” Matt slurs as he stares at me intensely.

  I shut my eyes in anticipation in what is coming next.

  I spring up in bed, drenched in sweat from my nightmare. I get up to go to the bathroom to cool myself down and get a grip on myself. I stare at myself in the mirror doing my best to convince myself that I’m perfectly fine and that Matt is safely locked up. I glance down at the mini clock I have in the bathroom to see that the time was three fifteen am. I made my way to Natalie’s room just to check in on her and to make sure that she is by herself. I quietly open her door, expecting to see her fast asleep, but all I saw was her ankle bracelet tracking sitting on her side dresser and an empty bed. I flip on the light to see her bedroom window wide open, drapes blowing from a slight draft. Where the hell is Natalie? I stayed up waiting for her to enter from the same window where I assume she left. I sat in the chair in the corner and waited for her to show up. Two hours later I woke up from the sound of someone climbing up the fire escape. I watched as Natalie climbed in from the window and started to put her tracking br
acelet back on.

  “Natalie Marie Lucy Reed! Where in God’s name have you’ve been.”

  “Holy crap Alex, you scared me. Why are you in my room?”

  “You were gone all night Natalie. You know that you cannot take that thing off until the house arrest part of your probation is over. I have every right to sit in here and wait for you to come home. Where were you?”

  “None of your business Alex. Now get out my room.”

  “Natalie it is five thirty in the morning. Now. Where were you?”

  “I was out.”

  “Out were?!”

  “I was just out okay! You have to learn to trust me Alex. Geez you are just so judgmental.”

  “Judgmental? Yeah I’m judgmental. I’m sorry but I’m not the one who decide to go mental and go commit murder. This obviously isn’t going to work this arrangement. I’m sorry Natalie but you need to go somewhere where you can’t leave or get hurt from anything.”

  “Alexandra. Please I’m sorry ok. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just couldn’t stay in this house forever I just need some fresh air. Alex please let me stay.”

  “No, Natalie, just no. Pack up your stuff. I’m taking you to the psychiatric institute.”

  “Alex please I’m begging you please let me stay.”

  “Natalie, stop it. I can’t do this. Anymore. Just pack your stuff up.”

  I walk out her room and slam the door shut. I lean against the door and hold my tears back. I honestly did think that this would work but it’s obvious that there just isn’t any other option. Ten minutes later Natalie emerged from her room