by J.M. Downey
Bile rose in her throat; her whole body revolted. Mr. Wilkerson bent to her ear and every part of her stilled. “Don’t worry, we don’t kill wives. Just their families.”
Katie gasped. Please God protect my family. Images of her family being tortured sprang to her mind. She tried to push them away, but they lingered. Was this how he’d beaten his wife into submission? In her mind, she saw her sister’s bloody body laid out, her dark curls matted with the dark liquid.
“Let’s get this over with,” Mr. Wilkerson said.
One of the agents took a needle from a black case and walked to her. Mr. Wilkerson clasped her mouth, his large hand spreading over her face.
The agent injected her arm with a clear liquid. After a couple moments, a calm feeling spread all over her. She closed her eyes. For the first time in a while a peace entered her as her nerves settled. She leaned back against Mr. Wilkerson but he handed her to Keith, who swept her into his arms, and they left for the police station in the back of a limo. Katie studied Keith. He looked so calm, not one emotion flickered across his face. Why didn’t he get a shot since he was also going to be taking the test? Keith leaned into her. “Stop smiling.”
Katie formed her mouth into a circle.
Katie passed the test without one little blip on the machine. The younger cop had looked at the results then thrown them in the air, rushing from the room. The cop’s wide eyes were burned in her mind. If she could just give her that peace. The peace of knowing what had happened. But not at the cost of her sister. Shelly was innocent. She had not made the choices that brought Katie to this moment and Katie wouldn’t let her suffer for her sister’s sins.
The glass she held in her hand began to shake. She grabbed the wine glass with both hands, and held it still. The drug must be wearing off. Keith laughed and took a long sip of his wine, the fingers of his other hand ran down her arm. All the lawyers around her celebrated, drinking wine, mocking the cops and the Seattle D.A.. Mr. Wilkerson sat in a chair leaning back, chewing on the back of a cigar; the smoke floated to the surface. How could they rejoice? Did none of them feel any remorse for getting away with murder? But Josh Hockman wasn’t the first person they had murdered, and the young lawyer wouldn’t be the last.
Keith finished his wine and stood, bringing her with him. He set the glass down and guided her out of the room. Must want sex. She bit on her bottom lip. Having sex with him again was the hardest part of this whole charade. At least she no longer had to pretend. He didn’t care if she lay stiff as a board with her eyes closed while he roamed over every part of her, his sweet possession.
They walked into the room and Keith motioned for her to sit on the bed. She sat letting her small frame sink into the crème colored comforter. She would just close her eyes and imagine it was Jeff’s lips pressing onto her skin.
Keith’s hand slipped into his pocket and he pulled out his phone. “Here, Katie.”
Katie took it from his hands. He wanted her to call her sister. She had been hoping that with the excitement they would forget. But apparently he hadn’t. Glancing up, she studied his steel eyes. What did he care? Did her father ever mean anything to him? But he meant the world to her. If God would just deliver her from this, but He’d stopped caring about her a long time ago, so why should he now? “Can’t you tell him I did?”
“Will you be able to lie to my father?”
“No.”
“Then you must do it.” Keith bent in front of Katie, taking her free hand and squeezing it. “Katie, call them.”
A few tears slipped down her face as she raised the phone to her ear.
Keith grabbed her hand and brought it down. “You need to stop crying.”
“Give me that drug again. It made me feel so good.”
“No,” he said, his voice shook. “I’m not letting you get addicted to something.”
“Just this one time.”
“No!”
The tears poured down her face, as the phone slipped from her fingers. Keith sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Go ahead and get rid of all your tears.” He caressed her burning cheek.
The phone began to ring. Keith answered it. “What?” Keith shouted, making Katie flinch. He pulled her closer to him. “I thought this was supposed to be the end.” Keith paused, his eyes narrowing. “Who is it?” he asked.
A witness must have come forward. The reporter’s sister still had a chance. She closed her eyes tight. Please God, give her the peace she needed. Let her brother find justice.
“How can we not know?” Silence filled the room. “Just let me know.” He hung up the phone.
“Is this all my fault?” she asked.
“No.” He lay down on the bed and pulled her with him. Resting her head on his chest, she concentrated on the ceiling. A weight pushed her body down into the bed, pulling her further into the sheets. If she could just disappear into them. Maybe she could for a little bit. She closed her eyes and let herself slip away.
The phone rang. She jerked awake and looked at the clock. They both had been out for two hours. Keith blinked his eyes before answering the phone. He nodded and rose to his feet. Katie clenched his shirt.
“I have to go, my dear.” He pried her hands off.
Although her limbs didn’t actually tremble, it felt as though every part of her rattled. A deep ache spread through her. “Give me something,” she said.
He stared at her, brows narrowed, for a couple seconds before he asked, “would you like to go to sleep?”
Katie nodded. Keith gave her a red pill which she took with a glass of wine. Lying down, she let every limb one by one shut down, but the unsettled feeling stayed.
Sleep tight, Katie. Her eyes closed, shielding the fog in them. Her tears had washed some of the foundation away, revealing streaks of blue. His stomach twisted. He had caused that mark. Broke one more promise to her. No more promises remained. Keith shook his head. He wouldn’t think of that now. He had other matters to attend to.
Keith walked out of the hotel room and closed the door. Sullivan walked towards him, holding a brown folder.
“What is this?” he asked.
Sullivan didn’t answer. Keith took the folder, and opened it. He read the contents of the one document. He threw open the door to the room next door, slamming it behind him. His father, Arther and Marriotti looked at him. “Ashley got her a fake I.D..”
“What are you talking about?” Marriotti asked.
“Ashley helped Katie leave.”
Marriotti’s face ashen, his mouth hung open. He looked at Mr. Wilkerson who just shook his head.
“She’d better stay away from my wife,” Keith said.
“I will talk to her,” Marriotti said.
Mr. Wilkerson tapped his pen on his leg. “She’d better stay away from my daughter.”
Marriotti held up a hand. “Look, I had nothing to do with this!”
Arther placed his hands on his head. “Let’s not fight over silly girls. We have to worry about damage control. Marriotti.”
“I told you. I know it was Sen. McCalvin.”
Arther crossed his arms over his chest. “Is that it? Was he the only one?” he asked.
“What does your agent say?” Marriotti asked.
“That the whole liberal party is trying to bring us down!” Arther threw his hands in the air. “How did this get out of hand?”
“It’s him. He paid a hitman to talk. He tried to get Sen. Banks on his side, that’s how I heard,” Marriotti said.
“So the witness is a hitman, this won’t be hard,” Mr. Wilkerson said, leaning back in his chair, chuckling.
“He’s going to testify that Keith paid him money to take care of Hockman,” Marriotti said.
Mr. Wilkerson let out a deep laugh. Amusement in his harsh eyes.
“How is Katie?” Arther asked as he leaned back in the chair. A drop of sweat dripped down his face.
“Drugged.” She was already dead. Not one part of the girl he
loved remained and there was no way he could bring her back to life. He’d just have to love the little bit of her he had left.
“Well, let her stay that way. She’ll be happier,” Arther said, breaking into his thoughts.
Heat coursed through him. How dare he. Keith made a run at Arther, but Mr. Wilkerson jumped to his feet and grabbed his shoulders. Keith glared down at the smirk on his father’s face as he patted him on the chest.
“We’re falling apart.” Arther tossed a paper over his shoulder. “My own son wants to take a swing at me.”
Keith turned around and sat down, glaring at Marriotti. He balled his hands into fists and pushed his feet into the floor. How could that slut betray him - they had been friends his whole life - but what could he expect from someone with a deep hatred of men?
“She’s my daughter, not me,” Marriotti said to Keith.
“I don’t want to hear anything about girls,” Arther said. “Women do stupid things. Now let’s figure out what we’re going to do.”
“Should learn to control her,” Marriotti said under his breath. Keith sprang to his feet, and pounded Marriotti on the chin, sending him flying from his chair. He crashed onto the floor.
“Shouldn’t have raised a slut,” Keith said. He stood over Marriotti with his arms raised, fists balled, ready to take another swing.
Mr. Wilkerson busted out laughing. Arther planted his hands on the table again, shaking his head.
Marriotti stood and straightened his coat. “I think I’m finally seeing Matt in him.”
He then sat down and took a handkerchief from his coat pocket, wiping the blood from his lips.
“Keith, sit down, let’s get to work,” Mr. Wilkerson said.
Keith opened the door to their hotel room and focused on the bed. She was not asleep on it like she should be. Where could she be? “Katie,” he shouted and turned around, glancing around the room. “Katie.”
She couldn’t have gotten out. Could she? He picked up his phone, dialed her number and listened to it ring.
“I’m in the bathroom, silly,” a quiet voice answered.
He dropped the phone and ran into the bathroom. Katie lay in a hot tub, covered in white bubbles. In her hand she held a glass of white wine. He smiled when their eyes connected, but the smile disappeared when he saw the new half empty bottle of wine.
“Be careful, with that stuff.” He sat on the edge of the tub.
“It makes me feel calm.”
Keith reached for her hand and took the wine glass out of it. He finished the wine and set it on the floor. “What happened to prayer being your opium?”
She looked to the side – her eyes drooped downward. Her sleep must not have been peaceful. Keith stood, unbuttoned his shirt and took off his clothes. He got into the hot tub and caressed her feet.
“How can I make you happy?” Keith brought her toes to his lips and kissed the pinky toe.
“Can I have another glass of wine?”
“No.”
There was a redness at the edges of her eyes. “What are you going to do?” she asked.
“Tell me, and I’ll do it.”
“No, about the case.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Katie placed a hand on her head, white bubbles trickled down, mixing with the chestnut curl that lay on her cheek. “How can I not, when my whole life is connected to it?”
“I’m your life, Katie. Worry about me.”
“Exactly.” She sat up and stared straight into his eyes. “You have never talked to me about your job, or your life beyond us. I’ve always had to learn things about you from other people. I don’t even know who you are.”
“I’m that boy you fell in love with at Yale.”
“No, you were never that boy,” she said, leaning back down.
He took a deep breath. Her statement felt like a punch in the stomach but it was true. He didn’t even recognize himself anymore. “We’re going to get through this, Katie. I promise you.”
Katie rested her forehead on her hand and nodded. Keith brought her toes to his lips and kissed the pinky toe again. If he could just bring a smile to her face, but he would never see it again. From now on, all her smiles would be fake; just like his mother’s. He had made her into a shell.
FOURTEEN
The next day, Keith and Katie received a subpoena to appear before a grand jury in a couple weeks. Her subpoena stated she was to bring any documents she might have about her husband pertaining to the case. What could that mean? She dropped the document on the floor, turning away from it. What documents could be so important? She sat down in front of a mirror and pulled down the baggy skin under her eyes. Keith said, she still looked pretty but she didn’t see it.
She took a deep breath. Tomorrow, she would start practicing for the trial. Mr. Wilkerson was going to make sure not one of her words strayed from his designed path. She knew she didn’t have to testify, but they wanted to lay her out before the grand jury like a lamb for the slaughter. No, not a lamb. A hopeless soiled dove.
Katie put on a nice brown sundress, and tied her hair in a bun. She studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked like the perfect wife of an important man, pretty and diminutive. Pearls accented her neck and wrists, matching the ones in her ears. Finally, she had been molded into the part. Every personal thought she had ever had, had been drained from her. Now, all that remained were ones reserved for the china doll she needed to be.
Someone knocked on the door. It was time to leave. Katie wrapped her arms around her waist. “I have to do this for my family,” she whispered.
A mass of reporters filled the steps leading to the courthouse, waiting for them. Their microphones and pens were already poised for questions. This was bigger than she’d realized. Katie raised her hand, focusing on her trembling fingers.
Keith whispered, “walk quickly.” He then grabbed her hand, and led her out of the limo. Two lawyers walked in front and Mr. Wilkerson walked on the other side of Katie, with a firm hand on her back. Reporters yelled out her name and questions, but she kept her eyes focused on the concrete steps, and the firm grip of her husband’s hand. The noise grew faint as she walked into the courthouse and was guided to the courtroom.
“Katie!” she heard.
Katie turned in the direction of her sister’s voice, squeezing Keith’s hand as she followed him to a bench. Shelly, stood with her parents. Tears streamed down their faces as they clasped each other’s hands.
“Shelly,” she whispered. If she could just embrace her family one more time, to feel like a little girl again in her father’s strong arms. But that would never happen again on this side of eternity. She shook her head. Maybe she could purge them from her mind. That would be the only way she could make it through her life.
She looked at Keith. His face seemed so calm – confidence filled his eyes. “Keith,” she whispered, but he would not look at her. Mr. Wilkerson squeezed the back of her dress and motioned for her to sit behind a table and a railing. Mr. Wilkerson sat next to her, and Keith sat up front with the lawyers.
Katie turned around and looked at her family, until Mr. Wilkerson took her hand and squeezed it. She looked at the D.A. who banged his pencil against the desk. He was a young man, much like Keith, but he was thin with wispy brown hair. The female cops sat behind him. Mr. Wilkerson leaned over and tapped his son on the back. Keith turned to him.
“Where’s the star witness?” he asked with a smirk on his face.
Katie tugged on Mr. Wilkerson’s coat. He looked at her. “Where is he?”
Mr. Wilkerson smiled, his eyes growing dark.
Katie stiffened. They had killed him. Tears brimmed in her eyes. Someone else had died at their hands. It would never end. Katie scrunched up her mouth, taking in a deep breath. Did the man next to her even have a shred of humanity in him?
The bailiff announced the arrival of the judge and everyone stood.
The judge took his seat and shuffled his pape
rs. His thick gray brows contrasted with his smooth skin. He motioned for everyone to sit down.
“Mr. Hutchins, are you ready?” he said to the D.A.
The D.A. stood and took a deep breath. “Your honor, I ask that we postpone the hearing until I can gather some more evidence.”
“Why?” the judge said, tilting his head, a smirk crossing his face. “You said you were ready yesterday. Where’s Mr. Owens, your witness?”
The man squeezed his pen. “He has apparently recanted his testimony.”
Mr. Wilkerson got a smirk on his face, nodding.
“Recanted his testimony,” the Judge said. “Do you have a case or not?”
“Your Honor,” Mr. Douglas said as he stood. “I ask that you dismiss this case. The DA has no witnesses.”
“Mr. Hutchins?” the judge said.
The D.A. took a deep breath again, his shoulders slumping, “Your Honor, the people of Washington withdraw the case.”
“What?” the younger cop yelled out.
Keith banged his fist on the table. He turned to Mr. Douglas and whispered, “Yeah.”
“Order,” the judge demanded as he slammed his gavel.
The courtroom stilled. Katie looked at her family huddling together – faces pale. They probably had hoped that Keith’s conviction would have freed her. Nothing could free her. Nothing but death.
“Case dismissed,” the judge proclaimed. Keith stood and shouted “Yeah.” He turned around and hugged Katie over the railing. “See, I told you it would work out.” He kissed her on the lips.
Katie forced a smile on her face. “I’m glad.” Tears built in her eyes.
Mr. Wilkerson placed a hand on Keith’s shoulder. “We’ll meet you at the hotel,” he said.
Keith took Katie’s hand and led her out of the courtroom as Mr. Wilkerson talked to the D.A.
The firm grip of his hand on her back, pressed through her as he led her away towards a back exit. The door to the courtroom pushed open.
“Katie!” Katie stopped and turned around to see Shelly running after her – her eyes red from many tears.
