Passage 54
Brittany was disappointed that the lawyer was just a means to another person. He was too tragic looking but he seemed a bit a stick in the mud. He said the judge would know where James was going to be place and possibly his transfer schedule. Of course she could just request to see him in person before his transfer and get some closure to what he did to Kaylee.
Kaylee was her only cousin and since they were both only children. She was like a sister to her. When her parents died she went to live with her aunt and uncle . The school was fun recreating herself to the bad to the bone popular girl she radiated . New Town . New me. In her former town she was the nobody. The geek. The loser who wore braces and wore confinement shop clothes. Her mother was a humbled person and her father was a dreamer. Switching careers according to his moods. When her mother got a vacation finally saved up she dropped Brittany off with her Aunt Chloe and uncle Brett.
When her stay became permanent. Brittany cut her knee length blond hair that was always in perfect braids. And adopted the short edgy hair cut with dyed tips. She went and tossed all her old clothes and went to the coolest mall store and bought pleated skirts , fishnet stockings, a great push up bra and got her a nose piercing . She wasn't going to be the loser in this town.
She wasn't Brittany Veshper the nerd the loser. She was Britt now. She walked into this town to re-invent herself as a new person. Kaylee was the only person who knew who she was before her transformation. Like most teenagers she craved acceptance . She wanted a do over from the life she found little satisfaction.
So this plan to mess with James is head was for Kaylee. She wanted James to feel how she felt. To know what it felt like to see her cousin frozen in time . Her small youthful body beginning to decompose only thing to recognize her was the bow in the effects bag that Kaylee adored and a necklace Brittany gave her the year before she died when they became like sisters.
She wanted to torture him. Make him hurt for her loss. The years of uncertainty. She straightened her hair now grown out and in ribbons of curls down her back . She out grew the punk look after highschool. She wore a strapless dress with a matching crop blazer and a pair of black heels. She leaned down and ripped both sides of her dress thigh high and pulled her hair out of the bun she wore. It dropped past her waist . Blonde and full of volume. She took off the Blazer and placed it on the bench outside the judges quarters.
She cleared her throat and prepared herself. Get the information Brittany . What ever it takes . She said to herself as a mantra. Then she raised her hand and knocked on the chamber door.
Judge Raymond sat in his chair sorted paperwork for James case. He looked up to hear the knock.
" Come in." He yelled across the room not getting up .
Brittany came in and slowly stopped in front of the old man . She accessed his mood trying to read which angle she had to proceed.
" What can I do for you?" Demanded judge Raymond. He continued writing not looking up to address her.
" It's about James . I want to know where he is going to serve his sentence? So I may visit him. He is such a a dear friend to my family and I know his wife made me make a promise to take care of him." She pleaded .
" The same wife he just got convicted for murdering." He stated as a matter of fact. " I find that hard to believe you want anything to do with the man that was convicted of the murder of your good friend." He said in a disbelieving tone.
" The one and the same. Granted I made this promise when him and her were on better terms. You know before they fell apart." Brittany lied trying to conceal her true motive behind her lingering explanation. She hoped it work not knowing the time frame of there relationship and where she came in for the lie to be believable. At this point she was just shooting in the dark.
The judge sighed and rubbed his forehead knowing her agenda was not sincere. " Let's cut the bull crap shall we. I don't know how many people you used your persuasive methods on, but I look at hundreds of faces a day and see many files of the worst of man kind. Do you honestly think I can't figure out when I'm being played for a fool " said judge Raymond.
" I wasn't . I swear." She protested offended.
" You know lying to a judge can be seen as contempt of court . The court don't stop outside the court room.so cut the bull crap . Be transparent because I don't have the patience for games." He said more sternly as he looked up now glaring in her face.
" I'm not lying. I generally want to see James." She confessed.
" I don't doubt that . But the good will towards his late wife was what messed up your story. I've met woman like you before . Turned on by bad men. Unfortunately serial killers get the bulk of the bunch . Why don't you do like the normal girls and wait until the news break as the location is leaked. Instead you waste my time thinking I would care to entertain you." Said judge Raymond.
Brittany wasn't going to break her story and admit she lied to him. Right now this could end badly for her. What was she thinking standing here thinking she could lie to a man who saw and watched liars in his court room on a daily basis.
" Okay. Will do. Thanks for the tip." Snapped Brittany.
Brittany thought that admission of the nice girl oweing a debt to her friend didn't work in her favor. Time for plan b.
" May I take a seat ? I feel awfully dizzy. I e been waiting half a day outside behind the reporters to see James ." Brittany said moving like she was going to faint.
Judge Raymond motioned for the chair in front of his desk and Brittany slid in it dramatically and unladylike. She moved her hands to straighten out her dress that slid up her thighs revealing her lacy undergarments .She knew the ripped sides would make it easier to slide up as she sat down. She hated she had to tear her dress she just bought ,but she was on a mission.
" You alright there ?" He glared at her bare legs.
" I'm sorry . Sometimes I forget to be proper in a dress. I'm not used to keeping them on." She said suggestivly as she swallowed the vomit rising in her throat . The judge was old and not in the best shape. He might have been in his mid fifties the way his hair greyed on the sides giving him a mixed hair look.
" I see. Did you grow up with a mother or a bunch of brothers to be so improper?" Asked the judge returning to his paperwork not even interested in her comment.
" I grew up with my aunt if you want to know. I'm an only child." Sassed Brittany.
" Finally some honesty. " Laughed the judge.
" Go home. Watch the news stop wasting yours and my time here. We all know you aren't in it for what you say you are. I have a lot of paperwork to do and like to get home to my daughter . She is around your age. Might I give you some advice. Be clear on what you want. You would be surprised what a little honesty and less deception can do in achieveing the goal you desire. You wasted a lot of energy in persuit of something that you can get off of the news broadcast." He said as he pointed to the door to kick her out of his office .
Brittany stood up as she stomped out upset that didn't work. She grabbed her blazer she left outside the room and went to find the exit to the court house. Never in her life did she fail to get what she wanted. Then she realized. Oh shit she drove her aunt and uncle here. They must be waiting for her by the car. She picked up the pase as she ran to meet them. Her Aunt sweating in the sun glared at her uncomfortable.
" I'm so sorry. When you got to go you have to go. It must have been what I ate last night." Explained Brittany as she unlocked the car door. She completely blanked that they all rode together to save gas mileage. Since they lived so far away now.
" I cooked dinner last night." Said Aunt Chloe . She sounded offended now .
" And it was great just didn't agree with my body." She said as she cranked the car to leave.
Brittany was a skilled liar . It was how she got anything done. She remembered Kaylee was the honest one. She saw how many times it got her in trouble. The miscalculation of her forgetting her aunt and uncle locked out of the car was from her used to going places alone. She wasn't used to passengers when she did things.
She felt her pride hurt that she couldn't fool the judge . Ho home and watch the news she said mockingly . Looking in the rear view mirror as she saw the look on her aunt and uncles faces . Damn it . Now they think I'm talking to the people in my head.
" I'm not crazy." Brittany said in defence.
" No one said you were." Replied her aaunt Chloe.
" Chloe, I think she was having a private meeting with her upstairs council. " Her Uncle Brett said sarcasticly.
" No I was not." Snapped Brittany.
" Are you talking to me or your council?" Teased her Uncle Brett.
" You. " She said forcefully.
" You who?" He Retorted.
" Brett, stop it. Don't aggervate the girl. " Elbowed Aunt Chloe to stop their escalating jest at each other.
" Fine. But the next time she holds a meeting make sure there isn't any witnesses. " Said Uncle Brett in finality. He had to have the last word. The two woman looked at him like he was juvenile.
Days have passed as Christopher found out about Sarah faking her amnesia he moved around her like she was the ghost of the woman he use to know. He couldn't believe she lied to him. It hurt him that she Made him think she didn't remember anything about their life. While he was trying to make amends to the crumbling marriage she did this to him as a method of control over him.Even the children she hurt with this lie. That was the cruelest thing he saw little Kenny wanting his mother and her refusing to acknowledge their bond and kensley not being able to be held by her for long periods of time.
He even hired a maid to help her so she wouldn't be overwhelmed knowing they were financially struggling to make ends meet with the new firm just starting up and the money from his savings and four oh one k used to maintain the house and her needs . She had no idea what he had to endure while she punished and controlled him ,But he had bigger problems now. Regina accused his wife for the hit and run accident that caused her miscarriage.
Christopher knew Regina wasn't going to take it lying down. It wasn't her style. She was talking crazy wanting to replace the baby she lost. Why was it so important she had his child. Why couldn't she have someone else father her child why him. He knew Regina was brilliant with her motives . But what could she gain with his child other than the burden of causing a divorce in her means.
But how Christopher felt about Sarah he didn't even want to be in the same house as her. Yes he got another woman pregnant during his act of infidelity ,but he came forward about his deed after the fact . She hit Regina. Killed her husband's unborn child and faked a memory loss to curry sympathy and ignorance to her deeds.
Granted both deeds were done with ill intent ,but he came clean about it. He ripped off the damn bandaid and took the ridicule of Sarah's constant reminder of his mistakes. She kept him without a phone . Made him quit his job and live off of their retirement savings . She made him lose contact with Roger the man that gave him his start as a new lawyer with no name or reputation.
Roger was a difficult man to please but he held some resemblance of loyalty and respect for the man as a lawyer. Him getting mixed with Regina was purely coincidentally. He was just acting on a mans instinct and got caught in the process. But what Sarah did was unforgivable.
" Good morning , Christopher." Said Sarah softly as she made him breakfast to try to resume her normal duties as a wife. She looked at him trying to gage his mood for the morning like she used to before the accident.
" Morning. " He glared at the food she was making and really wanted a home cook meal but he knew that was her bargaining chip to forgiveness. They would fight and she would feed him and he would forgive her and go about his day. Another trap in disguise of a good gesture he thought
" No thanks I'm good. I will grab something on the way to the office. You take care of the kids .make sure they get to eat ." He said coldly . The weekend was cold ,stiff,and fridget in mood. It was Monday and Sarah was back to normal now her charade was over.
" Christopher please don't do this. I made you food so you can eat." She pleaded . He looked at it knowing if he accepted this peace offering she would think she got away with her deception.
" Is there poison in it . Because at this point I'll trust the poison before I can trust you." He declared stepping back from the offered food .Sarah looked shocked more than hurt at his words a reaction he didn't expect .
" You cheated on me. Here I am cooking for you trying to make things right and you refuse my food. You don't trust me . I don't trust you to keep it in your pants and honor what you said on our wedding vows." She said slamming the plate down on the table as the food spilled on the table cloth.
" And you hit a woman carrying my child . Out of some blind self justice on your part . That child was innocent and didn't deserve to die. At least I came clean with my actions unlike you.yes I promised toy things on my wedding vows but so did you. You promised to be loving, honest,and caring. You promised to support me and help me. Right now I don't see any of those vows being kept either." He raised his voice.
Sarah face grew cold as her skin paled in the revolutions of her husbands words rendering her speechless. She hated he threw her vows in her face as she knew what she promised but all that went out the window when he cheated on her.
" Did you not honestly think I knew what you did. A complaint has been made against you, Sarah. You were seen they had your license plate and all they had to do was go to the cops and it would all be over. What the hell were you thinking. My infidelity can cause a divorce your actions could cause a murder trial if bothregina and the baby had died." He said now moving to the door to get away from her.
" I was hoping I would kill them both. To rid myself of the endless torture of you being with her. Of how she was with you . How she pleasured you when I could not. The things you said to each other in private and the time she took from me because you were with her. You made me and option in your life and her a priority." She cried eyes full of tears. Anger streaked her face and she glared her nostrils in hatred.
" The affair happened . Nothing short of murder could you do to erase the fact it happened. I am sorry it happened. But that's all it was there were no sentiments in between just screwing. You are driving yourself crazy thinking it was more than that.I served a month of you controlling the outcome of it all. I did everything you told me to but I see it wasn't enough. You had to implicate yourself in a revenge scheme that has a very determined woman to demand I give her a child to replace the one we lost. The one you stole from her. " He said watching her marinate the words he spoke.
" So you've been in touch with her. Your still seeing her. After all of this. I guess you didn't learn your lesson . I warned you Christopher I will march myself to the best damn divorce lawyer and be done with you." Screamed Sarah now picking up a kitchen knife walking towards Christopher.
" Out of all of that . That is the part you gathered from that. Go ahead March down there hang it all out to dry just remember you put your role in all this too don't play the scorned wife let that lawyer know how evil and vindictive you truly are. Because if you don't I sure will." He smirked not scared of Sarah's threatening demenor.
" Don't forget i made you who you are. I pushed you through laws school without me you would be nothing but a broke dreamer with no future and no ambition." She screamed hating the fact he was an equal lawyer to any lawyer she could hire to hurt him.
" You suggested. I put myself through laws school. I passed the bar exam. I am paying off my student loans.i am running my own practice. You did absolutely nothing while you watched me become who I am and your sick twisted thought convincing you it was all your idea when really it was what I wanted not what you wanted. Stop fooling yourself Sarah into thinking you controlled everything bi do up to this point." He yelled back as he held back a lot of animosity towards her
"I'm going to kill you. If I can't have you no one can." She said slashing towards Christopher making a visable red line of blood form on his upper arm as it seeped through his pressed suit top. She swung again towards his throat and he moved back barley missing the skin as he moved away from the wall and grabbed her shoulders and pushed her against the wall with one hand and prayed the knife out of the other hand as he threw it on the ground as it clambered on the ground. He held Sarah with both hands as he crossed her arms over her chest preventing her from moving.
" Stop it ,Sarah . Do you see what you are doing?" He yelled as kennith stood in the doorway of his room holding his favorite toy to come to breakfast. A small frightened wail came from his mouth as Sarah turned around to see the small frightened boy. Kenneth's eyes full of fear and brimming tears . Sarah struggled to get him as she now wondered how much he saw.
" No. Don't touch my son. Sarah you need help. Call your parents tell them your pretty little lie , tell them to come get you. But you will not touch my children while you are like this." He said releasing Sarah as he rushed to pick up kennith and moving him back to the back bedroom.
" Daddy. Mommy hurt you." Cried the small boy pulling on the bloody sleeve . And a small scratch by his cheek he didn't realize was there until kennith pointed it out.
" It's just a scratch ,kennith. It don't hurt. Can you help me find the first aid kit?" He said wiping the boys tears off with his hand. He pulled off his shirt as he treated his wounds and shook his head at what Sarah did and how much kennith saw . He dressed his wounds with the small kit kennith had put in the bathroom in his parents room. Christopher grabbed a clean shirt and buttoned it up.
" Okay daddy. Why did Mommy hurt you?" He asked in his small voice.
" Mommy and daddy said some things that were mean. Mommy didn't like what was said and got mad. It's nothing for you to worry about we will work it out eventually." He explained in simple terms to his son now four years old.
" I don't like this new mommy. She isn't like the old mommy. The old mommy loved us and made us happy this mommy is not our old mommy. ." Kenneth voiced his opinion.
" I know. I don't like this new mommy either. Hey do you want to go to your Uncle Jacob's house ? I know you don't spend a lot of time there since mommy don't like Daddy's friends much but he is the one with that huge arcade room in his house." Said Christopher.
" Yeah. He has a game room. That's so cool. Can kensley go too?" Gleed kennith.
" Of course I wouldn't take you and leave her behind.Okay I tell you what get ready and let's get Kinsley ready and leave mommy to think about today . What do you say?" Christopher said as he hugged the little boy. Then her picked up Kinsley and grabbed a few suits and overnight items . He grabbed his and the kids bags as he proceeded to the door.
Sarah glared at him seeing the kids and bags.
" Where are you going with my kids? You are not leaving this house with my kids. Christopher!" She screamed.
" Stop it Sarah. Kennith saw you. We are going to my friends until you calm down and not try to kill me." He said as he bypassed her walking to the car as he bucked in kensley in her car seat. Kennith hopped in the other side as he closed the door.
" Your not taking my kids?" She screamed as she hit his back pushing him. Christopher closed the door and grabbed Sarah's hands to stop her.
" Remember , darling. You can't remember them. Because of your accident. Call your parents let them know what you did . I'm sure they will be on my side after all you've done ." He said coldly into her eyes. Pointing out her hurtful lies. Sarah froze as she stood in a daze. Christopher loaded the bags in the trunk and closed it as he ignored her trying to block him as he moved her aside and got in the car . He locked the doors as he looked in the rear view mirror as he drove away as he saw Sarah trying to throw something at his car. He shook his head and called his friend Jacob .
" Hey man long time no talk. I thought I have to put out a missing persons on you or look in the obituary section of the paper for you . How have you been man." He answered on the handsfree device blasting over the car speakers .
" Hey man. Sorry for that. You have no idea how close to accurate you were about that last comment. Can me and the kids stop by for a few days . I'll get a hotel soon. Look I will explain everything it's pretty complicated to say over the phone ." He said trying not to say too much as the kids were listening.
" Yeah no problem man. I just installed my new movie theater too. I have someone to test out the acoustic of the room. My girl at the moment is here . She loves kids. She keeps begging for a baby." He said as Christopher grabbed the cell and put it to his ear before his friend without a filter said too much. It was traumatizing kennith saw his mother attack his father he didn't need to hear Jacob's girl of the moments sex life details.
" Sounds good man. I can't wait to meet this one." He said as Jacob started laughing .
" Did you just take me off of speaker phone? " He asked laughing hearing the change in sound in the switch .
" Yeah. I got my kids in the car. You rated R not PG." He confirmed.
" My bad man. Okay I'll see you in a minute. " He said as he disconnected the call.
Christopher loved his best friend Jacob . But he was not speaker phone friendly. He remembered him and Jacob was always a pick up and drop off kind of friends. They could go months without talking and pick back up without a problem. It was a comfortable arrangement between friends.