UNMASKED: Sequel to Behind the Mask

by Heather Carnassale

  Out in the waiting area, Beth asked Remi if Olivia would be speaking against Liam. “No, she informed Penny that all her energy was going after Mitchell and that though she felt Liam deserved to serve time, she believed that giving the diamonds back and saving my life, redeemed him to some degree.”

  “Wish they all saw it that way,” remarked Beth. Remi nodded in agreement as she spotted Simon talking on his cell phone. She knew he’d at least give Liam a favorable spin. But it didn’t matter what anybody else said, she thought, it would be her words that would be the most influential. As she waited, Warren asked her if she was okay. She shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

  “Remember you aren’t on trial, you are a character witness,” he said, trying to calm her nerves. “Just be yourself,” he added, sounding so much like Liam, she found it strangely soothing. Her dad joined them, placing his arm around her shoulders, letting her know he was there for support.

  “You can do this,” chimed Chris, who suddenly appeared on the other side of her. She told them she just needed a moment alone, so she excused herself to the ladies room. Everyone ushered into the courtroom but Warren held up to wait for Remi, deciding he’d be the one to escort her in, while Melanie followed Remi to the restroom. “Hey, Rem,” she said, after opening the door and seeing her friend leaning unsteadily against the sink. “I just needed a minute to catch my breath,” she said, looking at her reflection in the mirror. “No one would blame you if you completely fell apart right now,” said Melanie. “I mean this is some pretty heavy shit you’re dealing with.”

  Remi smirked, but though she was certain there were millions of tears just itching to escape, she was determined not to break down. Trying to deflect, Remi asked, “Liam looks good, doesn’t he?” She then looked down at her outfit consisting of a mid-calf black pencil skirt paired with a light gray silk camisole and black fitted cardigan. Melanie told her that she looked fabulous then agreed that Liam looked great as well. She then put her arms around Remi. After the much-needed embrace, the two ventured back out where Warren and her father were standing outside the main doors. “Simon just started speaking,” said Tony. Remi wasn’t ready to go in and decided to wait until it was her turn. Melanie winked at her while Remi inhaled and exhaled a few times, all the while telling herself she could get through this. The four of them waited until they heard Remi’s name called. The moment the doors opened, Remi swallowed hard as she slowly sauntered towards the front of the room. To her, it felt like trudging through muck in poorly fitting strappy heels as hundreds of eyes watched her every move. Thankfully, her dad held her hand while Warren walked protectively behind her, an action that Liam greatly appreciated him doing. He found himself unable to stop staring at her, and just like she did, he too wished this were just a nightmare. But he knew better than delude himself. As he continued to gaze upon her, the clerk instructed Remi to raise her right hand. She did as told albeit her hand trembled slightly. “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

  She quickly glanced over at Liam then replied, “I do.”

  The judge politely ordered for Remi to sit down then told Penny to begin. “Can you please state your full name for the court?”

  “Remi Elizabeth Catalano.”

  As the words left her mouth, her eyes locked with Liam’s eyes, which were conveying empathy, quietly showing his support. The irony of those distinctive blue-gree eyes displaying emotion took her back to the vault, where behind a ski mask, those same eyes peeking through two slit openings were deadened without any compassion whatsoever or so she had thought. Remi sighed while zoning out somewhat. They had rehearsed this so many times she didn’t need to hear Penny’s spiel again. But as soon as she ended her part, Remi began telling her version of how Liam saved her life—a couple of times. She was on the stand for a good twenty-five minutes before District Attorney Mark Fowler took over and asked a few simple questions, which shockingly didn’t throw Remi off. “Just because he chose to save your life, Miss Catalano, doesn’t absolve him of the choice he made going into that bank and threatening the other hostages,” snarked the abrasive man who clearly wasn’t impressed with Remi’s tales of heroism. “Please tell the court all about your Stockholm syndrome haze of adoration and idolization, forgiving a cold-hearted monster, who terrorized hostages for hours then killed a mother, a daughter, and severely beat a man then left him there to burn to death,” he berated, all the while pointing his finger at Liam, who grew angrier by the second watching this unfold. Penny suddenly stood up. “Your honor, Miss Catalano isn’t on trial, the prosecution is way out of line,” she shouted. The judge agreed and issued a warning to D.A. Fowler. He obliged then casually announced he was done. Penny then told Remi to say anything else she felt the court needed to hear. Remi cleared her throat, took a sip of a complimentary bottle of water then turned her head towards the judge. “Liam will be the first to admit he’s not a saint, nor does he want to be, but he risked a lot for me, many times,” she said, focusing her attention back on Liam. “And yes he entered that bank with the intent of stealing those diamonds, and he’s pled guilty and facing the consequences, not running.”

  She again looked up at the judge. “You see he could have easily run, and I would have gone with him, but he wanted me to have a better life than that,” she said, sniffling, trying to keep her composure. Her blue eyes, stared into the judge’s eyes, searching for some sort of compassion while pleading on Liam’s behalf. “Your honor, I wouldn’t be here today, if Liam hadn’t carried me to the bank’s exit or if he hadn’t killed Tom Schaffer before Tom had the chance to shoot me first,” she said. “That’s got to count for something—right?” she asked, her voice cracking.

  After Remi’s heartfelt speech, most onlookers were moved to tears if not at least touched by her poignant words, none more than Liam, who marveled at Remi going to bat for him. Something he most definitely wasn’t used to at all. He mouthed thank you, which garnered a shy grin from her as everyone waited for the judge’s response. “Any further questions from either side?” asked Judge Shaw, directing it at the respective attorneys. When each side declined, he turned his attention to Remi. “Miss Catalano, you may step down,” he said with the slightest hint of a smile, which she hoped a good sign. Before Remi reached the defense’s table, she spied Liam shift his cuffed hands over to the side. A perfect opportunity to touch him, she thought. One she wouldn’t waste. So, as she casually strolled by, she purposely skimmed her fingertips along the top of his hands. The blink and you miss it contact went unnoticed by all except Marlene, who was still sitting right behind Liam. The second Remi sat down, Marlene whispered, “Probably the sweetest touch you both ever felt.”

  Remi glanced at her while smiling because Marlene couldn’t have been more spot on with that assessment. Though relieved her time up there was over, it was now Liam’s turn, and that sent Remi’s nerves into a whole different tailspin. Once situated at the front of the courtroom, Liam exhaled, before he began to speak. Usually composed, this time, he appeared slightly nervous. However, the apprehension didn’t last, because the second the first word left his mouth, the poise, articulation, and confidence swiftly returned. “I’m not up here seeking absolution because I’m fully aware my actions are unforgivable and cannot be undone,” he said, purposely staring directly at both Jenna’s parents and Kenneth Rollo. “But what I can do, is tell you how very sorry I am that your family members were victims of a senseless crime that should have never happened.”

  Liam looked down at his hands for a moment. “Nothing will bring your loved ones back, I know that, and nothing I say or do can ever make amends either,” he said. “However, Mr. Rollo, I’ve set up a trust fund in each of your children’s names that will accrue a substantial amount of money each year until they turn eighteen, where at that time they can use it for college or whatever else they may need it for.”

  Kenneth immediately jumped out of his seat, shouting, “You son o
f a bitch, how dare you mention my children in any capacity!”

  Judge Shaw banged his wooden gavel onto the bench. “Mr. Rollo, sit down!” he yelled, his voice domineering and boisterous. “You can keep your trust funds; I’m going to sue you for every last dime you’ve got,” the widower hollered across the room. The judge ordered Kenneth to be quiet, or the court would hold him in contempt. Remi’s focus stayed on Liam, observing his reaction to what had been transpiring around him. Somehow he appeared unaffected, which proved Liam’s resilience was still intact. Once the judge calmed Mr. Rollo, along with the courtroom chatter that had erupted following the man’s outburst, he told Liam to continue. But he took a moment to regroup then looked at Jenna’s parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Bowman, I have set up a memorial fund in Jenna’s name and the money can be used in any way you would like,” he said. Unlike Kenneth, they chose to remain quiet. He didn’t know how to take that, but it was better than the alternative. Liam then turned his attention to Steve. “Though it wasn’t my fists that beat you up that day, I’m just as guilty because I didn’t stop it from happening, and I’m sorry that I left you there to suffer those horrendous burns.”

  He once again looked towards the back of the room at the victims’ families. “I’m sorry that I didn’t prevent Tom Schaffer from killing Jenna and Wendy.”

  Remi could feel the tears coming. He chose to save her, not anybody else. Reliving that all over again, no matter how many times she had done that, never failed to ignite the immense guilt that often consumed her, even when she warded it off.

  “Lastly, I want to apologize to all the innocent people that got caught up in my lies and crimes and who I hurt,” he said, his voice choking up a little. There was complete silence in the courtroom. That was until Judge Shaw asked if there was anything else Liam wanted to say. When he replied no, the judge told him he could step down. Remi’s heart ached for him as he walked back to his seat. All of that had been so unexpected from him, especially the trust and memorial funds. She recalled him stating that giving money to the families wouldn’t bring back the deceased and here he was now, doing a complete turnabout. She smiled just thinking about what a genuinely good guy he truly was, even if he didn’t believe that.

  Judge Shaw suddenly announced that he wanted to talk with both parties in his chambers. The clerk loudly stated, “The court will take a thirty-minute recess and will reconvene at three o’clock.”

  Two guards immediately removed Liam and took him to a private room while everybody else just waited in and about the courtroom. And that’s when Kenneth decided to make a move. “How could you?” he barked as he approached Remi. Instinctively, Tony leaped to his daughter’s aid. “Back off,” he demanded, stepping in front of the irate man. “You came to my wife’s viewing and funeral, and put on one hell of a show,” Kenneth shouted as a crowd congregated around them. “Wendy must be turning her grave knowing you befriended one of the killers!”

  As soon as he referred to Liam as a killer, Remi finally lashed back. “Liam didn’t kill Wendy or Jenna!”

  “If that helps you sleep at night,” the unsympathetic man countered. “Fuck you!” she yelled, unable to curb her fury. “Real nice,” the man snapped then added, “but I guess a good-looking killer making googly eyes at you, turned you into a foul-mouthed little slut!”

  Tony, Warren, and Chris had all heard enough and were about to grab Kenneth when Steve had slowly gimped his way over. “Everything okay?” he asked suddenly shielding Remi with his body. Surprised to see him, she just smiled with relief. Kenneth wasn’t amused. “You of all people aren’t going to seriously defend this bitch, are you?”

  “I wasn’t aware there was anything to defend, she was a hostage too; she was just fortunate enough to survive, not unscathed I might add,” said Steve. “But she also bonded with the man who saved her life, which doesn’t make her a bad person, it just makes her human.”

  Wendy’s husband just shook his head in disgust. “I feel sorry for you,” he said, directing it at Remi. But that’s the last thing he muttered as Weston, who had tried to stay out of the conflict, threatened to bring Judge Shaw back in to find the man in contempt of court if he didn’t stop harassing Remi.

  Kenneth stormed out in a huff. Remi immediately thanked Steve then said, “I honestly thought you’d feel the same way he did.”

  “Oh hogwash,” his wife, Judy chimed. Remi giggled, grateful for the levity. “I saw how distraught you were after the heist; Kenneth is still grieving the loss of his wife and understandably so, but he also has no idea what it was like for you, nor do any of us,” remarked Steve. “Thank you for that,” she whispered as she softly kissed his cheek. That got a sweet smile from him, which lightened the mood immensely. Though they too were disappointed in Remi’s decision to defend Liam, Jenna’s parents opted to stay out of the argument. Deep down they still loved Remi and couldn’t in good conscience find fault with her for finding some good in the dark soul who saved her life. That said, they also decided they wanted nothing else to do with her, and would completely erase her from their lives. Chris and Melanie both asked if she was okay to which Remi replied no but just like always she’d somehow deal with whatever was thrown her way. Besides, at the moment, she wasn’t the least bit concerned with herself it was Liam she was worried about. His freedom and future hung in the balance she just prayed that her plea to the judge worked. It didn’t take much longer for them to find out as Penny and Warren exited the judge’s chambers and briskly walked past Remi and the rest of the supporters. Marlene was quick to remark, “They look very solemn.”

  Five minutes later, the court was back in session, and everyone, including Liam, was back inside. “All rise,” the bailiff announced. Remi’s heart began to pound rapidly. Her pulse raced as tiny beads of sweat formed on her forehead. The amazing part was that Liam appeared calm, while she was on the verge of passing out as her knees wobbled. The judge instructed everyone to sit except for Liam. He then began reading off each count against Liam, all forty-eight of them. Remi felt her chest tighten, as she listened to the words, criminal conspiracy, unlawful act, and criminal intent, this was it, she thought. In the next minute or so, she was going to lose him and once again her whole world was about to change. Everyone waited with bated breath. “It’s been agreed by both parties that Warren Liam Matthews the third will serve 20 years to life at the Federal Correctional Institution in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, with the possibility of parole after twenty,” the judge said coldly. He then added that terms of the deal included that Liam wouldn’t at any time be able to appeal the sentence. The judge then slammed down the wooden gavel, and it was as if her last breath had been sucked right out of her. Suddenly, a loud disturbance in the back of the room caused everyone to turn and look in that direction. That’s when Wendy’s husband shouted, “This is such bullshit!”

  Judge Shaw again threatened Kenneth with contempt if he didn’t quiet up, but the visibly upset man didn’t listen. So, officers promptly removed him. Jenna’s mom sobbed as her husband escorted her out. A stunned Remi sat frozen, while Liam remained standing, unfazed. “What happens now?” asked Marlene. Warren turned around and replied, “He gets taken back to the county jail to await transfer.”

  That instantly snapped Remi out of her blank state. “How long is the wait?”

  Penny responded, “Could be anywhere from a day to months.”

  Chris sighed in frustration, as he just looked at a somber Liam. At the same time, Remi moved right behind Liam and blatantly disobeyed all the rules by reaching her hand out to graze the back of his shoulder. He turned his head slightly while half-grinning, which was the first time he displayed a different facial expression since before the judge’s sentencing. She dug her fingertips into the fabric of his suit, not wanting to let go. Even though he appreciated Remi’s presence and the existence of her touch, he couldn’t help but feel numb. When the guards approached to take him out to the police van, Liam turned all the way around to face everyone and bra
ndished a smile at all the family and friends that stuck around to support him. He then stared longingly into Remi’s tear-filled eyes as she mouthed, “I love you.”

  He smiled a little wider before he was quickly ushered out.

  Three hours later, with Peanut’s nose resting comfortably on her tired feet, Remi laid on her parent’s black leather sectional couch, browsing the internet on her mother’s iPad, reading up on all things Liam related. At one point, she commented, “It’s official; I’m the town pariah.”

  She read aloud to her mom, a quote that Wendy’s husband had given to the Philadelphia Daily News. “I’m extremely disappointed in the Philly court system for allowing Liam Matthews to possibly get out in twenty years when he should have gotten the death penalty or if nothing else, life without parole.”