Dirty Truths

by Renee Miller

  A long table sat in front. Richard pulled various items from a bin beneath, laying them on the table next to yellow cards. Her breath caught as Kristina recognized many of the items. He pulled out a few things she hadn’t seen before. Her gaze fell on a bloody shirt and tarp. Amy must have added to it. She turned her gaze to Daniel.

  He frowned, raised an eyebrow and then looked at the items as well.

  She wanted him to look scared, to know she’d done this to pay him back for all he’d put her through; the abuse, the misery and for nearly shattering her soul.

  He didn’t seem very worried, leaning over to whisper something to his attorney, a smile playing on his lips.

  Richard walked toward Kristina. She forced herself to look away from Daniel.

  “Do you recognize any of these items?” he asked, waving toward the table.

  “The box.”

  “The box? How do you recognize the box?”

  “That’s the box Daniel told me to leave alone. He said he’d pick it up later.”

  “You lying fucking bitch!” the courtroom erupted as Daniel sprang from his chair.

  Two police officers swept down on him, pulled his arms behind his back and forced him to sit back in his chair.

  “Mr. Riley,” the judge’s deep voice carried over the noise of the crowd. “One more outburst and you will be held in contempt.”

  “But she’s lying—”

  “Mrs. Riley has sworn an oath, and she has the right to speak. If you’d like to counter any of her statements or prove your claims, then you will have an opportunity to do so. But until then you will let her answer the questions without comment. Are we clear?”

  Daniel nodded, his face reddened. His brown eyes blazed with hatred and although her initial reaction to his outburst was fear, it quickly changed to satisfaction. He would not get out of this, if it was the last thing she did.

  Richard waited for silence and continued his questions. Kristina answered each one, keeping her eyes on him, only meeting Daniel’s gaze when she answered questions about him.

  The judge motioned for Daniel’s attorney to proceed with his cross-examination.

  Kristina stiffened.

  Richard had warned the defense would try to tear apart her testimony and stressed she must keep to the facts, an easy thing to do when speaking the truth. The trouble was, Kristina lied through her teeth and she trembled just a little when Daniel’s lawyer approached her.

  “We’ve established your story about the box,” he said and paused, running a thumb over his chin. “But I’m wondering why it is you didn’t turn it in to police.”

  “I didn’t know what was in it.”

  “You didn’t look?”

  “I did, but I saw the knife and I closed it without looking at the rest. I didn’t want to know what else was in there.” Kristina twisted her hands in her lap.

  Daniel’s attorney walked to the defense table and flipped through his notepad.

  She wished he’d just ask his damn questions and let her go.

  “Okay, let me tell you a little story, if the court will allow it?” He looked at the judge who nodded. “This box was brought to the attention of law enforcement officials by an Amy Bowen, is that right?”

  “I don’t know—I think that’s what they told me. I don’t recall.” She tried to remember the discussion she’d had with the police, but couldn’t.

  “It was. She claimed you told an unnamed friend of hers the box was left by her husband, Wade Bowen who, I’d like to add, is already imprisoned on charges of drug trafficking and possession of illegal weapons. Isn’t it true you and this Wade Bowen were having an affair?”

  “Objection! Irrelevant, your honor.” Richard stood, his face flushed.

  The judge looked to the Defense, raising an eyebrow.

  “I’m hoping to show Mrs. Riley has reason to lie about the box.”

  “I’ll allow it, but be careful. You’re treading a thin line here.”

  Richard sat as the judge spoke and Kristina swallowed as her throat went dry.

  Daniel’s attorney continued. “Could you answer the question please?”

  “No, I did not have an affair with Wade Bowen.”

  “In your statement you said you and Wade did sleep together.”

  “It wasn’t an affair. It was a couple of times and that’s all. I explained what happened to the police.”

  “Interesting. His wife’s statement claims you did and you confessed the two of you were in love.”

  “She lied.”

  “Well, considering she’s not around any longer to confirm or deny that accusation, I guess we’ll have to let it rest.”

  “Please stick to the questions, Mr. Chambers,” the judge admonished.

  Running a hand through his dark curls, which sprang back into place immediately after, Daniel’s attorney continued, although Kristina thought he looked frustrated, unable to find a way to trap her.

  “Why did you tell Amy Bowen her husband left the box at your house if it in fact belonged to your ex-husband, Mr. Riley?”

  “I didn’t tell her anything. I didn’t speak with her about any box. She must have been confused.” Kristina clenched her teeth. Did he not understand English?

  “Oh, yes… the unnamed friend. Who may that be, I wonder? Care to enlighten us?

  “I don’t know. I might have mentioned it to a few friends but… I was going through a difficult patch. I was scared, hurt…”

  “Hurt, Mrs. Riley?”

  She turned her gaze to Daniel.

  “He raped me—”

  “Objection! Your honor.” Daniel’s lawyer turned to the judge.

  “But… he asked…m—”

  The judge nodded. “That he did.” He then turned to the jury. “The witness’s allegations fall outside the matters tried in this court. You will disregard her last statement.”

  For another thirty minutes, Daniel’s lawyer battered her with the same questions, wording them differently each time, but Kristina stuck to her story. He didn’t mention the abuse, or that Desiree had also claimed to be fearful of him, but relentlessly pursued his questioning of Wade and their relationship.

  At 12:45, the Defense finally rested.

  Kristina collapsed in her chair when the judge called a break. She left the stand, careful to keep her chin high as she passed Daniel. Her eyes remained on the large doors at the end of the room. Cameras flashed as she walked through. She lowered her head and forced her way through the crush of people and media swarming the hallways of the courthouse. Shocked at the attention the case was getting, the stranger’s words came back to her. If you stick around people you know, things have a way of coming out; things you think you can keep to yourself.

  As Kristina opened the doors, blinking at the brilliant sunshine that blinded her, she realized why he advised her to disappear. If Daniel was convicted—when Daniel was convicted, she corrected—the media would go into a tailspin. They’d nag her as much as they did now, possibly more. She couldn’t remain in Laighton, not if she wanted any sense of normalcy for Cadence, and definitely not if she hoped to be with Wade. They’d jump all over that.

  ***

  The room buzzed with activity, every bench packed with people.

  Kristina sat behind the Crown Attorney’s table, her emotions in turmoil. She feared they’d let Daniel go and yet she felt vaguely worried they wouldn’t. All week she’d flip-flopped through extremes, one minute hating him and confident she’d done the right thing, the next uncertain she could live with the guilt of what she’d done.

  The doors to the court opened and Daniel entered escorted by two police officers. He wore a dark grey suit, his blond hair freshly cut and his face clean-shaven. He turned to look at her before he sat down, a smirk playing on his lips. He winked.

  Kristina frowned. The bastard actually believed they wouldn’t convict him. His arrogance astounded her even after all he’d put her through.

  A shuffling behind. She turne
d. The stranger sat two rows back to her right. No longer in his regular leather jacket and jeans, he wore a black turtleneck sweater and dress pants.

  His gaze met Kristina’s. He nodded.

  She turned back to face the front as the bailiff ordered everyone to rise. Standing, she wondered if he had been there for her testimony. She didn’t remember seeing him, but then, she’d avoided looking out into the sea of faces that witnessed Daniel’s attorney try to paint her as a vindictive slut. Was he pleased with her testimony? Did she screw it up? Ice coated her gut as another thought occurred to her. Was he there to ‘take care of her’ if Daniel got off?

  As the judge entered and took his place at the front, he ordered the court to be seated. He motioned to the bailiff who walked to the far side of the room and opened a small door to allow the jury back into the room. The men and women who Kristina had carefully avoided looking at until now filed in and took their seats. She gazed at them, each face unreadable and wondered what they thought about her testimony. Did they believe her?

  Her eyes paused on a face in the small group. Blood drained from her cheeks and a chill shook her frame. The man Wade spoke to months ago in the bar, the one that made her so nervous and who Wade seemed to be afraid of, stared back at her. The judge spoke, but Kristina heard none of what he said, her gaze riveted on this man who until now she’d forgotten. Blood roared in her ears and the room swayed. They’d had the jury fixed all along. Why hadn’t they told her?

  The man stood, held out a piece of paper and passed it to the bailiff. Was he the foreman? Kristina suddenly felt giddy, almost to the point of laughter. The stranger told her they’d help see that Daniel went down, but she never imagined they had this much power. She resisted the urge to turn and look at him, although it took great effort. Instead, she leaned forward. Her breath caught in her throat as the judge asked the jury to read its verdict.

  A hush fell over the courtroom.

  She glanced at Daniel who stood next to his lawyer waiting to hear his fate.

  He didn’t look at the jury though, his gaze rested firmly on Kristina, the smile still teasing his lips.

  She looked away, focusing on the words of the foreman as he read off the charges and then their verdict.

  “Guilty.”

  “What?” Daniel asked.

  The judge turned to him and frowned.

  Kristina heard the word over and over and then the room erupted once more. She turned to Daniel slumped in his chair shaking his head, his eyes wide.

  The judge ordered him to stand and his lawyer touched his shoulder.

  Daniel rose, turning to pin his accusing glare on her.

  She listened as the judge made the verdict official and reminded the courtroom that sentencing would convene in the morning.

  The officers pulled Daniel’s hands behind his back and cuffed him.

  Kristina dreamed she heard the satisfying click over the hum of voices.

  His eyes darted around, coming to rest on her face as she stood to watch them escort him out. He shook his head. The realization he hadn’t gotten his way and she’d been the one to ruin him, was evident in his eyes and the way his shoulders slumped. “Why?” he mouthed as they pulled him to the door.

  Kristina smiled, and shrugged. She placed a hand to her mouth and blew a kiss as he stumbled to the door and then turned to smile at the stranger. After scanning the seats behind her, she couldn’t find him. When had he left?

  The Crown Attorney spoke.

  Kristina turned.

  His hand outstretched, clasping hers, he smiled. She returned the smile, still reeling over what had happened and allowed him to lead her out of the room.

  Daniel would never be able to hurt her again, the knowledge lifted a weight from her shoulders that until now, she hadn’t realized was there. She’d done it, he would rot in jail for those murders and she’d been the one to put him there. She murmured a saying she’d heard often, though it hadn’t held much meaning until this moment. “An eye for an eye.”

  “Pardon?” Richard asked, pushing the doors open and placing a hand on her arm.

  “Nothing,” she smiled.

  CHAPTER 34

  The steel door opened and Daniel straightened.

  She walked through, hesitant at first, the guard behind her.

  He stood, wishing the damn cuffs didn’t restrain his hands so he could wring her neck.

  She moved forward and sat in the chair, the guard stayed by the door.

  “Kristina, nice of you to come.”

  “You wouldn’t stop calling, so I really had no choice.” She smiled.

  His gut hardened. She thought she’d get away with this. “I’ll be out soon,” he said.

  “No, you won’t.”

  “I’ve filed an appeal and the judge will have to look at the evidence again. It’s bullshit and they know it.”

  “Hmm. Maybe. But you have to make it out of here first. Don’t you?”

  Daniel stared. Was this his wife, his Kristina, threatening him? How did she figure she could hurt him in here?

  “I’ll make it out. Don’t you worry. You better be ready too, you’ve got some explaining to do if you want to keep your pretty face.”

  “Are you threatening me, Daniel?” her voice rose and the guard turned, hand on his belt.

  “No, I’m not.” He smiled at the guard who relaxed a fraction.

  “Listen, I don’t have time for your usual crap, okay. I have a child to raise and a life to go on with. You’ve said all you had to say to the media. Loved the tears in your last interview. Priceless. But if you have nothing new to say to me, this is goodbye.” Kristina stood.

  He gritted his teeth to keep from screaming. Cocky little slut. She thought she had it all figured out. He’d relish every minute of his revenge. She’d be begging him for mercy when the light went from her eyes. He’d fuck her the way she fucked him and then he’d kill her with his bare hands.

  ***

  “We’re going to miss you so much,” Kristina’s mother choked as she hugged her close. “Call us as soon as you land, okay?”

  “I will, and you guys are coming out next month, remember?”

  Her mother nodded and picked up Cadence, squeezing her until the baby grunted in protest.

  She wished she could have stayed, that her life didn’t have to be turned upside down, but the reality was she couldn’t. After Daniel’s conviction she couldn’t even go out to cut the grass without someone stopping or flashing a camera. The stranger, whose name she knew now to be Thomas, had arranged for her to relocate to Mexico. Not a bad place to hide out.

  “I wish those pricks would just leave you alone,” her dad muttered.

  Sunlight streaming in through the large windows opening onto the airport runways behind him cast shadows over his sullen features. He had aged in the past few months, but the worry that clouded his features for years had vanished and Kristina was glad to see it gone.

  “It’s their job, Dad, and Daniel’s been giving so many interviews that they expect me to do the same. Don’t worry. It will die down. I’m just lucky I got this job offer.”

  “Don’t you think it’s kind of strange someone would offer you a job out of the blue like this? Someone who doesn’t even know you?” her mother frowned, adjusting Cadence onto her hip.

  “I checked it out, and they really are just nice, honest people who felt sorry for us. Besides, a housekeeper is not an illustrious position.”

  “But you’ll have your own house and—”

  “It’s a cottage, and I’ll be fine. It’s not forever.” Kristina reached to take her daughter and kiss her mother’s head.

  A tinny voice announced her flight. She hugged her parents one more time before joining the crowd that milled about the gate. Wade had called her several times from jail, urging her to take whatever offers came her way; his way of telling her that this job wasn’t really what she told her parents it was. She would have a little cottage to live in, and work clean
ing a house for a while. The Brothers had arranged it all, and she didn’t think too long over just how far their power reached. Once Wade was released, in two more years—if Thomas was right about good behavior and his early release—they’d move again.

  The line shifted and Kristina looked back to her parents who stood together, her father’s arm draped over her mother’s shoulder as they waved. Her mother wiped a tear on the collar of her bulky old jacket and her dad shook his head. Kristina had bought her a new one, an early Christmas gift, but her mom hadn’t worn it yet, preferring the quilted pink coat she’d worn for years. Her mom hated change. Kristina used to, but now she welcomed it.

  She waved back and turned, blinking away the tears that filled her eyes. She’d miss them terribly but it was time she stood on her own, made a life she could be proud of and Cadence would be happy with. A life that included a passionate love and devotion she’d never known. Until Wade.

  ***

  Daniel lay on the cot, his back to the cell doors and he stared at the hole the previous tenant chipped into the grey wall. Two months he’d sat in this damn cell. Alone. Sixty days without anything but this sorry excuse for a bed, a toilet that rarely flushed, and a tiny window to let in the sunlight. He was only allowed out onto a tiny patio for thirty minutes each day.

  He supposed he should be thankful they hadn’t let him in with the rest of the prisoners. Bunch of losers. He’d made enough stink his first week they stuck him here. Isolation, they called it. Although, his new attorney warned him if he wanted the judge to see things his way, he had to start showing he wasn’t a murderer; that he really was a nice guy.

  This afternoon he went back to the regular population, with the real murderers and crack heads. Daniel didn’t look forward to that, but he figured if he kept his head down and avoided too much contact they’d leave him alone.