by Marian Stack
“Well there you are my love. Everyone has been awaiting your arrival, including me…we will discuss this later but for now grab a glass of champagne and take my hand,” Megan held out her right hand to be taken as she held a glass of champagne in her left.
Doing as she was told which was to grab a glass of champagne but instead of holding onto it for their formal entrance and greeting from their guests she downed the beverage in three quick swallows indicating someone dying of thirst, but then smartly replaced the empty champagne flute with another and then forcefully took hold of Megan’s hand.
“Not so hard, you are hurting my hand. And try to pace yourself, we have three nights of partying fun.” She mumbled under her breath as she shot Blair a look of reprimand.
And then with a commanding composure she offered the two employees standing in a military fashion each at their post, she gave the nod to open the double wide French doors that would officially begin their first night’s celebration.
As the doors open, the crowd roared in delight, with cheers, whistles and applause as the couple exited the mansion and stood at the top of the stairs leading down into the expansive party zone.
After several hours of well-wishers slobbering all over her and wanting to dance, Blair finally took time away and found a quiet spot by one of the many bars that were set up throughout the garden areas.
“Champagne… please.” She ordered as she leaned against the bar, with her elbows on the soft leather that surrounded the glass top of the bar.
Suffering from both exhaustion and emptiness and after retrieving her drink she decided to wander just off to the side of the bar and hid under and in the shadow of the largest oak tree that canopied over all others on the estate, hoping to regain her momentum to continue on with the celebration.
As she sat on the beautiful cast iron bench with drink in hand she allowed her mind to empty and in doing so she became completely unaware of an approaching guest, until she heard the guest asking the bartender for an extra dry vodka martini.
Remaining in the shadows she turned her head in the direction of the voice and closed her eyes. As the guest talked to the bartender regarding trivial matters, Blair remained in the shadows with her hearing turned up on full allowing her to zone in on the voice that had immediately caught her attention.
“I don’t believe we have met?”
“Oh my… you truly startled me.” The voice affirmed.
“My apologies, but I do not believe we have met. You must be a…friend?” Blair’s voice indicated questioning of relationship, “of my fiancée. My name is Blair the other fiancée. How very nice to meet you.” She ferociously took a hold of the woman’s hand, displaying clear intentions of possessing the grip. “Come and sit with me for a few moments. I’m very sure you are not as exhausted as I, so standing even for a short while is taxing, however your company will be appreciated, not to mention your friendship with my soon-to-be. Here sit.” She stated after patting the cushion on the cast iron bench.
With her hand remaining in the forced greeting Blair began her questioning, “So how is it that you know Megan… and where did you meet…and how long have you known each other… and I thought I knew all of Megan’s friends?” Blair slightly paused, waiting for the string of qualifying answerers to confirm her suspicions. She wanted the woman to speak but what she did not realize was that she was the one doing all the talking as the other woman seated next to her was locked in both fear and complete silence.
“Well you must at the very least have a name?” Blair inquired sounding completely overbearing, thanks to the amount of alcohol surging through her system.
“Yes of course I have a name.” The petrified woman replied, because unbeknownst to Blair the person sitting directly beside her was not only her fiancées lover but her fiancées co-conspirator.
“Well…your name is…?”
“Oh yes of course…I’m truly sorry….yes my name is Sylvia Coomes. I work for the…”
Megan broke up the conversation with her explosive greeting, “Hey you two… there you are. I have been looking all over the ground for you. My dear, we have a tonne of guests to greet and party with, so no point sitting in the dark. Let’s get up and party. At least your drinking can account for something.” And then before Blair knew what was happening she was being dragged away from under the tree and out of the potentially life changing dangerous conversation.
Sylvia remained under the tree trying to control the nausea that was churning deep in her throat.
As Blair was being dragged away she decided to question Megan’s’ involvement with this new friend called Sylvia Coomes. “So my dear where did you met this Miss Sylvia Coomes? I don’t recall you ever mentioning her name before and yet she is invited to our wedding?”
“Seriously my love, there are at least four hundred people here, do you really believe I’m best friends with all these people. Are you so naïve in not realizing that some were invited for purely political reasons? Really… get your head back in the game, and try to at least put on a pleasant smile and pretend you care about this wedding.” Megan snarled under her breath as she allowed Blair to move her about the dance floor for their first private scheduled dance.
Although Blair heard and saw Megan’s anger, not only did she remain quiet but she also concluded that Miss Sylvia Coomes voice perfectly matched the voice on Megan’s phone.
“But she was asking all sorts of questions.” Sylvia stated as she quickly paced back and forth on the greenhouse floor.
“Look my love, she was only asking because she wanted to know how we knew each other and I just answered her stupid questions with the simple truth. You along with many of our guests were invited for political reasons, and besides once we are married our lives will go back to normal which means,” Megan began to fondle Sylvia’s ample exposed breasts, “Now give me what we came here to do. Give me a little something…something before I go crazy.” Megan leaned down to kiss the exposed breast that she had so easily removed from it’s enclosure on the very revealing gown that Sylvia was wearing, as she moved her hand to slide under the gown to find Sylvia’s always ready moist vagina.
“No…stop. I’m not going to let you fuck me in your greenhouse three nights before your wedding. I may be a horrible person but I do have some scruples left.” And with that statement she replaced her breast back into her dress, straightened the front of her gowns’ fabric allowing it to properly hang and searching inwardly for a morsel of dignity, she left her lover standing in the greenhouse with her mouth wide open.
As Blair descended the stairs she headed towards the kitchen in search of some clamato juice to mix with her morning vodka hair-of-the-dog breakfast drink. Once her drink was mixed and her handful of over the counter medication consumed she sat down on the chaise lounge and proceeded to read the morning newspaper. She, like her father, always enjoyed the feeling of the carbon coated sheets of paper on their hands. They both believed only truth could be printed with carbon on paper.
So with the sun beaming down on her feet and legs she began to, haphazardly turn the pages of the newspaper and in doing so she almost missed the small article about a local mountain guide from the Hamlet of Sandy River that was arrested and now incarcerated for the murder of one of the two escapees from the Rynthorp detention centre.
Blair’s hands began to violently shake as she read and then re-read the article until she could not read the information anymore. Her hope was that if she continued to read the words they would somehow change their meaning.
“OH MY GOD…OH MY GOD…OH MY GOD…OH MY GOD!” She softly cried out in rapid succession as she whispered the words in her cupped hand that covered her mouth.
“What the fuck. The Chief…I have to call the Chief.” And then as if she was stuck by a bolt of lightning, “I’m sorry I don’t know your name but… new person… yes you.” Her arm was in the air pointing and indicating to the only other person in the room, “please find me a laptop. There are
plenty in this house. Please go now, and quickly please!
As the employee handed Blair the laptop, “Thank you…now this is very important. Please give me the room, and yes that means please leave what you are doing and go find something else to do.”
Her hands were shaking as she typed the surname search for Coomes, Sylvia. And much to Blair’s horror the profile page of Miss Sylvia Coomes immediately popped up. As Blair read the profile she was shocked and angered to read the words, Medical examiner with the Rynthorp Coroners offices, dedicated to homicides and suicides.
With her hands trembling to the point that she could barely hold her cell phone, she incorrectly dialled the phone number several times before she stopped and painstakingly slowed her pounding on the numbers and gently pressed the ten digit numbers in proper order and finally heard the ringing sound.
“Chief it’s Blair Foster. Where is Turtle at this very moment?”
“Now Miss Foster, you have to realize that she…”
“Chief…where is Turtle right now?” Her voice was low, specific and demanding.
“She’s been incarcerated at the Rynthorp detention center on trumped up charges and I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of this disaster but I’m being blocked at every turn.” She quickly stated as she could hear the panicked breathing coming through the phone.
“On my God Chief… how long has she been in Rynthorp?” Blair was afraid to question.
“Going on three weeks.” She whispered.
“Ohhhh… my god!” She cried out. “Chief this means she has gone through processing. Oh my poor poor sweet girl. Chief we have to get her out of there today…I mean right now. I’m hanging up now and will get my brother to look into these charges and have this reversed in a couple of hours.”
The Chief interrupted Blair’s running dialogue. “Miss Foster, first of all please call me by my given name, which is Margo, and secondly… what do you want me to do?”
“Go to the detention centre and wait for my call. I don’t have the legal mind regarding these matters, but my brother is the ultimate best, so he will either get her out or have her transferred to Carterville, today. And Margo, I know Tee set you up with not telling me but the games up now, so no more secrets… okay? And by the way please call me Blair.”
“Copy that…and Blair… thanks.” Her words were obviously filled from the release of tears that had begun to stream down her cheek, now that she no longer needed to lie to the only person that could help get their friend out of prison.
“We will get our girl out of this trouble, that I can promise, now go to her.” Blair’s words reeked with determination and strength.
“Joe this is all I know for now. I need you to get her away from that detention centre and the dangers she most certainly is in.”
“Assistant Warden there is a Mr. Joseph Foster on the line from the law firm of Foster and Associates and he is demanding your attention immediately. Would you like me to disconnect or put his call through?” The crackled voice screamed through the archaic intercom system.
“God… finally.” She whispered before answering and with her finger in the lever she replied, “Yes, put that call through.”
“Hello Mr. Foster. How can the Rynthorp Detention centre assist your office today?”
“Yes, hello, Assistant Warden Coffee, first of all let me thank-you for taking my somewhat urgent call. My office has been given the dossier of a Miss Turtle Dove that I understand is being held in your facility without charges being issued or the right to proper legal counsel. Is this fact?”
Relieved that this wrong incarceration was being exposed she allowed her fear to be pushed aside, as she knew this could mean her career, “Yes, inmate number 99862 has been detained here for about three weeks without charges or counsel.”
“I have sent the Chief of Police from Carterville in your direction along with a judge’s order for Miss Turtle Dove to be released from your custody and placed in the custody of the Carterville Police Department until further investigative procedures can be completed. Are these orders understood?”
“Completely.”
“Excellent, my office will keep you abreast of any developments regardless of degree. And Assistant Warden Coffee? Thank you for your cooperation. However you do realize that this misjudgement could result in disciplinary action.”
“Yes sir, I completely understand and will fully cooperate regardless of results. I look forward to meeting with the Chief of Police from Carterville, good bye for now and thank-you.”
Remaining behind her desk at full attention she turned and grabbed her uniform jacket from the back of her chair and proceeded to complete her full visual professional appearance which under certain circumstances required her to carry a fully charged security stun-gun which was secured in her top left drawer, under lock and key. Then with the stun-gun with the secured lock disengaged in its holder, she continued her forward progress by pressing her finger on the button of the intercom system to have her two most trusted senior officers complete this mission by her side.
But then suddenly her resolve began to fade a little and she quickly removed the pressure on the lever, sat back down on her desk chair to ponder her next move. She understood that exposing this side of the corruption in this facility could be the absolute demise of her lifelong ambitious career. Not to mention hearing the words of caution from a top notch lawyer, made her very recent thoughts once again crystalize in her mind forming a conclusion that if this young woman is released due to unfairness then whatever the results are as her punishment, she will be willing to accept. For no other reason than to purposely shed a much needed light on this societal problem and have the powers that be begin some much needed changes, which have been long overdue in this critically antiquated and over populated institution.
As she sat and considered the dilemma, mulling over the ‘why me’ syndrome, she was able to conclusively determine her role and next course of action. Changes were needed regardless of her employment status. “Get me Jones and Davies and have them meet me in the control room stat!” Her powerful command that was sent through the intercom system was loud and decisive.
Once the intimidating procession of the Assistant Warden being flanked by two senior officer’s carrying fully loaded rifles with rubber bullets began walking though the detention center corridors an internal buzz of excitement hit the detention hot line sending all snitches into a complete frenzy.
Their march was sending them straight towards the laundry area.
In the meantime and unbeknownst to the workers in the laundry that a change was coming they unfortunately were dealing with another situation. The situation being Turtle and T-five were caught in another disagreement of who was going to win the battle of saving inmate 99862 or who was going to reap the benefits of killing inmate 99862.
“Come on T-five you must be tired of Coffee always making you her babysitting bitch. Just stand aside and let me take-out this weak pathetic child, once and for all.” One inmate stated as they began to encroach on the two women who were standing with their backs to a large washing machine with its door open.
“Ya T-five what the fuck does it matter to you if she lives or dies? It’s not like she has anything you want. You don’t even like pussy.” Another announced.
Sadly what both Turtle and T-five did not realize was that all the while the three women were approaching from the front one inmate was advancing from the rear with a metal pipe in her hand. But as fate would have it Turtles’ wilderness guide instincts kicked in and she turned around just on time to avoid a blow from the pipe that was heading towards her head. Thanks to her quick survival reactions she dodged the swinging pipe that just missed her face by inches, “Teresa look out.” She screamed as she pushed the washer machines open door wider, knocking the pipe from the woman’s hand.
Immediately T-five turned around and reached for the pipe as it was sent bouncing on the cement floor.
”Turtle get behind me.” She
screamed as she raised the metal pipe as their main means of defence discouraging any advancement that would clearly result in severe bodily harm.
“Step the fuck back… if you know what’s good for you!”
“It’s still four against two, and we know that the little one will fall apart in a fight.” One of the women barked out.
“That might be the truth but are you willing to go up against me? Now that I have this pipe in my hand? So my advice to you all is to walk away while you still can.” T-five stated and then offered a little bit of encouragement as she offered their aggressors a mock charge with the added bonus of a convincing mid-air swing of the pipe.
“Ok that will be enough of that.” Coffee exclaimed as she and her officers entered the fight scene.
“Inmate 55567 put down that lead pipe, and step away.” Officer Jones commanded showing clear intent as she secured the rifle in a firing stance ready to fire off the rubber bullets if the orders were not immediately carried out.
Understanding the order and the refusal consequences, T-five raised her left hand and lowered her right hand that held the lead pipe and dropped the prize onto the cement floor.
“Officer Jones radio for more officers to this location and have these four placed in solitary until we can complete our first mission.”
Then turning to a very frightened inmate 99862, “Miss Dove it appears that you are in luck today and that you have now retained a very good lawyer from the law firm of Foster and Associates. You are about to be removed from my care and placed in the care of the Carterville police department until further investigation into your situation can be conducted. One of my officers will escort you to my office and another will gather your belongings from your cell AA-007. Please follow the officer now and please remember you are still an inmate in this facility and you will advance with the usual guidelines until you are no longer in this building, do you understand?”