by ANDREA SMITH
She'd used Matthew as her point man in getting an up and coming federal judge who was engaged to the daughter of the family she was working for caught in a "compromising" position of sorts. The dude apparently was a good and honest guy, but was convinced to sow his wild oats one last time with a hooker who hadn't been "broken in yet." The poor judge thought that'd had meant she'd never sold her stuff before. He'd no idea the chick was a fucking virgin and that old Matthew had planted a video recorder in the room where he'd swiped her v-card! The plan was to show Preston Tylar the video after his father-in-law made the recommendation for appointment to the federal bench (anonymously of course) and to get a few thousand bucks out of him to keep his new bride and her family from finding out.
The plan changed when it was discovered that the young, innocent half-sister got knocked up. The judge never knew a damn thing about it. The greedy midget had another plan in store; one that would prove quite lucrative over the next eighteen years. There'd been a couple of snags along the way, in particular, the fact that the baby's mother wanted no part of Matthew or his schemes any longer and tried to relocate to Mississippi.
I opened the lock on his cell door. He was all scrunched up in the corner of his cell, on the cot with his knees pulled up to his chin, his skinny arms wrapped around his knees.
"Come on, Renaud. Get your skinny ass up. Mommy Dearest's here to see you."
I saw him tremble. God damn! Had he always been such a fucking wimp?
"No, no," he said hurriedly, a nervous tick showing itself on his face. He was shaking his head no vehemently. "Don't want to see her. She's going to be mad at me for telling Doctor Evans what happened. It was our secret. We promised each other we'd take it to our graves. I should've kept my mouth shut. Mommy's gonna be pissed."
"Ahh, suck it up, dude. She'll get over it before Mother's Day, right? I mean what the fuck? Is she going to ground your ass?"
He looked up at me as I stood waiting and I saw a thread of sanity briefly cross over his face. It was if his whole demeanour had changed and he was sane again, but only briefly.
"You're right," he said, "I can take her down with me and she knows that."
I escorted Matthew Renaud to the room where she waited for him. She'd paid extra for privacy. I'd acted like it was cool, but what she didn't know was I had the mic system in that room turned on so I could hear whatever was said. Again, despite what you see on television: there is NO attorney-client privilege in jail or prison. There are always ears listening!
I listened to them when I got to the room next door. I'd told Karen Deeny to knock on the wall between us when she was finished. I also told her to make it quick; like ten minutes.
I put headphones on to listen in. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end when I heard just exactly how sick that bitch was!
"Matthew," I heard her say, "What exactly have you told the psychiatrist your lawyer had you see?"
"I told her everything, Mom. I told her the truth."
"And what exactly is your version of the truth?"
"You know what it is; you know the truth. She asked about my childhood; about my dad and mother; and about you."
"I am your mother," she spat.
"You were my mother; you didn't raise me and we both know why."
"I did that for your own good Matthew! I did it so that women wouldn't take advantage of you and so you'd know how to please them at the same time."
"You made me sick in the head, Mom. You made me do things I didn't want to do!"
"Like what?" she hissed.
"Like poison two people, Mom. Two blood relatives!"
"Bah!" she yelled, "You were best rid of the both of them! They spelled trouble and if you hadn't been so stupid in handling the matter, we'd have been very wealthy now. You've put me at risk with your ramblings to that shrink. Do you realize that?"
"I only did what you taught me to do, Mother!"
"I didn't teach you to fuck your own sister and get her pregnant, now did I?"
"You made everything so confused in my mind. As a kid, you told me to do things to you that weren't right but you said they were."
"Let's not rehash this shit, Matthew! Right now we need to be concerned with damage control. Your life's at stake here."
"I don't give a shit about my life, Mom. I'm tired of the life I live; I'm tired of being used by you. I'm tired of having to hide all the time."
There was a pause in the conversation. I strained to hear what was going to happen next. Sounded like the little wimp was trying to stand up to the shrimp bitch!
"Matthew," she said, her voice lowered, "I have to tell you something. The fact that you've confessed your involvement to that county shrink is going to be used against you."
"No, no it isn't Mom. It's confidential because of HIPPA law. She told me."
"That's a damn lie you stupid bastard! See what I mean? You're simply setting yourself up and will end up dragging me down with you."
"It was your idea, Mom. They were all your ideas. Maybe it's time for you to own up to them."
"Oh yeah, and then what? I'm 65 years old Matthew. So I guess you'll feel better knowing I'm rotting in some prison too? What good will it do? We'll never see each other and you'll get the death penalty, I won't. So you'll be out of your misery long before I will."
"What's your point, Mom?"
"My point is this: you've already implicated me. So if you testify against me, I'll go to prison for life; you'll get the relief of death. I'd rather be dead."
"So what choice do I have Mom? Maybe I won't get the death penalty if I cooperate?"
"You really are crazy if you believe that! You've brought shame to me; and now you've cast me to a life behind bars with what you've told that shrink!"
"I told her the truth!" he shouted.
"The truth as you believe it; not the real truth! I loved you! I gave birth to you and then I lost you because of the filth you spread about me! It's time you grow up Matthew and take responsibility for what you've done to me or you'll burn in hell as sure as I'm sitting here."
"I'm going to burn in hell for everything," he replied, dejectedly.
"For once Matthew, for once in your life, spare someone from the pain and misery of your actions. Spare me, son."
I could hear the dude crying now totally back to the sick mother-fucker he'd become, or maybe that he'd always been.
"Tell me what to do, Mama," he whined, his voice sounding like a 5 year-old. "Tell me what I can do to be the sweetest one in town?"
"Would you like me to sing that song to you, Matthew?"
"Yes, Mama."
"If I do, will you do what I ask you to do?"
"Yes, Mama."
I sat there, my feet propped up on my desk, listening in to a conversation that was probably the weirdest I'd ever eavesdropped in on. I heard her start the popular lullaby.
Hush little baby don't say a word; Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird.
If that mockingbird don't sing; Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring. . .
When she'd finished if was if Mathew was in a different place; a more relaxed and subservient place.
"Tell me what I need to do now Mama."
I'd given them another five minutes than banged on the wall. As I went and unlocked the door, the change in Matthew's demeanour was drastic. He was quiet, compliant and resolved. His mother seemed confident and satisfied with the visit.
I directed her to the exit, and then put the cuffs back on him, leading him back upstairs to his cell block.
Once we got there and I got him situated in his cell, I removed the cuffs.
"You need anything Renaud?" I asked before slamming the cell door shut.
"No. I've everything I need right in here," he said. "I'm good to go."
That was the last time I saw Matthew Renaud alive.
About the Author
Andrea Smith is an Ohio native and currently resides in Manchester, Ohio. Ms. Smith is the mother of two grown sons
and grandmother of four.
Book 3 of the ‘Baby Series’ is available now! You won’t want to miss the continuation of Trey and Tylar’s story.
Book 3.5 - Novella titled "Baby Come Back" written from Gina's POV.
Other Books by Andrea Smith:
"Diamond Girl" (Book #1 in the 'G-man' Series)
"Love Plus One" (Book #2 in the 'G-Man' Series)
"Night Moves" (Book #3 in the 'G-Man' Series)
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