by Rachel Rae
Before I could answer Sophie and SJ stopped whatever they were doing in the playroom looked down seen Mike then sprinted towards him.
"Uncle Mike!!! Gimme some!!" SJ said sticking out his fist with Mike being a good sport bumping SJ's fist pretending like it exploded at the end.
"Hey my Sophie." he said picking her up kissing her cheeks, "Where's Sid?"
I smiled at the sight of him being here turned around and proceeded back into the kitchen with Mike not too far behind me with SJ and Sophie right behind him.
"Ma..." he said seeming a little impatient, "Where's Sidney?"
"I don't know Mike, she's somewhere in this house, the child and I emphasize on THE CHILD has a bad attitude and if the little bitch thinks she's grown she's gone have to get up out of here with that mess," I said chopping up some carrots.
"She just misses her parents." he said looking off.
I stopped cutting for a second to look at him and noticed something wasn't right, a mother always knows their child.
"Kids stop hanging on y'alls Uncle and go play."
"Aww mann!!" SJ whined but did as I asked taking his little sister's hand then disappearing down the hallway.
"So..." I said cutting some more carrots, "I haven't seen or heard from you in a while, what's going on?"
"Nothing." he said looking off again.
I finished slicing the carrots put the knife down and walked towards the fridge taking out the celery.
"You're not even going to ask me if I needed help like you used to?" I asked walking up to him pushing the bag on his chest.
He didn't respond or look at me just walked to the sink turned on the faucet and started washing the vegetables I'd just handed to him. When he finished he took a knife out the drawer stood beside me and started to cut them into bites (the way I liked them).
"It's been about three years since I had your stew." he said in a low tone still dicing the celery.
"Well I've made it since then, these kids love my stew just like... Just like you and your brother did when y'all were younger." I said smiling at the memory of the boys running around chasing each other. "Those were the happy times." I smiled.
"Ma, you know I've never questioned you."
"So why would you start?" I asked grabbing two hand full of carrots walking them to the pot on the stove.
"I don't know, I guess I just been feeling like I'm half of myself since Sebastian died."
"Of course you're going to feel that way he was your brother, your other half, you loved him and so did I, we all loved him," I said picking up more carrots carrying them to the pot.
"If that's right why didn't you want to do an autopsy on him? That was yo son! Didn't you want to know what really happened to him?"
"Didn't I tell you don't start questioning me?? Besides we already know what really happened to him, we looked the devil right in her eyes! Mary is the cause of your brother’s death! I'm your mother and what I say goes, don't you ever ask me my reasons behind shit boy you understand me??" I smacked my lips and swallowed before I continued to speak, "Whatever I ever did or do is for us our family! Your father questioned me the day before he died," I squinted my eyes and walked up to him grabbed the back of his neck pulling his 6 foot 2 frame down to my 5 foot 2 height and proceeded to whisper in his ear, " and so did Sebastian."
He pulled back from me with his eyes as big as dinner plates, I moved back from him then continued to put more vegetables into the now boiling pot of stew.
"You know Mike, those kids need some fresh air, why don't you take them to the Zoo or something huh? Get them out this house for a little while." I said stirring the pot.
"SJ!" He hollered out towards the playroom.
"Yes, sir?"
"Find Sidney tell her we about to go and put on Sophie's shoes."
Even though he was talking to my grandson he never took his eyes off me, I didn't pay him any mind I continued to stir and stir some more. From the side of my eye, I watched as his shadow moved from the frame of the kitchen entrance. When I called out to him he came back and stood there with his feet spread apart and his fist balled up looking like he was in attack mode.
I looked at him, chuckled then spoke, "The worst thing you can or will ever do is cross me, Mike, don't learn that shit the hard way."
"Fuck you," he said before walking back out the doorway of the kitchen yelling out Sidney's name. "Let's go now!" his voice rumbled.
"Bye bye Grandma!!!" Sophie sang.
"We'll see you later on!!" SJ said walking past me.
"I highly doubt that," Mike mumbled walking past me with his hand on Sidney's shoulder.
"Don't listen to your Uncle Sophie and SJ, he's talking crazy." I smiled, "But you Sidney you might want to listen to your father, whatever he says goes." I smirked. I was trying to get back at Mike for speaking to me like that, maybe that wasn't the right way to go but aww well it's done now I said it.
"It's okay Uncle Mike," Sidney said looking directly at me, "My dad told me before he died and some other things, good luck grandma." she said walking out the door first Mike slamming the door behind him.
I walked back into the kitchen and started stirring the pot again when it hit me these fuckers came together and were about to double cross me if they hadn't already. That made my blood boil like nothing before. "GRRRRAAHHH!!!!" I growled hurling the piping hot pot of stew across the kitchen.
"Sebastian you fucker!!!! I know you didn't!!! Yes, you did!!" just then I heard myself laughing out loud, "You think you've won, don't you?? You and Alton!! But you just started to know the game and how it's played!!"
"POLICE!!!" They announced running everywhere in my house except for where I was.
"I'm in the kitchen." I hollered out casually.
Three swat uniformed cops walked in pointing guns with red lasers attached to them in my direction.
"Mrs. Wallace if you have a weapon I suggest you put it down now!!" one of them yelled at me.
"There is no need to holler, it's just a mop see," I said sticking out four fingers still holding the broom handle with my thumb. "Now whatever you gentlemen want me to do I'm willing to comply but show me some respect and DO NOT YELL AT ME IN MY OWN FUCKING HOUSE!!"
"Mrs. Wallace put the broom down in front of you then turn around to face us with your hands in the air please." I heard Detective Brown say sounding like he was closer to me than everyone else.
I did exactly what he asked then smiled as I watched him take some handcuffs off one of the swat boy’s waist and walk towards me.
"Mother Wallace you know I hate to do this to you but you are under arrest for the death of your son Sebastian Wallace and for causing the death of his late wife Stacey Wallace also for perjury.
I laughed at the words that were coming out of his mouth but remained quiet as he handcuffed me and lead me outside to his unmarked car.
Chapter NINETEEN
DETECTIVE BROWN:
"Detective Paige... Yes we do, are the kids safe? That's good... What's that?? Does she know the combination? Hold on." she took her cell off her ear covered the bottom of it then hissed at me to grab my attention, "Give me a pen right quick." She whispered.
Unsnapping the pen off my shirt I handed it to her and mouthed ‘who is that’??
"Mike, he said the daughter said her grandmother has a safe in her room and that her mother and father weren't the only victims."
She uncovered the bottom of the phone and started talking again, "Okay... What is it? Unhuh... Unhuh..."
"Who are the other victims?" I whispered trying to squeeze my head in and listen before she pushed me away by the forehead.
"Aww hell naw!! Okay, I'll be in touch thank you... You're welcome, Uh huh, anything we can do." she said hanging up the phone looking directly at me.
"Alton Wallace..."
"The dad?"
"Yeap, in the freezer."
*************************
It took us almost a year to get her trialed
but eventually, we got there.
"Bernice Wallace, do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you, God?"
"Yes." she said taking a seat on the witness stand.
"How does Mrs. Wallace plead?"
"Not guilty your honor."
I knew this trial was going to be a mess ever since Paige went over my head and reopened the case. I was thinking to myself before Paige interrupted me.
"Can you believe her lying ass is actually taking the stand?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean yeah? With all the evidence we got on her, the surprise witness and everything?"
"She might win Paige I'm just saying, winning a case is not about innocence or guilt, it's about what you can prove. Her team is A-1 and 10 times better than Bryce and Elijah"
"Whatever, you just watch my boys work."
"Mrs. Wallace... Is that what you like to be called?" her lawyer asked her.
"Most people call me Mother Wallace or Mama Wallace."
"Why is that you think?"
"Because I'm a nurturing soul, regardless of how someone tries to portray me at the end the truth always comes out." She smiled then rocked.
"Which is what Mother Wallace?" her nicely dressed female attorney asked walking up to the stand placing her hand on top of Mrs. Wallace's hand.
"Go ahead Mother, which is what?"
"That I'm a good person." she cried out grabbing several tissues from a tissue box close by.
"OBJECTION!!" Elijah yelled out.
"On what grounds Mr. St. John?"
"On the grounds of nobody cries like that in real life and she is obviously lying and being coached by her attorney!! She's evil your honor!"
"Overruled sir have a seat, counselor continue."
I looked at Paige and whispered, "See they are going to lose sadly." I said turning my attention back to the case.
"Go ahead mother..." she continued.
"I tried to raise some good boys, keep them safe, but I guess I didn't do enough." she said dabbing her eyes.
"Mother Wallace there's no need to waste anyone's time here, we know what questions they want answered, are you okay to talk about it?"
"I’m fine."
"Did you kill your husband?"
"No, I did not."
"Do you know who did?"
"Yes, my eldest twin who's now deceased Sebastian."
"Speaking of YOUR eldest did you kill him?"
"No ma'am."
"Is the killer still free?"
"Yes ma'am, and that evil trollop is here today disguised as a Wallace. Her!!"She said pointing at Mary. "She killed my boy!! She beat him damn near to death he could barely speak when I went to see him!!"
"I know this is hard for you but I only have one more question, did you have any type of persuasion in Stacey, the late wife of your son Sebastian?"
"God no!!! I'm not like that!!"
"There you have it, you wanted honesty that's pure honesty right there," she said walking from the jury back to her seat. "Your witness."
"So you're the innocent party here but anytime anything happened you just so happened to ‘be there’?" Elijah asked making air quotes. "Well allow me to go back if you will, you said who killed your husband now??"
"Sebastian."
"That's your son correct?"
"Yes sir you are correct but what are you getting at Mr. St John?"
"You know what my mama use to say? Anytime you answer a question with a question you dirty."
"Objection your honor!! He is suggesting my client is guilty!"
The judge banged her gavel then looked at the court reporter, "Please read back Mr. St John's last statement.
She cleared her voice then began to read, "You know what my mama use to say? Anytime you answer a question with a question you dirty."
The judge just sighed, "Please remove the last statement from the record and jury please disregard it as well. Continue Mr. St John."
He adjusted his suit and proceeded to walk up to the bench where the Mrs. Wallace was sitting. "Can you recall that night? The night your son Sebastian murdered your husband?"
"A little yes."
"A little? The night that changed your family's whole future and you can't remember it??? BARELY!!! What?!? Are you legally blind and could not see either??"
"Your honor OBJECTION!!! He's badgering the witness!!"
"Mr. St John!!"
"Okay your honor, I'm sorry I retract my question and will approach it in a different manner, was it dark and did you have on glasses?"
"Yes and no I do not wear my glasses in bed unless I'm reading a book or something like that." she said sitting back folding her arms.
"Let's jump ahead, shall we? It says here that you drug your husband's dead down the stairs all the way to the garage where you put him in the freezer?"
"We...”
"We?"
"Yes, Sebastian and myself."
"So you condoned that type of behavior from your son's? Showing them killing is easier?? Tell the truth Mrs. Wallace!! You killed your husband because he found out you had an affair with the man you still sleep with to this day!! And instead of owning up to your grown folk's problem you have your 13-year-old son help you cover up for you? Didn't you Mrs. Wallace??"
"Your honor!!" Mrs. Wallace's lawyer yelled standing all the while Mrs. Wallace looked like she was about to snap, she started running her fingers through her salt and pepper hair rocking back and forward.
"ENOUGH!!!" Mrs. Wallace yelled out.
"For years even after Alton passed I've carried him with me, throwing his money in my face telling me what to wear how to wear it, what to eat how to eat it!! And... I... got... tired."
The best way I could describe how she said it was like how Oprah talked in the color purple deep and passionate, as a man of the law I should have kept my composure but I couldn't. I actually wished I had some popcorn because she was about to spill it and this was better than any movie I watched all year.
"EVERYTHING!!! EVERYTHING I did was for those boys to protect them! My boys and if I had to kill a manipulating, over controlling wife beating asshole I would do that!!"
"Are you telling us that you did, in fact, kill your husband Mrs. Wallace? Was your husband a manipulating, over controlling wife beating asshole??"
"I didn't say I killed him!"
Elijah looked back at Bryce walked swiftly to their table then slapped hands with Bryce.
"TAG TEAM. Damn, I wish I had some Ike and Mike's." Paige whispered.
"You know that word you just used Mrs. Wallace? I thought you might use it sometime in this case so I took the liberty of writing down the definition of it. If I may?" he asked standing up walking from behind the table up towards her taking an index card from his jacket pocket. "Pro-tec-tion," he said breaking the word down into syllables. "Protection is a noun, the meaning of that word is a person or thing that prevents someone or something from suffering harm or injury. Hmm, protection... You were protecting your boys from their ailing father who was dying from..." he said snapping, "Help me out Mr. St. John..."
"Cancer," Elijah said sitting back.
"Ahh yes, cancer. Protecting them, your boys, from a sickened weak dying from cancer man. So while you were protecting them from him who was protecting them from you?"
"Once again your honor objection!!! May we approach the bench?"
"No need to I'm done," Bryce said.
"YOU COWARD! YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME WITHOUT ALLOWING ME TO ANSWER?!?" Mrs. Wallace yelled out.
"You may leave the stand." the judge announces to Mrs. Wallace.
She ignored what the judge said and continued to speak.
"DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!! I WAS PROTECTING THEM!!!! I DID!!! JUST LIKE I DID FOR SEBASTIAN WITH THAT FIRST WIFE BUT HE WAS AS UNGRATEFUL AND UNAPPRECIATIVE JUST LIKE HIS GOT DAMN FATHER!!!"
Chapter TWENTY
MARY:
In my eyes, the case should have been don
e after that but instead, the attorneys were summoned to the judge's quarters and told they will go on with the case after a three-hour recess.
Mike was up to testify but he couldn't keep still, pacing back and forward mumbling to himself. After hearing everything his mother had said I think his world was spinning too fast, and now without his brother or the guidance of his "mother" he felt lost he sure as hell looked like it. Now was my time to talk to him, try and convince him to testify.
I swallowed hard stood from my seat adjusted my pencil skirt and begin to walk towards him, I was about 2 feet away from Mike when my cell phone started ringing. I stopped walking opened my medium sized handbag reached for my phone then answered it, "Hello? Hey, baby cakes..." I smiled turning from Mike's direction.
"Okay stay where you are, everything will be over sooner than what I thought previous unfortunately after this I will be on my way okay? Alright, baby cakes I'll see you soon, okay I love you bye."
I hung up my phone put it back in my purse then walked my way back up to where Mike was standing then lightly tapped him on the shoulder, I know he hated me but we needed to talk. He turned around then looked at me like he was disgusted.
"Are you okay?" I asked touching his left shoulder.
"What the fuck do you wanna know for?? Had yo ass not been lurking and snooping around my brother’s house none of this shit would have happened. I would still have my family if it wasn't for this shit is yo fault bitch!
I have to admit I was kind of shocked but him blaming me for what happened through me off, all I wanted to do was to help.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me!! Everything that happened was because of you," he whispered.
"Were you not in there?? Did you not hear what YOUR mom said?? She killed your dad and your brother!! You need to open your eyes and realize what is in front of your face. What are you thinking about not testifying?? Mike???" I asked as he turned his back towards me.
"Mike??" I asked again grabbing his arm softly.
"Let go of me!" he yelled snatching his arm.
I grabbed his arm again pulled him close then whispered in his ear, "You may be right in some aspect but you have heard her loud and clear just like I did, she fucked y'all up and if you don't testify if you don't speak up and back down those children are going to be next. Break the got damn cycle, only you can stop her before she can do that to anyone else!! It stops now Mike!!"