LETHAL OBSESSION (21 page)

      "I
think you need to butt out of my family business."

      "And
I think you need to quit emotionally abusing your wife. Better go wash that
paint off your shirt before it dries."

      Florid
face suffused with anger, Gene took a menacing step toward Ellen then stopped.
Every construction worker on that floor was staring at him.

      Ellen
had already turned her back to start painting but she could feel his rage as he
continued to stand behind her. A dark, nasty side of Gene was beginning to
emerge.  Something deep inside warned her to be vigilant.  There was a reason
why Rick stayed away from this man, and why he was so concerned about his
sister.

      The
Greenland County Court House, located in the center of town was a tall brick
structure built during the early 1900’s.  It smelled of fresh floor wax and dark,
aged oak. The massive courtrooms still contained much of the original wood. 
They were enormous and impressive.

      When
Ellen and Heather opened the door and peered in, both felt a little
intimidated.  There were low rumblings of conversation as voices echoed among
the high ceilings. People turned to stare at the newcomers and talking ceased.
The women walked to the front and took their places on the right hand side of
the giant courtroom reserved for the plaintiff.

      Four
weeks had passed since the horror on that highway. Heather’s bruises were
fading but still visible. She walked with a slight limp and had to use a
cane.   

      Ellen
noticed that Raymond sat on the opposite side with four of his poolroom
buddies.  They had managed to make his bail several days ago but he couldn't
get to Heather.  There was a restraining order against him approaching Heather
or the children to within five hundred yards. Of course that didn't stop him
but a face full of wasp spray did. Heather's sister  had no problem dousing him
good. 

      His
cruel mouth formed a sneer as his beady eyes followed his wife and Ellen to
their seats.  The man started to get up but his friends pulled him back. Shaking
off their arms, Raymond rose to his full height and made his way to stand in
front of the two women. Raymond Bodine was not a very smart man. Eyes full of
venom, he pointed his finger in their faces.

      “Didn’t
expect ya to show up for this, Heather baby. Didn’t think you had the guts. You
ain’t never pressed charges before but I know why you done it this time." Raymond
shot a hateful look at Ellen. "Yeah, you had some influence this time. Do
you realize what a bloody laughing stock you’re making of me? But, that’s
okay.  We’ll talk about it after I get out of here and you come back home where
you belong.”                           

      Heather
started to answer him but fell silent when Ellen placed a hand on her arm.
Raymond was staring daggers at the women. His acrid breath was sickening and
she knew he had already fortified himself with cheap liquor. Ellen refused to
be intimidated and stared back at him.
 

      Raymond
pointed an accusing finger in her direction. “And you.” Raymond stuck his
finger in Ellen’s face only inches from her nose. “You busybody interfering little
bitch, you ain’t seen the last of me, Lady.  You better watch your back because
when I get through with you...”

      “Get
your filthy finger out of my face.”  Ellen’s voice sounded low and angry.
Instead he moved his finger closer until he barely grazed her cheek.  She
didn’t flinch or move but continued to hold his stare. 

      “Brave
little piece of trash, ain’t ya. Bet you is good at other things too.” His low
dirty snicker was heard only by the women.                                                   

      Ellen
noticed Gene enter through a side door and knew he witnessed the whole show. She
saw his rage and his quickening steps. The sheriff came up behind Raymond and
discreetly grabbed a hunk of flesh under his arm squeezing hard on a sensitive
pressure point. The whiskered man grimaced in agony, almost going to his knees
but said nothing.

      Gene
leaned close to Raymond's ear, his voice low and full of fury. “Hear me well,
Raymond Bodine. Don’t even let it enter your mind concerning these women or
you’ll be singing soprano for the rest of your life, Boy. And I’ll personally
see to it that the fellas in jail choose you for their special girlfriend.  You
might even like it.”  When Gene's grip loosened, Raymond fell slightly against
the bench where Heather and Ellen were seated.  With eyes full of caution, he
ventured a look toward Gene but remained mute.

"Get
your sorry ass back where you belong, Raymond," Gene hissed.
"Now!"

      “Hear
ye, hear ye; all rise for Judge Wilson. Court is now in session.”

      The
elderly judge looked directly at Raymond. "How does the defendant plead?"

      "Not
guilty, Your Honor," said the defense attorney.

      He
then looked at Patrick Duncan, the DA.  "Call your first witness,
Counselor."

      Heather
limped to the stand using her cane and was sworn in.  She appeared nervous and
pale. Ellen was concerned that she could still back down, even at this point. Ellen
had made several visits to the hospital and at the house with Heather and her
sister. Her injuries were quite painful and her strength had yet to return. Mentally
she willed Heather to remain strong and do what had to be done.                           The
District Attorney began his questioning and Ellen held her breath. "State
your full name for the court please."

      "Mrs.
Heather Bodine."

      "Mrs.
Bodine, can you tell us what happened on the morning of December the fifteenth?”

      Heather
glanced over and stared at her husband of six years. Ellen noticed his cruel,
icy eyes seemed to pierce his wife, as if he was daring her. The nervous young
woman then looked over to Ellen.  Heather chewed on her lower lip as if in
indecision. 

      The
DA waited.  When Heather remained silent, he said, “Mrs. Bodine?  Do I need to
repeat the question?”

      "No
Sir." Hesitantly, Heather began.  “I...I bought a new dress.  Kinsey’s boutique
was having a sale and...”

      The
DA rubbed his eyes and took some deep breaths.  Ellen hoped he was a patient
man and could guide her to say the right things.  Heather looked ready to break
down any minute. Her hands were trembling so bad Ellen wanted to run up and hug
her.

      She
wiped her eyes and sniffled.  Ellen’s heart went out to her, but she prayed
that Heather wouldn’t buckle at this point.  It was going to be now or never.

      “Mrs.
Bodine," he smiled.  "I'm glad you have the dress.  Now, let’s talk
about your husband, shall we?  I would like to know if anything happened
between the two of you on the day that I mentioned.”    

      “Oh...that.
Well...Raymond...he...he was mad at me. He said I took his money and was
running away with the children.  But it wasn’t his money. I had saved that
money from babysitting and I had a right to it.”

      “Okay.” 
The attorney’s voice softened. “You say your husband was angry.  You got some
pretty serious injuries that day.  An ambulance had to take you to the
hospital.  How did you get hurt, Mrs. Bodine?”

      “Well...”
Heather glanced at her husband in fear. “I’m afraid I might get hurt worse if I
say it.  Raymond is really a good man.  He doesn’t mean to do...the things he
does.”  Her voice was cracking and there were tears in her eyes.

      The
DA shook his head and smiled with sympathy at the young woman. “It’s okay, Mrs.
Bodine. We are not going to let anybody hurt you. Could you please tell me how
you got the injuries that sent you to the hospital?"

      Heather
seemed to be struggling for control as she took a deep breath.  In a shaky,
tearful voice she said. "Raymond swerved in front of my car on the highway
that day so I had to stop. He said I needed to be punished... so, he hit and
kicked me a few times, and he pulled my hair."  She bowed her head. "But
Sir, I deserved that punishment.  I was running away from him. I was leaving
and I was taking his children too."

      The
DA came forward placing his large hand over her smaller one. "Thank you Mrs.
Bodine for your testimony."  He looked toward his opposition.
"Counselor, your witness."

      The
public defense attorney stood in front of Heather.  "Mrs. Bodine, do you
love your husband?"

      "Yes."

      "Does
he love you?"

      "He
says he does."

      "So
why would your husband want to injure you?"

      "I
was being punished for running away."

      "Did
your husband administer this punishment?"

      "Yes
Sir."

      "Are
you sure you didn't get scared and just take a bad fall?"

      "Objection,
your Honor.  Leading the witness."

      "Abstained.
Watch it, Counselor." 

      "Did
your husband strike you, causing your injuries?"

      "Yes
Sir."

      "That
will be all. You may step down."

      As
she struggled with her cane, Ellen came forward to help her.                                                                

      “Your
Honor," the DA said. "I would like to call Mrs. Ellen Anderson to the
stand.  She and Dr. Carrington were the only eye witnesses to the incident.”

      Heather
was crying openly against Ellen's shoulder.  Ellen gave her a quick reassuring
hug. “It’s all right, Heather, she whispered.  "You did good up there. You
didn't deserve to be punished.  Believe me, okay?  You're not the one who is
going to be punished here."

      Ellen
wore a determined look as she was sworn in. With effort she attempted to keep
her demeanor as calm and objective as possible.  Her eyes went to Raymond
Bodine and her mouth set in a grim, furious line.  Never in her life had she
felt such wrath for another human being.  No, this man was not a human being,
but a filthy, sadistic animal.  He stared back at her, unflinching and
dangerous.  She could see it in his eyes. It seemed he itched to get his hands
on her, to make her suffer, to kill her. She could feel his hate and she could
feel the danger in which she was placing herself if this man were to walk. 

      “Would
you state your name for the court please."

      "Ellen
Anderson.”

      "Mrs.
Anderson," the District Attorney commanded her attention.  “Am I to assume
that you and Dr. Carrington are the key witnesses and only witnesses to the
physical injuries Mrs. Bodine suffered?”

      “Yes
we were.”

      "Is
Dr. Carrington present?"

      "I'm
right here." Rick raised his hand after just walking in.

      The
attorney's attention went back to Ellen.

      “Did
you actually see these injuries being inflicted by the defendant?”

      “I
did.”

      In
an orderly fashion, Ellen stated to the court exactly the horrible events she
had witnessed that day on the side of the highway.  Her sworn statements included
the children being left unattended on a dangerous roadway, as well as Heather
being dragged across the asphalt by her hair and kicked in her side. Ellen
painted a lethal ugly picture of Raymond Bodine. 

      "Were
you and Dr. Carrington threatened by the defendant?"

      "Yes,
he pulled a hunting knife and approached us."

      "Thank
you Mrs. Anderson."

      "W      ould
the defense attorney like to cross examine?"

      "No
thank you, your Honor."

      "You
may step down, Mrs. Anderson."

      When
it was time for the judge to make a decision, everyone was silent.  Gene stood
by the side entrance.  Ellen saw the judge make brief eye contact with the
sheriff.  With a slight nod of Gene's head, Ellen knew he and the judge were in
this together. Whatever they had agreed to would be the judgment.

      Was
this whole town in Gene Stone's back pocket?  The idea that one man could wield
this much power made her shudder. A man who nearly killed his wife could walk
free at the whim of a county sheriff? Was this crooked politics at work or
what?  

      This
was an open and shut case of attempted murder, Ellen thought.  If Raymond
Bodine is set free...

The
gavel came down with a bam making her jump. 

      "Raymond
Bodine, please stand. You have been witnessed doing grave bodily harm to your
wife causing potentially life threatening injuries as well as endangering your
children. You are sentenced to serve one year in the county jail followed by
three years probation.  During those three years you will not approach within
five hundred yards of Heather Bodine or your children. If this judgment is
violated you will return to jail for an indeterminate amount of time.

      One
year?  Ellen couldn't believe it. As they led Raymond away in handcuffs,
Heather cried. She started to go to him, but Ellen stopped her. 

      “Heather,
no, don't even think about it.  You’re still wearing a catheter because of
him.  You have constant pain.  You’re lucky to be alive.  He could have killed
you and maybe the children.”  They were strong words but Heather needed to hear
them.

      Heather
put her head on Ellen’s shoulder. “You’re right. It’s just so hard to be alone
right now.”

“Yes,
I know that feeling very well.” She patted her new friend on the back. “Come
on. We have a project to work on, and you have a job waiting for you."

      "I
know and it's like a dream come true. Are you my guardian angel?"

      Ellen
chuckled.  "I doubt it, but I believe everything in life happens for a
reason.  You and I met for a reason. Let’s grab some lunch then go see how the
shelter is coming along.  It’s going to be salvation for a lot of women and
children just like yourself.”