The Black Widow (26 page)

Cheryl had played her part so perfectly; choosing to sacrifice Harold to save herself. That her husband had hired a P.I to follow her around made things easier. If he had to admit it, he'd hoped to get Cheryl done for the murder of her first husband, but getting her sent down for the attempted murder of her second was just as great.

The foreman began to read the verdict.

He held his breath.

***

Cheryl wailed and began to fall as the word guilty echoed around her. The solicitor grabbed her to stop her from falling. Talking and clapping and whoops of joy rang out from behind her.

Oh God. Please someone help me.

"I didn't do it," she wailed as she was led away. "I didn't do it."

She was taken away.

I'm going to jail. Oh God, I'm going to jail.

What did I do to deserve this.

"We'll appeal," her solicitor had whispered in her ear. "Stay strong."

He'll get me out of here,
Cheryl told herself.
He will. He won't rest till he gets me out.

But what if he can't.

Cheryl sagged again and the two officers holding her arms all but dragged her to the vehicle that would escort her to jail.

***

Mike stood in the middle of the chaos and began to make his way towards the door. He'd seen what he needed to see. He didn't believe Cheryl was guilty of what she'd been sentenced for today, but she was guilty of a crime committed years earlier.

He had fulfilled the promise he made to Dave Turner as he'd stood in the burnt bedroom nearly 9 years earlier.

He was almost to the door when he caught sight of a man watching him. His breath caught in his chest and he gaped. The man nodded, winked, then left.

Was that...? That was...

Mike pushed his way through the crowd of excited people and followed the man, nearly losing him.

Catching sight of him again, Mike followed and left the courthouse just after the man, who headed to a parked black car. Mike stopped and watched the man open the door to his vehicle.

It made sense. It all made sense.

The man was a living image of his late father, so much so that it was like seeing a ghost.

Just then, Dave Turner's son stopped and turned around. Seeing Mike, he winked again and made a 'ssshhh' motion with his fingers.

Mike nodded and watched him drive away.

I can't do anything about it now anyway,
Mike thought as he headed to his own vehicle. Since I'm not an officer anymore.

For the past year, Mike had been running his father's garage, fixing broken cars instead of broken lives.

He climbed into his car and smiled. He began to whistle as he drove home to Mandy who was preparing a large meal tonight since they were having company.

His old partner, and now good friend Lee, was coming for dinner with the lovely Sallie whom he'd started to date in spite of investigating on of her former staff members.

Picturing Mandy bent over the cooker in her tight jeans, he grinned lecherously. He wondered if Alfie was still with her, and he drove faster.

The End.