Woman Undone (9-10/12) / Brenda/Sharon
by Coco (i_heart_cuddy)
Rated R/M
Warnings include:
Disclaimers: I do not own Woman Undone or The Closer and I am making no money at all off of my creative pursuits.
Spoilers: None really but see part one for full spoiler warning.
Author’s Note: Any Georgians reading this, please forgive me, I am going to be changing some geography to actually make this work the way I want/need it to. I’m sorry and I will attempt to keep it to a minimum.
Summary: Things heat up for Sharon Raydor when the evidence implicates her in her husband’s murder. Gavin Q. Baker and Brenda Leigh Johnson work tirelessly to prove her innocence - barring that keep her out of jail.
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8
Gavin and Sharon were not happy with each other when they pulled into the parking lot on the third day. They stood alone in the conference room when Brenda let herself in.
“Good.” Gavin said with some relief. “I’m glad you’re here. Would you talk to your girlfriend? Make her listen to reason.”
Brenda blushed a little. She grinned sheepishly when Sharon didn’t bother to correct him for whatever reason. “What seems to be the trouble, ladies?”
“She won’t testify.” Gavin snapped, turning to look accusingly at Sharon who looked at him with disinterest.
“Why don’t you want to testify?”
“I have every right not to testify. I’m a terrible witness. I’m not sorry my husband is dead and I can’t fake it for the jury.”
Brenda heaved a heavy sigh. “I say listen to the woman.”
“You guys are insufferable.” Gavin threw his hands up. “I don’t think you understand how you’re presenting to the jury.”
“I don’t think you understand what a shit witness I’d be.”
“And what would you really be putting her on the stand to say?” Brenda reasoned.
“How about: ‘I didn’t kill my husband and let me tell you the story of what really happened.’”
Sharon folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “You put me on that stand and I will plead the fifth until I am blue in the face.”
“Alright, whatever. It’s your life.”
**
Sharon huffed as she pulled herself up a steep incline using a root from a tree. She swiped the back of her hand across her brow, wiping away dirt and swear. How long had she been walking? She looked up to the sky, the sun was in the middle of setting - but what did that mean?
She reached the top of the incline and sank down onto a fallen tree. She had to come up with a plan. She could plunge on into the forest - but she didn’t know how deep the woods were, where they would come out or which direction to head. She could double back and go back to the road - but she’d be exposed and she didn’t remember where the last town they’d passed was.
Sharon didn’t bother to think about the pain in her ankle; she had plenty to worry about without expending her energy on things she couldn’t change.
One thing was for certain: one way or another, this was not going to be the end of Sharon Raydor.
She paused for another few moments before deciding to take her chances in the forest. Even if she encountered Terry in the woods, without the advantage of the car, she could out maneuver - or outwit him.
The woods it was, big bad wolf be damned.
**
“Thank you, Dr. Evans. Can you please tell the court where and when you first met Captain Raydor?”
“Yes, I met Captain Raydor the night that she was admitted to the hospital. After the nurse completed the physical examination I went in to speak with her.”
“Do you recall what the two of you talked about?” Gavin asked.
The doctor leaned back in the chair a little. “I just asked her for her name and where she was from and how she was.”
“And she said?”
“Nothing. She just stared at me and blinked but she never said anything.”
“In your professional opinion, what would account for that odd behavior?”
“Well, it’s quite common for people who’ve been in accidents to suffer from shock. In my opinion, Captain Raydor’s brain was refusing to deal with the trauma she’d just been through and the loss of her husband. Even now,” the doctor motioned to Sharon, “she’s visibly withdrawn. That’s consistent with post-traumatic stress which often comes after shock.”
“What are some other symptoms of shock?”
“Dizziness, fainting, nausea, low blood pressure.”
Gavin moved to the table and picked up the copy of the police report. “According to the police report, the first thing Captain Raydor did after she was discovered was faint and the sheriff notes that during his initial interview with her in the hospital she complained of nausea. Would you say that this signed statement by the sheriff supports your diagnosis?”
“Definitely.”
“Thank you, doctor. No further questions.” Gavin took his seat at the defense table and gave Sharon’s hand a little squeeze.
The prosecuting attorney stood to cross the doctor. Sharon drowned out the words as she stared in the direction of the witness stand, her mind a million miles away.
The door to the court room opened and closed, catching Sharon’s attention. Her eyes moved to the back of the room where she saw the boy sink onto the bench. He looked around inquisitively and his eyes landed on Sharon and relief colored his features.
Sharon smiled at him, feeling overwhelmed. She turned back to Gavin and whispered his ear, “call a recess.”
“What? Why?”
“My son is here.”
Gavin turned abruptly in his seat. Dylan had ducked behind other spectators, the room was packed and it was easy for him to sink into the shadows.
“Counsel?” Judge Cox cleared his throat.
Gavin turned back. “Sorry, your honor.”
“Mr. Daniels, your witness.”
“Thank you, your honor.” Daniels cleared his throat and shot Gavin a sidelong look before turning back to the sheriff.
“Did you hear me?” Sharon hissed discreetly in Gavin’s ear.
Gavin fumed and scrawled It’s almost noon, we’ll ask for lunch. Just shut up.
Sharon fumed and was considering asking for the recess herself when the prosecuting attorney took his seat and the judge banged his gavel. “Thirty minutes for lunch.”
Sharon jumped up from her seat and the bailiff stepped toward her suspiciously. Gavin took Sharon by the shoulders and held her in place. Gavin turned and crooked a finger to Brenda. Brenda came forward, “Sharon said her son’s here, in the back. Bring him to the conference room?”
“He has longish dark hair, he keeps it in his face -” Sharon said.
Brenda held her hand up, “I saw his picture,” she smiled, “I’m sure I can pick him out.”
Sharon smiled gratefully at Brenda. For a moment Gavin felt a ridiculous pang of jealousy that that gratitude didn’t often seem to extend to him. He accepted that she was under a lot of stress and, of course, it didn’t hurt that she was painfully attracted to the deputy chief.
Gavin closed the conference room door behind Sharon and turned a stern look on her. “Would you cool it?” Gavin growled, “when you’re in that court room do not speak unless you’re spoken to, do not jump up--”
“I’m not a child.” Sharon snapped.
“Then quit acting like one.” Gavin and Sharon stood trying to stare each other down.
There was a knock on the door and the two broke eye contact. The door opened and Brenda came in followed by Dylan. Dylan was decked out in a pair of acid wash skinny jeans and a hoodie bearing the logo of some punk band or another. Gavin took note that even though he had a nose ring and his hair obscured half his face the resemblance to Sharon was remarkable.
Sharon held her arms out and Dylan rushed to her, folding into her arms. She leaned her cheek against his head, holding him tightly and tenderly stroking his hair. “I’m so glad to see you…” she breathed. “I love you so much.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, a few tears rolling down his cheeks. “I love you too.” He hugged her tighter, afraid to let her go.
She turned her head and whispered into his ear. Dylan listened intently and nodded. She pressed a kiss to his temple, keeping him in a protective embrace.
Gavin felt his previous annoyance with Sharon melt away upon seeing the emotional display in front of him. Any and all preconceived ideas about who she was as a person faded away and he realized this was who she was. This naked emotion and vulnerability told him everything he needed to know. She was fiercely protective, calm in the face of adversity and she loved with her whole heart.
Gavin looked up at Brenda who was watching mother and son with a smile. He suddenly felt all the more determined to keep Sharon out of jail.
Sharon took Dylan’s face in her hands, “Dylan, I want you to go back to Florida. I want you to go back--”
“Mom, no.”
“Dylan, please, listen to me. You shouldn’t be here, you have school.”
“And what? A few days of classes are more important than being here for you? Fuck that. After what you’ve done for me I need to be here.”
“You’re a sweet kid,” she stroked his hair soothingly again, “I appreciate the sentiment but I’d feel better if you were back with your brother and sister. They’re so young and I’m sure they don’t understand what’s going on.”
“I just want everything to be okay again.” Dylan admitted, biting back a sob.
Sharon lowered his head to her shoulder and held him close. “So do I, baby. I am going to do whatever it takes to make things right. Okay?”
He nodded, burying his face in his mother’s neck.
Gavin found this behavior curious. As much as he had adored his own mother he couldn’t imagine himself trying to climb into her arms like Dylan appeared to be doing. Sharon was certainly in deep shit but wouldn’t a seventeen year old boy try to be strong for his mother? Wouldn’t it be typical for a boy his age to step up and be ‘the man of the house’ and comfort her?
Sharon kissed his forehead a couple of times before he lifted his head.
“I want you to go with Chief Johnson, she’s going to take you to the bus station.” Sharon insisted, despite the look of protest on the boy’s face. “She’s a good friend of mine and she’s going to make sure you get there safely so I don’t have to worry about you.”
“Mom--”
“Dylan, please. Do this for me.” Sharon said pointedly, smoothing his black hair down. “Please, sweetheart.”
He reached up and took her hand, giving it a squeeze, “okay, mom.”
Sharon smiled. She looked over at Brenda, “Brenda? Do you mind seeing him to the bus station?”
“Not at all.”
With a final sidelong look at his mother, Dylan followed Brenda out and she closed the door behind them. Sharon sank down into a chair.
Gavin put a hand on Sharon’s back. She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands, feeling overwhelmed and over taxed. Gavin didn’t really know what to say so he just stuck with “what do you want for lunch?”
“I’m not hungry.” She murmured.
“Come on, Shar, you have to eat.”
“I said I’m not fucking hungry!” She snapped, pushing his hand away, “don’t touch me!”
He held his hands up defensively, stepping away from her.
“And can you leave me the fuck alone for five fucking minutes? I never have any fucking time to myself.” Sharon growled.
“Alright, your majesty.” Gavin rolled his eyes as he stepped out of the room.
The bailiff regarded him suspiciously. “I’m just going to get a cup of coffee.” Gavin said, “she’s cooling her heels in there. She’s not going anywhere.”
On his way out of the court house, toward the food carts on the sidewalk, ADA Daniels fell into stride with him. “Didn’t figure you were a sucker for lost causes, Baker.”
Gavin gave Daniels a weary look. “She’s innocent.”
“You really believe that, don’t you?” Daniels laughed. “If I ever shoot someone in the head without remorse I want you to be my lawyer. Actually, no, no I don’t - because you’re going to lose this case.”
Gavin ignored him and went to stand in line for coffee.
“Hey, come on,” Daniels insisted, “don’t be like that. When I first joined the DA’s office we used to go out of for coffee all the time, you helped me with my cases. You left so suddenly.”
“Personal problems.”
“We’ve all been there.” Daniels nodded, “I just don’t know why you’d switch to defense. Why this case? Why this woman?”
“I just… I believe in her.” Gavin admitted, “she’s… I don’t know, she’s really something.”
**
The bailiff held open the door for Gavin. Gavin smiled, “thank you.” Sharon looked up from the table and Gavin walked over and set down one of the cups of coffee in front of her.
She sighed and picked it up. “Thanks.” She sipped it. “Sorry I yelled at you…”
“I know. I’m starting to get a pretty good idea about you.” He sipped his own coffee, grinning triumphantly at her. “And your bark is much worse than your bite.”
Sharon shrugged, looking down into her coffee, “you’d be foolish to test that theory.”
“That’s what every good friendship needs: the looming threat of physical violence.” He laughed.
“We’re friends?” Sharon looked up suddenly.
“Aren’t we?”
She smiled a little, “do you think they serve coffee in prison?”
Gavin leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. “Oh, I would think so.”
She sipped her coffee thoughtfully. “Thanks… for being my friend…”
He smiled, “like it was a choice.”
“Court is now in session, Mr. Baker, call your next witness.”
“Thank you, your honor,” Gavin stood up, smoothing down the front of his suit jacket. “I call Captain Sharon Raydor to the stand.”
“No!” Sharon hissed. “I told you I wasn’t taking the stand.”
“Get up there and make it right for your son like you promised.” Gavin ground out in a harsh whisper.
“You have no idea what would make things right; how dare you do this after I explicitly told you no.”
“Captain, you’ve been called to the stand. I’ll get the bailiff to escort you, if necessary.”
Sharon stood up from her seat, cast Gavin a glare and went to stand by the the witness chair. The bailiff approached and presented her with the Bible. “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth or help me God?”
“I invoke my fifth amendment right not to implicate myself.”
“Captain, you have to take the oath and then you can plead the fifth.”
“What’s the point? I’m not going to say anything.”
“Put your hand on the Bible or I’m going to hold you in contempt of court.” Judge Cox warned.
“Yes, sir.” Sharon laid her hand on the Bible.
“Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth or help me God?” The bailiff repeated.
Sharon shook her head, “I don’t. May I sit down now?”
Cox banged his gavel. “Yes, you can, and for your troubles you’ll be spending the night in lock-up.”
“Thank you.” Sharon nodded and rejoined Gavin at the defense table.
“What was that?” Gavin shook his head in disbelief.
“I told you I wasn’t going to testify.”
“Mr. Baker, call your next witness.”
“I have no further witnesses, your honor.” Gavin sighed.
“In that case, court is adjourned for the day. We will resume tomorrow at eight for closing statements.” Judge Cox banged his gavel. “Bailiff, please escort the Captain to the holding cell.”
“Bailiff, may I have a moment with my client before you take her?”
He nodded, “that’s fine.”
Gavin leaned in and whispered in Sharon’s ear. “That was a bad move. That was a very bad move.”
Sharon smirked at him. “If Chief Johnson comes to the house looking for me tell her I’m looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.”
“It’ll probably be the last time you see her without being separated by four-inch plexi.” Gavin put his hands on his hips.
“I told you I wasn’t going to testify. Repeatedly.” Sharon reminded in a low warning tone.
“You told your son you were going to make things right,” Gavin snapped, “how is this you making things right? Seems to me like you’re letting him down.”
Sharon gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes at Gavin angrily. She turned on her heel and walked up to the bailiff, “please take me to the holding cell. I have nothing more to say to that man.”
**
Sharon grabbed hold of a branch as she pulled herself forward. She was losing the light and it was starting to get cold; she was starting to get nervous.
She stepped forward slowly, her senses heightened. She listened to the still of the night, there was no breeze, no sounds at all. Even the sound of her own breathing was shallow and almost completely inaudible.
She heard the snap of a twig behind her just a millisecond too late and she caught a felled branch in the hip. She cried out and fell to the ground. She scrambled to get up but Terry held her down, he straddled her hips and grabbed a fistful of her hair.
Sharon thrashed and struggled against him.
“You fucking bitch!” He hissed, he pulled her head back painfully and she coughed. He pushed the barrel of the gun up against her temple. “You’re never going to see your children again. Never again.”
“Good fucking job, idiot, the safety’s on.” Sharon growled. “If you’re gonna do something at least do it right for once.”
He glared at her for a moment, pressing the gun harder against her. Finally, he pulled the gun back to check the safety. Sharon twisted and swung her elbow back, hitting his hand and the gun went flying. When he moved to retrieve it she wriggled out from under him.
Before he could grab the gun she dragged him away by the fabric of his shirt. She pulled him up and then brought her knee up and caught him in the chest. He wheezed and fought against her and she kneed him again, this time in the chin.
“Bitch!” He yelled, his mouth filling with blood. He jerked forward, ramming her back against a tree.
Sharon still had his shirt balled in her fists but she let out a breathy gasp. He spat at her, blood spattering over her face, causing her to flinch. He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her to the ground. She kept an iron grip on him and they rolled a few times until she ended up on top and she struck him in the nose.
He yowled in pain. She pulled back and hit him again. “If there is one way to strengthen a woman’s resolve,” she panted, hitting him unrelentingly, despite his attempts to block her blows. “It’s telling her she’ll never see her children again.”
Suddenly his body went limp and she panted, sitting back on her haunches. Her heart started to pound and her hands shook, she stood slowly, staring down at his unmoving form and his bloodied face.
That had been the product of pure blind rage and now that it was over her stomach sank. She stared at him for a few long moments before she grabbed the gun and took off at a run.
She had to get back to the car; she had to get back to civilization; something needed to be done.
**
Brenda walked up to the desk, “I need to see Captain Raydor.”
The heavyset man behind the desk shook his head, “visiting hours are over.”
Brenda pulled out her badge. “How about if I said please?” She tapped the metal on the table, drawing his attention.
He sighed and nodded, “fine.” He pushed himself up out of his chair with audible discomfort and shuffled down the hallway, jingling his set of keys. He opened the door to area with the holding cells, “ten minutes. Holler if you need anythin’.”
He shut the door behind him and Brenda stood there for a moment gazing down the row of three cells.
“I have nothing to say to you, Gavin.” Sharon said dejectedly from the last cell.
“It’s… Brenda.” She faltered, waiting for an invitation.
“Oh, sorry.” There was a shuffle as Sharon pushed herself up from the stiff cot and her heels echoed as she walked up to the bars. “Are you going to come down here?”
Brenda wasted no time closing the distance between them. Her heart wrenched seeing Sharon behind the bars. Suddenly she couldn’t bear to look Sharon in the eye. She reached out blindly and laid her hand over the cross bar.
Sharon gently put her hand over Brenda’s and Brenda’s eyes fluttered shut.
“Did Dylan get on the train alright?”
Brenda flushed red, feeling guilty that she’d forgotten the whole reason she’d come. “I watched him get on the train and didn’t take my eyes off it till it pulled away.” Brenda nodded. “He seems like a great kid.”
Sharon smiled, “he is.”
“He’s worried about you.” Brenda looked up to meet Sharon’s gaze. Brenda lost her breath for a moment staring into Sharon’s intense, piercing emerald eyes. “He, um… he said he just wants things to work out. He said to tell you… that nothing else matters other than you getting to go home.”
Sharon sighed heavily. “He’s a great kid…”
Brenda turned her hand over and gave Sharon’s hand a squeeze. “Look…” Brenda breathed, leaning in even closer. “Whatever happens tomorrow…”
“Shh.” Sharon interrupted her. “I know.”
Brenda stepped closer until she was almost flush with the bars and reached in and touched Sharon’s face. Sharon closed her eyes and Brenda let out a shaking breath. Sharon closed what little space remained between them and kissed her softly.
The door opened. “Are you alright in-”
Brenda jumped back, her face flushing bright red. The guard chuckled to himself as he turned to leave again. “Dear Penthouse…”
They were silent for a few long moments before Brenda looked up again. “I’m not sorry I kissed you.” Brenda whispered.
“I kissed you actually, but who’s keeping score?”
Brenda smiled. “Cool under fire.”
“I try to be.”
“Let me just say this…” Brenda paused to collect her thoughts, “I don’t know why you don’t want to get on the stand and I don’t know why you did what you did today… but I believe that you have your kids’ best interests at heart.”
“I do.”
“That’s what’s important. Just follow your heart.”
Sharon smiled but didn’t answer. Brenda walked to the end of the hallway and knocked on the door. Keys rattled and it opened for her.
“You sure you’re done? I could give you gals a little privacy… for a fee.” The guard leered.
Brenda scowled. “No need. She’ll beat the charges.”
The burly man scoffed, “I wouldn’t put money on that if I were you, sweetie.”
“That’s Deputy Chief Sweetie, to you.”
“My apologies, ma’am.” He tipped his hat. “I just thought we were being informal considerin’ you were just in their neckin’ with my prisoner. But hey, I’m a simple man.”
Brenda put her hands up. “You said it.”
**
The bailiff led Sharon into the room, the cuffs clinking as she walked. Gavin approached them, “can you please take these off her before the jury comes in?” He snapped.
Sharon held up her hands for him and the bailiff unlocked them before rolling his eyes and moved to stand by his post. Sharon rubbed her wrists a little.
“Did you sleep okay?” Gavin asked. Sharon shrugged. Gavin sighed, “I hate it when we fight.”
Sharon nodded, “I’m sorry.” She pushed her hands into her pockets. She bit her lip for a moment before saying, “if it’s not too late… You can put me on the stand.”
Gavin nodded, “I can ask the judge. You’re sure?”
“Yeah.”
As soon as court was announced ‘in session,’ Gavin stood, “your Honor, may we approach the bench?”
Judge Cox waved them forward. “What is it, Mr. Baker?”
“My client wishes to testify.”
Cox scoffed, “after that whole scene yesterday?”
“Yes, your Honor. She’s had time to reflect and she knows she overreacted yesterday. She’s still suffering from a bit of Post-Traumatic-”
“Mr. Baker!” Cox held up his hand to stop him, “save it for closing statements. Mr. Daniels, do you have any objection to Captain Raydor taking the stand before closing statements?”
Daniels held up his hands with a smirk, “I have no problem with Baker putting her on the stand.”
“Alright then.” He banged his gavel, “Mr. Baker, call your witness.”
“I call Captain Sharon Raydor to the stand.”
Sharon stood, she glanced into the gallery as she passed and locked eyes with Brenda. She gave her a small smile before taking the stand.
“Captain, can you describe the series of events that led up to the death of your husband?”
**
The adrenaline was wearing off as she trudged back through the woods; without Terry to worry about she was breathing a little easier. Her muscles were sore and her ankle throbbed but she tried to focus on getting back to the car before the temperature dropped too low.
Finally she pushed past the last tree and stumbled onto the road. As she peered down the road in one direction after the other without seeing the car she looked up to the setting sun. She figured she’d continue heading east, the direction they’d been driving, and either find the car or hit a town.
She tucked the gun into the belt of her dress and set off down the road, the hot pavement sticking to her feet with each step.
The sun went down behind her as she walked as it got colder and colder. It was times like this that she missed L.A., there were no sprawling stretches of desolate landscape where she grew up. How she hadn’t hit a town or even passed by a sign that held a clue to exactly where she was was beyond her.
Suddenly her shadow started to appear in front of her and she recognized the sound behind her as an approaching car. Relief flooded over her, her reprieve had arrived. She turned and shielded her eyes to catch the a glimpse of the driver and her heart sank.
Terry had gotten up and retrieved the car.
For the first time in this whole mess she felt completely fucked. She could wrestle a gun away from, she couldn’t wrestle a car away from him.
Her adrenaline spiked and she darted down the road. The car continued to gain on her and she realized with despair that she would once again have to take refuge in the woods.
Steeling herself, pushing herself to run just a little bit harder she turned sharply, diving into the woods. She made it just a few strides in before she tripped on a downed tree and went down. She put her hands up to cushion her fall but still hit her head. Her vision blacked out even as she struggled against it and her body sagged against the forest floor.
When she regained consciousness she was disoriented. She reached up to cradle her head, it throbbed where she’d smacked it against the rock. She pushed herself up, her vision trying to focus.
She realized that Terry hadn’t caught up with her. She sat up quickly, ignoring her body’s threat of passing out again. She didn’t see him.
She got to her feet and gripped the gun as she stepped forward tentatively.
“Sharon!” Terry called out. Sharon tensed, holding the gun out in front her at the ready. Then he called to her again, “Sharon! Sharon!”
It wasn’t angry; it was desperate.
She jogged back to the roadside. He’d swerved into a tree trying to follow her. God only knew how fast he’d been going, the front end of the car was completely smashed in and the fire licked higher.
Sharon backed away from the car, afraid that it was going to blow. She backed all the way to the other side of the road until her back hit a tree and she stood, glued to the spot, watching with horror.
Why wasn’t he getting out of the car?
“Sharon… for God’s sake…” He wailed.
A sob caught in her throat as she realized that the fire had reached the interior. Terry howled in pain, struggling to free himself to no avail. His cries became louder and more desperate the more he panicked.
Sharon felt like all the air in her body was sucked out as she looked on. Terry turned to her and locked eyes with her, pleading with her.
Sharon put her shoulders back and lifted the gun. She held it with both hands to keep it steady, she cocked the hammer and then squeezed the trigger and he stopped screaming for her.
She lowered the gun, letting it drop to the street as she stared at the car. She thought that she’d feel relieved knowing it was over but she felt empty and awash with despair. The fire crackled and burned, the light dancing across the pavement.
Slowly, she sank to the ground. The heat from the fire would stave off the cold; she didn’t have the strength to start walking again. She’d either be rescued from right there or she’d succumb to a combination of her injuries and the elements. Either way she wasn’t moving from that spot until someone came to get her.
She leaned her head back against the tree and stared up into the branches. She would do her best to keep her eyes open; she would fight the urge to black out.
To her surprise she felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She reached up and wiped them away with the back of her hand, wiping dirt across her face as she did. She wasn’t sure why she was crying exactly, just that it was over and something was beginning.
No matter what happened from that point forward was better than how it had been. Of that she was sure. With that thought she smiled as she started to sob.
**
Daniels stood up and approached the witness box. “Thank you for your testimony, Captain. I’m sure that must have been difficult for you to relive. I just have a few questions for you.”
Sharon nodded.
“You say that your husband was after you, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say this to the police at any point? Why is this the first time we’re hearing this self-defense?”
“It’s on the record now and my children will know what their father did and I didn’t want to put them through that. I didn’t want to take away their good memories of him.”
“Your children are very important to you, aren’t they?”
“My children are everything to me.”
Daniels walked back to his table and picked up a file. “Okay, help me to understand this then: your file says that you often worked upwards of 60 hours a week. Does that sound like someone to whom their children are everything?”
“And I suppose here in Georgia you’d like your police force to work part time?” Sharon scowled. “I’ve worked as hard as I do for the safety of my children as well as everyone else’s.”
“You and your husband were alone on this trip. You sent your children to Florida.”
“I’m sorry, was that a question?” Sharon smirked.
“Okay, Captain. Let’s say the series of events happened just like you said. He was coming after you and you defended yourself… I’ve had my share of fights with women but what possessed your mild-mannered architect to… Why did you bring your service revolver with you?”
“I didn’t. He brought it without my knowledge. I’m very serious about gun safety and my gun never leaves the trunk of my car when I’m off duty. I keep it in a lock box.”
“And how did he get your gun?”
“I don’t know. I have the only key.”
“You have the only key and you want us to believe that it was your husband and not you that brought the gun?”
Sharon shrugged with annoyance. “I’m just telling you the truth, believe what you want.”
“Why would your husband be so angry with you that he’d want to kill you?” Daniels leaned over the witness box, getting in Sharon’s personal space.
“Objection,” Gavin stood. “Calls for speculation.”
“Sustained.” Judge Cox agreed.
“And your honor, can you ask opposing counsel to take a few steps back? He has no reason to be that close; he’s cross-examining not performing a dental exam.”
“Mr. Daniels,” Judge Cox nodded, “please step back.”
“Did your husband give you any indication of why he was trying to kill you?”
“Yes, he did.”
The court room was silent, awaiting Sharon’s continuation.
Judge Cox cleared his throat, “Captain, I believe Mr. Daniels would you like you to elaborate.”
Sharon smirked, “well, he should have said.” Sharon paused for a moment, “my husband was very angry with me, and had been for a while, because I’d had an affair.”
“Had your husband threatened you with divorce?”
“No.” Sharon shook her head, “we were trying to work it out for the sake of our children.”
“And he just got tired of trying it work it out?”
“Objection, calls for speculation again.”
“Sustained.”
“I don’t see why Mr. Daniels keeps insisting my client attempt to explain her own attempted murder.”
“I said sustained, counsel.” Cox sighed, “save the rest for closing statements.”
“I withdraw the question anyway, your honor.” Mr. Daniels paused in thought for a moment. “Ok, captain, help me understand how the two of you went from working it out to him trying to kill you to him being shot in the head and burned to a crisp. Had anything changed at home in the days leading up to his death?”
“In the days leading up to the events in question I’d been part of a sting operation on a ring of policemen who were dealing stolen narcotics which kept me from the house. He often became very agitated with me when I had to be out of the house at night.”
“Who’s the primary breadwinner in your household?”
“It’s about equal.”
“You purchased the house, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And you lived there alone for several years before you met your husband?”
“My son and I lived there before I met Terry.”
“You paid cash?”
“It was at a time when real estate was very cheap, the owners needed the sale to go through asap and I was able to pay it up front.”
“How?”
Sharon heaved an inner sigh already knowing that Daniels was going to make a big deal about her answer. “Life insurance.” Sharon said, “my mother died when I was 22 and I was her sole heir and my first husband was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1996. I purchased our house and most of what’s left are in college funds for all three of my children.”
“College is getting expensive, figured you’d need a little more life insurance?”
“Objection!” Gavin cried, standing. “He’s making light of the deaths of my client’s family members. She is a decorated, high ranking police officer and he has absolutely no grounds for this line of questioning.”
“Your honor, may I rephrase?”
Cox sighed, “proceed cautiously, Mr. Daniels, or I’ll sustain the objection.”
“Yes, your honor.” Daniels cleared his throat. “Isn’t it true that if the two of you had gotten a divorce you would have split your assets which would include the house that he didn’t pay a cent for and whatever’s left from your mother’s and first husband’s life insurance? Isn’t true that you would have suffered significant financial loss?”
“Look. I’ve been with the police for thirty years and most of my experience has been in internal affairs. I have spent an entire career holding police officers accountable for their actions. I can only imagine that you think I’m completely stupid to put in motion such an obvious plot.” Sharon sneered. “I already had one child lose his father and I didn’t want to put my other two children through that trauma. I would give up everything to keep my children safe and happy.”
“Alright Captain Raydor, for arguments sake, let’s say that everything happened as you said. Why shoot him if he was already stuck in the car with no means of escaping his fate?”
“Because he was screaming.” Sharon said in a low voice. The entire court room leaned forward to hear better. “Because he was being burned alive and he was… screaming. He begged me.”
“No more questions.”
“Captain, you may step down.”
Sharon stood from her seat, “I’m truly sorry that you think I’d be less culpable if I’d let him burn to death.”
“Your honor!” Daniels objected.
“The jury is instructed to disregard the Captain’s remark.” The judge instructed as Sharon walked back to the defense table.
**
Sharon sat in her seat in the conference room, arms crossed with indifference. Brenda paced nervously and Gavin drummed his fingers on the table, glancing at the clock entirely too often.
“Gavin.” Sharon said, drawing the attention of her companions. “I’d love a coffee.”
“Sure.” He nodded, actually happy to have the distraction.
Brenda took the seat that Gavin had just vacated. Brenda searched Sharon’s face as Sharon looked on impassively. “How are you so calm?”
“Because it’s over.” Sharon said simply with a small smile like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Sharon took Brenda’s hand in both of hers. “No matter what happens I did what I had to do and it’s over.”
“I don’t want you to have to leave.” Brenda admitted.
Sharon brought Brenda’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles softly. Sharon’s hands were warm and Brenda found herself unable to look at Sharon. She rubbed her eyes with her free hand and sighed.
“You’ll be okay.” Sharon smiled.
Brenda looked over at her and let out a guffaw.
The door opened and Gavin walked in with the coffee. Sharon took it with one hand, the other still holding Brenda’s. Gavin shoved his hands into his pockets.
After a while the coffee was gone and the room was deafeningly silent. When Gavin’s phone vibrated he pulled it out of his pocket. “The jury’s back.”
**
“Will the defendant please rise?” Judge Cox instructed; Sharon and Gavin both rose. “Madame Forewoman, have you reached a unanimous verdict?”
“We have your honor.”
“What say you?”
“On the count of murder, we the jury find the defendant guilty.”
“Thank you for your service,” Cox banged his gavel, “court is adjourned. Bailiff?”
Sharon held out her hand to shake Gavin’s. Gavin stared at it dumbly for a moment before shaking her hand with melancholy. “I’m very glad I met you.”
“Same.” He managed to sputter out. “We’ll appeal this.”
Sharon had already turned to Brenda, “I’ll write you.” Brenda nodded, unable to speak.
She held her hands up for the bailiff who secured the cuffs on her wrist and led her out.
Rated R/M
Warnings include:
Disclaimers: I do not own Woman Undone or The Closer and I am making no money at all off of my creative pursuits.
Spoilers: None really but see part one for full spoiler warning.
Author’s Note: Any Georgians reading this, please forgive me, I am going to be changing some geography to actually make this work the way I want/need it to. I’m sorry and I will attempt to keep it to a minimum.
Summary: Things heat up for Sharon Raydor when the evidence implicates her in her husband’s murder. Gavin Q. Baker and Brenda Leigh Johnson work tirelessly to prove her innocence - barring that keep her out of jail.
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8
Gavin and Sharon were not happy with each other when they pulled into the parking lot on the third day. They stood alone in the conference room when Brenda let herself in.
“Good.” Gavin said with some relief. “I’m glad you’re here. Would you talk to your girlfriend? Make her listen to reason.”
Brenda blushed a little. She grinned sheepishly when Sharon didn’t bother to correct him for whatever reason. “What seems to be the trouble, ladies?”
“She won’t testify.” Gavin snapped, turning to look accusingly at Sharon who looked at him with disinterest.
“Why don’t you want to testify?”
“I have every right not to testify. I’m a terrible witness. I’m not sorry my husband is dead and I can’t fake it for the jury.”
Brenda heaved a heavy sigh. “I say listen to the woman.”
“You guys are insufferable.” Gavin threw his hands up. “I don’t think you understand how you’re presenting to the jury.”
“I don’t think you understand what a shit witness I’d be.”
“And what would you really be putting her on the stand to say?” Brenda reasoned.
“How about: ‘I didn’t kill my husband and let me tell you the story of what really happened.’”
Sharon folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “You put me on that stand and I will plead the fifth until I am blue in the face.”
“Alright, whatever. It’s your life.”
**
Sharon huffed as she pulled herself up a steep incline using a root from a tree. She swiped the back of her hand across her brow, wiping away dirt and swear. How long had she been walking? She looked up to the sky, the sun was in the middle of setting - but what did that mean?
She reached the top of the incline and sank down onto a fallen tree. She had to come up with a plan. She could plunge on into the forest - but she didn’t know how deep the woods were, where they would come out or which direction to head. She could double back and go back to the road - but she’d be exposed and she didn’t remember where the last town they’d passed was.
Sharon didn’t bother to think about the pain in her ankle; she had plenty to worry about without expending her energy on things she couldn’t change.
One thing was for certain: one way or another, this was not going to be the end of Sharon Raydor.
She paused for another few moments before deciding to take her chances in the forest. Even if she encountered Terry in the woods, without the advantage of the car, she could out maneuver - or outwit him.
The woods it was, big bad wolf be damned.
**
“Thank you, Dr. Evans. Can you please tell the court where and when you first met Captain Raydor?”
“Yes, I met Captain Raydor the night that she was admitted to the hospital. After the nurse completed the physical examination I went in to speak with her.”
“Do you recall what the two of you talked about?” Gavin asked.
The doctor leaned back in the chair a little. “I just asked her for her name and where she was from and how she was.”
“And she said?”
“Nothing. She just stared at me and blinked but she never said anything.”
“In your professional opinion, what would account for that odd behavior?”
“Well, it’s quite common for people who’ve been in accidents to suffer from shock. In my opinion, Captain Raydor’s brain was refusing to deal with the trauma she’d just been through and the loss of her husband. Even now,” the doctor motioned to Sharon, “she’s visibly withdrawn. That’s consistent with post-traumatic stress which often comes after shock.”
“What are some other symptoms of shock?”
“Dizziness, fainting, nausea, low blood pressure.”
Gavin moved to the table and picked up the copy of the police report. “According to the police report, the first thing Captain Raydor did after she was discovered was faint and the sheriff notes that during his initial interview with her in the hospital she complained of nausea. Would you say that this signed statement by the sheriff supports your diagnosis?”
“Definitely.”
“Thank you, doctor. No further questions.” Gavin took his seat at the defense table and gave Sharon’s hand a little squeeze.
The prosecuting attorney stood to cross the doctor. Sharon drowned out the words as she stared in the direction of the witness stand, her mind a million miles away.
The door to the court room opened and closed, catching Sharon’s attention. Her eyes moved to the back of the room where she saw the boy sink onto the bench. He looked around inquisitively and his eyes landed on Sharon and relief colored his features.
Sharon smiled at him, feeling overwhelmed. She turned back to Gavin and whispered his ear, “call a recess.”
“What? Why?”
“My son is here.”
Gavin turned abruptly in his seat. Dylan had ducked behind other spectators, the room was packed and it was easy for him to sink into the shadows.
“Counsel?” Judge Cox cleared his throat.
Gavin turned back. “Sorry, your honor.”
“Mr. Daniels, your witness.”
“Thank you, your honor.” Daniels cleared his throat and shot Gavin a sidelong look before turning back to the sheriff.
“Did you hear me?” Sharon hissed discreetly in Gavin’s ear.
Gavin fumed and scrawled It’s almost noon, we’ll ask for lunch. Just shut up.
Sharon fumed and was considering asking for the recess herself when the prosecuting attorney took his seat and the judge banged his gavel. “Thirty minutes for lunch.”
Sharon jumped up from her seat and the bailiff stepped toward her suspiciously. Gavin took Sharon by the shoulders and held her in place. Gavin turned and crooked a finger to Brenda. Brenda came forward, “Sharon said her son’s here, in the back. Bring him to the conference room?”
“He has longish dark hair, he keeps it in his face -” Sharon said.
Brenda held her hand up, “I saw his picture,” she smiled, “I’m sure I can pick him out.”
Sharon smiled gratefully at Brenda. For a moment Gavin felt a ridiculous pang of jealousy that that gratitude didn’t often seem to extend to him. He accepted that she was under a lot of stress and, of course, it didn’t hurt that she was painfully attracted to the deputy chief.
Gavin closed the conference room door behind Sharon and turned a stern look on her. “Would you cool it?” Gavin growled, “when you’re in that court room do not speak unless you’re spoken to, do not jump up--”
“I’m not a child.” Sharon snapped.
“Then quit acting like one.” Gavin and Sharon stood trying to stare each other down.
There was a knock on the door and the two broke eye contact. The door opened and Brenda came in followed by Dylan. Dylan was decked out in a pair of acid wash skinny jeans and a hoodie bearing the logo of some punk band or another. Gavin took note that even though he had a nose ring and his hair obscured half his face the resemblance to Sharon was remarkable.
Sharon held her arms out and Dylan rushed to her, folding into her arms. She leaned her cheek against his head, holding him tightly and tenderly stroking his hair. “I’m so glad to see you…” she breathed. “I love you so much.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, a few tears rolling down his cheeks. “I love you too.” He hugged her tighter, afraid to let her go.
She turned her head and whispered into his ear. Dylan listened intently and nodded. She pressed a kiss to his temple, keeping him in a protective embrace.
Gavin felt his previous annoyance with Sharon melt away upon seeing the emotional display in front of him. Any and all preconceived ideas about who she was as a person faded away and he realized this was who she was. This naked emotion and vulnerability told him everything he needed to know. She was fiercely protective, calm in the face of adversity and she loved with her whole heart.
Gavin looked up at Brenda who was watching mother and son with a smile. He suddenly felt all the more determined to keep Sharon out of jail.
Sharon took Dylan’s face in her hands, “Dylan, I want you to go back to Florida. I want you to go back--”
“Mom, no.”
“Dylan, please, listen to me. You shouldn’t be here, you have school.”
“And what? A few days of classes are more important than being here for you? Fuck that. After what you’ve done for me I need to be here.”
“You’re a sweet kid,” she stroked his hair soothingly again, “I appreciate the sentiment but I’d feel better if you were back with your brother and sister. They’re so young and I’m sure they don’t understand what’s going on.”
“I just want everything to be okay again.” Dylan admitted, biting back a sob.
Sharon lowered his head to her shoulder and held him close. “So do I, baby. I am going to do whatever it takes to make things right. Okay?”
He nodded, burying his face in his mother’s neck.
Gavin found this behavior curious. As much as he had adored his own mother he couldn’t imagine himself trying to climb into her arms like Dylan appeared to be doing. Sharon was certainly in deep shit but wouldn’t a seventeen year old boy try to be strong for his mother? Wouldn’t it be typical for a boy his age to step up and be ‘the man of the house’ and comfort her?
Sharon kissed his forehead a couple of times before he lifted his head.
“I want you to go with Chief Johnson, she’s going to take you to the bus station.” Sharon insisted, despite the look of protest on the boy’s face. “She’s a good friend of mine and she’s going to make sure you get there safely so I don’t have to worry about you.”
“Mom--”
“Dylan, please. Do this for me.” Sharon said pointedly, smoothing his black hair down. “Please, sweetheart.”
He reached up and took her hand, giving it a squeeze, “okay, mom.”
Sharon smiled. She looked over at Brenda, “Brenda? Do you mind seeing him to the bus station?”
“Not at all.”
With a final sidelong look at his mother, Dylan followed Brenda out and she closed the door behind them. Sharon sank down into a chair.
Gavin put a hand on Sharon’s back. She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands, feeling overwhelmed and over taxed. Gavin didn’t really know what to say so he just stuck with “what do you want for lunch?”
“I’m not hungry.” She murmured.
“Come on, Shar, you have to eat.”
“I said I’m not fucking hungry!” She snapped, pushing his hand away, “don’t touch me!”
He held his hands up defensively, stepping away from her.
“And can you leave me the fuck alone for five fucking minutes? I never have any fucking time to myself.” Sharon growled.
“Alright, your majesty.” Gavin rolled his eyes as he stepped out of the room.
The bailiff regarded him suspiciously. “I’m just going to get a cup of coffee.” Gavin said, “she’s cooling her heels in there. She’s not going anywhere.”
On his way out of the court house, toward the food carts on the sidewalk, ADA Daniels fell into stride with him. “Didn’t figure you were a sucker for lost causes, Baker.”
Gavin gave Daniels a weary look. “She’s innocent.”
“You really believe that, don’t you?” Daniels laughed. “If I ever shoot someone in the head without remorse I want you to be my lawyer. Actually, no, no I don’t - because you’re going to lose this case.”
Gavin ignored him and went to stand in line for coffee.
“Hey, come on,” Daniels insisted, “don’t be like that. When I first joined the DA’s office we used to go out of for coffee all the time, you helped me with my cases. You left so suddenly.”
“Personal problems.”
“We’ve all been there.” Daniels nodded, “I just don’t know why you’d switch to defense. Why this case? Why this woman?”
“I just… I believe in her.” Gavin admitted, “she’s… I don’t know, she’s really something.”
**
The bailiff held open the door for Gavin. Gavin smiled, “thank you.” Sharon looked up from the table and Gavin walked over and set down one of the cups of coffee in front of her.
She sighed and picked it up. “Thanks.” She sipped it. “Sorry I yelled at you…”
“I know. I’m starting to get a pretty good idea about you.” He sipped his own coffee, grinning triumphantly at her. “And your bark is much worse than your bite.”
Sharon shrugged, looking down into her coffee, “you’d be foolish to test that theory.”
“That’s what every good friendship needs: the looming threat of physical violence.” He laughed.
“We’re friends?” Sharon looked up suddenly.
“Aren’t we?”
She smiled a little, “do you think they serve coffee in prison?”
Gavin leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. “Oh, I would think so.”
She sipped her coffee thoughtfully. “Thanks… for being my friend…”
He smiled, “like it was a choice.”
“Court is now in session, Mr. Baker, call your next witness.”
“Thank you, your honor,” Gavin stood up, smoothing down the front of his suit jacket. “I call Captain Sharon Raydor to the stand.”
“No!” Sharon hissed. “I told you I wasn’t taking the stand.”
“Get up there and make it right for your son like you promised.” Gavin ground out in a harsh whisper.
“You have no idea what would make things right; how dare you do this after I explicitly told you no.”
“Captain, you’ve been called to the stand. I’ll get the bailiff to escort you, if necessary.”
Sharon stood up from her seat, cast Gavin a glare and went to stand by the the witness chair. The bailiff approached and presented her with the Bible. “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth or help me God?”
“I invoke my fifth amendment right not to implicate myself.”
“Captain, you have to take the oath and then you can plead the fifth.”
“What’s the point? I’m not going to say anything.”
“Put your hand on the Bible or I’m going to hold you in contempt of court.” Judge Cox warned.
“Yes, sir.” Sharon laid her hand on the Bible.
“Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth or help me God?” The bailiff repeated.
Sharon shook her head, “I don’t. May I sit down now?”
Cox banged his gavel. “Yes, you can, and for your troubles you’ll be spending the night in lock-up.”
“Thank you.” Sharon nodded and rejoined Gavin at the defense table.
“What was that?” Gavin shook his head in disbelief.
“I told you I wasn’t going to testify.”
“Mr. Baker, call your next witness.”
“I have no further witnesses, your honor.” Gavin sighed.
“In that case, court is adjourned for the day. We will resume tomorrow at eight for closing statements.” Judge Cox banged his gavel. “Bailiff, please escort the Captain to the holding cell.”
“Bailiff, may I have a moment with my client before you take her?”
He nodded, “that’s fine.”
Gavin leaned in and whispered in Sharon’s ear. “That was a bad move. That was a very bad move.”
Sharon smirked at him. “If Chief Johnson comes to the house looking for me tell her I’m looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.”
“It’ll probably be the last time you see her without being separated by four-inch plexi.” Gavin put his hands on his hips.
“I told you I wasn’t going to testify. Repeatedly.” Sharon reminded in a low warning tone.
“You told your son you were going to make things right,” Gavin snapped, “how is this you making things right? Seems to me like you’re letting him down.”
Sharon gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes at Gavin angrily. She turned on her heel and walked up to the bailiff, “please take me to the holding cell. I have nothing more to say to that man.”
**
Sharon grabbed hold of a branch as she pulled herself forward. She was losing the light and it was starting to get cold; she was starting to get nervous.
She stepped forward slowly, her senses heightened. She listened to the still of the night, there was no breeze, no sounds at all. Even the sound of her own breathing was shallow and almost completely inaudible.
She heard the snap of a twig behind her just a millisecond too late and she caught a felled branch in the hip. She cried out and fell to the ground. She scrambled to get up but Terry held her down, he straddled her hips and grabbed a fistful of her hair.
Sharon thrashed and struggled against him.
“You fucking bitch!” He hissed, he pulled her head back painfully and she coughed. He pushed the barrel of the gun up against her temple. “You’re never going to see your children again. Never again.”
“Good fucking job, idiot, the safety’s on.” Sharon growled. “If you’re gonna do something at least do it right for once.”
He glared at her for a moment, pressing the gun harder against her. Finally, he pulled the gun back to check the safety. Sharon twisted and swung her elbow back, hitting his hand and the gun went flying. When he moved to retrieve it she wriggled out from under him.
Before he could grab the gun she dragged him away by the fabric of his shirt. She pulled him up and then brought her knee up and caught him in the chest. He wheezed and fought against her and she kneed him again, this time in the chin.
“Bitch!” He yelled, his mouth filling with blood. He jerked forward, ramming her back against a tree.
Sharon still had his shirt balled in her fists but she let out a breathy gasp. He spat at her, blood spattering over her face, causing her to flinch. He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her to the ground. She kept an iron grip on him and they rolled a few times until she ended up on top and she struck him in the nose.
He yowled in pain. She pulled back and hit him again. “If there is one way to strengthen a woman’s resolve,” she panted, hitting him unrelentingly, despite his attempts to block her blows. “It’s telling her she’ll never see her children again.”
Suddenly his body went limp and she panted, sitting back on her haunches. Her heart started to pound and her hands shook, she stood slowly, staring down at his unmoving form and his bloodied face.
That had been the product of pure blind rage and now that it was over her stomach sank. She stared at him for a few long moments before she grabbed the gun and took off at a run.
She had to get back to the car; she had to get back to civilization; something needed to be done.
**
Brenda walked up to the desk, “I need to see Captain Raydor.”
The heavyset man behind the desk shook his head, “visiting hours are over.”
Brenda pulled out her badge. “How about if I said please?” She tapped the metal on the table, drawing his attention.
He sighed and nodded, “fine.” He pushed himself up out of his chair with audible discomfort and shuffled down the hallway, jingling his set of keys. He opened the door to area with the holding cells, “ten minutes. Holler if you need anythin’.”
He shut the door behind him and Brenda stood there for a moment gazing down the row of three cells.
“I have nothing to say to you, Gavin.” Sharon said dejectedly from the last cell.
“It’s… Brenda.” She faltered, waiting for an invitation.
“Oh, sorry.” There was a shuffle as Sharon pushed herself up from the stiff cot and her heels echoed as she walked up to the bars. “Are you going to come down here?”
Brenda wasted no time closing the distance between them. Her heart wrenched seeing Sharon behind the bars. Suddenly she couldn’t bear to look Sharon in the eye. She reached out blindly and laid her hand over the cross bar.
Sharon gently put her hand over Brenda’s and Brenda’s eyes fluttered shut.
“Did Dylan get on the train alright?”
Brenda flushed red, feeling guilty that she’d forgotten the whole reason she’d come. “I watched him get on the train and didn’t take my eyes off it till it pulled away.” Brenda nodded. “He seems like a great kid.”
Sharon smiled, “he is.”
“He’s worried about you.” Brenda looked up to meet Sharon’s gaze. Brenda lost her breath for a moment staring into Sharon’s intense, piercing emerald eyes. “He, um… he said he just wants things to work out. He said to tell you… that nothing else matters other than you getting to go home.”
Sharon sighed heavily. “He’s a great kid…”
Brenda turned her hand over and gave Sharon’s hand a squeeze. “Look…” Brenda breathed, leaning in even closer. “Whatever happens tomorrow…”
“Shh.” Sharon interrupted her. “I know.”
Brenda stepped closer until she was almost flush with the bars and reached in and touched Sharon’s face. Sharon closed her eyes and Brenda let out a shaking breath. Sharon closed what little space remained between them and kissed her softly.
The door opened. “Are you alright in-”
Brenda jumped back, her face flushing bright red. The guard chuckled to himself as he turned to leave again. “Dear Penthouse…”
They were silent for a few long moments before Brenda looked up again. “I’m not sorry I kissed you.” Brenda whispered.
“I kissed you actually, but who’s keeping score?”
Brenda smiled. “Cool under fire.”
“I try to be.”
“Let me just say this…” Brenda paused to collect her thoughts, “I don’t know why you don’t want to get on the stand and I don’t know why you did what you did today… but I believe that you have your kids’ best interests at heart.”
“I do.”
“That’s what’s important. Just follow your heart.”
Sharon smiled but didn’t answer. Brenda walked to the end of the hallway and knocked on the door. Keys rattled and it opened for her.
“You sure you’re done? I could give you gals a little privacy… for a fee.” The guard leered.
Brenda scowled. “No need. She’ll beat the charges.”
The burly man scoffed, “I wouldn’t put money on that if I were you, sweetie.”
“That’s Deputy Chief Sweetie, to you.”
“My apologies, ma’am.” He tipped his hat. “I just thought we were being informal considerin’ you were just in their neckin’ with my prisoner. But hey, I’m a simple man.”
Brenda put her hands up. “You said it.”
**
The bailiff led Sharon into the room, the cuffs clinking as she walked. Gavin approached them, “can you please take these off her before the jury comes in?” He snapped.
Sharon held up her hands for him and the bailiff unlocked them before rolling his eyes and moved to stand by his post. Sharon rubbed her wrists a little.
“Did you sleep okay?” Gavin asked. Sharon shrugged. Gavin sighed, “I hate it when we fight.”
Sharon nodded, “I’m sorry.” She pushed her hands into her pockets. She bit her lip for a moment before saying, “if it’s not too late… You can put me on the stand.”
Gavin nodded, “I can ask the judge. You’re sure?”
“Yeah.”
As soon as court was announced ‘in session,’ Gavin stood, “your Honor, may we approach the bench?”
Judge Cox waved them forward. “What is it, Mr. Baker?”
“My client wishes to testify.”
Cox scoffed, “after that whole scene yesterday?”
“Yes, your Honor. She’s had time to reflect and she knows she overreacted yesterday. She’s still suffering from a bit of Post-Traumatic-”
“Mr. Baker!” Cox held up his hand to stop him, “save it for closing statements. Mr. Daniels, do you have any objection to Captain Raydor taking the stand before closing statements?”
Daniels held up his hands with a smirk, “I have no problem with Baker putting her on the stand.”
“Alright then.” He banged his gavel, “Mr. Baker, call your witness.”
“I call Captain Sharon Raydor to the stand.”
Sharon stood, she glanced into the gallery as she passed and locked eyes with Brenda. She gave her a small smile before taking the stand.
“Captain, can you describe the series of events that led up to the death of your husband?”
**
The adrenaline was wearing off as she trudged back through the woods; without Terry to worry about she was breathing a little easier. Her muscles were sore and her ankle throbbed but she tried to focus on getting back to the car before the temperature dropped too low.
Finally she pushed past the last tree and stumbled onto the road. As she peered down the road in one direction after the other without seeing the car she looked up to the setting sun. She figured she’d continue heading east, the direction they’d been driving, and either find the car or hit a town.
She tucked the gun into the belt of her dress and set off down the road, the hot pavement sticking to her feet with each step.
The sun went down behind her as she walked as it got colder and colder. It was times like this that she missed L.A., there were no sprawling stretches of desolate landscape where she grew up. How she hadn’t hit a town or even passed by a sign that held a clue to exactly where she was was beyond her.
Suddenly her shadow started to appear in front of her and she recognized the sound behind her as an approaching car. Relief flooded over her, her reprieve had arrived. She turned and shielded her eyes to catch the a glimpse of the driver and her heart sank.
Terry had gotten up and retrieved the car.
For the first time in this whole mess she felt completely fucked. She could wrestle a gun away from, she couldn’t wrestle a car away from him.
Her adrenaline spiked and she darted down the road. The car continued to gain on her and she realized with despair that she would once again have to take refuge in the woods.
Steeling herself, pushing herself to run just a little bit harder she turned sharply, diving into the woods. She made it just a few strides in before she tripped on a downed tree and went down. She put her hands up to cushion her fall but still hit her head. Her vision blacked out even as she struggled against it and her body sagged against the forest floor.
When she regained consciousness she was disoriented. She reached up to cradle her head, it throbbed where she’d smacked it against the rock. She pushed herself up, her vision trying to focus.
She realized that Terry hadn’t caught up with her. She sat up quickly, ignoring her body’s threat of passing out again. She didn’t see him.
She got to her feet and gripped the gun as she stepped forward tentatively.
“Sharon!” Terry called out. Sharon tensed, holding the gun out in front her at the ready. Then he called to her again, “Sharon! Sharon!”
It wasn’t angry; it was desperate.
She jogged back to the roadside. He’d swerved into a tree trying to follow her. God only knew how fast he’d been going, the front end of the car was completely smashed in and the fire licked higher.
Sharon backed away from the car, afraid that it was going to blow. She backed all the way to the other side of the road until her back hit a tree and she stood, glued to the spot, watching with horror.
Why wasn’t he getting out of the car?
“Sharon… for God’s sake…” He wailed.
A sob caught in her throat as she realized that the fire had reached the interior. Terry howled in pain, struggling to free himself to no avail. His cries became louder and more desperate the more he panicked.
Sharon felt like all the air in her body was sucked out as she looked on. Terry turned to her and locked eyes with her, pleading with her.
Sharon put her shoulders back and lifted the gun. She held it with both hands to keep it steady, she cocked the hammer and then squeezed the trigger and he stopped screaming for her.
She lowered the gun, letting it drop to the street as she stared at the car. She thought that she’d feel relieved knowing it was over but she felt empty and awash with despair. The fire crackled and burned, the light dancing across the pavement.
Slowly, she sank to the ground. The heat from the fire would stave off the cold; she didn’t have the strength to start walking again. She’d either be rescued from right there or she’d succumb to a combination of her injuries and the elements. Either way she wasn’t moving from that spot until someone came to get her.
She leaned her head back against the tree and stared up into the branches. She would do her best to keep her eyes open; she would fight the urge to black out.
To her surprise she felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She reached up and wiped them away with the back of her hand, wiping dirt across her face as she did. She wasn’t sure why she was crying exactly, just that it was over and something was beginning.
No matter what happened from that point forward was better than how it had been. Of that she was sure. With that thought she smiled as she started to sob.
**
Daniels stood up and approached the witness box. “Thank you for your testimony, Captain. I’m sure that must have been difficult for you to relive. I just have a few questions for you.”
Sharon nodded.
“You say that your husband was after you, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say this to the police at any point? Why is this the first time we’re hearing this self-defense?”
“It’s on the record now and my children will know what their father did and I didn’t want to put them through that. I didn’t want to take away their good memories of him.”
“Your children are very important to you, aren’t they?”
“My children are everything to me.”
Daniels walked back to his table and picked up a file. “Okay, help me to understand this then: your file says that you often worked upwards of 60 hours a week. Does that sound like someone to whom their children are everything?”
“And I suppose here in Georgia you’d like your police force to work part time?” Sharon scowled. “I’ve worked as hard as I do for the safety of my children as well as everyone else’s.”
“You and your husband were alone on this trip. You sent your children to Florida.”
“I’m sorry, was that a question?” Sharon smirked.
“Okay, Captain. Let’s say the series of events happened just like you said. He was coming after you and you defended yourself… I’ve had my share of fights with women but what possessed your mild-mannered architect to… Why did you bring your service revolver with you?”
“I didn’t. He brought it without my knowledge. I’m very serious about gun safety and my gun never leaves the trunk of my car when I’m off duty. I keep it in a lock box.”
“And how did he get your gun?”
“I don’t know. I have the only key.”
“You have the only key and you want us to believe that it was your husband and not you that brought the gun?”
Sharon shrugged with annoyance. “I’m just telling you the truth, believe what you want.”
“Why would your husband be so angry with you that he’d want to kill you?” Daniels leaned over the witness box, getting in Sharon’s personal space.
“Objection,” Gavin stood. “Calls for speculation.”
“Sustained.” Judge Cox agreed.
“And your honor, can you ask opposing counsel to take a few steps back? He has no reason to be that close; he’s cross-examining not performing a dental exam.”
“Mr. Daniels,” Judge Cox nodded, “please step back.”
“Did your husband give you any indication of why he was trying to kill you?”
“Yes, he did.”
The court room was silent, awaiting Sharon’s continuation.
Judge Cox cleared his throat, “Captain, I believe Mr. Daniels would you like you to elaborate.”
Sharon smirked, “well, he should have said.” Sharon paused for a moment, “my husband was very angry with me, and had been for a while, because I’d had an affair.”
“Had your husband threatened you with divorce?”
“No.” Sharon shook her head, “we were trying to work it out for the sake of our children.”
“And he just got tired of trying it work it out?”
“Objection, calls for speculation again.”
“Sustained.”
“I don’t see why Mr. Daniels keeps insisting my client attempt to explain her own attempted murder.”
“I said sustained, counsel.” Cox sighed, “save the rest for closing statements.”
“I withdraw the question anyway, your honor.” Mr. Daniels paused in thought for a moment. “Ok, captain, help me understand how the two of you went from working it out to him trying to kill you to him being shot in the head and burned to a crisp. Had anything changed at home in the days leading up to his death?”
“In the days leading up to the events in question I’d been part of a sting operation on a ring of policemen who were dealing stolen narcotics which kept me from the house. He often became very agitated with me when I had to be out of the house at night.”
“Who’s the primary breadwinner in your household?”
“It’s about equal.”
“You purchased the house, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And you lived there alone for several years before you met your husband?”
“My son and I lived there before I met Terry.”
“You paid cash?”
“It was at a time when real estate was very cheap, the owners needed the sale to go through asap and I was able to pay it up front.”
“How?”
Sharon heaved an inner sigh already knowing that Daniels was going to make a big deal about her answer. “Life insurance.” Sharon said, “my mother died when I was 22 and I was her sole heir and my first husband was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1996. I purchased our house and most of what’s left are in college funds for all three of my children.”
“College is getting expensive, figured you’d need a little more life insurance?”
“Objection!” Gavin cried, standing. “He’s making light of the deaths of my client’s family members. She is a decorated, high ranking police officer and he has absolutely no grounds for this line of questioning.”
“Your honor, may I rephrase?”
Cox sighed, “proceed cautiously, Mr. Daniels, or I’ll sustain the objection.”
“Yes, your honor.” Daniels cleared his throat. “Isn’t it true that if the two of you had gotten a divorce you would have split your assets which would include the house that he didn’t pay a cent for and whatever’s left from your mother’s and first husband’s life insurance? Isn’t true that you would have suffered significant financial loss?”
“Look. I’ve been with the police for thirty years and most of my experience has been in internal affairs. I have spent an entire career holding police officers accountable for their actions. I can only imagine that you think I’m completely stupid to put in motion such an obvious plot.” Sharon sneered. “I already had one child lose his father and I didn’t want to put my other two children through that trauma. I would give up everything to keep my children safe and happy.”
“Alright Captain Raydor, for arguments sake, let’s say that everything happened as you said. Why shoot him if he was already stuck in the car with no means of escaping his fate?”
“Because he was screaming.” Sharon said in a low voice. The entire court room leaned forward to hear better. “Because he was being burned alive and he was… screaming. He begged me.”
“No more questions.”
“Captain, you may step down.”
Sharon stood from her seat, “I’m truly sorry that you think I’d be less culpable if I’d let him burn to death.”
“Your honor!” Daniels objected.
“The jury is instructed to disregard the Captain’s remark.” The judge instructed as Sharon walked back to the defense table.
**
Sharon sat in her seat in the conference room, arms crossed with indifference. Brenda paced nervously and Gavin drummed his fingers on the table, glancing at the clock entirely too often.
“Gavin.” Sharon said, drawing the attention of her companions. “I’d love a coffee.”
“Sure.” He nodded, actually happy to have the distraction.
Brenda took the seat that Gavin had just vacated. Brenda searched Sharon’s face as Sharon looked on impassively. “How are you so calm?”
“Because it’s over.” Sharon said simply with a small smile like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Sharon took Brenda’s hand in both of hers. “No matter what happens I did what I had to do and it’s over.”
“I don’t want you to have to leave.” Brenda admitted.
Sharon brought Brenda’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles softly. Sharon’s hands were warm and Brenda found herself unable to look at Sharon. She rubbed her eyes with her free hand and sighed.
“You’ll be okay.” Sharon smiled.
Brenda looked over at her and let out a guffaw.
The door opened and Gavin walked in with the coffee. Sharon took it with one hand, the other still holding Brenda’s. Gavin shoved his hands into his pockets.
After a while the coffee was gone and the room was deafeningly silent. When Gavin’s phone vibrated he pulled it out of his pocket. “The jury’s back.”
**
“Will the defendant please rise?” Judge Cox instructed; Sharon and Gavin both rose. “Madame Forewoman, have you reached a unanimous verdict?”
“We have your honor.”
“What say you?”
“On the count of murder, we the jury find the defendant guilty.”
“Thank you for your service,” Cox banged his gavel, “court is adjourned. Bailiff?”
Sharon held out her hand to shake Gavin’s. Gavin stared at it dumbly for a moment before shaking her hand with melancholy. “I’m very glad I met you.”
“Same.” He managed to sputter out. “We’ll appeal this.”
Sharon had already turned to Brenda, “I’ll write you.” Brenda nodded, unable to speak.
She held her hands up for the bailiff who secured the cuffs on her wrist and led her out.