-1-

 

We had what we wanted. I should have been happy but, a piece of me was still upset with Rhett. I didn’t understand why he reacted so violently to Ricky. I didn’t understand why he reacted so violently to everything in general.  Maybe I was upset because it was giving me flashbacks to my own experiences or maybe it was because it scared me to think that violence is what you have to do to get what you want.

We had been driving on the road for nearly  5 hours. An hour ago Rhett gave me my pen back without so much of a sideways glance. I had nothing to say to him then but, now I was worrying about somethings.

Don’t you think Ricky will be upset and do something ?

“Hell, no,” Rhett responded,” For a guy like him it’s worse to admit he got his ass kicked,”

Are you sure ?

“Can I ask you somethin’ ?,” he asked—apparently ignoring my question.

I nodded my head

“Is it really so hard for you to talk. I mean I don’t mind it that much but, it is a little unnerving. It’s just I want you to be better and all. You don’t even want to try ? ,”

I wish you could understand. It’s so hard.

“Well, if it ever gets less hard, I’d like to talk to you, I mean really talk,”

Can we just get United Light out of our lives first ?

***

The gas tank was teetering between the last line and the E and we had absolutely no money left.

It was a good thing though.

“ You smilin’ ? ’,” Rhett asked  me as we crossed back into the Miami city limits

I guess I was, I was happy to be back where my dad was. I wanted us to work together and to make things better. It was all I could think about.

“You do know Raleigh is going to kill us, right ?,” he added

I was hoping that having more evidence would be enough to cool Raleigh down and he would forget about us leaving. And I hoped time would be enough for  dad to cool off. Rhett had been speeding most of the trip and now that we were on the street to the hotel he slowed down . I let my hand rest on his arm.

It will all be fine.

We had not been able to get in contact with anyone since leaving South Dakota so, it was not like they had any idea we were coming.

“I better go take this tape to Raleigh,” Rhett  said “I’m guessin’ you want to see your daddy so, we can meet up later,” he said

I nodded my head in agreement even though I was sure Rhett just wanted a reason to avoid my dad. As soon as Rhett parked the car in front of the hotel  I got out and headed up the stairs.  I could already see my father looking over the balcony at us. He didn’t appear to be upset anymore.

I ran up the last flight of stairs and opened the door in to the hallway.

“Where the hell have you been ?,” Dad asked his arms crossed around each other.

I guess I was wrong

I handed my father the letter I had been working on since we left Florida and he skimmed it quickly.

“Juliana, how could you be so dumb as to go off with that boy ? ,” Dad said, “He means nothing but trouble, are you even more foolish than I thought ?”

I’m sorry. I was just so sorry how could he not see that ? I tried not to let the tears come.

“Juliana I absolutely refuse to put up with this—with you anymore. Can you imagine what your mother would say ? I don’t know what I’m going to do--,”

“Love her,”

I looked beyond dad to see where those last words had come from.

 Tessa was  standing at in the frame of the door. She timidly walked a little farther out until she was standing next to Dad and unfolding his arms she laid a small kiss on his face.

“You loved me with my misgivings and I loved you with yours. And that has been the best thing about being with you,” she said “How come you can’t do the same for your daughter ? ,”

“Tessa, it is different,” Dad explained

“How so ? If something like this happened to Hayley when she got older, I’d never let you treat her like this,”

“Tessa,”  Dad said like he was picking his words carefully, “ I know she is my daughter she--,”

Dad stopped short for no reason and just stared at me.

“Juliana there is so much you don’t understand--There is so much I refuse to tell you because I don’t like hurting you,” he said and then paused, “Tess is right, maybe I have been harsh—you should get some rest. I know I want to. We can talk later,”

I stood dumbstruck in the hallway as he went inside with Tessa following behind him. My father had forgiven me but, not in a way I wanted.

Dad didn’t know about how good I had become at reading people lately. I knew exactly what he was trying not to say. 

I reminded him of my mother.

The woman he lived in contempt with for the last few years.  It was something I should have seen earlier.  Between  Tessa, never having a funeral for mom and never discussing her, it was pretty obvious he more than just fell out of love with mom ; he hated her.   

***

Elisa

“You can step outside,” I said to Rhett.

“I’m alright,” he said, “Just tired,”

Aside from Raleigh inrrrviewing him, I did not really  know Rhett Clark but, he seemed honest enough. Standing in Jennifer’s office his face seemed to have lost all color.

“You look sick,” I said

“It’s just hard standing idly by watchin’ Caine be an asshole and there ain’t nothin’ I can do about it,”

“It’s just a tape,” I reminded him.

I turned my attention away from the images on the screen to Raleigh who was watching intently and the technician standing next to him. I looked past them to see Jennifer had stepped outside and was talking frantically on her phone.

 “It’s legit,” the technician said

“Thank God,” I said breathing for the first time in 20 minutes, “This is good right ?”

Raleigh nodded his head just as Jennifer came back inside.

“Listen, I want Mr.Caine to plead guilty,” Jennifer said, “I really do--,”

“It’s the smartest thing to do,” Raleigh said, “If we go to trial it will only get worse,”

“But, Mr.Caine refuses to plead guilty,” she said.

“His digging his grave,” Raleigh said

“Not exactly--,” Jennifer started

“You need to see all of this,” he said to her and started the tape again.

 

-2-

 

This moment was rare.

I was alone with Sawyer neither one of us had anywhere to go  at that very minute. We didn’t have  any excuses to make. We were both just sitting on the couch waiting.

I was dressed in  my sharpest black  suit and heels for my first day in a real trial jury court session. I knew I wouldn’t be doing much of anything except taking notes and making sure Raleigh’s recorder didn’t turn off but, that was enough for me.

“Are you nervous ?” Sawyer asked

“Hell, yeah,” I said lifting my legs up to get a better view of my shoes,”Do my shoes match this outfit ? Do you think this is to much ? Are these heels appropriate ?,”

“You’re fine, Elisa,” he said,”Perfect,”

 He reached into his jean pocket  and handed me something.

A ring.

“Sawyer I--,”

“Elisa, I know, I do , I know,” he said, “It’s just all this stuff that has happened. Between Caine, going to jail and the other issues my idea of a perfect world has been shattered. It got me thinking about everything. This isn’t a today or tomorrow or 10 years from now but for someday. No matter where life takes us,”

I took the ring, it was simple just a small diamond on a silver band. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever given me. I slipped it on my finger, there had been something that had been on my mind.

“This has nothing to do with you,” I began, “But, Miami has a terrible drug problem especially in the Cuban population. I’ve been thinking about that lately.”

“Elisa don’t do this because of me--,”

“It’s not you,” I admitted, although at this point it was partially him.

 A lot of people I had loved left me in San Costa. My parents died here, my baby sister left me here. Why would I leave someone l love here too ? I liked the idea of being a jetsetter, living in Los Angeles but, I also loved the idea of being around the people l loved too.

 

-3-

I parked my car in front of the courthouse and  debated whether or not to keep  the ring on but, decided to leave it off. I headed up the steps of the courthouse and  saw Raleigh pacing around in the front. He was taking deep breaths.

“Smelling victory ?” I asked

“I can’t get cocky,” he said,” I haven’t done this in so long,”

“Is Rosa coming ?,”

“I advised her not to,”

We walked into the courthouse I saw the Reese’s sitting together on a bench outside of the courtroom. Sitting on the bench next to them was Rhett Clark who was staring at the ground. I offered Juliana a slight wave which she returned as they came closer to us.

“Just be yourselves,” Raleigh advised them as we headed into the court room.

To the left I could see Caine in a crisp suit sitting next to Jennifer.The resemblance  between them was even more striking when you saw it side by side. The only difference was Caine had this air of confidence that Jennifer was doing a poor job of feinding.

We sat silently in the room until Judge Leseton came in. He was a younger man than I expected and  he greeted us with smiles as he called Raleigh up for his opening statement. I squeezed Raleigh’s hand as he stood up before the judge, Caine and the jury.

“20 years ago Simon Caine took over his father’s organization called United Light,” Raleigh began, “He built it up to make it a community that depended soley on him.  He turned a simple social group into what he calls a religion as shown on his tax records. The organization has since then been stockpiling over 200 pounds of ammunition, a recent raid of the commune discovered 12 unaccounted for dead bodies. The dismantling of this group left hundreds of people living in homeless shelters on government assistance not knowing what to believe in. Mr. Caine has gotten everything he had by using force, manipulation and coercive acts that are an offense to humanity.

It is our goal to show without a doubt that not only is Caine responsible for the dead bodies but, also for destruction of lives including that of Ms. Juliana Reese,”

I could see Jennifer turning uneasily in her seat, she couldn’t save face like Caine. Then again, Caine needed help, there was no way he was getting out of this.

 Whoever this kid was that Juliana and Rhett had gotten the tape from had not only had he taped Juliana and Caine he had also taped Caine and Logan and others Caine called dissenters.

As Raleigh took a seat Jennifer stood up and slowly walked to the front.

 

***

Juliana

10 days

That was all it took  them to decide Caine’s fate.

Elisa said what they were doing to Caine was ironic.

He was charged as guilty of  assault and battery, tax evasion and more importantly crimes against humanity. And for that they were gave him capital punishment.

My dad had his arm around my shoulders as we stood in the hallway of the court room. It seemed like we should be sad he was going to be killed, and I was a little sad. For some reason it didn’t sit well with me that they were just going to kill him.  I knew Dad was just ready to go home and frankly so was I.

“Ms. Reese ?,”

I looked to see Jennifer coming towards me her heels hitting hard against the floor.

“They are taking Caine back to the prison,” she said, "but, before we leave he wants to speak with you,”

I wasn’t exactly ready to see him again.

“It will be fine, there are officers there,” she said

Dad released his arm from my shoulders and I followed Jennifer to the far end  of the courthouse parking lot where he was in a police car. The officer opened the door and inside Caine was sitting his hands cuffed to the seat.

“Well, now it looks as though you’ve won,” Caine said. I wondered if I detected some guilt in his voice.

What do you want?

He leaned his head towards me and I saw a chain swinging around his neck.

“Take it,” he said

 I reached my hands around his neck and undid the clasp. The necklace was a muted silver color, it was in the shape of a tiny heart.

 “That is your mother,” he said

I quickly dropped it on to the seat  and he picked it up and placed it into my lap.

“Her ashes are sealed inside the locket,” he said, “I took some from the crematory before they packed them away and gave them to your father. Whom I imagine is hiding them underneath his bed in the sealed box.”

I considered whether to believe him or not.

“Juliana—I truly did care about your mother. They will most likely take the locket from me  where I am going so, I am giving it to you,”

I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to thank him so, I just put it into my pocket and wrote him another note.

I went to your room at the commune. This is all your fault  Why  me ?

“I can’t  answer that for you.  I suppose I saw something special in you as I do in myself," he said quietly and then looked up, "I suppose I let my emotions get the best of me,”

I was glad I could not talk because I may have let an ‘ I’m sorry’ slip out.

He didn’t say anything else so, I  backed out of the car and walked back to w here my dad was standing. I saw Rhett was standing a few feet from behind him.

-4-

Rhett quickly walked towards me.

“ You was talkin’ to Caine ?” he asked

I nodded my head.

“So, my train is leavin’ in an hour,” he said, “Finally get to go home. . .  I guess you goin’ back to Hartford pretty soon,”

I nodded my head.

We will see each other again ?

“Yeah, in a couple weeks when I go back to school. Of course I hear second semester really sucks,,” he laughed, “Well I guess, I should get my shit together,”

He made an awkward step like he was going to leave but then turned back around and stepped back so he was facing  in front of me. He leaned down to me and letting the side of his face rest on my cheek he gave me a small hug.

 

-5-

Elisa

“This is the nicest bar I’ve ever seen,” I examined  taking a hold of Sawyer’s hand.

 

“This is how the other side lives,” Raleigh mused as we approached the bar.

“I can already spot 13 designer bags from out  here,” Rosa added.

The lounge was shrouded in a dark light with the only light coming from the scented candles on the tables. The bar was lit by some LED backlight in a greenish hue.

 We walked closer into the lounge to see Jennifer sitting at a little table with empty chairs around her

“You brought dates,” she commented.

“Don’t worry,” I assured her, “You’re only paying for Raleigh,”

She smirked at the comment.

 “You did your best, your client was being stubborn,” Raleigh told her.

“I know,” she said

“It was nice working with you on this, you really helped me hone my skills again,”

“I’ll take that as a good thing,” she replied, I still get paid either way so, I’m buying  for the table.”

I opened the bar menu, most of it cost more than my gas for a month.

“You are being to generous” Raleigh said, “What happened ?”

She stirred the lime around in her rum and coke and then took a long sip.

“I know you’ve been out of practice so you may have forgotten a few things,” she said.

“Come on, Ms.Cameron get to the point,” Raleigh teased her," You always start some point with how I haven't practiced law in a while,"

 “Fine, I'll give it to you cold," she said, "The only reason I dismissed the charges against your client was because she  was involved in a pending case. Caine insisted I refile the charges including the ones of prostitution.,”

“Prostitution ?” Raleigh questioned

“We had a few corroborating witnesses and  your client is going to be indicted in a few days. I’m sorry.”

“That’s not fair,” Sawyer said,”If your charging her you should charge me too, not to mention we were being extorted--,”

“You’ve served your time,” Jennifer said to him, “ And the law doesn’t care if you had a gun to your head. Let me give you a piece of legal advice--,”

“You can’t do this,” I told her

“Wait a second ,” Raleigh said,”Why are you telling me any of this to begin with ?,”

She stared at Raleigh and then rolled her eyes, slightly.

“This is Florida.Your client has been traumatized, I would call her mentally ill.,” she said zipping up her Prada hand bag and downing the rest of  her drink,” I have a tab here. Just put your drinks on it, All of them”

She  adjusted her suit skirt and walked out the door.

“What was that about ?,” Sawyer asked

“I have no idea,” I said

“I do,” Raleigh said,”Dammnit,”

-6-

40 Minutes

That was how long it took them to decide my fate.

I was in a complete trance as we walked out of the small court room.

 “You can’t charge her with this,” my dad said,”Can’t we appeal ?”

“It was all Caine’s fault,” Tessa added.

It was odd seeing my dad do the right thing. He was defending me instead of putting me down.

“She is guilty and going to trial just pisses judges off more,” Raleigh told him.

 

“You told them my daughter was ill,” Dad added, “That’s not true,”

But, maybe I was crazy. Maybe Caine had driven me crazy. Why was I being punished ? I had questions of my own so, I wrote a note to Raleigh.

Why do I have to stay in Florida ?

“Because you became a resident when you married Sawyer and you committed your crimes here,” Raleigh explained

I don’t even know where Gainsville is.

“Look, I know it’s bad. Just enjoy the time you have with your family,”

My dad stepped in front of Raleigh

“Mr.Cameron, you must have some legal advice to help us ?”

He looked helplessely at me.

“Just don’t do anything stupid,”