Southern Greed (12 page)

We sat at the table during the break and Todd said to me, “When this is all over, I think you should file criminal charges against the good reverend.

“I have a buddy who is a private detective who can probably find more of the reverend’s victims.  This criminal needs to be put away for life.  No telling how many other young girls he raped and is still doing so.”

After recess, the prosecution called Mrs. Dover, my grandmother’s housekeeper, to the stand.  She said I had tried to take over from the first minute I stepped into the mansion, that I had changed rooms after she had assigned the best room in the mansion to me and my husband.

She said that I had strutted around the mansion like I owned the place and that I spent all my time with Miss Gracie and ignored my own husband,  Then she flat out lied, saying that I ordered her and the other servants around like I was the mistress of the place.

On cross examination, Todd asked,
“How long have you worked for Mrs.
Boston, Mrs. Dover?”

“For 35 years.  She was more than my boss.  She was
also
my friend.”

“Did you think she would leave you an inheritance due to your loyalty?”

She hesitated as if she didn’t know what answer would put her in a better light.  Then she said, “She told me so, y
es, and what’s wrong with that?  I’ve devoted my life to her.  I deserve some rewards.”

Todd stood staring at her for so long that the judge said, “Are there any more
questions for this witness, Mr. Quincy?
”

Todd acted startled like he had forgotten where he was, “Uh, yes, your honor.”  Th
en

he
look
ed at Mrs. Dover and said,
“So you must have been angr
y when Mrs. Boston’s granddaughter
showed up and
Mrs. Boston acknowledged that she was her granddaughter.  Now there was someone else to inherit.”

“Is there a ques
tion, here?” Ms. Miller said as
she got to her feet.

The judge looked at Todd, “Are you going to question this witness or is she dismissed?”

“She’s dismissed your honor.”

I looked at the jury hoping I could tell what they were thinking but there was very little reaction.

The prosecution rested and the judge dismissed us for the day.  Tomorrow we would start our defense and I hoped Todd had enough to win the case.

CHAPTER 26

“Well, you look more rested than yesterday morning,” Todd said to me as I was seated.

“
I slept better last night, knowing it would be our turn today.
”

At the same time we were told to rise and that the honorable Judge Matthews was presiding, Todd was saying, “I’m going to move to dismiss.”

I looked at him convinced I must have misheard him, but as soon as the judge gave the floor to Todd, he said, “Your honor, I move to dismiss.  The prosecution has failed to prove her case.  There is absolutely no evidence that my client committed this act.  There was a whole parade of people who had access to the kitchen that day.

“Anyone could have put that arsenic
in
that pie.  I’m amazed the prosecution
had the gall to bring this to trial in the first place.  There is absolutely nothing to connect my client to this murder.”

“I will see both counselors in my chambers,” The judge said as he rose.  We all stood as the judge and both lawyers entered his chambers.  We waited and waited for what seemed like hours.

When they came out Todd was smiling and Ms. Miller was bright red and frowning.  The judge dismissed the case and just like that I was free.

I returned to the mansion and was met by my husband.
  “Belinda, darling, I’m so sorry.  I love you, I really do.  Please forgive me.  I’m sorry I doubted you.  I should have known you couldn’t have killed that poor old woman.  You’re such a sweet and kind person.”

I couldn’t believe he was trying to smooth things over like he was, “I went to jail because of your lies, Adam.  How could I ever trust you again?  I
want a divorce and I want you, your sister, and your lover out of here right now.”

His eyes became very dark as he said, “You’ll regret this, Belinda.”

“The name is Kathy, as if you didn’t know that already.  I have a feeling you knew who I really was before you found me and it wasn’t an accident you found me either, was it, Adam?

“What was your plan, to marry me, murder my grandmother and frame me for murder and get all the money?
  Then what, you were going to divorce me and marry your lover, Rachael?”

I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye and turned and found Rachael standing there.  She had usually been dressed in a nurse
’
s uniform but was now dressed in a tie dyed long sleeved tee shirt and jeans.

She moved toward me and I suddenly noticed a needle in her hand.  Before it fully registered in my mind,
Adam had grabbed me and held me and she had stuck the needle in my neck and pushed in the plunger.

“They’ve killed me,” I thought as I blacked out.

CHAPTER 27

When I came to, I was in the gold room again and wondered why it was so important for them that I be in the gold room.

I was lying across the bed and I felt like I was going to be sick.  When I got up the room started spinning and I had to sit back down on the side of the bed.

I got up again and held on to the bed post and the room finally stopped spinning and then made my way to the door.  It was locked.  I was locked in and I wondered what they had planned for me.  How would this get them what they wanted?  It didn’t make any sense. 
Was Adam going to try to force me to stay married to him?
  Was he going to keep me locked up here for the rest of my life and control the money?  Could he possibly do that?

A key turned in the lock and Mrs. Dover came in carrying a tray.
  While she was putting the tray on the nightstand, I ran toward the door and was met by Adam.

I tried to fight him but he grabbed my arms and shoved me back inside and onto the bed.  “Stay there,” He said pointing his finger at me.

“Why have you put me in this room?”

Mrs. Dover laughed, “Because you hate it, of course.”

They left the tray without answering any of my questions.  I had wanted to know what their plans were for me and how they thought they would get away with it.

The rest of the staff had probably left now that my grandmother was no longer here.  That’s was probably why Mrs. Dover served my lunch.

I decided to see if there was any way I could escape.  I tried all the windows but they were all nailed shut with huge nails.  I had no way to get them out.
  Even if I could have, the drop was too great.  The ceilings downstairs were ve
ry
high so that made the upstairs very high.

I suddenly realize this had bee
n
planned.  They had fixed up this room so I couldn’t get out.  This must have been plan B.  Adam must have thought that with me out of the way, he would be next in line for the inheritance.

He obviously didn’t know that if I didn’t inherit, then all the money would go to charity.  There was no way I would tell him, but either way I was still doomed unless I could get someone to help me.

My meals were brought up to me and they fed me well.  The only thing I was given to drink was milk and I wondered if they knew I was pregnant.

A few days later Adam brought Doctor Sims up to see me and left her in the room with me alone.

“You’ve got to help me,” I said as she examined me.  “I’m a prisoner here.  Did you know that?  They’re keeping me
locked up here.  You’ve got to
get me out of here.
”

She pulled the surgical gloves off her hands and looked at me with sympathy, “Kathy, Adam loves you.  He feels horrible about the way he’s treated you but he wants this baby.  I know it feel like you’re a prisoner but you’re not.  Just give him another chance.  He wants to be a loving husband to you and a good father to the baby.

“Sometimes, when a woman is pregnant, she becomes delusional.  It
will pass.
  You and the baby are doing
really well by the way.  You must have been taking good care of yourself.”

“Please, doctor, you’re not listening to me.  They keep the door locked.  I really am a prisoner.  I’m not delusional.  Please help me.”

She looked at the door and then back at me, “The door wasn’t locked just now when Adam brought me up.”  She patted my hand, “Get plenty of rest and take some walks.  It will help you when you get ready to deliver.”

That gave me hope, “Tell Adam I need to walk.  Maybe he will let me out to walk.”

“I’m sure he will,” She said with a smile and walked out.

Either she didn’t believe me or she was in on whatever their plans for me were.  I gave her a few minutes to get down the stairs and then ran to the door.  It was unlocked and I got confused.  I walked right out.

I stood at the top of the stairs and listened to the doctor tell Adam that I was a little delusional and for him to call her if that got any worse.  Then she told him that I needed to take walks and he said, “I’ve been trying to get her to take walks with me but she refuses.”

“Try to be patient with her, Adam.
  She’s been through a lot but she’s a healthy young woman and I think she will be all right.”

He saw her to the front door and then started back up the stairs.  I ran down the hall and hid in another bedroom.  This one was done up in shades of burgundy and gray.  I
t
looked very masculine.  I heard someone coming and I hid in the armoire.  I knelt down and prayed to the God I wasn’t sure I believed in anymore.

The door was jerked open and Adam and Mrs. Dover pulled me out and forced me back down the hall to the gold room.  Adam pushed me onto the
bed and they went out and locked the door.

Everything seemed so hopeless that I cried myself to sleep that night.  The next morning Adam came up and got me right after breakfast and said he was taking me for a walk.

I saw several of the servants on the grounds
,
who
had testified against me and knew it would do no good to try to run
or to get help from them
.

CHAPTER 28

As the weeks went by the doctor’s visits became more
frequent.  I finally gave up
trying to convince the doctor that I was being held
prisoner
.

I didn’t believe the doctor was in on the scam and I started to believe she had only been trying to help my grandmother before.  I now believed that someone was slowly poisoning my
grandmother.  I believed that they had decided to quit after I got there and decided to frame me for murder.  Both Adam and Rachael had made sure they were out of town when my grandmother was murdered, but they could have put the poison in the mince meat before they left.

One day Adam and Mrs. Dover came to tell me that my grandmother’s lawyer was waiting downstairs to see me.

“He has the final papers for you to sign for your inheritance,” Adam said.  “I told him you weren’t feeling well and that we would bring him up here as soon as you put on a robe.”

He pulled out a gun and handed it to Mrs. Dover who went into the closet but left the door ajar.

“Mrs. Dover will have the gun pointed at you at all times.  I want you to sign the papers, make small talk and let him leave.  If Mrs. Dover thinks at
any time that you are trying to signal him, she will shoot both of you.  She’s a good shot.  I taught her.

“I want you to tell him how glad you are that we’re back together, that you’re happy and can’t wait to have my
baby.  If he asks how you’re fee
ling, you’re to tell him you don’t feel real well right now but that your doctor says you are doing great.
  That you’re just a little tired.  Do you understand all that, Kathy?”

“I hate you,” I said and he laughed.

“I really don’t care how you feel about me.  All I need you to do is have this baby.”

Adam went down and got Colin.  I did as instructed and he had me sign the papers.

“Don’t you want to know how much money you get?” He asked.

I shrugged and he laughed, “You get, after my fees, 143 million dollars which incl
udes this mansion and the
surrounding property which is valued at 3.8 million
.  Kathy, I will be happy to still act as your attorney if you wa
nt or you can get someone else.”

Adam hadn’t told me how to handle this part so I just agreed tha
t he would still be my attorney.