Sorry for the delay but I had a super busy last few days.
Kia sat in the office, the night shift wasn't what it used to be. The late night chats she used to have with Randy was something the dark woman missed. She sat now in the silence that always surrounded the wing at this final hour before the sun was due to rise. Kia's eyes were drawn to the movement of Justin as he walked down the corridor. He reminded Kia of Randy in a lot of way. Young, ambitious and here for the right reasons. He really wanted to help the women. Kia was not surprised when their newest recruit became interested in Mickie's case, not only that, but the woman herself. As Justin entered the guards office now Kia nodded at him and he walked over to the kettle.
"Susan seems to be doing better tonight, wherever you said to her seems to have worked." Justin said as he turned to face the more experienced guard.
"I just listened Justin, there is no real trick to it. Most of these woman just want to talk, and to have someone they can trust. It something that took me a long time to learn." Kia said thinking back to all the times she was far quicker with her night stick than her ears.
"I guess putting her in with Mickie helped, she is a good influence on the others." Justin said and Kia couldn't miss the blush that arouse on the young man's face.
"Believe me she wasn't always like that, I guess Beth changed far more round here than I realised." Kia said as Justin made the coffee and handed Kia a steaming cup.
"You know Mickie mentions her all the time, but she never really talks to me about Beth. What did she do that was so amazing?" Justin said not really understanding the impact that the blonde had made. Not only on the guards but most of the women in G-block to. Kia sighed and looked out of the window, the sun still had yet to make an appearance and she decided this was as good a time as any.
"I guess to know the truth about how much change there has been you will have to know the truth about what went on. I ask you not to judge, but to listen, if you really want to know how everyone, not just the convicted women in this prison had to pay penance for what went on inside these walls."
It had been almost six months since Beth left the prison. Mickie had been kept up to date with her case Via Henry who passed on information to Mickie and Kia. It had been a hard transition without her best friend, but Mickie had found new inspiration though her latest cell mate. This time it was she who was dolling out the advice. Susan was a young woman who had found herself in a situation not unlike Mickie's own. It was however her first time in prison and Mickie was determined that Susan was not coming back.
Kia had been as good as her word, looking out for the pair whenever she could, and it was not unexpected when it was the experienced coloured guard that came to cell fifteen and told Mickie she had a phone call.
"It's Henry and he sounds like he has news. Good news." Kia said opening up the cell and letting Mickie out. The brunette turned to the lanky red head that had shared her cell for the past six months and smiled at her.
"Good luck." Susan said with a mixture of happiness and anxiety. Mickie knew that feeling well, it was something she realised was a part of life. Not everyone could stay with you forever, but true friends would stick by you and always be just a phone call or a letter away. Beth had written to her a few times since her absence. Always with good news about her new project although the blonde did not go into detail. She had also mentioned Randy and that he was even more wonderful than they thought he was. Now Mickie made her way to the phone and picked up the receiver. She listened to Henry's excited voice as he told her that they had finally made progress in her case.
It came really out of the blue, for months they had been trying to track down the two women really responsible for the bank robbery, with little to no luck. It was in fact a contact of Beth's that still loved in Austin that located their whereabouts. Beth had then used some of Randy's extensive contacts in the police department to pick them up. The break really came though when the apartment the women were living in was searched. The baseball bat that was used in the robbery almost two years earlier was in the bedroom closet. When tested it had the victims' blood still on it.
"They obviously like that weapon a lot, they barely bothered to wipe it clean, but it was enough to get them charged." Henry concluded as Mickie could barely hold off the smile that threatened to consume her entire face.
"Do you think we will get a trial date soon?" Mickie asked as there was a pause. The sinking feeling in Mickie's stomach was familiar and unwelcome. She had been here many times before, on the brink of finding something good, only for it to be snatched away from her at the last moment.
"Mickie if they get these women for the robbery, you will be set free automatically. They know you could not have been present all ready, all they needed to prove was that you didn't swing the bat at some earlier stage." Henry said as Mickie breathed out a long slow breath. Scared to get her hopes up but fining it almost impossible not to.
"How long?" Mickie asked cautiously as Henry thought for a moment.
"Could be tomorrow, could be next year it's impossible to say considering we are relying on two pretty evil women to tell the truth." Henry said and Mickie could not help but think back to Layla and Michelle.
"I have realised that what goes around tends to come around Mr Charles, maybe I should consider getting a bag together." Mickie replied and both people smiled at the same time, although neither of them could possibly know that.
It did in fact take more than one day, it took three, the two women finally giving in to the overwhelming evidence and pleading guilty to the crime. It took precisely twelve hours for Henry to get Mickie released form the Texan state prison, and five minutes to get in contact with Beth to let her know that it had worked. The blonde placed the phone back on to the receiver and turned to Randy, he had been listening quietly sat on the opposite end of the sofa. They were currently living in a mobile home on the front lawn of the hotel. It had been cramped and awkward but totally worth it. Now as building work was coming to an end two months before schedule, mainly due to Beth's constant hounding of the builders, and Randy's help, they were going to be finished on time.
"She is coming home." Beth said a smile on her lips as Randy moved over in the small space and scoped Beth up on to his lap and planted a kiss directly on her welcoming mouth. They sat in that position for a moment, just enjoying being together. It was something both of them appreciated far more than a normal couple. It was a simple pleasure most people did not consider, to be free just to love someone, and hold them.
As Mickie walked out of the prison escorted all the way by Kia the brunette took the bag from the coloured guard at the gate and smiled up at her.
"You make sure you take care, and I never ever want to see you back here again, do you here me." Kia said wrapping Mickie into a tight embrace and pulling back quickly. Kia was still having to work on her physical contact, but she was slowly becoming more comfortable with it. Mickie however was fine with the hug, she squeezed tightly, actually feeling like she was saying goodbye to a friend. Something she would not have considered possible two years ago.
"I will, god I am so excited, it's like going on a magical mystery tour." Mickie said pulling back from the embrace and letting Kia go. Now looking at the bag which was small and plain black, it had obviously been brought at the prison shop.
"I never looked in there you know, Beth asked me not to and I respected her wishes. I guessed whatever is in there is meant for your eyes only." Kia said as Mickie reached for the zipper and paused.
"Thank you, but you know I don't think I can wait." Mickie said as she pulled the bag open and reached inside. The first thing she pulled out was an envelope, it was full of money, about seventy dollars' worth in small bills. The only other item in the bag was a mobile phone. Mickie pulled it out curiously and looked at it. She had no one's number who was she supposed to call. Stating as much to Kia the coloured woman nodded her head.
"Why don't you try the contacts page." She suggested and Mickie did just that, finding only one name stored there she smiled coyly.
"Thought I was getting smarter in my old age, I guess I still need a bit more work." Mickie said as she stared at Beth's name on the contact list and her thumb hovered over the call button.
"I think I should go, it's time Mickie." Kia said opening the gate and letting Mickie though. It was nothing Mickie could put her finger on and if asked later she would not have been able to describe it either, but the wind outside the gate felt different. It held a quality to it that made the woman smile. It was she thought the feeling of free air blowing though her brunette tresses. Savouring the feeling Mickie closed her eyes. Upon opening them again she turned to thank the woman who had got her though the last few months but she had gone. Mickie sighed, but she knew it was for the best, that part of her life was over and now it was time to get on with the rest of it. Pulling the phone to her ear Mickie pushed the call button, now unable to wait for her best friend to answer.
"Mickie?" the soft voice asked down the phone. Mickie wondered for a moment how Beth could possibly know it was her. She realised it really didn't matter, all that mattered was she was there, on the other end of the phone and sounding just as apprehensive as Mickie herself felt.
"It's me." Mickie said simply tears welling in her eyes as Beth's replying gasp echoed in her ears.
"Oh god you have no idea how happy I am, now get on that bus to the train station and get down here." Beth said recovering from her initial shock and returning to her usual self.
"I will don't you worry, will you be there at the train station to meet me?" Mickie asked already walking down the road to the bus stop as Beth replied.
"Yes and we will have an hour's drive to talk, there are things I need to tell you Mickie, things that might make you change your mind. But never mind about that now, it should take you eight hours to get here, that would put you at the station at nine am our time. I will be waiting." Beth said and Mickie checked her watch. Looking up briefly she saw the bus coming and started to jog.
"Ok I am on my way." She called down the phone but there was no reply as Beth had hung up. Mickie frowned slightly but had no time to think about it as the bus pulled to a stop and the doors opened. Climbing on Mickie passed the driver the five dollars and sat in a seat near the front next to the window. Staring out at the Texan landscape she couldn't help but feel that this would be the last time she ever saw the lone star state, the thought did not make her unhappy.
Beth had been checking out the tennis court when her mobile rang. She had only given the number to three people. One was Randy, the other Henry and the third was a person she had not spoken to in six months. Prison was a part of Beth's life she chose to forget about. Even though it had been an eye opening experience and a time of her life where she had met some wonderful people, she did not wish to linger on the thought of that place. Randy had asked her a few times about it when they had first settled here, but she always brushed him off, happy to talk about Mickie and their future, or to here news from Kia. Beth did not want to speak however about Kelly, or any of the other women. Randy had long since given up, realising that it was difficult for Beth to speak about the people she had left behind. Especially Kelly, the obvious guilt Beth felt over Kelly's incarceration was evident when in bed at night. Often Randy would wake up hearing Beth calling her sisters name in her sleep and saying she was sorry. He had asked her once about it but the blonde had clamped down on him. As the months rolled on the nightmares became less and Randy had stopped asking about how she was feeling. Choosing to live in the present instead of the past, as Beth now ran towards him as he walked around the edge of the tennis court the smile on her face drew him to a stop. Beth virtually threw herself at him, clinging on to his neck and placing a wet kiss on his cheek.
"Mickie's coming home, she will be here tomorrow morning." Beth cried as Randy joined her in her happiness. Hugging her tight to his chest and placing his chin on the top of her head.
"So what do you think we should do while we wait?" Randy said as Beth pulled back from him and raised one eyebrow.
"What did you have in mind Mr Orton?" she smirked at him as she backed up the lawn towards the hotel.
"Well now seeing as you have so much energy how about we christen the new pool?" Randy suggested as Beth flicked the corners of her mouth up.
"Ok last one in cleans the sewage pipe out." She called already racing for the rear door and had a significant head start on Randy. He took no time in chasing after her, knowing she would follow through on her threat. He could hear her laughter all the way across the lawn until the door closed behind her and he knew he had lost. Randy pulled open the door and saw Beth shed her clothes down to her underwear and dive into the crystal clear water, her hair flowing out behind her. He may have lost the race but he had won in life.
Mickie had sat on the train in an almost empty car, the night express was comfortable enough for the brunette to drift in and out of sleep. The low and constant rumble of the wheels on the track lulling her eyes closed and her mind to wonder. The thought of Beth prevalent in her mind as she went back to the time they had flooded the wash room with foam, and laughed like they hadn't a care in the world. In the brief moment before full consciousness caused Mickie's eyes to open her mind finally turned to Beth's confession that she had something to tell her, something that might make Mickie reconsider her decision to spend the rest of their lives together. As the announcement was made to their destination Mickie woke with a start. The thought of what Beth was going to say to her stuck in that moment as she bolted upright and the realisation hit.
"No" she shook her head, as she looked out of the window to the almost empty platform. The only people there in this early hour, too late for work commuters and too early for holiday makers were people who had come to greet the new arrivals. Mickie spotted Beth waving at her, the blonde hair blowing back from her face. Time away from prison had been good for her. She had gotten thin inside the impressive muscle she had once carried lost to a routine of sitting down and being locked away. Now was back giving her a glow that Mickie had never before seen on her friend. Mickie collected her luggage and looked down at the one small bag she had. It was all that was left of her life, it seemed so insignificant now, such a small case to contain ones entire existence in. stepping down from the train onto the platform, Mickie didn't care about her old life as Beth ran towards her. The blondes smile lighting up the morning and making Mickie drop her belongings to cling onto the person that had saved her.
They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, even after the train had left and the platform emptied of people, they still held on tightly to one another. Mickie stood on tiptoes and whispered in Beth's ear.
"You know I don't care what you have to tell me, what it is that you have done, I will be with you always." Mickie pulled back from Beth as the blue eyes that stared down into her own darkened for a second before the blonde took Mickie's hand in hers and pulled he forward.
"Come on let's get going." Beth said and Mickie had no choice but to follow.
Beth had been quite as they pulled out of the train station and Mickie did not want to push her, she knew the blonde would talk in her own time. As the journey continued and nothing was said Mickie didn't like this silence, she also knew Beth was not comfortable with it either. Mickie decide that it was finally up to her to take the first step. That she had grown enough in herself to help her friend and make this easier on her. Taking a deep breath Mickie spoke the words that she never thought she would hear herself say.
"You killed her didn't you, you killed Melina."
It was not a question it was a statement and Beth could do nothing but nod.
"Yes. I promised I would never lie to you Mickie and if that means I lose you then so be it." Beth said her eyes glancing away from the long dusty road for a second as she tried to read Mickie's expression. The brunette sat silent for a moment the look of thought contracting her features in her face and making her look older than she really was.
"How?" Mickie asked finally and Beth once again let out a long breath.
"If you are sure you want to know then I will tell you." Beth said without hesitation as Mickie nodded and Beth for the first time told the true story of what happened that fateful night.
"Everything I told people was true, about how I went to Melina's house, how Kelly told me of the affair. How I drove off into the desert. I have always found that lies work best when you fill them with as much truth as possible. As I drove away that night I got all of three blocks when I realised that she was getting away with this, and had been for years. She was a woman who broke up families and happy marriages for fun. And she didn't care, in fact I would go as far as to say she enjoyed it. So I turned the car around and parked in the adjacent street, I then rushed back to the dumpster collected the gun and crept in the back door. Silly woman had left it unlocked, I found her back to me cooking popcorn on the stove. I remember it was finished the last few corns popping as she turned off the gas. I fired before she could turn around and see me. I fired until the gun was empty. There was so much blood, I whipped the gun and the door handle and made my exit. Throwing the gun back in the dumpster I ran back to the car and headed off for the state line. I soon realised that running would make me look guilty so I turned around knowing that the police would be in touch soon. After all I had used Cody's gun and they were bound to find it. On the drive back I concocted a plan. I did not know at this point that Kelly had already killed her step farther, concealing his body in bits in the bath and therefore I was unable to get her to help me. The witness was a surprise, one that I thought would work in my favour, obviously I was wrong and I got sent to prison. It was only a matter of time then, waiting for Kelly to finally crack and admit to a murder I convinced her she had done." Beth stopped and looked at Mickie there was a look of shock on her face as Beth slowed the car down. They were nearing their destination and she needed to know what Mickie was thinking before they arrived. She could not have her telling Randy the truth, she had trusted that her best friend would understand, that she would forgive her, even of Beth could never forgive herself.
"I don't know what to say Beth, you let your own sister take the blame for your crime, ok so she was crazy and had killed two people." Mickie said confused as to what to think now. She had always thought of Beth as a shiny innocent person who had overcome adversity, a natural born winner who's determination was only matched by her intellect. Mickie had no idea just how clever this woman truly was.
"I know Mickie and I am paying for it every day. I have tried to be the best person I can be, helping others, helping you. I guess my penance is the knowledge that Kelly will be locked up for the rest of her life, and I will have to live with that for the rest of mine." Beth said as the hotel started to come into view.
"I love you Beth, I have from the first week we met, your strength got me though all of the death and misery, your kindness made me strive to be a better person. I may not agree with what you did, but I can understand it. I guess it's not what we do in life that makes us who we are, but how we deal with it." Mickie said as the car pulled into the drive and Mickie looked at her new home. The large gold letters hanging over the door read the Freedom Hotel. Mickie smiled at that her smile only widening when Randy stepped out of the front door and moved to great them as they drove towards him
"He must never know Mickie." Beth said as Mickie looked at Randy's smiling face, as he squinted at them though the glare of the sun. Then she turned to look at her best friend, a small smile playing at her lips.
"Then I guess your secret is safe with me." She said as Beth stopped the car and they both climbed out.
Randy approached them both as they shared a small smile, smelling the sea air and their first taste of true freedom together.
THE END
I know pretty much a shocker, did you like it I hope so. This story is dedicated to all the people locked up for crimes they did not commit. For all the people executed and then found innocent.
"It is far better to let a hundred guilty people free, than to kill one innocent one."
Thank you so much for reading I welcome any feedback and don't hesitate to tell me your true opinion. XxX