Chapter 2: Roxie

"Wait a minute." Blond haired Roxie Hart told the reporter. She had been walking by Velma's cell when the interview had been going on.

"What do you want?" Velma asked harshly. Roxie ignored her and turned to the reporter.

"That's not what she told me." Roxie continued.

"Shut your mouth." Velma said in a low voice.

"Whoa, whoa. We've got a new story here." The reporter said, flipping his notepad to a blank page.

"Miss Kelly, please step out of the cell. Miss Hart, enter." As she passed, Velma shot Roxie a look that read 'I am so going to hurt you when this is over'

"Well, Mr. Reporter." Roxie started as she sat down across from the reporter.

"Call me Bill." The reporter said, blushing.

"Okay. . .Bill. It all started when Velma and her sister, Veronica or whatever and Velma's husband Charlie were down at the Cicero Hotel. . ."

As Roxie's voice trailed off, a hotel scene begins to unfold.

"Velma, honey, you and Veronica make a great team." Charlie said, taking a sip of his whisky.

"Aw, Charlie. You're only sayin that so I won't get mad." Velma told him. she was sitting on her husband, Charlie's lap, facing him. Charlie shook his head and kissed Velma on the cheek.

"Uh-oh. We ran out of ice." Veronica announced, looking at the ice bucket.

"I'll go get some." Velma volunteered. As she made her way down the hall towards the ice machine, she hummed a happy tune to herself. When she reached her hotel door, number 123, she heard the sounds of lovemaking coming from within.

"Yes, Charlie. Yes. Yes. Yes!" Veronica cried.

"You're my little shooting star, Ver." Charlie said.

What the hell is going on in there? Velma asked herself. She opened the door and couldn't believe her eyes: Veronica was half-naked, lying on the bed. Charlie was on top of her, wearing his work shirt, boxers and socks.

"Charlie, I trusted you!" Velma yelled.

"Velma, baby, I'm sorry." Charlie said in his soothing voice.

"Don't pull that crap on me!" Velma exclaimed. By this time, Veronica had started to put her show clothes back on. Seeing Charlie's revolver lying on the table next to her, Velma closed her eyes and fired.

". . . Before she passed out," Roxie concluded, "she heard their screams. But there was nothing she could do."

The reporter closed his notebook and stared wide-eyed at Roxie. His eyes darted over to Velma, who was leaning on the wall of the cell.

"That stuff is bullshit!" Velma said, not minding her language.

"Thank you, Miss Hart. I'll just be on my way." The reporter gathered up his notepad and coat, opened the jail cell door and walked down the hall into darkness.

The next morning, the headline of the Chicago Times caught Velma's eye:

What Really Happened on the Night That Velma Kelly's Husband and Sister Got Killed? Roxie Hart Tells All.

"I don't believe that little slut!" Velma yelled, startling all around her.