Divas Prison Ch54
Bayley felt sick to her stomach. She was sat in the courtroom listening to her lawyer try, and fail, to prove that the witness was mistaken in his testimony. The witness, an expert in bank security, had explained how there was no way for money, particularly the payment of fifty thousand dollars, to have gotten into Bayley's bank account by mistake. He had testified that there was no mistake, and she had been paid that money with intent. Bayley watched her lawyer stand and ask questions, challenging his confidence in the system, but getting knocked back at every turn. He then turned his attention to the fact that since there was no trace of the sender, that it could mean that the transfer has nothing to do with the prison break, and his client received that money for other reasons. The prosecution objected to this, as they had Bayley's statement that she had no knowledge of the transfer. If she had expected it from elsewhere, it would have been identified for what it was instead of what it truly was, her payoff for ensuring the unlawful release of dangerous fugitives. The judge sustained the objection and sternly warned the defence against trying to mislead the jury.
Bayley put her head in her hands as her lawyer tried to collect himself. In doing so, the chain on her handcuffs tightened and she winced in pain as they cut into her skin. The judge demanded she be kept in them, and shackled, at all times. Despite her clean record, because of the crime, he saw it fit to keep her restrained, to "prevent an escape of her own". Bayley closed her eyes and tried to recollect her thoughts, earlier in the day she had blown up at a question to a witness, which was basically accusing her of being obsessed with money, taking backhanders from prisoners after she failed to become a doctor in a real hospital, when that couldn't have been further from the truth. She had stood up and shouted at the prosecution lawyers that they were wrong. The judge had come down hard on her for that, threatening her with a year in prison for contempt of court every time she spoke out of turn from that point on. So she stayed silent too.
"If the defence has no further questions, I'm going to have this court stand in recess until 10:00 tomorrow morning, but before anyone leaves, I want to see both counsels in my quarters right away."
"All rise". Was called out and everyone stood as the judge left the room. Bayley's lawyer, along with the DA, followed him into his private chambers.
With the trial done for the day, Bayley felt panicked. It was another day that couldn't have gone worse for her. Her defence still had their turn, but right now, if she were someone else, like a member of the jury, she thought, she would think that she was guilty.
Bayley didn't know what the holdup was, but she knew she would be leaving court and going back to jail very soon, and when she did, she would, according to the letter she was sent, be coming face to face with one of the women they were trying to send her to prison for helping escape. The thought of seeing Sasha Banks again brought back some of the anger inside her. Anger she didn't know she had until the pressure of being arrested and put on trial took its toll. That anger made her think of the offer she had been made. She hadn't told her legal team about it, because if she did, the deal would be off anyway, or,so she was told. If she were to follow that deal, and kill Sasha, she could be cleared and home in a matter of days. The way the trial had gone wouldn't matter. All the time in jail wouldn't matter. She could start a new life with a clean slate. She thought that she'd move away from all of this, maybe to the west coast, where nobody knew her. All she had to do was...
Murder. That's what it was. She had to murder Sasha to get any of this to happen. Not only that, she had to do it without getting caught. Sasha was a killer herself and maybe deserved to die, but if she was caught, it would mean a life sentence, no chance of release, ever. It was the hardest decision she had ever had to make, literally her whole life being at stake.
"We need to find a room and talk for a second." Said her lawyer, waking her from her deep thoughts. They left the courtroom and found a private room, the deputies there to escort Bayley back to jail forced to wait outside by attorney-client privilege.
"The judge just read us the riot act." He said once they were alone. "He thinks we are making a mockery of his courtroom by pursuing a trial that is open and shut in his view.
"What? But it isn't. I didn't do it." Bayley responded.
"We know that, but the evidence has been nearly impossible to challenge. He has forced the DA to offer you another deal to plead guilty. Dr Martinez, I strongly urge you to take this deal when it comes through."
"But why would I, or should I plead guilty to something I didn't do. Last time they 'offered' me three years in prison. That's not a deal. I shouldn't have to do any time at all."
"Yes I know, but with all this evidence, you are likely to be found guilty. The judge is ready to really throw the book at you if we go all the way. He holds you partially responsible for Dixie Carters death. I think the two were associated in some way. He said he wanted accessory to murder charges, but since he can't have it, he's talking about consecutive sentences."
"What would that mean?" Bayley asked, knowing what consecutive meant.
"Well three of the charges were second degree with a max on 15 years, one third degree with a maximum of five years. So if consecutive, he could sentence you to a maximum of...
"F...fifty?" Bayley made it sound like a question, but the math wasn't hard.
"That's right, fifty years. If he does we will certainly get it down on appeal, but my advice is that this deal is our best shot."
"So, you're telling me to spend three years locked up for something I didn't do is my best shot? Can't you see how messed up that is? Three years will destroy me. I really don't think I can do it."
"It's your decision, but you know what you are risking now." The lawyers phone bleeped on his pocket. "That's going to be the email from the DAs office, they said they'd act fast so you could have time to think."
Bayley started breathing heavy as she watched her lawyer read, his reaction was not reassuring.
"There's a part you'll like, and a part you won't." He said. Bayley waited for him to continue, and he did. "The good news is they are going to allow you to plead no contest. You don't have to ever admit guilt, but it still carries the same penalties as pleading guilty."
"Penalties?" Bayley asked.
"Yes, and that's the bad news. It isn't three years prison."
Bayley didn't ask the obvious question, but without realising it, held her breath.
The lawyer did the opposite, exhaling as he delivered the bad news.
"It's eight."
Bayley felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She wanted to cry, but wasn't going to let anyone see that weakness in her, not even those who were there to help her.
"Eight years? No. How can they think that I'll agree to that? How can you think that's the best thing?l" She may not have been crying, but the despair in her voice was obvious.
The lawyer spoke with compassion, but was still very clear. "Because the prosecution heard the same details from the judge as I did. They know what you stand to get if found guilty by the jury, and they've offered less than a fifth of that. They probably wanted to go higher, over ten at least, but they know you turned down three when you were looking at fifteen. And their job is to see you incarcerated for as long as possible. They get that from this deal, and they are sure you can refuse this. Again, my advice is to take this offer."
"Is It? Bayley couldn't keep her feelings down anymore. "Is it? Your job is to help me beat these charges, not give up and live in a prison for eight years! What am I paying you for? I've already spent months in jail because you couldn't get me out!"
"Ah, I should point out that the deal is eight years, plus time served. The sentence would start from scratch." The lawyer knew he had to make that clear, but was all too aware it wouldn't be well received.
"No! I didn't do it!" Bayley jumped out of her chair, pointing her chained hands at her attorneys. "I didn't do it, and I won't take their deal. You go back to those evil liars and you tell them no deal. I'm going to walk out of here free, one way or another."
Bayley walked, as best she could and banged on the door, one of her escorts opening it. "We're done, get me out of here." She said. The officer gave her a pat down then took her arm.
"Dr Martinez, the deal is good till the trial resumes tomorrow morning. Please, think about it." The lawyer got nothing but an angry loo from his client as Bayley was taken back to her transport van.
All the way back to the jail, and then back to her cell, Bayley could only think about one thing. That there seemed to only be one way out of this for her now. There was certainly a lot less to lose now. Getting caught killing Sasha was a life sentence, but fifty years was the same thing in her mind. She would have no life left to live after serving her time, if she even lived another fifty years. And all for crimes she didn't do. At least if she killed Sasha and went to prison for murder, it was something she did. But if it went to plan, she would be cleared, she'd be home by this time next week. No prison sentence, out of jail, home.
As she crossed her cell block, Bayley looked feverishly around for Sasha but saw no sign. She was walked straight into her cell and freed from her restraints. Bayley was worried she hadn't seen her, she really had to do it tonight if she was going to do it within the time frame she was given.
There was a little bit of time before they were allowed out for evening recreation time so Bayley laid down for a moment. As she laid her head down, there was something solid underneath it. She turned and felt inside her pillowcase to find a piece of plastic that had been given a makeshift wrapping for a handle and moulder own to form what she found to be a very sharp point, like a spike. She knew right away that this had been left for her to carry out her task.
Looking at the weapon changed Bayley's mindset completely. All of her desperation about finding a way to avoid losing the rest of her life was replaced with a heavy dose of reality. She again found herself strongly questioning her ability to take any life. She had spent all her life wanting to be, training to be and then working as a doctor to help people, to save lives, and now her fate rested on if she could take one. In that moment, she didn't think she could do it, it wasn't her, wasn't who she was. She threw the shank across the cell into the toilet and went to flush it away, but stopped herself at the last second as a buzzer sounded and cells unlocked for the evening period. Bayley watched as inmates came out of their cells and congregated in different areas. Some at tables, some in front of the TVs, some at or waiting for the phones.
Bayley scanned the room for about a minute before she spotted what she was looking for, the unmistakable pink hair belonging to Sasha Banks. She was stood in the doorway to what had to have been her cell, leaning against the doorway, looking at her nails, not really interested in anything going on around her.
Bayley retrieved the shank from the bowl, dried it on her sheet and hid it by tucking it into the waistband of her underwear, making sure it was completely hidden from view. She looked around and saw the usual casual attitude from the guards, a much less strict regime than she'd seen when working at the state prison. A couple of them even deep in conversation with inmates. Of course she knew that would end if she, or anyone was caught doing anything they shouldn't.
Bayley made her way across to Sasha slowly. Sasha wasn't interested in anything going on around her, just moving outside her cell for a change of view. She'd only been there a few hours and hadn't been met with a warm welcome, and she didn't expect that to change. Her requests for a meeting with Jericho had been noted on her arrival, but she hadn't heard any more. Suddenly she realised someone was in her personal space, she turned to tell them where to go, but was caught out when she saw who it was.
"Doc?" Was all she got out before Bayley shoved her violently into the cell. Sasha came back but was shoved again, this time falling onto her bed.
"You've ruined my life!" Bayley cried as she went to take Sasha down again. Bayley was no fighter, and no match for Sasha, who had been in fights with people bigger and stronger than her, of both sexes, and come out on top, no matter what she had to do to accomplish that. Not everyone who had taken her on had walked away. Sasha had no grudge against Bayley, but wouldn't take being pushed around and looking weak, especially in jail. When Bayley went in again, Sasha knocked her arms away and threw a punch to the stomach, then the jaw that both found their targets, knocking Bayley against the wall.
Bayley was rattled by the shots, but couldn't allow herself to stop. She threw a punch of her own, that missed, then moved in close, grabbing Sasha by the hair and taking her down. She didn't throw any more punches, just held her down.
"Why did you have to do that? Why?" Bayley screamed, but at low volume. She pulled the shank out of her pants and Sasha realised what she was going to do. Bayley drew back but Sasha immediately went for that arm, wincing in pain as Bayley still had a handful of her hair, but succeeding in reliving a sharp blow to the arm that caused Bayley to drop the weapon to the floor. Sasha and Bayley both went for it, Sasha driving a knee into her attackers side to stop her motion.
Sasha picked up the shank with one hand and picked Bayley up by the collar with the other. "You are so far out of your depth. You tried to kill me. It's going to be the last mistake you ever make."
Sasha checked outside quickly, taking her eye off of the shaking woman at her mercy. Or that she thought was at her mercy. Bayley may not have been in Sasha's league, but had witnessed more than one fight in her incarceration to know she had to fight dirty. She grabbed Sasha by the head and jammed her thumb into her right eye. Sasha cried out in pain as Bayley threw another punch, but this one connected, and with Sasha's lack of control, knocked her back at speed, her head colliding with the wall.
Sasha fell down, dropping the shank. The collision with the wall had knocked her senseless, but not unconscious. Bayley picked up the shank and knelt over Sasha, who could only watch helplessly.
Bayley looked down at her opponent, again raising the weapon up, ready to strike.
She stopped. She let her arms hang by her sides as she looked in the eyes of her adversary. "I can't do it." She said as she began to get up. Bayley was going to walk away, but she did so so slowly that Sasha was able to collect her thoughts. She grabbed Bayley from behind and took her back to the floor, causing her to scream and drop the makeshift weapon. Sasha got her arm around Bayley's next and began to squeeze. "You can't huh? Well I can, and do you think I'm going to let you get away with trying to kill me? I could have helped you Doc, but you wanted revenge? Hope it was worth it!"
"Freeze! Let her go!" Came the command from above them. Sasha looked up and saw three guards, one inching closer. Sasha wasn't interested in a fight with them, not in her current situation. She released Bayley, who wheezed as she tried to get air back into my lungs.
"She tried to kill me, not that you care about that." Sasha said as she held her hands in the air. The guards wasted no time pulling her arms down behind her and putting her in handcuffs.
"We gave you one chance Banks, we told you that on arrival. Now you're going to the segregation block. 23 hour lockdown. No contact with anyone but an officer or two, and a lawyer if you have one, till your trial. Get her out of here."
"No..." Bayley whispered. In the moment forgetting her inability to to the deed before, all she saw was her only chance at freedom being quickly hustled away by the guards.
One of the officers picked up the shank from the floor and helped Bayley to stand. "What's this?" He asked. Bayley looked down, stating silent. The officer pocketed it. "You're on trial right now Martinez, don't go doing anything stupid, or you'll be with us a lot longer." He was trying to be supportive, his tone said as much, Bayley had given them no trouble her entire time there, but she took his words very badly.
"Can I go, sir?" She asked timidly. The officer gestured to the door and Bayley walked across the block, back to her own cell as quickly as she could. When she got to her bed she through herself down and folded up, trying not to make any noise in her anguish, in case other inmates heard and saw her as a weak target. She had learnt a lot about life inside from her work and the weeks she had spent in jail herself. All she had wanted to do was keep her head down until she could be cleared. Except now she had little to no chance of being cleared and the weeks she spent inside we're going to turn into a lot longer.
Bayley tried to clear her head and think. She was smart, smart enough not to murder someone in the middle of a county jail, and smart enough to know when she'd lost. And in that moment she knew she had lost her trial. Her one chance of salvation hadn't really been a chance at all. She almost felt relieved that she hadn't done it. She felt like herself again after spending the last 24 hours in a state of fear, anger and rage." But the results were the same as they were before she went near Sasha. She realised that there was only one thing she could do. She had to go to her lawyers in the morning and take the deal. It was that or risk the judge carrying out his threat and having four sentences back to back that would run a lot longer. She cursed herself for a moment for not taking the three year offer before the trial, but she knew she was innocent. None of this was fair, and she would never give up on fighting these accusations, but in the meantime she had to finally listen to the advice she'd been given before it ruined her whole life, instead of just the next eight years.
"Eight years. Eight years." Bayley found herself repeating as she couldn't stop the tears falling long into the night.
A/N: Poor Bayley. She got desperate in her circumstances but no matter how bad it got, she's not a killer. Do you think she'd have ended up being released if she'd gone through with it? What will be the reaction to her failure outside the walls?
She will now be going to the prison very soon, but not immediately, however the story will be doing that in the next chapter. How is Charlotte coping with the reappearance of the Bellas, especially Brie?
Thanks for reading, I hope to see you again.
