Opt Out
The following morning, Brandi and Aaron arrived at the court house with enough time to get settled before the Bailiff appeared.
"Brandi Shannon."
Brandi stood and looked to Aaron. "Wish me luck."
"You'll do great."
She let out a breath as she followed the Bailiff into the courtroom. Her eyes scanned the smattering of onlookers as she walked up to the witness stand. She shivered as she locked eyes with Chuck. He could always make her feel uneasy, even when he was thousands of miles away. She averted her gaze and looked at the Bailiff.
"Raise your right hand."
She complied.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth so help you God?"
"I do."
"Be seated."
Brandi sat down, wringing her hands in her lap, just out of view of the rest of the people in court. She was trying to stay calm. As long as she told her side of the story accurately, she'd be ok. They couldn't lock her up. Her eyes locked onto the prosecutor, a young man with intense green eyes as he stood and walked around the table.
"Could you please state your name for the court?"
Brandi swallowed. "Brandi Shannon."
"Miss Shannon, what is your relationship to the defendant?"
"Chuck? He's my boyfriend…well ex-boyfriend. We broke up a while ago"
The prosecutor gave a nod that she could stop talking. She cleared her throat, waiting for the next question.
"Now, could you please tell the court your involvement, if any, with the defendant's drug business?"
Brandi took a moment before answering. She needed to gather her thoughts. She had no idea how much Chuck already knew.
"Uh…well a year and a half ago he told me that he needed me to go to Albuquerque because a guy he knew was going to make a sale there." A pause and the prosecutor nodded for her to continue. "So…I took the drugs to New Mexico. I guess I didn't really think anything of it."
"Please describe the drugs, if you can remember."
"It was twenty kilos of crystal meth."
"So, did you make the drop?"
Brandi shook her head. "No. I…I was starting to turn my life around. I tossed the drugs in the river…"
"The police report from Albuquerque said you had the drugs?"
"Yeah…I went back and got them. I thought…if I turned them in…that maybe people wouldn't get hurt…."
"Thank you. No further questions." He returned to his seat.
Brandi watched the defense attorney stand. Something about him made Brandi squirm. He looked like someone Chuck would know.
"Miss Shannon…may I call you Brandi?"
Brandi blinked. "I guess."
He smiled. "Brandi…now you told the court that you turned the drugs in to the police because you…" he paused to pick up his notes, "thought that you turned them in that maybe people wouldn't get hurt. Wasn't it the fear of getting caught that made you turn in the drugs?"
"Sort of."
"Yes or no."
"Yes…but that was only part of it."
"Isn't it also true that you made a deal with the district attorney in Albuquerque?"
"So what?" She felt the judge staring down at her.
"Miss Shannon, please answer with 'yes' or 'no."
"Yes."
"What was that agreement?"
"Objection Your Honor. Relevance?"
"It goes to the credibility of the witness."
"I'll allow it. Please answer the question, Miss Shannon."
"I…I testify against Chuck and they don't charge me."
"No further questions."
The judge looked over at Brandi. "You may step down."
She stood, her legs wobbly beneath her as the Bailiff led her out of the room. Aaron spotted her as soon as the doors opened.
"How did it go?"
"I don't know…I told them what happened…the defense guy asked about my deal with the district attorney in Albuquerque."
"It's ok. They didn't know about the program. You did good."
"So wait…do we have to stay here until the trial is over?"
"No. I'll be in touch with the prosecution. They'll let us know when there has been a verdict. We're catching a plane back tonight."
They landed back in Elk River shortly before eleven. Brandi was out of her seat and off the jet in record time. Aaron had to run after her to catch up.
"What's the hurry?"
"I don't know…I just…I'm anxious. I know my part of the trial is over. I just…I want it all to be over. I want him in jail."
"The prosecution has a strong case."
"I just want to get home…see Mom."
"Ok. Come on."
Two weeks passed before Brandi heard any news about the trial. She'd fallen back into her daily routine but the anxiety still surfaced every now and again. She got the call at work around mid day on a Thursday.
"Hello?"
"Brandi, it's Marshal Greene."
"Let me guess, you're around your boss?" They'd both tried to act as if the moment in the hotel hadn't happened.
"Funny. I just wanted to call and give you the news."
Brandi looked over her shoulder to see her manager giving her a dark look. Shrugging it off, she moved to a more secluded area of the store.
"Ok…should I like sit down or something?"
"That's up to you. But, the prosecutor called. The jury convicted on all counts. He's going away from a long time."
"That's great. Mom will be happy."
"You don't sound too happy."
"No, I am…really. Hey I've got to go but um…do you think you could come over tonight…at like six?"
"Brandi…we've been through this…"
"It's not like that. I just…I need to ask you something face to face."
"Yeah…I'll be there."
"Thanks. Bye."
She hung up and slid her phone back into her pocket. She'd get reprimanded for taking a call in the middle of a shift but it was worth it. She was safe and so was her family. She only hoped that Aaron would let her do what she wanted.
Six o'clock rolled around and Brandi paced the living room. Jinx walked out in her waitress uniform.
"What's wrong?"
"I asked Aar-Marshal Greene to stop by tonight. And he's late."
"Oh. He's a nice man."
"Yeah…he is."
"Pretty cute too."
"Mom!"
"Well he is."
Just then, a knock resounded on the door. Brandi raced over and pulled it open.
"Come in."
Aaron walked in and gave Jinx a smile and a nod. "Evening."
"Hi."
He turned back to Brandi. "So…what did you need to ask me?"
"Um…back in Albuquerque before came…the Marshals there…they said something about like getting out of the program."
He nodded. "Witnesses are allowed to opt out of the program."
"Well…I want to do it."
"What? Honey? Are you sure?" Jinx asked.
"Yeah, Mom. Chuck's in jail…so are all his friends. There's no one to hurt us. We can go home."
"He went to jail? When?"
"The jury convicted yesterday."
"Oh…" Jinx sunk onto the couch.
"This is kind of sudden isn't it?"
Brandi sat down next to her mother and placed a hand on her arm. "I know it's a lot to ask right now but…Mom think about it…we could go home…see Mary. I mean I like our life here but…I feel like there's no real reason to hide anymore."
"You're right." Jinx turned to Aaron. "What do we have to do?"
"I can bring the paperwork by tomorrow before you both go to work."
"Great. Thanks."
"Well…have a good night."
As soon as the door shut, Jinx turned to look at her daughter. "This doesn't have anything to do with him, does it?"
"Mom…maybe a little. We um…in New Jersey...we kissed…but we can't date or anything…it's against the rules."
"So if you weren't in the program anymore….you could."
"Yeah…maybe. If he wanted to."
"Good for you. He's much better than Chuck."
Brandi let out a sigh. "Yeah…he is. But you need to go to work."
Brandi spent the evening starting to pack her things. She wanted to be ready to leave as soon as they could. The next morning, Aaron and Karena arrived with the paperwork. Both Shannon women were packed and ready to go.
"So…do we get to fly back on the jet?" Brandi asked as Aaron handed her a pen.
"You'll be flying commercial."
"Guess that makes sense." She scribbled her signature at the bottom of the form and handed it back.
"So…uh…I guess this means I'm not your witness anymore."
"Nope. You're just a beautiful woman I had the pleasure of getting to know."
"Look me up sometime." She gave him a wink as she began to pull her luggage out into the hallway.
He followed after her, pulling the door shut behind them. He watched Brandi searching through her purse and couldn't help but reach out and take her hand in his. She looked at him and let her purse fall to the ground. In a matter of moments, he had gently pulled her to him. They stood in the hallway, kissing for what felt like hours. Neither Jinx nor Karena said a word as they walked into the hallway. Karena finally cleared her throat.
"We should get going. They have a plane to catch."
Aaron stepped back, looking embarrassed. "Right."
He and Brandi exchanged a brief hug outside of security before she and her mother went through. The two marshals stood, giving them a wave.
"Be careful, Aaron. You don't know what you're getting into."
"Thanks for the concern, but I think I know exactly what I'm getting into."
The flight back to Albuquerque was uneventful, landing Brandi and Jinx back in the city around two o'clock.
"Do you think she'll be home yet?" Jinx asked as they retrieved their luggage from baggage claim.
"I don't know. Guess we'll find out."
Mary sat in the living room, reading the newspaper. She'd had a short day and she liked it that way. She flipped to the business section just as a car pulled to a stop in the driveway. She set the paper down and peered out the window. She stared at Brandi and Jinx climbed out of a cab.
"What the hell?"
She was on the front porch in a matter of seconds.
"Hi sweetie!" Jinx exclaimed.
"What are you guys doing here? Are you nuts?"
"No. We opted out of the program…the trial is over and stuff. Chuck went to prison."
"And now, Brandi can date…"
"Mom…shut up."
"That's…" She paused. She could tell by the way her mother and sister stood expectantly that they wanted to move back in. "Come on in.
Mary let out a sigh as she watched her mother and sister walk into the house. "So much for having the house to myself."