Chapter 15

I was dragging my rolling suitcase with one hand while the other was holding my cell phone to my ear.

"Yea Jackson we just walked in the room…. No we're staying in Wilmington, just south of Hampstead…. Yea, Benny thought it would be better to stay away from there as much as possible…. Alright, well Benny's hungry so, … yea I know he is…. Tell Bennie G thanks again for letting us use his car…. I miss you too babe…. Bye."

I closed my cell phone and sat on the bed. It had been a week since I freaked out on the elevator and after thinking about it long and hard, I had decided to attend Frankie's parole hearing and Benny had tagged along, which I was very thankful for.

Benny had adjusted to mine and Jackson's relationship rather nicely. There weren't any nasty glances when Jackson would put his arm around me, and there was only a very subtle coughing whenever our kiss would linger too long and I wasn't entirely positive that the coughing came solely from Benny. Really, this past week has been great. Why didn't I just tell Benny sooner? Though, the whole sneaking around thing was pretty exciting.

"Are you done? Good god you two know how to talk." Benny exclaimed.

"Sorry, it's our first real time away from each other since we've been together."

"What are you talking about? It's been almost a month since your graduation party."

"Yea but, we weren't officially together until he came to my hotel room that first day we were in Philly."

"So what the hell was graduation?"

"A hook up."

"A hook up?"

"A much needed hook up. A long awaited hook up. A hook up that was two months in the making, but god when it finally happened it was like…"

"Amy!"

"Sorry," I could feel my cheeks turn ten shades of red. "You don't want to hear the intimate details of our…er intimacy. So, what about dinner?" I jumped up from the bed. "There was a Ruby Tuesday just down the block; we could walk there with no problem."

"Ruby Tuesday sounds fine."

*~*

A half hour later I was walking to our table at Ruby Tuesday after visiting the ladies' room.

"Hey," Benny leaned in as I sat down. "I got us some free drinks, so whatever the waitress says just go with it, play along."

"What did you tell her?" I asked.

"Nothing really, but I may have let her assume a few things. You like the Bud Lime right?"

"Yea…"

"Here you go…" the little red head waitress said as she set two beers on the table before us and two more in a bucket of ice on the back.

"Thank you." Benny said.

"Are you ready to order or do you need a minute to look at the menu?" She looked at me.

"Just a few minutes for me please." I responded.

"Certainly."

"We would like to have some of your cheddar fries though." Benny added.

"Absolutely. I'll place the order in now and they should be up in a few minutes. Oh, and Happy Anniversary Mrs. Johnson. They say the first year is the hardest to get through."

I choked down the drink that I had just taken. "Th…thank you." I said eyeing Benny. After she walked away and was out of ear shot I really turned on him. "You told her I was your wife?!"

"I let her assume. I did tell her that it was our one year anniversary though, and that the Bud Lime was the first drink I ever bought you."

"Benjamin Johnson!"

"What? I wanted a beer but I didn't want to pay for it."

"I've got to set her straight."

"Do you want to pay for these beers then?"

"Ah…ohh… This is wrong on so many levels."

"Relax Amy. Where's the wild college girl Kellie keeps talking about?"

"I don't know what all Kellie has told you, but most of my shenanigans have all revolved around her in some way."

"I think it's all just talk."

Was that a challenge? Was he challenging me? I never backed down from a challenge, and that sounded like a challenge to me.

I pointed my finger at him. "Jackson never finds out about this, no body finds out about this."

He grinned wickedly.

"Give me your hand."

"What for?" he asked.

"Hello, I'm your wife and we're celebrating our anniversary, you've got to at least pretend to be in love with me. Now hold my hand over the table."

Benny placed his hand on the table palm up and I placed me hand in his before searching the menu for something to eat.

*~*

Back at the hotel we spent a relaxing hour in the hot tub before heading back to the room to rent a movie and then go to bed. I tossed and turned all night as painful memories flashed through my mind. I hadn't been this close to my past since the original trial. My body ached for Jackson, longing to be held in his arms.

Frankie's hearing was scheduled to start at ten the next morning, so Benny and I, after showering and getting dressed, decided to check out before leaving. After all, Hampstead was on the way back to Philly and there would be no need to stick around once the hearing was over.

The hearing was located in a small private chamber in the east wing of the courthouse. Only those with "invites" were allowed in, so Benny had to sit on a bench outside the room while I went in alone; I'd come too far to turn back now. I sat in the last row on the left side, close to the doors in case I had to leave early.

Before turning off my cell phone, like requested by the bailiff, I sent a quick text message to Jackson: I really miss you and I wish you were here. I'll call you later.

"All rise for the Honorable Judge Jameson."

A little old woman walked in from one of the side doors. She couldn't have been more than five feet tall. Her dark auburn hair was kept short on top her head. Her robes trailed the ground behind her as she walked.

"Be seated." She said as she finally took her seat. "This is the parole hearing for Richard Franklin Cox. Bring in the defendant."

The other side door opened up and two officers escorted Frankie in. He was clad in a head to toe blue jump suit. On his left breast were the numbers 0667. His ankles and his wrists were chained together with a long chain connecting the two down the center. He held a bible in his hand and wore a crucifix around d his neck. His long shaggy hair hung down to his shoulders. His beard and mustache were untidy and speckled with gray. I guess he didn't see the need to clean up for his hearing.

Before taking his seat at the table up front, his black eyes scanned the room. They lingered on me and the corner of his mouth turned up into an all too familiar smile. I desperately tried to steady my breathing as my blood began to rise and my palms began to sweat. I had to remain calm.

The hearing began with a nervous junior prosecutor recapping the trial of twelve years ago. That boy must have been a beginner because he was fumbling with words and fiddling with papers. Did the D.A.'s office even care about this hearing? After he had thoroughly reviewed the case and told everyone what they already knew, the Judge gave Frankie's attorney a chance to speak.

She stood up and started talking about how Frankie was a changed man. She said that he had been drug free for eleven years. Of course he was drug free, he had been in prison for the past twelve years! She said that he had found religion and God and that now he wasn't even tempted for a cigarette or an alcoholic beverage. I didn't buy any of it, that smile he gave me was too much like the old Frankie I knew.

After Frankie's attorney spoke, the Judge gave Frankie a chance to speak for himself. He sounded different, actually referring to the Judge as "your Honor." After Frankie spoke, the prison warden and a few of the guards spoke. They all said about the same thing, testifying to how Frankie had changed, The warden even went as far as to say that he believed that Frankie had learned his lesson and done his time.

After sitting in the courtroom for about half an hour and listening to testimony after testimony in Frankie's favor, the Judge ruled and retreated to her chambers. I rushed out of the courtroom and passed Benny. I could feel the tears start to prick my eyes; I pushed them back. I refused to let Frankie get to me.

"Amy, what happened?" Benny asked as he finally caught me arm and spun me around.

"They've released him on parole." I answered, still fighting the tears.

"What?"

"All they talked about in there is how he's changed. They say he's found God and that he's a different man than when he went in there."

"That does happen sometimes Aims."

"Yea but this is Frankie we're talking about! I just… I don't…" I didn't know what to think. A part of me wanted to believe that it was true, that he really had changed, but that smile he gave me was too contradicting.

"Let's just go." I said.

"Yea, yea sure."

Before leaving the courthouse we passed by the bathrooms. "I have to go before we leave. I'll just take a minute." I said.

"Ha! Girls never take just a minute, but go on; I should probably go too."

I walked into the bathroom and headed straight for the sinks. I turned the cold water on and splashed my face a couple of times. The coolness felt refreshing and relaxing against my skin; I sighed. I thought I saw something move in the corner of my eye, but when I looked around I saw no one.

"Hello," I called out. "Is there anyone else in here?"

Silence.

"Gah, get it together Amy." I said aloud. My mind was starting to play tricks on me. The sooner I got out of this wretched town, the better. I turned back around and splashed my face one more time. After taking a towel and drying off, I closed my eyes for just a moment. That's when it happened.

Simultaneously a hand clasped over my mouth and a sharp edge pressed against my throat.

"Shhh…" the chilling voice warned.