Page 25 - The Houseguest

were laid out meticulously that Rachel’s direct actions caused the death of “other persons.” I felt like I had been turned inside out and the world had full view of all my feelings, but pride was among the many things that didn’t matter to me anymore. Sitting in the courtroom, I felt numb, almost anesthetized, as though my very soul had received an injection of Novocain.
April Spence infused herself fully into the proceedings portraying herself as a loving, concerned mother who had been a part of her stepdaughter’s rearing from early childhood. After all, she would have no cohort in self-indulgence if Rachel were behind bars, and she couldn’t bear to think of her partner in greed wearing some tacky orange jumpsuit with no coordinating accessories. She researched medical records from Rachel’s childhood and found where there had been some undiagnosed seizures at six and seven years of age. Her father had attributed the “unusual behavior” at the time to her birth mother’s sudden exit from their lives having moved on to greener pastures, sans the responsibilities of motherhood. April’s cunning mind went into overdrive. She asked the dream team defense she’d hired to seek and employ a medical expert to testify that the seizures had returned, a perfect inarguable defense to ensure vindication. She was already planning what she would wear to the celebration event she’d have for Rachel’s release, complete with gifts and a perfectly planned menu. She’d invite local media and she and Rachel would get some beautiful on-air exposure, with the right lighting of course.
Rachel went along with the falsehood and played the role convincingly, claiming she’d experienced headaches and dizziness in the weeks prior
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The Houseguest by Linda Ellis www.LindaEllis.life