Short Stories

No Further Questions, Your Honor

“The jury finds Michael Sanchez not guilty of murdering Louise Sanchez,” the foreperson said with a frown. Kate Lawton let out a sigh of disappointment. She had worked so hard on this case.

    “The jury is thanked and excused,” the judge thanked before turning to Michael. “Mr. Sanchez, the jury has found you,” she sighs, “not guilty. Although I feel the evidence points to your guilt, I must let you go. Court adjourned.” The gavel smacked causing everyone to stand. Kate stood from the prosecution table and started to gather her files. A note was placed in front of her as the defendant passed by her. She let out a gasp as she read the poorly written note.

You Are Next

*************

    Kate looked up from the photograph clutched in her hands. She looked down again at the photograph that displayed an old, white door with four bloody handprints in the middle of the woods. She looked up at the matching door in front of her and walked closer to it. She placed the folded up photograph in the sack hanging from her shoulder and turned the knob on the door. The door opened to reveal darkness. Kate looked back behind her to make sure no one had followed her into the woods. She knew that she could get into deep trouble for crossing the police line, but the need to find evidence was overwhelming. She walked through the threshold into the darkness. Once inside, she turned on her flashlight and illuminated the room. Blood covered the walls. Snippets from the trial flashed in her mind.

    “Mr. Sanchez, why was there blood on the walls of the cellar?” she asked him as she paced in front of him determinedly.

    “My wife and I held a haunted forest each year. The blood was actually paint meant to scare the children,” he lied through his teeth.

    She knew he was lying under oath. No one listened to her. The jury said it was enough reasonable doubt to set him free, but she knew he had paid them off. She knew he got away with the murder of his wife, but he would not get away with the murder of the other women she knew he had killed. Her best friend was one of his many victims. He paid the officers off so they would twist her story.

A pungent, rotten smell snapped Kate out of her thoughts. She flashed her light to her left, revealing a horrible sight. Mangled bodies were piled up in the corner causing bile to rise in her throat. She walked closer to the bodies and sighed. She pulled out the camera she had tucked away in her bag and started to capture pictures of the mess. She bent down to collect a blood sample to examine closely later.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut. The slam ringing through the air. Kate spun around quickly to see a shadow looming over her. She stood and dropped all signs of emotion from her face. “What do you want, Michael?” she asked bitterly.

“Oh, darling, I know why you are here,” he stated menacingly.

“I’m here to collect evidence to put you in jail once and for all!” Kate exclaimed.

“Oh, darling Kate, you say you are here to find evidence to put me away, but we both know the real reason.” Kate looked at him apprehensively. “I know you killed them, my darling child, for you are just like me, your father,” he whispered coldly in her ear. Kate’s eyes widened before a loud shot rang through the air and darkness overtook her vision.

“No further questions, your Honor,” she said before sitting down with a victorious smile.