Proven Guilty (Treadmill III)

XV

Everyone was angry about that verdict. And I do mean everyone.

Excluding the time she wrote the tell-all article about me that got me arrested, Rebecca had never shown that she was really angry with me. And in this situation, her anger seemed largely misplaced—in direct contrast with my usual form, I hadn't had any influence on those verdicts. I had played by the rules, let Brianne make our cases, and that was it. No bribing jurors, no falsifying evidence. The jury had found me guilty of ¼ of my charges, and Rebecca guilty of all of hers.

Brianne was angry. She didn't understand why Rebecca would be counted as an accomplice, but I wouldn't. Despite the fact that I had been invited to the scene by Rebecca, who had shown up voluntarily and then asked me to help—conveniently leaving out what I was to be helping with until I arrived.

The media were angry. Talk shows theorized about how I must have bribed the jury, YouTube conspiracy theories popped up everywhere, and I'm pretty sure #kennedysguiltyparty trended on Twitter and Instagram. Ironic.

I wasn't angry. I was the only one.

And then came the sentencing.

><><><

"I will begin with the sentences asked for by the state of South Carolina, and then what the jury has recommended."

The courtroom was quiet while Judge Kelley adjusted his reading glasses.

"In the case of Rebecca Eaves, the state has requested three years in jail with the chance for probation in one. The jury has recommended one year in jail with the chance for parole in six months."

Rebecca and Kennedy exchanged glances; at least the recommended sentence was less than the state's requested one.

"In the case of Kennedy Abrams, the state has requested five years in jail with the chance for probation in four, as well as no less than five years of probation after serving her time in jail."

Kelley cleared his throat loudly and took a pause before reading out what the jury had recommended. In that pause, Kennedy already knew that this was not going to go over well with the hundred or so people seated in the audience.

"The jury has recommended 300 hours of community service, with no jail time or probation."

The uproar that rose from behind her caused Kennedy to physically recoil in her seat, trying to get as far away from the noise as possible. People were screaming at the top of their lungs, yelling for the sake of yelling, as they knew no one was actually listening to their words.

No one, except for Kennedy.

"You bitch!"

"You're a murderer! You deserve to rot in prison!"

"Throw the bitch in the electric chair!"

"Bitch!"

"Bitch!"

"Bitch!"

They really liked that word. Kennedy was about 95% sure that it was frowned upon to swear in a courtroom, though.

Kennedy remained hunched down in her seat, her head just barely visible over the top of her chair. Rebecca was talking to her, Brianne was trying to get the judge to remove the screaming crowd, the ADA was standing up and yelling along with everyone else, and then Kennedy felt something hit the back of her head.