Unfold

Unfold: Chapter 8

On the morning after, Terri was removed from her cell and taken to trial. She had already hired an excellent lawyer to defend her case. As trial began, Terri was the first to be sworn into the witness stand.

She told the judge about having an alibi, but it was never checked out in her favor.

She also refused to reveal if and how she knew Kenya, and said that neither she nor her vehicle was at that scene Friday night.

While she was On the stand, her lawyer asked her a few questions in which helped her side of the case. His performance was outstanding and it was clear that they had won the jury over.

After Terri came down from the witness stand, the judge calls the eyewitness that was supposed to have identified her in the line-up.

"Calling the eyewitness, Mia Noles to the stand." The judge says in a firm tone.

Terri's nostrils flare up at that name. "It is her." She mumbles to herself. She's finally figuring it all out.

The courtroom falls silent when no one approaches the stand. Then the back doors fly open and it's the sheriff.

He walks down the isle and up to the judge, handing her a folded sheet of paper. She opens it and reads it to herself, then she looks up at him. "Sheriff, if there will be no witness, I cannot prosecute the defendant. You do understand that I have to discontinue this case, correct?"

The sheriff nods his head yes.

"Alright." The judge sighs. "Case closed, release the defendant immediately." The judge yells, hammering the podium.

Terri rises up from her chair in such relief. She shakes her lawyer's hand and thanks him. Then she is escorted back to the bookings area to retrieve her belongings and be released.

On her way out of the prison, Terri is pulled aside by the Sheriff.

"Ms. Henderson, I'm very sorry to inform you that your house caught fire yesterday. There was a call from one of your neighbors.."

Terri's entire aura changes, and her face now expresses pure devastation.. "Wh.. What? No No.. No. How could that happen? There's no one there.. I don't have anywhere else to go.." She falls to her knees.

The sheriff express mere sympathy. "I can get you a hotel for a couple nights, if you want.." he offers.

Terri just sits and stares blankly at the floor with tears dripping from the corner of her eyes down to her nose.

"Ms. Henderson.." The sheriff says as he rests his arm on her back.

She wipes her face and looks up at him with those weary eyes.

He repeats himself. "I.. I can get you a hotel room, you don't have to pay for anything." he says.

Terri slowly stands to her feet. Her voice trembles as she replies. "Okay.."

The sheriff walks toward the door and opens it for her.

"My truck is parked in the fifth row, slot eleven." he points toward the direction of his vehicle. "Give me just a minute and I'll drive you down to the hotel. Be right out." He walks back into the building as she heads toward the truck.

He returns to his office to grab his keys. When he walks to the truck, Terri's sitting in the passenger seat, just staring out of the window.

10 minutes into the car ride, Terri speaks.

"Ca.. Can you drive by my house? I just.. I just wanna see it." She says, looking over at the sheriff.

The sheriff replies, "Sure, yeah I can do that."