Obsession (Sequel to : The Doctor Will See You Now)

We are Gathered Here Today

By general definition, a court of appeal sounds like a room to air your views and be generally pissed off….well I was ill prepared for the sheer overwhelming size of the place.

On a side of town that I had spent little time at during my lifetime.

“Would you look at the size of this?”

Elixir was holding my hand in a viced grip.

“Yes…..it is a big one”

Myself plus my lovely wife….her sister and wife too exited the saloon and walked up the majestic steps to the main reception area….I suddenly had a thought that a red carpet should be waiting for us…and then I thought about the poor tax payer who had no doubt financed this extravagance.

Just as we chose to go in and leave behind the lovely sunshine….another car pulled up….from it emerged a woman who I had previously loved but for reasons unbeknown had chosen to destroy it.

She stepped out of the car and stared daggers at me….I didn’t want this first meeting to be shroud in hatred.

“Good Morning Chloe….A pleasure to see you again”

She looked into my eyes…..all I saw in return was disdain…..an agenda that positively stank of arrogance.

“Terri…..how are you feeling?”

“Im good……looking forward to putting you down on your ass….just like the old days”

She laughed, a little too loud.

“You reckon…..get used to the sunshine because you will be seeing a lot of it….from your cell window”.

I frowned.

“Whats happened to you Chloe…..I never did anything to you”

“Yes you did…..you left me when I needed you the most”

I tried to stand to one side….these were words that I didn’t feel everyone should know.

“What wrong Terri…..dont you want all your friends….your wife to know what a manipulative bitch you are”

“Chloe….thats the past….I paid for my mistakes”

“If only that were true…..maybe a little prison time will make you truly reflect on your mistakes”

I was not going to get into an argument…..after all she was clearly trying to rattle me…..cross examination would further undermine me much later.

“Come on…..lets leave this bitter and twisted woman”

“Bitter?”

“Twisted?”

“Oh Terri…….Im going to enjoy this”

She went back to the car….Brooklyn exited….she looked at all of us and smiled….Jessica was in the car too, she looked a little embarrassed by it all.

*

Two crowds of people…..one for Defence and one for Prosecution and try as we might to get into the building it remained futile by continued interruptions.

I watched as a police van arrived and parked in front of the building….the door opened to reveal two guards and they were holding Catherine Baker…..I didn’t know her personally but Elixir stared at her.

She turned to look at us.

“Hello Elixir…..nice to see you again…..Im gonna make you pay for setting me up”

The guards warned Catherine to be quiet…..after all anything she said could still be used for evidence against her.

Two more people exited the van….I didn’t know either of them but Chloe had clearly not expected them.

“Anne…..Sharon…..what are you doing here?”

“We have come to hopefully hang on to our prize…..but she asked for us to come and support her….so here we are”

Chloe seemed a little bit upset at this turn of events.

*

Catherine was led into the appeal building through the side entrance and would be flanked by the guards throughout the whole proceedings…..from the little I knew about the case I couldn’t image she would be making a statement.

Then another car drove up to the front of the building and a tall and thin man stepped out.

‘Paul Franks’

He turned to look at me with a lop sided grin on his face.

“Hello Terri…..long time no see…..how have you been?”

“Really good thanks”

“You know why I am here?”

“Of course I know…..do you think I am stupid”

“Yes….well we will see all about that later”

I watched as Paul walked over to Chloe and the two of them plus Brooklyn and Jessica entered the building.

I stood and stared as they walked in.

Elixir turned to me.

“Shall we go in?”

“You all go….Im waiting for someone”

“Who?”

“The one person that can win us this case”

I watched as my wife and the rest of them walked inside.

I only had to wait for five minutes….a sleek black business car pulled into the parking lot….a chauffeur hopped out and walked to the rear door.

A man in an elegant pin stripe suit emerged.

“You made it”

“Yes Terri…..I wouldn’t miss this for the world”

We don’t need to give our evidence until this afternoon…..I will give you a call.

“Good….my business is concerned with events in the centre of town today so I will be here and there……if my phone goes to voicemail….leave a message and my chauffeur will deliver it to me….I will then cancel what I am doing and come back here”

I watched as he was driven away and then went inside….Elixir had been watching the scene.

I saw Arthur and we exchanged pleasantries.

Time to get the ball rolling.

The show had just begun.