Game of Death

20

The lawyer walks up and places the journal on the small table in front of me. You can tell that the journal is old just by looking at it. I can still remember when I got it for my eighth birthday ten years ago, although it feels more like twenty. I gently wipe the dust off the leather cover, well aware of everyone's eyes on me. Not one person in the room makes a sound as I open it. I carefully flip through the pages, entranced by the messy handwriting and blood stained pages. With everything that had been going on I had actually forgotten about this. "Would you like to tell everyone what this is?" the lawyer repeats, dragging my attention back to the court room. I remain silent. Each page holds a different story, a different memory, a different kill. Before I get a chance to continue, the lawyer continues as if he never asked the question. 

"This, ladies and gentlemen," he pauses for dramatic effect, "is a detailed recount of Mr. Jefferson's kills." The audience murmurs quietly to one another. "There is enough information in here to solve 75% of the towns missing persons cases.This journal alone should be enough to lock this psychopath away for life. Although..." The lawyer walks back to me. "One this doesn't quite match up. We have on record that you killed 157 people. There is evidence to support that. What I want to know is how come there are only 99 written in here?" "Well I guess I must have been too busy running around and killing everyone." I reply sarcastically. "Wait a minute. You said 157 people. Last time I checked, these hands only killed 156." I smirk. That not something I would forget. 

The lawyer removes the journal from my hands as I cast a quick glance around the room. No one's face really stands out except for Maggie's. As she smirks down at me from her spot in the seating, realisation finally dawns on me. That bitch. She and the police force have decided to cover her ass by blaming Tim's death on me. It's a smart idea, I'll give it that, but it's still pretty slack of the police force. They'd rather lie about who killed someone instead of sending one of their own to jail.

 "Would you care to explain who killed this mystery person then?" The lawyer asks, drawing my attention back to his ugly and unshaven face. That sad attempt at what I assume to be a beard just does not work for him. I open my mouth, preparing to tell everyone the truth when I see Maggie. She leans forward in her chair and, although she doesn't say a word, I can tell she is begging me not to say anything. Her eyes give her away. Maybe, if I had actually looked into her eyes while she was staying with me I would have been able to tell that she was lying to me the whole time. I take a deep breath and, for some reason I'm not sure of, reply with a simple "I don't know." Before I have time to consider whether or not I have made the right decision, the smug look that is now on Maggie's face tells me that I should have gone with my first instinct and just ratted her out in front of the whole court room. 

"I must've been drunk or something and forgotten," I snap at the lawyer. "Well, Mr, Jefferson, I believe you did not turn eighteen until the day we brought you into custody. Does this mean we must add underage drinking to your very long list of charges?" The lawyer smirks and that's when I realize he knows. They all know and yet they are all still prepared to let me take the fall for Maggie's kill. I am seriously starting to regret covering for her and in the back of my mind, I wonder how many of them were expecting that. From what I've seen of the police force, I wouldn't be surprised if they had bet money on it. The lawyer turns back to the judge. "no further questions, your honor," He says, bowing slightly. What a fucking suck up. The court case begins to come to an end. The judge makes an announcement saying that court is adjourned and the jury leaves to discuss my sentence. The two cops return and drag me away into a holding cell. I guess all I have left to do now is wait.