Monstrous

Chapter 8

The weeks following the arrest of Isidore were hectic. Officers were always in the building, going through his desk and belongings trying to find even more evidence to use against him during the trial.I was even called in to testify against Isidore since I was his boss.

When word got out that someone from Genetics Unlimited had been arrested for the murders, it became a media frenzy. All day every day, reporters and news vans lined the outside of the building, growing like an unwanted fungi as the time of the trial began to draw near.

I would stare out the window at the gossip hungry leeches down below while I sat in my office. Briona would still come and bring lunch, but we were very careful to avoid the conversation of work, Isidore, or anything that was happening around us.

One day, about a week before I was due in court, Briona and I were eating hoagies in my office when she groaned and stood up quickly. "I can't do this anymore. I can't keep trying to pretend that everything isn't going down the shitter right now. You've seen all those news vans, the company is not getting good publicity right now. This is bad. Really, really bad."

I finished chewing, swallowed, and looked at Briona as she paced my floor. The carpet, I imagined, was wearing down. "I'm sure it'll all be fine. Valentia says the prosecutor has more than enough evidence to put Isidore away."

She looked at me as if I had three heads. "Why are you so calm? What if you get fired? You're his boss, they're going to blame you for not noticing. Lord knows the higher ups are probably doing their best to try and pin this shit storm on someone."

I shrug, not really interested. "So what if they fire me? First, that'll give them more unwanted attention. Second, I could get another job. I love it here but I'm highly capable enough to get another job at a rival company. They know that, and I know too much for another company to get a hold of me."

"Well...that is true but, what would I do if you got fired? There's no way in hell that I'd stay."

"You're too talented to not get a job somewhere else."

Briona smirked. "Yeah, you're right."

We laughed for a second before the air became serious once more. "Are you afraid of testifying?"

Thinking for a moment, I realized that I was. "Kind of. The thought of having to sit in front of all those people to talk about something so dismal is kind of nerve wracking. And the idea of being cross examined by the defense scares the shit out of me. Valentia said don't be surprised if they try and pull some kind of dirt up on me."

"Dirt? What the hell would they find?"

"Nothing, but you know lawyers. They could turn the most innocent act into a crime. I don't trust them. But, I heard that the DA is really good, so I'm hoping for the best."

"Well, I know you. You'll make it through. Just don't let them get into your head."

I gave her my thanks. She got her things together and headed back to work, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

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The trial came quickly. Before I knew it, I was walking down the aisle of the courtroom. Everything was quiet and I felt the hundreds of eyes following me as I made my way to the podium.

I met the officer in front of the judge's desk, swearing under oath that word was truth and that if it wasn't, I would be jailed. Taking my seat, I surveyed the room, twitching in the chair a bit. Isidore's eyes glared into mine as I rolled over him. I looked away quickly and made sure that I didn't look that way again.