Convicted

Chapter 17

They'd heard that number so many times now - they knew exactly who it was before they even got out of their seats.

"It's only half seven - it's a bit early for Jacob to call isn't it?" Grace asked, as Connie untangled herself from the blanket and walked over.

"That's exactly what I thought," she answered. Nervously, Connie answered the phone. Last time she'd had a call from the prison, it had been to tell her that Jacob had been beaten up and so she was hardly looking forward to the news that this phone call would bring.
    "Good evening, Connie Beauchamp," she answered professionally, trying not to crack over the phone. "Okay. Yes, no problem. Is everything okay? We'll be right there. Thank you. Bye."

"What was that about?" Grace asked. She'd paused the film and had been listening to the conversation, but she had no idea what had been going on.

"They say they've found some compelling evidence about the case. They want us all to be in to see it together."

The drive there always seemed long, but it seemed particularly so today. They didn't know what sort of evidence had been found, but the fact that all of them had been called in to see it suggested that it was highly important. Perhaps they were about to find out who the real killer was.

When they finally arrived, Jacob was there to meet Connie and Grace with a police officer, who guided the three of them into a private room. The governor of the prison was there, sat with a man that Connie didn't recognise, and Emma was also sat down. Connie smiled at her as she entered as the two seemed to have formed somewhat of a bond over the last few weeks. Connie sat beside Jacob, and Grace sat between Connie and Emma, and everyone held each other's hands as the evidence was presented to them.

"We know that Mr Strachan was a fan of his security," the officer explained. "Most of the evidence from Mr Strachan's cameras was completely destroyed in the fire, but for the last month, Paul here has been working on getting it back. At the time we thought it was nearly impossible, but now, after over a month and a half, we've managed to recover a monumental piece of evidence. Whilst I encouraged you all to be here as a family, I would strongly recommend that this footage isn't to be shown to young Grace, but that is ultimately your choice."

"Mum," Grace begged, but Connie shook her head.

"I'd prefer it if you didn't, sweetheart. This is probably a video of someone killing your father - things like that can be traumatising." Grace nodded, and Jacob offered to stand outside with her while Emma and Connie watched the clip. Connie thanked him, before taking a deep breath. As the door closed, she exhaled and turned to Emma.

"The clip isn't perfect - bits of the data couldn't be retrieved so there are parts where the screen flickers, and parts where the sound disappears, but we're unable to argue with the evidence were about to see."

Connie and Emma left the room just over thirty minutes after entering. Emma had tear stains down her cheeks, and Connie was visibly shaken. She looked like she'd just seen a ghost and Jacob ran up to her immediately, encasing her in a hug.

"Who was it?" Jacob whispered, trying to be quiet enough so that Grace didn't hear. However, he noticed that Grace was hugging Emma, and so she wasn't listening to them anyway. Connie shook her head in response to Jacob's question, staring at the ground.
    "Baby it's okay, tell me," he whispered. She shook her head again.

The harrowing confession fell from Connie's shaking lips as she clung to Jacob, unable to cry as she was just in a state of sheer shock. The truth was out, and that was the last thing she remembered before everything went black.

The video began just after Connie had entered the apartment, and Sam had embraced her with a friendly hug. He was making his tea, and explained that Emma was out on a hen night with her friends, so he was due to be eating alone tonight. He was boiling pasta, and had some sauce going in the pan beside it, and was just about to start washing the lettuce when Connie had dropped by.