The Dangerous Widow

The Final Judgment

Catherine’s first night was brutal and cruel: she shivered the entire night because she was given thin blankets to cover herself. She was not used to the lifestyle in prison. She was hungry and thirsty. She kept having nightmares. It was difficult for her to go through the night.

She had numerous thoughts running through her mind:

“When am I getting out from here?” “How will I survive until I get out of here?” “Who is responsible for my suffering? Who will help me?”

Fortunately, she made it through the first night. It was now morning. The prison was full of light. Everything was more vivid. Catherine saw her cell mate, Martha sleeping comfortably. It looked like Martha was fully adopted to the lifestyle of the prison. Martha was fat and looked slightly above 50 years with some few grey hair.

Catherine shifted her eyes to the walls, she saw the hideous writing and paintings engraved by former inmates. She saw the clean toilet, sink and an open window that was specifically for air.

Catherine was wide awake waiting for what will happen that day. She waited for things to happen to her because she didn't know what to do in prison. She was still wondering whether she was having a horrible nightmare that she was arrested.

Catherine’s thoughts were interrupted by a female officer who just opened the cell door.

“Stand up! Turn around! Hands behind your back!” commanded the officer.

The officer was so loud that she woke Martha with her voice. Martha glanced at the officer and shifted her eyes to Catherine. Martha noticed that Catherine was getting emotional as the officer was putting the handcuffs.

Martha encouraged Catherine, “Don't worry! Just do as she says. Everything will be alright. You are only going to meet a lawyer that will help you get out of here.”

Catherine was filled with joy and excitement after hearing the words spoken by Martha. Catherine was so excited that she felt like breaking free from the handcuffs. She had a smile on her face and her attitude changed drastically.

Catherine and the officer walked out of the cell. As they walked, Catherine saw the inmates in their cells: some inmates had scars all over their faces, some were still sleeping so she couldn't see much, some were awake and some were arguing about a certain matter. Catherine was not interested in anything at that point, she was happy that she was going to see a lawyer that might help her.

They entered a visiting room. There were round tables and few chairs stacked around the table. The room was however quite empty.

Moments later, a man dressed in a black suit quickly stood up. Catherine knew that he was the man she was meeting. The officer removed the handcuffs on Catherine’s hands.

“You have 5 minutes,” informed the officer. The officer stood upright at the door.

The man stretched out his hand to greet Catherine. Promptly, Catherine also extended her hand and shook hands.

“Hi, I'm my name is Michael. I'm a lawyer. I'm here to help you with your case.”

“Alright.”

“Take a seat,” the lawyer insisted. Catherine sat in front of the lawyer.

“Are you going to get me out?” Catherine asked eagerly.

“I’m not guaranteeing you freedom but I might be able to help you. Now tell me what happened.”

Catherine briefed to the lawyer everything that happened the night Christopher was murdered: from the visit of Mrs. Williams to the point of her arrest.

“That is really messed up. Can you remember the time you went out and the time you found your husband dead?”

“Unfortunately, I can't. It was late. I did not pay attention to the time,” Catherine replied.

“Perhaps he had enemies. Do you have any idea of the enemies he might have had?”

“No!”

“Alright. I need to invite Mrs. Williams and Bob to court, maybe their statements might help you. Where can I find them?”

Catherine asked the lawyer, “Do you have a pen and a paper?”

The lawyer opened his briefcase and looked thoroughly for a pen and a paper. He handed Catherine the paper on which Catherine wrote the addresses of Mrs. Williams and Bob.

“Please get me out of here,” she insisted.

“I will do the best I can,” the lawyer concluded.

The officer walked over to Catherine, “Your time has elapsed.”

Handcuffs were put back on her hands and was accompanied back to her prison cell and the door was shut.

Martha was anxiously waiting for Catherine’s return. She stood immediately after seeing Catherine and welcomed her back with a smile.

“How did it go?” Martha wondered aloud.

Catherine replied with a grin, “He said he'll do his best.”

Looking at Catherine, Martha encouraged, “Don't worry. Everything will be fine.”

Catherine sighed, “I hope so.”

Few days later, Catherine was taken to court. It was about three kilometres away from the Brutal Army Prison.

The courtroom was full with people. They had come to witness Catherine's final judgment.

When Catherine walked into the court with handcuffs on her wrist and officers on her side, people mumbled, “I can't believe Catherine killed her own husband for money. She should be sentenced to life in prison. That would really suit her.”

People threw different phrases at Catherine: Murderer! Snake in the grass! Cheat!

Looking at the different faces of the people present in the room, Catherine spotted Bob, Mrs. Williams and Ramsey – Christopher’s elder brother. Ramsey looked furious. He was heart broken. He couldn't stand being in the same room as Catherine knowing that she killed his only brother.

Catherine sat down next to her lawyer as the judge began the court proceedings. Everyone ceased talking and paid attention to the judge.

The judge spoke, “Catherine. Please stand before the court.”

Timidly, Catherine stood up.

The judge explained, “Catherine, you are aware that you have committed a crime...”

“I did not!” Catherine interrupted the judge. Everyone in the courtroom began to murmur loudly, there was chaos in the court room as people yelled on top on their voices.

“Oder! Oder!” The judge banged the gavel. The noise cease almost immediately.

The judge continued, “As I was saying, you are aware that you have committed a crime. This is the law, it doesn't care whether you were the wife, the sister, the mother or whatever relationship you shared deceased. A murder is a murder and you will be judged accordingly.”

The lawyer stood up immediately and spoke, “Wait your honour, before you make your judgment, permit me to point out something that might change your judgement.”

“Permission granted!”

The lawyer spoke, “According to the theory I have, I believe that my client is not guilty. It sounds like a funny story to me that a good hearted person could commit such a huge crime. It puzzles me greatly.

“Allow me to call upon Mrs. Williams to explain to us what she observed when she was at Catherine's house.”

Mrs. Williams stood up and walked into the witness box.

“Mrs. Williams,” the lawyer began, “ before we begin, please confirm to the court that you were at Catherine's house few hours before her husband was murdered?”

“Yes. I was.”

“Good. Now, would you mind telling the court what you observed? Was there anything suspicious about Catherine?”

Mrs. Williams replied, “No. There was nothing suspicious about Catherine.”

“Please tell the court why you visited Catherine and her husband that evening.”

Mrs. Williams replied, “To inform them about the adoption process. What they needed to do in order to adopt a child of there choice.”

“Did they seem happy with each other? Their decision?”

“Absolutely. They were both excited to be adopting a child.”

The lawyer then turned to the judge.

“Your honour, you have heard the statement from Mrs. Williams. She saw happiness and excitement in the couple. It does not make sense that one would shift his or her decision into wanting to end the life of another while they expressed the joy of adopting a child."

The lawyer turned back to Mrs. Williams, “Thank you Mrs. Williams, you can have a seat. I'll now call upon Bob to explain to us what he observed when Catherine visited his store.”

Bob went and stood in the witness box.

The lawyer began, “First of all, please confirm that Catherine was at your store few days ago.”

“Yes she was.”

“Good. Please tell the court what happened that night when Catherine walked into your store, did she have a negative attitude?”

Bob looked at Catherine and replied, “Not even a single day did Catherine come into my store with a negative attitude. She is always smiling, always spreading love. I can say that she was in her best mood. She bought groceries as if she was having a party. I asked her why she was so excited, she said to me that they were finally adopting a child. I was happy for them.”

The lawyer asked, “Was there anything suspicious about the things she bought?”

“Not a thing. Just simple groceries.”

The lawyer replied, “Thank you. You can take your seat.”

He continued, “The two statements given here prove that Catherine had no intentions of murdering her husband.”

The judge interrupted, “You are right. They prove that Catherine had no INTENTION, but do they prove that Catherine did not murder her husband? No they don't, do they?”

The judge continued, “However, I have a report from the investigators. The report indicates that Catherine's fingerprints were found on the knife used to murder Mr. Anderson.

“If you say that Catherine is innocent, then think about this: What if Catherine wanted us to think that she did not do it. She could have hired anyone to murder Mr. Anderson while she was away so that she appears innocent. As you said that she has a good heart. Yes. That could be true. But, what happens behind the curtains?

“You don't have evidence to prove your innocence. Therefore, the court has come to a conclusion that Catherine Anderson murdered Mr. Christopher Anderson. The law says that anyone who commits murder will serve a sentence of 20 years in prison with hard labour!

“Court is dismissed!” the judge banged the gavel.

Catherine burst into tears. She begged the lawyer, “Please help me. Please.”

The lawyer replied, “I'm sorry. At this point, there is nothing I can do.”

Catherine ran to Ramsey and pleaded, “Ramsey please. I could never do such a thing. Please help me.”

Ramsey rebuked her, “You still have the audacity of facing me after what you have done? I don't want to see your face, Catherine!”

The officers quickly grabbed Catherine and took her to the police car which took her back to the Brutal Army prison.

She continued crying as she entered her cell.

Martha ran to her and hugged her, “Don't cry. Don't cry,” she said.

Catherine spoke in anger, “How can I stop crying when I have been sentenced to 20 years in prison, with hard labour. Everyone thinks that I was the one who murdered my husband. This was the only chance I had of getting out of here. But now, it's all gone down the drain!”

Catherine threw herself on the bed and continued to weep bitterly, she was heart broken. Martha felt sorry for Catherine, she did not want to stress Catherine. She gave her some space to breath. She watched in silence.

It took several minutes for Catherine to stop crying and calm down. Her eyes were swollen from the heavy crying.

Innocently Catherine stood up and walked over to Martha.

“I'm sorry for my behaviour earlier,” Catherine apologised. She was weak and sincere.

Martha looked at Catherine and smiled, “What's there to apologise? You've done nothing wrong. I truly understand your situation.”

Tapping on the bed Martha said, “Have a seat.”

Martha explained, “We were just a newly wedded couple. Life was simple but fine. Few years later. We were blessed with a baby girl. You can say that she completed the family. My husband was the breadwinner while I stayed back home to look after the house and take care of our daughter. My husband had a habit of coming home late, I'd scold him for that. He would change for few days and later he would go back to his old habit of coming home late. When I asked him why he comes late he would reply ‘It's better you don't know'

“One day, an unfortunate thing happened: my husband past away. We were left with nothing: no money and no house of our own. We struggled for days and months. Our landlord began to demand for his rent. I knew I had to do something. By that time my daughter was only 5 years old.

“After months of looking for a job – any job that would pay me well. I came across this man who offered me a job. A job were I had to travel from one country to another, transporting a variety of products: Toys, bags, shoes, clothes and make-up. I took the job because he agreed to pay me enough money to take care of my daughter.

“It all started out fine; I transported a number of products from one country to another. The man paid me well, So well that I saved enough money to take my daughter to school. Everything was going fine, until he decided to trick me.

“One day, I was handed a large box of shoes. It was quite big. Later, I booked a flight to this country. Everything went fine, I got on the plane, flew here.

“I was going through the airport security. The box I had got the attention of several airport guards. I was called into a small room. They asked me, ‘What is in that big box?’

Innocently I replied brightly , ‘Shoes.’

“’Shoes?’ they asked me.

“I replied, ‘Yes. Shoes.’

“’Do you mind if we take a look at it?’ they asked.

“They unboxed the shoes very roughly. They found a white plastic bag sealed with tape inside the shoes. I was surprised after seeing the plastic bag. The guard unsealed the bag. Guess what was in the plastic.”

Catherine replied doubtfully, “Cocaine?”

Martha agreed, “Exactly! A lot of it. The Cocaine weighed 3kg to 5kg. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was immediately arrested. Few days later, I was taken to court and I was charged with drug trafficking. I was then sentenced to 30 years in prison. That is how I found myself locked up under the hands of the Brutal Army.

She continued, “So I understand how you feel. But a word of advise. This place is not like the outside word, it's different here, it's dangerous. As I said before, you have to look after yourself. You will learn bit by bit how to do that if you change your approach towards this place.”

“So what’s your weird story, Catherine?” Martha asked.

Catherine looked upwards and sighed. She spoke, “It was a nice evening. Me and my husband were getting ready for the visit of Mrs. Williams. We were in the process of adopting a child. When Mrs. Williams arrived we ate diner and later discussed a few things about the adoption process. It was getting late and she was about to head home. I personally accompanied her to the bus because I wanted to make a quick stop at Bob's store to buy some groceries.

“I did my shopping and went home. I looked for my husband in the living room and study room but I did not find him. I walked into the bedroom and saw him lying on the floor – dead. That's when the officers barged in, came into the bedroom and arrested me."

Martha gasped, “Goodness me! Mr. Anderson is dead?”

Catherine sighed, “I still can't it either.”

“That's really bad. Really bad. Do you have any relatives perhaps?” asked Martha.

“Yes. Ramsey. But he doesn't believe me. He doesn't want to see me.” Catherine had a sad face.

Martha saw the sadness on Catherine's face. She didn't want to continue asking her questions. She got a plate of food which was beside the bed and handed it to Catherine.

“You haven't eaten anything. Here, eat. I figured you'd be hungry.”

Catherine got the plate. “Thank you!” she said. “This food looks to be untouched. Did you eat?” Catherine asked looking at the full plate of food.

Martha replied, “Please. You need more energy than me.”

Catherine insisted, “Let us share. So that we can both have energy.” They laughed softly.