Boldly, I entered the room, the large, heavy door looming ominously in front of me. It had all started so innocuously, an ordinary day in the life of an ordinary housewife and mother. In order for you to understand I will have to take you back to the day itself.
The sun was shining in the backyard, making the snow appear extra white, glistening in its rays. The children – as usual – were taking their own sweet time getting ready for school, arguing over who was going to ride in the old pull along sledge their dad had made years ago. Eventually the argument was settled, the snowsuits, hats, gloves and other paraphernalia required for the harsh winters donned and we were all heading down the path to the local Public School. Once we were moving the walk was pleasant if chilly and soon the children were taking turns, riding and walking, throwing the inevitable snowballs at each other till we arrived at the school gate, slightly damp but warmed up and ready for the day ahead.
Once the kisses hugs and goodbyes were said I started on my solo walk back to the house, ready for the housework awaiting me. Thoughts of the day roamed through my head, just like any other day I had gone through since having the children – what would we have for supper? What clubs do the children have tonight? Who will be the “chauffeur” this time? Will Steve be late home again?
Steve was my husband of 10 years, hardworking and a great Dad – always had time to play or listen or read stories while at the same time maintaining a healthy discipline with our brood of three children. They were Steve, 9 , Katie,7 and the “baby” Rosie, 5 years old. A handful but all loving, wonderful children!! ( I count myself very lucky on that score, especially when I looked around on any day and saw how bratty some children were!!).
Back to the day!! I was walking along the same route we had just taken, noticing the sled marks and blurry footprints of the children when my cellphone rang, I remember thinking it was probably Steve telling me he would be late and being totally taken aback by the voice on the other end. It was then tsht the world as I had known it – the mundane,ordinary but very safe life – began to change.
The voice sounded vaguely familiar – they certainly knew who I was – and the man,calling himself Eddy, used my name as if he had known me all my life. He said it was very important that I listened carefully and follow his instructions to the letter. My first thought was that it was a telesales tactic – you know the “This is your captain speaking….” type, saying you had won a cruise – and I very nearly ended the call. Something at the back of my mind though made me stop and listen. I don’t know whether it was the tone of his voice or what but I began to take him very seriously. I had to go to the local branch of the United Bank and wait for another call. If I didn’t there would be dire consequences for my family – he said each of their names in turn, their ages and even the name of the school they were at – or at least I THOUGHT they were at!!
It seems stupid now – easy in hindsight – but I went along with what he said and ran to the bank, arriving 10 minutes later, out of breath and sweating – despite the frigid temperature! As soon as I stopped the phone went again and I answered – gasping and panting still but listening acutely to every word he said.
It was then that I saw a familiar face and body – it was my husband, Steve, and he too had a cellphone to his ear and had a terrified expression on his face!! What on earth was going on? I had barely got the thought out in my mind when it seemed all hell broke loose there was a terrifyingly loud bang and the next thing I knew my beloved husband Steve was lying on the floor of the bank,cellphone still in his hand, in a pool of blood!! People stopped and just stood, stock still staring at me and then at Steve.- and then back at me, with horrified expressions. It was then I realised why – somehow I had a gun in my hand – with absolutely NO idea of how it had got there!! Crazy as that seems now it was the truth! My first action was to drop it in front of me – just in time to have the police arrive on the scene and handcuff me!
My first thoughts were of my children – how would I tell them their dad had been killed? How would I explain it? It was some time before the reality set in – that the police actually believed that I had killed him!! Even then,though, it didn’t seem real – surely they would soon know that wasn’t true, that it COULDN’T be true? Why would I? What reason would I have?
It was probably a good 24 hours before it sunk in that they did believe I was guilty. I was seen with the gun in hand and the fact that it was my husband who was shot lent credence to the guilt!! It was a “crime of passion” the police said, Steve had been having an affair, I had found out and killed him in a fit of jealousy!! Absolutely NOTHING I said changed their view in the slightest – there was no evidence of the phone calls I had received, nothing on Steve’s phone and only my fingerprints on the gun!! They had even found a record of where the gun was purchased – and apparently it was in my name too!! The odds were stacked against me and the final nail arrived in the name of Lucy – the so-called ‘other woman’!! She appeared weeping and wailing and telling a sob story if how Steve was planning on leaving me to be with her, how I had become hysterical and threatened to kill the both of them. It was getting more and more unbelievable – to me at least – but everyone else seemed to agree it was the only logical explanation!
The trial came and went in a blur and the inevitable “guilty” verdict came in At this point I almost believed it myself and having reassured myself that at least Steve, Katie and Rose were being well looked after – my parents stepped in – I just sat awaiting the sentencing. I knew I was innocent but I couldn’t do anything to prove it and I couldn’t even find another logical explanation as to what happened. At least not until I had my first visitor. Then I found out everything. It was Lucy, Steve’s supposed mistress..
My mind was a blur of emotions and questions – what did she want? How dare she? to name just two! It seems she wanted to meet me in order to “forgive and move on”!! It quickly became obvious that this was the last thing on her mind as she sat opposite me, in the visitors room! It was then that the many blanks were filled in – for me at least!! Lucy began to tell me a story, one of unrequited love and spurned advances. Of how a spurned woman had managed to arrange a meeting of a husband and wife with the help of a friend – and how she had somehow managed to sneak up behind the wife – me – shoot the husband – Steve – and place the gun in the wife’s hand in the ensuing chaos!! She told me very quietly and very calmly, she told me she wanted me to know the truth before I “met my fate”. . At that point she stood up, faking a few tears before leaving the room, just one more glance at me before leaving the room – and me shell shocked, still sitting in the chair.
Well it wasn’t going to be long before I met my fate, which takes me to the beginning of my story. Boldly I entered the room, the large door looming ominously in front of me, In the room I could see Lucy, standing there with a quiet smile of victory on her face. She might not have won her love but she had made sure that the person who had prevented this had lost as well – not only lost her lover but her life as well!! Lucy was the Warden at the prison I had been sent down to and was there to witness my final moments.on this earth!! I had been given the death penalty, death by lethal injection and it was Lucy that would give the final order!!