A PERFECT WORLD
By Trent Wolf
Chapter Two: An Unwelcome Visitor
Eric had a visitor on the second to the last day before he was to get out of prison. He had no idea who it could be, and he was nervous with anticipation when a guard led him into the visiting room, which was lined with cubicles and separated by a thick glass panel to keep the inmates from the visitors. When he sat down at the chair he was stunned.
Sitting on the other side of the glass was Brenda Fawcett, an attorney. In fact, it was the attorney who prosecuted him for the attempted murder of one Gerald McRae, the man who Eric found in bed with his then girlfriend, Paula Simpson, five and a half years ago. Eric pumped two bullets into McRae in a fit of jealous rage and he miraculously survived.
Now here was that lawyer, a forty-something, slender woman with light blonde curls, a mouth full of pearly white teeth, and a body that still packed a punch for a woman her age. Her looks were deceiving however. This woman was a predator of the first degree. She was the head of a firm, which specialized in prosecuting wife beaters, deadbeat dads, and men who didn’t particularly care for paying alimony or palimony.
Eric didn’t know why she took his case. He suspected Paula had something to do with it, but Brenda Fawcett was just as successful prosecuting him in criminal court, obtaining a 15-year sentence for attempted murder. However, Eric was a model prisoner, and when he was up for parole in five years, he made a good impression on the parole board. Now it was just one day away, and all he could do was wonder what in the hell this snotty bitch was doing here. He finally picked up the telephone receiver.
“Hello, Eric.” Brenda Fawcett spoke in the phone. Her tone sounded very condescending.
Eric was stone faced, but his heart was beating a mile a minute. He didn’t say a word.
“I really don’t like being here, so I’ll make this quick.” Brenda began. “I know you’re getting out tomorrow, so I want to make it crystal clear to you that Paula does not want to see or hear from you ever again. If you do try to contact her, I’ll have a restraining order filed against you so fast it will make your head spin. Do I make myself clear…Eric?”
Eric was livid, but he didn’t exactly know how to respond. How dare this bitch come in here and tell him off after he spent the last five long years living in an eight by ten cell? But he held his tongue. He didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing he was angry. Instead, he just smiled and remembered his gift. Now was a good a time as any to see if it really was true what Randall told him about the “tapping.” His heart was beating fast and adrenaline pumping hard as he braced himself to finally speak.
“So…It looks like I’m going to need a ride tomorrow when I get out.” Eric told Brenda, staring right into her blue eyes. He felt a subtle tug in his head, and a strange connection seemed to be made with her. He didn’t know how to explain it, other than it was like having Brenda in his hands.
Brenda blinked a few times and looked back at Eric with a stunned look. She couldn’t believe what he had just said. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’m getting out of here at three o’clock. I’ll need a ride.”
And your point is?” Brenda replied haughtily. She couldn’t believe his nerve.
“I’d like it if you picked me up.” Eric said evenly with a hint of a smile. He could sense something was indeed happening to Brenda. It was all he could do to keep from leaping out of his chair with glee. Something was really happening!
“You’ve got to be joking.” Brenda responded sardonically.
“Not at all.” Eric assured her. “You’ll be out in the parking lot waiting when I get out.”
“I…I…” Brenda stammered. She was stunned and confused. What in the world was going on? In her mind this man was scum, and she had no intention of helping him in any way, but she couldn’t help but speak the following words. “Yes…I’ll… be there.”
“Good.” Eric said with a wink. “I’ll see you then.”
Eric hung up the phone and walked away, glancing at Brenda Fawcett, and enjoying the utterly confused look on her face. This gift was priceless and easier to use than he could ever have imagined. Somewhere, Randall Washington was smiling down at time.
That night Eric lay up almost all night thinking of all the things he was going to do once he was out. The first would be teaching Ms. Fawcett a few lessons in manners.
The End of Chapter Two.