Academy Murders: With Grace

“We the jury find the defendant not guilty of murder in the second degree,” Juror Ten stated to the court.

Kim felt a sense of vindication mixed with pure anguish. She felt Susan’s family as she did for Naomi’s. The way that time had elapsed didn't seem to fit in with the nature of the universe.

She took the time to let the victory set into her body. Her mind reeled. Brenda hugged her too tightly. The shutterbugs began snapping their photos.

The way for Kim to remind herself that exculpatory evidence had weighed in her favor remained in her ability to take seriously the amount of time that actually passed.

In the course of the trial, she had built up enough stamina to battle two murder trials and be exonerated. To clear her name, she felt the clarity and weight all at once. She was clear about her position and held the weight of two families.

She didn’t do any pony tricks for the media. Although, there were dozens of Web, print, radio, blog, and podcast members salivating to hear her side of the story.

She recalled the podcast that told her story up to this point called The Detective’s Trial. She had heard snippets of it on TV but never fully listened to the whole content. It wasn’t an aloofness or disinterest, it was that she was so consumed by trials for her life.

After all the commotion she got into a car. Brenda motioned for the cameras and microphones to move back from the vehicle.Who was in the vehicle? Yawquisha.

“Now you’re my ride along.” She smiled with a melting relief. Kim wanted to cry. Desperately, she wanted to break down and allow the tears to flow. She disallowed herself such an indulgence once again. Her cool Stoicism cut into Yawquisha’s warm embrace. She brushed off the idea.

“It’s over,” Kim finally said.

“You’ll have to be an agent, now.”

“I think that ship has sailed.”

“No, you can still be one. You can be in Intelligence, though. Think of the avenues that will open up to you. You just beat two cases everyone is calling the crimes of the century.”

“I mean, I could be an analyst or some kind of spokesman for police work….” Kim let her sentence trail off like the tail of a comet.

“No, no, no. You’re going to have to come to terms with the fact that you’ve been a celebrity these past few months. You’ve got star quality and penchant for being integral as a steel beam.”

“Thanks for the compliment…where are we going, by the way?”

“Don’t worry. We’re headed home.”

When the car parked, the driver let out Yawquisha first then Kim. They were at Wilmington Police Headquarters. Agents St. Kitts and Darby and Captain Framingham all greeted Kim with grace.

“I’m glad we’re under the same roof again. What you did has never been done before. You transformed the judicial system. They’re writing up digital textbooks about this case right now.” Captain Framingham said.

“Yes, sir.”

“You won’t have to call me that much longer. I’m moving out to pasture soon. If you want the job, you can be captain. It’s all in your decision.”

“Thanks, sir, but I was just saying to—”

“Hey, we’ve been getting more offers from college kids who want to join the Academy. If you don’t want to be in your home town, there’s always the chance to at least be a professor at the school.”

This idea never struck her. She commanded instructional roles in the Marines and as a detective, but she never considered herself a teacher. Maybe this could be the lodestar in her life. It could guide her to a promising future and away from the hectic pace she was running this entire time. Her stomach felt light and her hands quavered a bit.

“Excuse me,” she burst through the small crowd. She found the ladies room and looked at herself in the mirror.

Her lipstick was slightly smeared and her mascara shifted as well. Her honey brown skin and dark brown hair still looked in place. In the light she blinked and a tear streaked down her face. She didn’t whimper or sob. Cool water splashed in her face as her hands reached it and she slid off the rest of the mascara and lipstick. The rouge went, too.

She blew her nose gently yet with a bit of vigor. She returned to the small party. Except, everyone was gone except Yawquisha.

“I wouldn’t have been able to sustain myself since all of this started. Indeed you are a true friend. I mean that truly.”

“Tell it to him!” Yawquisha replied They both held each other and laughed.