Terry stared right at her family. The letter said, ‘WILLOWS IS GUILTY. DO THE RIGHT THING ELSE INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL PAY THE PRICE.’

     Her heart thumping, Terry reached for the telephone on the desk and called Gabby’s school. She and the principal were very close. She’d asked him to keep a close eye on her and inform her of the child’s attitude and her performance at school. That meant an extra job, and Terry had wholeheartedly compensated the principal.

     She waited impatiently, her lips quivering. A short while later, a manly voice came through the line.  “Hello, Terry. It’s been a while. How have you been?”

     She was too nervous to engage his pleasantries. On the other hand, she didn’t know how to go straight to the point without being rude. Quickly she said, “I’m fine. My daughter. Is she in school?”

     “Yes. I saw her this morning. They’re having Mathematics with the substitute teacher I told you about.”

     A good amount of the anxiety was dispelled. Terry had met Gabby’s substitute teacher during one of the school’s PTAs, and she’d liked her on the spot. Gabby had also said nothing but wonderful things about her. She was assured her daughter was in good hands. “Okay. Please keep a close eye on her. I will pick her up myself today.”

     “Don’t worry, Terry. Your daughter is safe with us and sure.”

     Terry didn’t doubt it. Their school was one of the best in South Carolina, partly the reason why she’d chosen it for her daughter. Apart from the quality education they offered, their security too was tight, and the teachers were affable.

     “Thanks again. I’ll see you later.”

     She hung up but didn’t put the phone away. Next, he dialed the number to Eddie’s cell. While she waited for him to answer, her breathing slowed, and her fingers went numb. She lifted herself from the chair, walked to the windows, and yanked all the blinds open.

     The air that came into the room was refreshing. It calmed her nerves, and she exhaled. Eddie’s happy voice brought her to life.

     “Hi, sweetie. How are you?” Terry said.

     When she analyzed everything, she realized it sounded awkward calling him after she’d seen him an hour ago just to ask how he was. But deep down, she knew the letter was a threat and there was no way she’d breathe without knowing her family was safe.

     “Great.”

     “Good to hear. Are you in your office?”

     “No. In a meeting.”

     She felt bad for interrupting him. Eddie had never missed her call since their so many years of marriage. He’d always answered regardless of where he was or the situation. Family First, his motto. It wasn’t a surprise he picked up in the middle of a meeting.

     “Then I won’t waste much of your time.”

     “I hope everything’s all right.”

     Everything wasn’t all right. There was a threat letter on her desk, and she was far away from her family. To top it all off, the trial had only begun and there was no way she could avoid it. She didn’t want to bother him, so she said, “Yes.”

     “Okay. Bye. Take care of yourself.”

     She slowly said, “You too,” and hung up.

     She made one last call to the Attorney General’s office in D.C. She didn’t expect to reach him personally, so when a female picked at first ring, she wasted no time in telling her to put Clinton on the line.

     Clinton seemed to be taking hours to answer her call. She paced around her office, making tremendous efforts to keep the anxiety at bay. At last, his voice materialized on the line.

      “How was court?”

     “Bad.”

     “What happened?”

     She fixated her eyes on the tabletop, retorted, “There’s a threat letter on my table,” and read out the message. She took in a deep long breath before she added, “There’s a photograph of my family too. I told you I didn’t want this to happen and you turned deaf ears. Do something, Clinton else I will abdicate the trial.”

     For the first time, she’d called him Clinton without realizing it. She was angry to care. She wasn’t bluffing about ditching the trial either when it had just started. She’d do anything to keep her family safe, even if it meant losing her position.

      Clinton could hardly hear her mumbling. “Calm down, Terry and tell me what happened.”

     She shouted at top of her voice. “I’m telling you what happened. After I ended the trial for today, I came straight into my office and found a threat letter. My family is a target.”

     “Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control.”

     Terry expected him to be alarmed by the news, but he sounded rather relaxed which puzzled her. She lifted her brows. “I shouldn’t worry? Really? For the last time do something, Clinton.”

     There was silence on his end. It lasted for two seconds. She wondered if he’d hung up on her. “Clinton? Are you there?”

     “Yes. Go home. Pick Gabby from school and tell Eddie to postpone all his schedules for today.”

     “What are you going to do?”

     “Put them in protective custody until this trial is over. I should have done it sooner. I’m sorry about the letter.”

      He sounded sincere and she believed him. “All right.”

     “Good. Be at your house by noon. I will have two federal agents escort them to a safe house in Virginia. Is that okay?”

     “Yes. I’m better off knowing they’re safe.”

      “I’ll put a surveillance team at the house in case someone tries anything lethal.”

     She was glad that Clinton had got her covered. “That’s good enough. Thanks for everything.”

     “Like I said, I’m not the only person who wants Ethan out of the world, and what just happened proves it. He’s a dangerous man, a threat—”

     She hung up before he could finish. Whether Ethan was dangerous or not wasn’t her concern. It was up to the jury to find him guilty or not guilty, and all she had to do was pass down his sentence. Terry didn’t want to temper justice with emotions. That’s the main reason she’d shut up her heart. Deep down, she had a feeling Ethan was innocent, and Clinton knew more than he was letting on. During her period in court, she had never felt emotionally attached to a case like this one.

     Perhaps—her emotions were right—and Ethan was being framed. Perhaps he did commit the mass murder and was pretending. Impartiality is the key to handing down a good sentence, and she’d try to do just that.

#. #. #

     By noon, Terry gathered her family in the living room. She’d explained over the phone to Eddie why they had to go and he had reasoned with her it was for their protection. Terry was glad that Eddie was willing to leave his business and do as she’d instructed him.

     Gabby was the problem. She’d persuaded her into going along with her father to Virginia for a vacation, but the girl didn’t understand why they had to go on a vacation without her.

     “Mommy, you can’t stay behind,” she said sadly.

     Terry fondled her plump cheeks. “Yes, I know, but I’ve got a headache and the doctor said I should rest, remember?”

     Gabby was there when their private doctor examined her. She remembered exactly what the doctor had instructed, but she said nothing. “I don’t want to go, Mommy.”

     Terry looked at Eddie for some assistance. Gabby was Daddy’s girl and had done whatever Eddie instructed her to. Eddie crouched over her, gave her the brown teddy bear which she reluctantly took, and said, “When Mommy’s okay, she’ll join us but for the moment she can’t.”

     Gabby looked at Terry, her face beaming. “Promise?”

     Terry smiled radiantly. “I promise.”

     Gabby wrapped her small arms around her neck and pulled her into a hug. “I love you, Mommy.”

     Terry stifled the urge to break into tears and softly said, “I love you too.”

     They withdrew. Eddie scooped her up. Terry lifted herself from the floor and walked them to the door. Two serious-looking federal agents stood by a black SUV.

     “Take care of yourself, and I promise to keep in touch,” Terry said to Eddie as they got inside the car.

     “All right. Take care of yourself too.”

     Terry nodded before he slid into the backseat with Gabby. She clamped her hands to the windowpane and waved to Terry. She whispered, “I’ll miss you, Mommy,” while she held back tears, but Terry couldn’t hear her, so she just waved to her. She watched in silence as the driver pulled out, veered the car onto the adjourning street, and drove off.

     Terry stood there for two minutes mulling over what had happened. It felt like a bad dream. Her cell phone chimed. She pulled it out from her pocket, answered the call, and put the phone to her ear.

     “Have they left?” Clinton asked.

     She turned around to face her house.  “They just did.”

     “How do you feel?”

     Terry fell silent and tried processing the question. What she felt was indescribable. She’d watched the feds take away her family a safe house because she had a bothersome feeling they weren’t safe. How was she supposed to feel?

     She entered the house. Clinton was still on the line.

     “I guess I’m sad. That’s all.”

     “This nightmare is all going to end and you will reunite with your family again.”

     She got to the couch and fell on it. Clinton was good at making people feel less tensed and right now, he was doing so well consoling her. “I know. I’m just hoping everything will go as planned.”

     “They will. I can vouch for that. Court will convene tomorrow. Get enough rest. You’ll need that.”

     “Okay. Thanks again.”

     “Don’t mention it.”

     She said, “All right,” then she hung up and put the phone aside. She forced herself to sleep. When she closed her eyes, the only image she saw was Willow’s face back in the courtroom.