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Authors: Jackie Calhoun

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BOOK: Looking for Julie
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Jamie didn’t come back, and the woman explained that he would be allowed to stay in the courtroom after his testimony. When it was her turn, she tried to turn off her mind. Nervously, she glanced around the courtroom. Jamie was sitting with his parents and Edie. She saw her parents and Julie Decker. Not far from Jamie she noticed Nita. In the top row Karen sat alone. As promised, Dana Talmadge was there with Jim Delacourt.

The ringing in her ears got louder as she was sworn in and took the witness chair. From there she could see DeWitt. He looked small in the orange jumper he wore. His hair was kind of long and greasy. She had already decided she would identify him. There was no doubt that he was the guy. He’d been caught with the tire iron. Jamie’s arm was taking forever to heal.

It would help if she could hear DeWitt’s voice, though. She had told the prosecuting attorney that she would know his voice anywhere. That prosecutor was now asking her to tell her story. She cleared her throat and leaned toward the microphone and repeated the tale of how DeWitt had terrified her. Hearing her voice maximized by the mike made it shake a little.

“Can you identify this person?” she was asked.

She pointed at DeWitt and said, “That’s him over there in the orange outfit.”

DeWitt jumped to his feet and yelled, “You lie, you bitch!”

The judge banged his gavel and reprimanded the defense attorney for not controlling his client.

The attorney apologized.

Sam barely heard what they said. She knew now that he was the man who had terrified them. “It’s him,” she said again with more confidence. “He said he’d come back and finish what he started when he dragged me off the porch. If you let him go, he’ll probably kill us.”

The defense attorney was on his feet. “Objection.”

“Objection sustained,” the judge said.

Sam glanced at the jury. She couldn’t read their minds. She was told to step down, and she joined her parents, sitting between Julie and her mother. Her mother squeezed her hand and she squeezed back.

The judge dismissed the jury to discuss the verdict shortly after she left the stand. Sam and Jamie stood with their families in the hall, debating whether they had time to go to lunch. Edie was talking to Julie. Nita left but not before giving Sam a thumbs-up. Karen was standing by the water fountain.

Sam slipped away and walked up to her. “Hey, thanks for coming.”

Karen nodded. “You did a good job. I’m glad you ID’d that scum.”

“His voice. I knew his voice.” She briefly relived him whispering in her ear, while he held her face down on the seat of that smelly car.

“Those your parents?” Karen asked, nodding at the small crowd in the hallway.

“Yes. Want to meet them?” Her heart began to soar. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to my shrink too.”

 
 
 

It took less than forty-five minutes for the jury to find DeWitt guilty. He was taken back to jail to await sentencing. They were milling around the hall again, talking about where to go for an early dinner, having skipped lunch—Jamie’s family, Sam and her parents and Karen. Julie begged off, saying she had to head back north.

She had a few words for Sam before she left. “I’m proud of you. It couldn’t have easy to confront him.”

“I recognized his voice.”

“I know. Call the office if you want an appointment.” She squeezed Sam’s shoulder.

“Julie,” she said as Julie started to walk away. “Thanks for everything.”

Julie waved a hand. “You bet.”

 
 
 

Edie went to eat with the others before driving home. First, though, she called Pam. “I’m on my way out of town.”

“You can’t stay?”

“No, but I wanted to touch base.”

They talked for a while before Edie asked her how Claire was.

“Good. She’s different, not so snooty. That was an act, you know, a protection device, she said.”

“I’m glad to hear it. And things are going well for you?”

“Yes. Donna and I moved in together.”

“I’m so glad.”

“And you and Jennifer?”

“Well, nothing so exciting as moving in together.”

“But you’re a couple?” Leave it to Pam to speak her mind.

“Sort of, yes.” She was smiling. Did going to bed together make them a couple? It certainly hadn’t made her and Claire a couple. It was different with Jennifer, though. Their friendship had been transformed.

At home, she called Lynn to tell her about the trial, before returning Jennifer’s call.

“How did it go today?” Jennifer asked.

“All twelve jurors found DeWitt guilty. He’s in jail, awaiting sentencing. It was a good day.”

“It was, it is. You must be relieved.”

“Yes.” More than she could put into words.

“Want some company?”

“Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”

“Not until nine. That gives me plenty of time. I have something to tell you.” Jennifer had been pushing for them to move in together.

One of the problems was where they would live. Jennifer worked in Wausau. Edie could work anywhere. But Jennifer shared her house with Chip, and Edie lived alone.

Edie took a quick shower while waiting. It was still light out when Jennifer arrived. Doves cooed and two robins pecked at the partially frozen ground.

Jennifer let herself in. “It sounds like spring out there.”

“I think it arrived while I was looking the other way,” Edie said. They were smiling at each other. “Would you like something to eat or drink?”

“No, thanks.”

Edie sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her.

Jennifer plopped down about a foot away. “I’ve been interviewing in Point. I can work at either Shopko or Walgreens, that is if you’ll let me live with you.”

“Wow! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I am telling you. You said we needed time to get to know each other. Well, we’ve had all of March to do that. Besides, I’ve known you for years.”

Edie smiled at Jennifer and said teasingly, “As another skier.”

Jennifer met her gaze and said without blinking or smiling, “I’m crazy about you. I’ve watched you ski for years and been too shy to ask you out. Then those damn books of yours threw me off. I thought maybe you were straight. I want to come home to you.”

Edie tried not to laugh. “I’m set in my ways. I’ve never lived with a lover.”

“Well, now is the time to start.”

“Okay,” she said with a smile. “You’ve been forewarned. My house is kind of small, though.”

“I’ll only bring myself and my clothes.” Jennifer grinned and moved closer.

Edie laughed then. “By the way, I’m crazy about you too.”

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BOOK: Looking for Julie
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