Page 38 of The Perfect Marriage

“If you plead not guilty, the D.A. will try for the death penalty. If you plead guilty, they’re offering twenty-five years with no possibility of parole. What would you like to plea?”

“Well, not guilty of course. I didn’t fucking do this.” Anger grabs hold of my voice.

She nods. “All right. We’ll be back in an hour for your arraignment.”

They pack up their stuff and walk out, leaving me there alone with a pile of clothing.

25

Sarah Morgan

Anne, Matthew, and I walk to a small coffee shop across the street as we have thirty minutes before Adam’s arraignment. Matthew and I take our seats at a high-top table, while Anne orders us coffee.

“Adam looks awful. I’ve never seen him like that,” Matthew says. “It’s been a while but still.”

“It suits him though,” I say. I’m still mad at him for withholding information about Kelly, or should I say,Jenna. I would have scolded him yesterday if Eleanor hadn’t been there. And now today, I find him talking to Scott Summers, Kelly’s husband. He’s a possible suspect, he’s part of my defense strategy, and Adam is destroying it. Anne takes a seat at the table.

Matthew tightens his eyes, “Do you think it’s a good idea for him to plead not guilty, especially with the death penalty on the line?”

“Based on the evidence, probably not. But it’s not my job to sway my client. I’m simply supposed to present them with their options.”

The barista sets down our cups of coffee.

“But he’s your husband,” Matthew argues.

“He’s my client first.”

Matthew nods, dropping it. I glance at him as I take a sip of my coffee.What’s his angle here?

“Let’s not forget that jerk cheated on her for over a year,” Anne says with a bit of sass.

“And if it were up to Adam’s mother, I’d be the one on trial. She thinks this is all my doing.” I shake my head.

Matthew nearly drops his drink.

Anne’s eyes shoot open. “She said that?”

“She said I need to take responsibility because a man doesn’t cheat on a loving wife.”

“What a bitch—” Anne immediately slaps her hand over her mouth as the words come out.

“I second that,” Matthew laughs. “Is she going to be around for a while?”

“I assume for the whole trial. She’s treating this thing like Adam’s the new lead inHamiltonrather than the accused in a double-homicide case.”

Anne and Matthew laugh.

“I’ll try my best to keep her out of your hair,” Anne says.

“Thank you. Now, we’re going to have to start pulling witnesses. The greatest strength we’ll have in this case is casting doubt on Adam. Kelly has a twisted past with a lot of loose ends. There’s a number of people that may have wanted her dead, especially if she killed her first husband. That man had family and friends, and I’m sure none of them were happy that she got off scot-free… pun intended.”

Anne lets out a chuckle as she pulls out her notepad and begins making a list.

“Plus, the threatening note and photograph. Someone took that photo. Someone wrote that note, and we need to figure out who,” I say.

Matthew nods.

“Any witnesses you want me to contact?” Anne writes down more notes.