What Goes Around

Wednesday,  Jan. 10th, 1:30 AM:

         Henry turned the key one more time. There was no sound except a pathetic click. "What am I going to do now?"  he asked. The snow was coming down so hard he couldn't see the tree the front of his car was hugging. He had opened the window, hoping the cold air would keep him awake as he drove, but it didn't work.  His eyes closed for just a second and then the crash woke him.

         Snow was coming in the still open window. He pressed the button to close it, but nothing happened.  He tried unsuccessfully to open the door. He unfastened his seatbelt and pushed the airbag out of his way so he could try the passenger door. It opened but not enough for him to get out. Another tree was on the passenger side of the car barring his escape. He leaned against the partially open window and shouted out into the dark, "Help! Somebody help me!" The cold wasn't the only thing that was making him shiver; it was fear. "God, I'm sorry," he said. "Please don't let me die like this."  As if in reply the wind swirled around the car until the interior was covered with snow. Henry threw himself against the door over and over trying to force it open.



Wednesday. Jan. 3rd, 3:15 PM:

         "Will the defendant please stand?"

         Henry Clark knew this was not a request.  He put his hands on the table in front of him and pushed himself up onto his feet. He inhaled deeply and held his breath as he faced the jury.

         The judge asked the jury, "Do you have a verdict?"

         The jury foreman nodded and read from the piece of paper he held in front of him.  "In the case of the state vs. Henry Clark for the charge of murder in the first degree, we, the jury, find the defendant not guilty."

         Brad Landers jumped to his feet and yelled. "Are you crazy! He killed her! He killed my sister and you're letting him get away with it."

         Henry exhaled and a smile spread on his face. He shook his lawyer's hand.

         The judge banged his gavel. Once order was restored he thanked the jury, and then told Henry he was free to go.

         As Henry was going down the steps in front of the courthouse Brad grabbed his arm. "OK you've gotten away with it. You could confess here and now and they couldn't touch you. Please, just tell me where she is. She deserves a decent burial; you owe her that much."

         Henry pulled away from him  and continued down the stairs.

         Brad shouted after him, "The jury let you go, but you're not going to get away with it. If there's any justice in this world, you'll die suffering just like she did."

         Henry turned and looked at him. " Are you threatening me?"

         "No, I'm warning you. Jennie was a good woman, a godly woman. God's not going to let you get away with killing her."


Wednesday, Jan. 10th, 1:30PM:

         One policeman watched from the side of the road as his partner carefully made his way down to the wrecked car.  He shouted, "do we need an ambulance?"

         "No, call the coroner. This guy's dead; he's frozen solid." When he reached in, brushed the snow off the face and gasped. He went back up the hill and joined his partner in the warm patrol car. As he closed the door he said, "I'm glad to report that there is justice in the world,"

         "What do you mean?"

         "That guy down there; he's Henry Clark. He got away with murder because our new ADA didn't wait until he had enough evidence. If he had only waited. Some hikers found Jennie Landers' body yesterday in the state park. She had been beaten and strangled but what killed her was the cold. The poor girl froze to death.  Now, it looks like fate doled out it's own kind of justice."

         "Yeah, " his partner agreed. "It's like they say, ‘What goes around, comes around.' "


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