Hailies Song

Chapter Twelve

Rated R

"The defendant is found guilty, of attempted murder of Hailie Jade Mathers-Scott. Does Diane Mathers have anything to say?"

Marshall sat behind the prosecution desk in the courtroom, beside his daughter, who was holding his hand. He sighed when they said 'Diane Mathers'. The divorce papers havent gone through yet, but make no mistake, the day after they had found out what was wrong with Hailie, Marshall had called up Paul, and things were set into the process.

Hailie looked down at her lap as her ex stepmother stood up, hands behind her back. She kicked the floor of her wheel chair softly. Even now a year later, after all her medication and physical therapy trying to regain the ability to walk, she was seeing just how horrible methomyl was. The long run effects of this poison were still ongoing, despite the doctors attempts to fix her. She could walk for short distances, but it was still really tiring for her.

"Your honor, I would like to say, yes. I did poison Hailie Jade." She looked over at the prosecution table, and made eye contact with Marshall. He immediatly looked at the judge. "And I'd like to say its because of the attention that Marshall Mathers gave her," still looking at Marshall, she continued. "You think its easy for me? Being married to him. Hes always busy, hes always away, he never wants to go anywhere and everything he does he has to think about Hailie first. I just wondered if maybe Hailie wasnt there, he would love me like he loved her."

It was everything he could do to keep himself in that chair. He squeezed Hailies hand tightly as he shook his head, sighing. Where did he meet these physcos? Thats it, he thought. Done, with women. All women. Done.

With that last admission, the case was closed, and Hailie hugged her father, who grinned across the table at his attorney. Paul patted his back, as if to say well done, and stood up, gathering his notes into his briefcase and closing it.

Kim was behind them, in the wooden benches, with Aaron. They stood up and leaned over the railing in between Hailie and Marshall, and them, to pat Hailie and Marshall on the back.

Marshall glared over Hailies shoulder as Diane was cuffed, and was led away through the door. She looked back over her shoulder at him, and he flipped her off, still hugging Hailie.

Kim caught this, and smiled.

After everyone had filed out of the courtroom, Marshall wheeled Hailies wheelchair down the isle to the big wooden doors that led to the main hallway of the courthouse, Kim and Aaron by their side.

Kim was congratulating Hailie, telling her how much she loved her, and Aaron was looking around, smiling at a few cops that he knew from work. Marshall just looked straight ahead, his mind on Diane, his heart with his daughter.