"Jade, are you ready?" I'm snapped out of my thoughts by Billy. "Yeah." The gaurd opens the cell door, and lets me out. "Do you remember what I told you about cross examination?" "Yes." "Are you ok? You don't sound like yourself." "I guess I'm nervous." "Well, get over it. The State's attorney is like a dog; if he smells fear, he's going to attack."

I stayed quiet on the ride to court. Once the car stopped in front of the courthouse, the flashbulbs started going off. "Whatever you do, don't talk to them. Just walk straight inside," Billy said. "Alright." The officer opened the door, and the reporters started yelling out questions. "Mrs. Reins, why did you kill your husband?" "Mrs. Reins, was your husband abusing you?" "Mrs. Reins, is it true that your husband was actually trying to kill you?" "Mrs. Reins, is it true you are pregnant by another man?" Then, through all of the yelling, I heard the familiar voice. "Hey, Blue Bird..." I stopped dead in my tracks, and looked for him. When I found Mark Jindrak he waved at me. Standing next to him was Kurt Angle. I glared at them, before continuing inside.

Once inside, Billy grabs my shoulders. "Who were those two? And why did one of them call you Blue Bird?" "They were Luther's friends." I sighed. "And one of them is our former employer. I used to sing in Kurt's club. Mark gave me the stage name Blue Bird." "What did Luther do?" "He was a rum runner and bouncer." "The officer is going to take you in the courtroom. I'm going to try to catch them." "Don't bother. They are gone." My eyes began to fill with tears. I turn downward, and dab at them with my handkerchief. "What's wrong?" "It's nothing. The only ones that can help me, won't." Billy lifted my chin with his finger. "Did they witness Luther abusing you?" "Yes, but they won't testify that he did." He looked at his watch. "We're running late. Let's get in there."

Once the trial was back under way, Billy called me to the stand. I sat in the small box, toying with my handkerchief. "How long were you and Luther together?" "Three years." "How did you meet?" "We worked for the same club. I sang, he kept the trouble makers out. He asked me out a few weeks after I started. I said yes." "And you fell in love?" "Yes." "When did he start abusing you?" "About a year ago." "And what was the cause of this anger toward you?" "He thought I was having an affair with his friend. I was forced to quit my job, to prove that I wasn't." "Because the man your husband thought was your lover worked there as well, correct?" "Yes."

"Jade, would you tell the court, in your own words, what happened the night your husband, Luther, died?" I sighed. "I was at home, chopping vegetables for our dinner. He was supposed to be training. He came through the door, glaring and snarling at me. He walked over to me, and wrapped his hand around my throat. His grip... was so tight, that I couldn't breathe." I stopped for a moment. "What next?" "He looked into my eyes, and accused me of sleeping with his friend, again. I tried to tell him that I hadn't, but he still back-handed me. I fell back against the counter. He came at me again, and ran into the knife. He backed away from it, then went for me again, and ran into it again." "It sounds like your husband wasn't a very smart man." "Objection!" "Sustained. Her husband's intelligence has nothing to do with the trial." "I understand, your honor."

Billy stepped in front of me. "What happened next?" "I was so scared, that I didn't know what to do. I dropped the knife on the floor, and left the apartment." "And where did you go, Mrs. Reins?" "To the club." "The one which is owned by the man he accused you of having an affair with?" "Yes. Kurt was there when I got there. I told him what happened. He took me back to the apartment. We saw the officers outside my door, and were about to come talk to them, when my neighbor spotted us. The officers came over, and I was put into hand cuffs." "Without even getting to explain your side of the story. Did the officers explain why they didn't question you first?" "They said it was because it appeared that a woman had kicked or stepped on him in the middle of his chest. I don't know where it came from. I don't remember stepping on him, and I know I didn't kick him." "The defense rests your honor."

"You said that Mr. Reins was angry with you when he came home, correct?" the D.A. asked. "Yes." "He thought you were sleeping with his trainer, and former boss." "That's what he thought." "Were you having an affair with Mr. Angle?" "Good Lord, no. I could barely stand to talk to him, after the arguements he caused between me and Luther." "Yet, he is the first person you turn to after you stabbed him?" "I didn't stab him!" He put his hands up, defensively. "After the accident?" "I was in shock. I went to the first place I could think of; the place we met. Kurt was there. He saw the blood on me, and asked what happened. I told him, and he insisted on coming back to the apartment to sit with me until the cops got there." "Why would he do that for you? Accidently or on purpose, you had killed his meal ticket --his friend." "I never questioned him when he offered help of any kind. He could have wanted to be helpful, or he could have wanted to make sure the officers got me. I don't know." "You said help of any kind... Do you mean like, 'helping you plan this so you two can get rid of him, and run off'?" "Objection!" "No further questions, your honor."

I tried to stay calm through the closing arguements. Once the jury was excused for deliberation, I turned to Billy. "How long can this take?" "As long as a week. Why?" "Why do you think!?" "It was self defense, at best. They can't lock you up for trying to stay alive." "They can, and probably will." "Calm down. If they do, we can appeal."

The next two days were killing me. When they finally reached a verdict, everyone was called back into the courtroom. "Jury, have you reached a verdict?" The foreperson stood. "Yes, your honor." Madam foreperson, how do you find the defendent?" "We, the jury, find the defendent, Jade Marie Reins, not guilty of murdr in the first degree." I hugged Billy, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He patted my arm, and told me to sit. "Mrs. Reins, you are free to go. Court is adjourned." He slammed down his gavel, and left the courtroom.

I looked at Billy, who was smiling back at me. "Beautiful words, aren't they?" "The most beautiful." "Do you want me to give you a ride somewhere?" "No, thank you. I have something I need to take care of. Could you have my personal effects sent to me?" "Sure thing. I'll see you soon, Jade." "Thanks again, Billy." He nodded. "Get out of here."

I left the courthouse, and walked the street, a free woman after being in jail for months. I smile to myself. 'Luther is gone for good. I've been cleared of his death. He can't control my life anymore...' I thought to myself. After an hour or two of walking, I look up at the sign. 'Kurt's Klub.' I push on the front doors, but they are locked. "Hold on! Hold on!" I hear Mark say from the other side. I hear the locks click as he turns them. Then, he opens the door. "Blue Bird... What are you doing here? I thought you were still..." I smile up at him. "Is Kurt here?" "He had to run an errand." "So, we're alone?" "Yeah." I wrap my arms around his neck. "So, why are we standing here talking?" "They found you not guilty?" "Uh-huh. Even if someone does find out about us, I can't be tried for his death again." "But I can." "It's down on the books as self defense. They know I did it. They just don't know we planned it."

He leans down, and kisses me with such force that I wimper. "Jindrak, I hope you plan on making love to me, but not on the steps." He pulls me inside, then locks the door. As we walk back to his room, I think to myself, 'I wasn't lying. I wasn't having an affair with Kurt. But, he never asked about Mark.'