Dancing With Devia (22 page)

“Do you Julian, take Venia to be your lawfully wedded wife, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Julian grinned at her.

The Minister looked at Devia.

“And do you Venia, take Julian to be your lawfully wedded husband, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I d…”  Devia was about to answer when a voice shouted over hers.

“STOP! STOP THIS.”

She turned, furious that someone had interrupted
their
special moment.  Men were running towards them.  She turned to face them, angry that she was about to marry Julian and they had actually not let her say her words.  She looked at them in utter disbelief.

“Julian Mansell.  I have a warrant for your arrest, and am arresting you on suspicion for the murder of Sophie Anders.  You have the right to remain silent when questioned. Anything you say or do, can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now, or in the future.  If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning, if you wish.  If you decide to answer any questions now, without an attorney present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time, until you talk to an attorney.  Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you,
d
o you understand?”  The policeman was cuffing him and taking him away.

“What’s happening?
No.
I don’t understand.” Julian said to the policeman.

Devia looked at the Minister, who was watching the events with a surprised look on his face.

“Are we married?” She asked with a high voice.

“No. Not yet. Sorry.”  He shook his head and closed his bible.

“Damn!”  Devia threw her bouquet on the floor and stomped after the policemen, her gown, now dragging behind her, as a hindrance, as she tried to walk faster.  Now, it had all been ruined. Julian was still confused and questioning what was happening.  He let himself be led away, convinced it was all some weird mistake.

***

The two policemen looked at him bored, they were working in conjunction with his local police department. Someone had come forward and volunteered his whereabouts when they were looking for him in his home state.

“So, I will ask you again. When was the last time you saw Sophie Anders?”

“I told you.
She was in my bed.
We had sex.
We fell asleep.
When I got up, she was gone.
She had left.” Julian had his head in his hands.
He had repeated the same sentence over and over again, and they weren’t listening to him.
Why wouldn’t they listen?

“Yeah.  Gone to kill herself in the closet, all by herself.”  The policeman snorted.  “Victims are always killing themselves like this, we see it all the time.” 

For everything the policeman was saying, he couldn’t see Julian as a killer; he just didn’t seem to have it in him.  Everything he said rang true, sounded feasible, but then, it always did.  It took all sorts to make a world.  The fact he was getting married, to a woman he had just met about a week or so before, and only a year after his wife and kids were killed in a car crash, was odd too.  Maybe, he had killed her to be with his new woman.  Maybe, the Sophie girl saw or knew something.
Maybe that was why he
killed
her.
Had his kinky fun with her and then killed.  Maybe. 

Either way, everything pointed to him.  His DNA was on her, in her even
.
  His belt had been found and matched up to her neck injuries.  She was found in his closet; all her friends said she left with him.
Others at the marina had seen them
go out
sailing together, come back together, neighbours saw her go into his house with him and her clothes were in his trash can outside.
Now, a woman called Devia had gone missing too.
Her parents had raised
suspicion
when she hadn’t called them as per her usual last week. God knew where he had hidden her body.  The poor bitch, she was also linked with him. It was all pointing to him, and the forensics never lied.

Some men looked so innocent and friendly too.
You never could judge a book by its cover.
To the policemen, it was a simple open and shut case.  A few dots to the i’s and a few crossed t’s and he would be going away for a very long time.

***

The Judges voice rang out in the court, everything was quiet.  He stood facing her.

“Julian Mansell,” she said seriously. “You have been through the courts three times before you have reached my court.
Your final appeal has been denied and you have been found guilty on three separate occasions.
If you were now in the state of Texas, you would now be facing the death penalty, without the possibility of the reprieve of a long-term sentence.
You can be relieved that this is not the case here.
I have the choice of the death penalty, or a prison sentence.
However, your insidious and nefarious crimes dictate that you are a threat to the good society that we try so hard to preserve.
I have no alternative, but to sentence you to death.
You will be taken to a maximum-security state prison where you will remain until the sentence can be carried out.
You will have no right to parole.”  She lowered her gavel with a bang.  She started collecting her papers and then proceeded to rise to leave.

“All rise in court.” Every one stood and she left.

Julian looked up at the judge in disbelief.  He couldn’t believe how his life had come to this. He hadn’t done anything wrong.
He was completely innocent, and yet, no one would believe him.
Sophie was dead.
Venia had disappeared.
Devia had apparently gone missing.
He had been left on his own,
except for
his friend and boss, Andrew,
who had been
trying to liaise with his lawyers and sort things out for him.

He was taken away in wrist and ankle cuffs, completely bewildered, the heavy doors slamming behind him
.
,
He was
put in to a secure van, and driven to the prison, where he would be processed.

“Hey, Mansell,”

“Yeah?”  Julian looked up as the guard started unlocking his cell door.

“Out.”

“What?”

“I said out.  The Governor wants to see you.”  Julian reluctantly went with him, a visit to the governor normally meant more work duties, or more tasks.
He didn’t want any tasks. He’d been on laundry duty for almost a year now.
He knew what he was doing, as it was one of the easier work assignments.

“Mr. Mansell.
Do sit down.”  Julian eyes him suspiciously.
No one had called him
Mr.
for a long time.  It made him uneasy.  He sat down.  “You came to us protesting your innocence, did you not?”

“Yes Sir. I am innocent.”

“Yes, Yes. I’m sure that you realise a lot of our guests here, say the same.”

“Yes Sir.” Julian answered.

“I do hope you feel we have been fair to you during your stay with us.”

“Yes Sir.” He answered.

“Good. Well, it appears that there has been quite a development in your circumstances.”

“There has?”

“Yes
,
Mr. Mansell.  You are being released, with immediate effect.”

“Released?
How is that possible?  Nobody believes me.” He stared at him in disbelief.

“A woman called Venia, came forward and went to the police.  Apparently a person called…” He looked at the papers in front of him, ‘Devia, tried to kill her.”

“Kill her?”

“Yes, she had a police wire on and this lady confronted the Devia person who then made a confession to killing the lady you were convicted of killing.
It was all recorded and checked.
The police picked her up later and arrested her.”

“She did?
They did?”  Julian didn’t know what to say, Devia was a total fruitcake, after all.

“Apparently, you almost married her.”

“What?
I did?
I wouldn’t do that.
Not in a million years.”

“This Devia is the twin sister of Venia.”

“Venia has a twin?” Julian nearly fell through the floor.
Thoughts were going round in his head and not making any sense at all. “How did I nearly marry Devia?”

“Apparently Devia replaced her sister on the trip to Las Vegas, maybe even before.”

“Oh my god.”  He was trying to think if he had had sex with her, and how he had done so without noticing the difference between the women.
He
knew
Devia.  She had been chubby and blonde, mumsy and almost stupid, whereas Venia was attractive, slim and intelligent.
How had she managed to fool him?

“Looking at the images here, it shows what can be done with exercising, hair colour, the same clothes and makeup.
I would have been fooled myself, I am sure.  Reminds me of that film, single white female, ever see it?”

“No.”  Julian looked at the edge of the desk.
His thoughts going haywire.

“I would recommend you do, for future reference. We don’t want to see you back in here again, do we?”

“No Sir.” Julian shook his head.
He still couldn’t believe it.

“Well, thank you Mr. Mansell.
You have been an exemplary prisoner and I am sorry you had to go through all this.  Nice guy like yourself.”

“Thank you Sir.”

***

Standing outside the prison, his jacket in his hand, Julian looked down the road.  There was emptiness as far as the eye could see.
A dirt road went from left to right.  He was in the middle of nowhere.  He started walking.  He didn’t look back over his shoulder once. He was afraid that if he did, he would wake up and still be in his cell bunk.

In the distance, a vehicle was approaching, throwing up a cloud of dust behind it as it sped down the road. Maybe, he could thumb a lift from them, wherever they were going, although he doubted they would stop to pick up a former convict.

He shaded his eyes from the sun and watched the car getting closer.
It was a silver convertible.
A Mercedes.

He felt the tears well up in his eyes, and he quickly removed them, with the back of his hand.  It was Venia, and she was waving as she got closer.
She stopped the car, and ran to him.
He picked her up and hugged her, kissing her with every ounce of passion he had.  They kissed in sight of the prison, and a few guards whistled in approval, from their tower posts.

“I’ve come to take you home.” She said smiling.

“Thanks.” He said gruffly; his voice thick with emotion.

He got in the car and together they drove back down the dirt road.  The dirt road to freedom and his new start in life, with the woman he truly loved.

***

Six months later.

The same Minister, in Las Vegas, stood before them and began to speak.

“Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Julian and Venia in marriage.”  He continued speaking.

“Today, as we create this marriage, we also create a new bond and new sense of family - one that will undoubtedly include all who are present here today.” He looked at them seriously.
“
You enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of human interaction. The story of your life together is still yours to write. All those present have come to witness and celebrate your love and commitment this day - eager to be a part of the story not yet told.”

He paused and looked up to see if any police were arriving.  Seeing none, he continued.

“Do you Julian, take Venia to be your lawfully wedded wife, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Julian grinned at her.

The Minister looked at her
.

“And do you Venia, take Julian to be your lawfully wedded husband, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“You may now exchange rings.  Repeat after me
…
With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, my heart, and my hands.
With my body, I thee worship.
With my heart, I thee cherish.
Would all that I am, I give unto you. Would all that I have, I share with you.
From this day until forever done.”

They exchanged rings and repeated the words to each other and smiled throughout, both joyous to be getting married.

“And now, by the power vested in me by the State of Nevada, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. Julian, you may kiss your bride.” 

They kissed passionately, as their friends and family applauded. They turned to them all and smiled.  She looked radiant and Julian was so happy.

The Minister spoke again. “Family and Friends, may I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Julian Mansell.”

As they walked back down the aisle together, Julian lean
ed
in, and said jokingly.

“How do I know it’s really you, Venia?”

“You
don’t
…” She replied, with a small smile.

The End.