Hidden in Plain Sight

*Third Person*

She stood before the Supreme Court of San Diego. Wrapped in prison orange, she was weighed down with the all to familiar wrist cuffs and ankle bearers. Her hair was washed and cleaned. Jaime was in the front row, just behind her. He could smell the coconut and cherry blossom. He hated it.

She stood with a rigid stance. Shoulders hunched and feet spread. She wasn't afraid. She wasn't scared. She knew what she had done. Her inner demon has emerged from inside her soul. The killer known as Carly Louise Fox, faced not one, but 3 counts of murder.

The court was absolutely silent. So silent you could almost hear the heartbeat of the person next to you. Although that wasn't the case for Vic and Tony who were standing next to Jaime. Jaime had no heart anymore. His heart was filled with absolute love, and then it was crushed. It was healed and brought back to life only to now be burnt down in a force of flames to ashes. Inside Jaime's chest was a small heap of ash. What was once living is now dead inside Jaime.

The judge took his seat and the last trial began. The trial that ended it all. The trial that decided the fate of Carly.

"Carly Fox, you have been convicted of 3 counts of murder. The murder of Jessica Hatterson in April 2015, San Diego. The murder of Alison Butler in August 2009 Australia. The murder of Bradley Thompson 2008 Australia. How do you plead?"

There was a pause.

Then Carly began to laugh. She laughed with a thick sarcastic tone. Her laughter projected through the court house, as loud as the bells of Notre Dame. She was told to be quiet, and she did so, a minute later. She wasn't holding back. She was just enjoying her last few minutes of freedom.

"How do you think I plead judge? Of course I plead fucking guilty. You just spent the last 3 weeks showing me how I am guilty. Of course I am" she laughed again. "You know judge, you're not as bright as I thought you were."

The crowd gasped at her outburst. The judge though, he remained still. The guys were especially surprised. They had known her for almost a year. She was the beautiful and smart girl who was respectful of anyone and anything and minded what she said. She did not speak badly of anyone in anyway. She was the one to turn to for advice or when you need someone to talk to.

*flashback*

"Just fucking leave me alone won't you! Obviously I'm not fine! I just lost my fucking girlfriend, don't you understand! You have no idea of the amount of absolute fucking pain I am in right now! So don't tell me you know how I feel because you have no fucking clue alright. Just leave me alone" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I was so furious, so angered, so upset.

"Jaime," she says ever so calmly. "I know exactly how you are feeing. I know the pain of having someone you love being taken away from you. My mother was killed when I was 7. Being so young I didn't understand and I waited for months for her to come back until I finally understood she wasn't coming back. Jaime, I was in the same amount of pain when I was 7 as you are right now. You may not believe it but I know what you are feeling and you may not want it, but having someone around you will help you more than words can explain. Jaime please just let me in."

It hit me. Her words hit my right in the gut. She really did know how I was feeling. But I stayed silent.

"If you're not going to let me in, i am going to sit right here until you do." She says still so calm.
*end flashback*

But she is no longer that person anymore. And it was heartbreaking for everyone to see her turn into, into a demon. But was she ever this person? Thinking of it now, was she ever the caring person she claimed to be? Was it a mask? Did she wear a mask to hide her true self? They will never truly know. They can only hope that she was sincere all that time. Up until now, she had no reason to be questioned. But murder changes everyone doesn't it?

It changed Jaime. He felt heartbreak and that changes everyone. He lost the love of his life and he needed someone, and Carly was there. Was she changed by the murder? Sure she did kill Jess but was she affected by the reaction of Jaime and everyone else? But why would she be so comforting towards them, Jaime especially?

Was it all the mask or was it really Carly? We will never know.

"Carly Fox, you have been sentenced to 25 years in California High Security Prison. You are refused bail and you are refused parole." The hammer went down.

The sound rang through the courthouse ending what was the Murder Case of the Decade.
But the sound of the gavel was like music to Jaime's soul. He felt that this sound finally puts Jess to rest once and for all. For as long as Carly was free and unconvinced, Jess would not be laid to rest. She could be peaceful now. And for now, Jaime was peaceful.

The people of the court stood in absolute silence. All eyes were pinned to Carly Fox. The girl who was convicted of not one, but three murders by illicit drugs. Two murders back in her home of Australia 7 years ago. She was only 18 when she committed her first murder.

All her murders were by the mysterious drug. Scientists are still studying it and figuring it's biological makeup. But Carly knows they won't find anything. She's just that little bit smarter than they are.
A police official approached Carly and cuffed her wrists behind her back. She was lead down the aisle. To Jaime, her walk went by in slow motion. Her hair bouncing slightly. Each step taking hours to pass. Her head was faced upwards and proud but she turned to Jaime when she passed.

He was met with deep black holes. The ocean blue eyes he met were now gone. The holes revealed demons inside of her. She smiled a genuine smile but it was laced in venom. She gave him the coldest stare anyone could receive. But there was something hidden behind that smile of hers. It's like her name was coming alive. There was a fox waiting for Jaime. The fox was quietly waiting for it's next kill.

She continued her slow walk down the aisle, all eyes burning holes into her. Jaime wished they wouldn't stare. She loved the burning sensation. He looked away. He wasn't going to give her the satisfaction. He was done with her.

*flashback*

That's it. I admitted it. I said it. Tony heard it. I like Carly alright.

"Well... I don't know what to say man." Tony says sympathetically.

"You don't need to say anything. Just tell me that she doesn't like me and I am crazy for having a crush on my boss basically" I throw my head into my hands.

"Jaime, I'm not going to lie to you like that. Carly likes you too, and probably more than a friend way. Why else would she drunk call you? And besides, Carly is a beautiful girl. She's funny, talented and an all round good person to be around you are not crazy for liking her at all. I actually think it's kind of cute" Tony smiles at me.

*end flashback*

---

Jaime had sat in his car in total silence. He drowned out the sound of traffic and the outside world. He was thinking, and shaking at the very contemplation of his actions. He toyed with the idea, imagining any and every possible outcome. It was overwhelming. It sent his mind spinning like a wheel off it's axel. And like that wheel, Jaime made the bold decision to enter that prison.

He walked up the stairs and before entering the thick glass doors, he took a last look outside. The prison built of thick black impenetrable stone. Barbed wire lined the tops and guard towers were posted at every corner. This was a maximum security prison.

He pushed the glass doors aside, entering the office. The floor was a surprising white tile and the walls a very faint tint of blue. It didn't seem like a prison from here. But Jaime was sure that it would change. He approached a man at the desk.

"Hi how can I help you?" The man spoke in a friendly manner.

"Um... I've come to see Carly Fox" Jaime spoke a tremble evident in his voice.

"She was only admitted here three hours ago?" He looked at Jaime. Jaime only nodded back.

Jaime was granted permission to meet Carly. He was led through more thick doors and to the security area. He gave in his car keys, phone and wallet and his small stud that resided in his ear. A lady soon approaches him with a lovely manner and waves a metal detector over him. His legs were spread and his arms were up high. He was let through.

An officer led him to the visiting area. It was exactly like what they portray on TV. A large bay guarded by heavy thick windows. There was a seat for the visitor and opposite the glass, a seat for the prisoner.
Left on his own, he made his way to the seat. He was wrapped in fear and anxiety of the whole situation. Why did he do this? Why is he still here? Jaime was ready to bail, he didn't want to be here. But then she emerged from around the corner. In that moment, Jaime was glued to that seat with no intent to leave it.

She sat down nice and slow. A pleasant smile across her face. "Jaime, my dear. We haven't spoken in such a long time. How's is my precious man?" Her voiced reeked of pure venom.

"Don't give me that bullshit Carly" Jaime demanded in such a tone.

"Oh come on, don't be like that" she smiled. "I know you've missed me, why else would you be here?"

"You're going to give me answers Carly Fox. You are going to give me answers".

Notes

OH MY GOSH. SHE HAS BEEN SENTENCED. SHE IS IN PRISON. BUT ITS NOT OVER YET.