If Tomorrow Comes

Judge Henry Lawrence said to Tracy, ‘The court has been informed that the defendant wishes to change her plea from not guilty to guilty. Is that correct?’

‘Yes, Your Honour.’

‘Are all parties in agreement?’

Perry Pope nodded. ‘Yes, Your Honour.’

‘The state agrees, Your Honour,’ the district attorney said.

Judge Lawrence sat there in silence for a long moment. Then he leaned forward and looked into Tracy’s eyes. ‘One of the reasons this great country of ours is in such pitiful shape is that the streets are crawling with vermin who think they can get away with anything. People who laugh at the law. Some judicial systems in this country coddle criminals. Well, in Louisiana, we don’t believe in that. When, during the commission of felony, someone tries to kill in cold blood, we believe that that person should be properly punished.’

Tracy began to feel the first stirrings of panic. She turned to look at Perry Pope. His eyes were fixed on the judge.

‘The defendant has admitted that she attempted to murder one of the outstanding citizens of this community – a man noted for his philanthropy and good works. The defendant shot him while in the act of stealing an art object worth half a million dollars.’ His voice grew harsher. ‘Well, this court is going to see to it that you don’t get to enjoy that money – not for the next fifteen years, because for the next fifteen years you’re going to be incarcerated in the Southern Louisiana Penitentiary for Women.’

Tracy felt the courtroom begin to spin. Some horrible joke was being played. The judge was an actor typecast for the part, but he was reading the wrong lines. He was not supposed to say any of those things. She turned to explain that to Perry Pope, but his eyes were averted. He was juggling papers in his briefcase, and for the first time, Tracy noticed that his fingernails were bitten to the quick. Judge Lawrence had risen and was gathering up his notes. Tracy stood there, numb, unable to comprehend what was happening to her.

A bailiff stepped to Tracy’s side and took her arm. ‘Come along,’ he said.

‘No,’ Tracy cried. ‘No, please!’ She looked up at the judge. ‘There’s been a terrible mistake, Your Honour. I –’

And as she felt the bailiff’s grip tighten on her arm, Tracy realised there had been no mistake. She had been tricked. They were going to destroy her.

Just as they had destroyed her mother.

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