It was around six a.m. when the sun arose slowly over sleepy London Town, Felina and her brother had fallen asleep holding each other in one another's arms through the distress and angst for fear of the future. Every moment Felina dreaded a knock at the door from the police. As Xavier stirred she opened her eyes and sat up in bed feeling chilled to the bone. Felina got up out of bed as her brother rolled over and continued his not so peaceful sleep. She got the fireplace going then she sat at the little desk and phoned room service; which, like all five star hotels, had 24 hour room service. Felina took a quick shower before her sumptuous breakfast was delivered along with the morning paper. Xavier awoke to the smell of bacon and sausage and pancakes and fresh coffee. He sat down at the table by the window; which overlooked the Thames and the Victoria Embankment Gardens. The sky was cold and grey on that September Saturday morning a hard rain began to fall, striking against the windows of the Edwardian style hotel. Felina read the news of Norman's case as Xavier sat there a moment in silence eating up the delicious breakfast, though it tasted like bitter ashes in his mouth.
Felina sat back sipping her fresh squeezed orange juice when she said to her brother. "Listen, I think we should hang around the hotel this weekend. I do not want to risk loosing you just yet."
"Do you think,"
"Please, do not interrupt me." she said snapping at him a little, only out of her duress. "It says hear in the paper Norman has been questioned by the Police all day and night, yesterday. He will be taken to appear before the Magistrates Court for a Summary Hearing on Monday." she paused then gave a little smile "It says here 'the prosecution is going for the charge of Murder. However, this charged may be reduced to the crime of Manslaughter, based upon the accused's confession to the Police: whom have confirmed Norman Pierce stated, under oath, he acted alone.'!" Felina said the familiar joy of happiness coming to her voice once again.
Xavier was shocked and elated, though somewhere in the back of his mind he still did not feel safe from the long arm of the law. "I can not believe it!" Xavier said incredulous.
"Do you know what this means? If he is convicted of Manslaughter he could be out in 10 or 15 years! And he swore, under oath, he acted alone! Xavier can you believe it?!" Felina stood in excitement nearly knocking the table over as she ran over to her brother, jumping up, embracing him as he held his elated sister in his arms, Felina's little toes just barely touching the carpet.
So over the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, the two siblings stayed at the huge hotel: with its three fine dining restaurants, a plush bar and lounge, indoor pool, health club, salon, fitness center, steam room, massages, body treatments, facials and the like, Felina and Xavier lived the high life, relaxing and drinking the finest wines, eating the finest foods. All the while our Norman languished in a cell at the Metropolitan Police Headquarters. And our poor Norman was not the easiest prisoner to confine. At six feet five inches, 245 lbs, he could not easily fit in the bunks, and he was very muscular, and had a propensity for violence. So the officers assigned to watch over him had to also keep him isolated from the other prisoners. Norman had been questioned for hours and he had been honest with the detectives. Of course he could NEVER tell them the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God! Norman tried to get comfortable in his little bed, his feet and legs dangling off the end of the bunk; which felt more like coffin than a bed. Norman could only wait until Monday to plead his case before the judge. As he lie there he thought only of his poor Mum and the shame he had brought to her. If only he could see his mother and give her a hug and tell her everything would be alright. But that would not happen, nothing would ever be okay again Norman had killed a man and been caught by forensic science and the finest detectives the World had ever seen.
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