My Husband Fucked Me Over Ch 17

Sam spends time in jail. Two further attempts are made on her life. Sam's in solitary, so there isn't really any sex in this chapter. My thanks to JohnnyGalt for his help with editing. All of my work is copyright protected. Don't use it for your own purposes unless you have my specific permission. ©

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Copyright, 2024

My Husband Fucked Me Over, Ch 17

Jail

I was awakened by a knock on my door and a tray of food being slid through the food slot. I got up and got my food. Some kind of indistinguishable meat with gravy, lumpy mashed potatoes, canned corn, all merely warm, and watery jello with a cardboard container of milk, not too cold anymore, plastic utensils. It was an unappealing mess, but like I said, baby needed to be fed. When finished, I put the tray back in the slot, brushed my teeth and laid down again, hoping to go back to sleep. I hoped someone was reading Emma a good night story.

Saturday morning was a generic oat cereal, another carton of milk and a plastic spoon, no OJ, but there was a pill on the tray.

"I don't need a cyanide pill," I said, hearing the guard still outside.

"Pre-natal vitamins," the guard said. "You're pregnant. You'll get those with your morning and evening meals."

"Okay, thanks."

"Did you really kill Ransom Ford?"

"I've already given my confession."

"I didn't mean it like that. Sorry. I meant, just one punch to the throat?"

"One punch, collapsed the trachea. He gasped his last breath and I let the guards know I killed him."

"Good on you. Everybody in here hated him. Half of the inmates were afraid of him, and half of the other half wanted to kill him."

"What about the other quarter?"

"They hadn't met him yet and hadn't had a chance to form an opinion. They would have fallen into one of those two camps."

"What time is visiting hours? I'm expecting some people may wish to see me."

"Have you read the intake packet yet?"

"No, I mostly slept. I didn't get much sleep the night before, and killing someone is emotionally exhausting."

"You need to read that packet. You need to put down the names of five family members or friends that will be allowed to visit you. Children under one don't need to go on the list. Only visitors on the list are allowed to visit, two at a time, and they're checked out first once they go on the list, so it might take a couple days. They schedule an appointment to see you. The visitation is conducted at the visitation facility at the Ortiz Avenue site, through a video monitor."

"So I have to be transported to the other location to see someone?"

"Yes."

"Do other inmates ride with me?"

"Yes."

"Are they confined?"

"Handcuffs and leg chains."

"The reason I'm in solitary is because other inmates may try to kill me."

"We heard. Detective Hanson told us he'd flog us if anything happened to you. We'll do our best to protect you."

"He's a good man. I liked him. Do I have a writing utensil for putting together my list?"

"A very short pencil."

"Thanks for the information."

"You're welcome."

After eating, I read my intake packet and put together my visitation list. Robert and Penelope Taft, Emma, Becky Holt. Then I had to decide what to do with my parents. I couldn't put both of them on the list. One or the other. I probably needed my mother more, but my Dad had been shot. Should I take Becky off to add both of them. Or take Robert off, because Pen could share my news with him. That didn't seem right either. I decided to put both of them on, and when I talked to my lawyer or Detective Hanson again, see if they couldn't swing a change in the rules for me.

I put my visitation list with my food tray. The guard came to get it.

"You have six names on here?"

"I know. My parents, my daughter, and three lovers."

"Three?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell it to you sometime when you've got a moment. One of them is the father of my child, his wife, and another sleeping companion when I decided Ransom wasn't getting any more of this. I'm hoping I can get an exception somehow."

"Good luck on that."

"Any chance of conjugal visits."

He laughed, "You must have us confused with someplace else."

"I was hoping, more than expecting."

"You and 99% of the other inmates in here."

"What's wrong with the other 1%."

"Too old, maybe."

"Your name is?"

"Greg."

"Thanks, Greg. It was nice chatting with you."

Well, no visitors for a few days. I decided to do some exercises, what little I might be able to do in such a small space. I did some wall pushups, squats, thrusts, walking in place. Lunch was a sandwich and chips. Best meal I'd had thus far, although the bread wasn't fresh. It was a female trustee that brought the food this time, maybe because it didn't have a pill with it?

When she came for my lunch tray, I asked, "Some reading material might be nice. Do you have a library or something where I can get books?"

"Yes, but with you being in solitary, you can't go to the library, because you need to be escorted."

"Is there anything I can do to get reading materials."

"The best way is for your outside family or friends to rent you a tablet. If they do that, you have access to reading materials, some tv shows, movies, video visits and phone calls. They have to sign up, you can't."

"Is it a regular tablet?"

"No, it goes through a service company called 'Gettingout', so you don't have access to everything a regular tablet does, only the services they provide, but it does include books, games, music, reading mail and texts, video visits."

"Is there any limit on the number of people I can video visit with? Is it still limited to just five people?"

"No, you can visit with anyone who's registered with Gettingout and has a phone or tablet on the other end."

"Thanks for the info. What's your name?"

"Sally."

"Sally, I can probably arrange to get some funds deposited in your commissary account as thanks for helping me out."

"I won't do anything illegal. I worked hard to be a trustee."

"Nothing illegal, just talking, you know. I don't want you to get into trouble. Just things like telling me about the tablets, okay. Don't do anything that hurts you. I understand I need your full name and booking number to get you money, right?"

"Yes."

"The next time you bring my meal, just put your name and booking number on a piece of paper."

"Why would you do that? Put money in my commissary account?"

"Well, I suspect there are people in here who want to kill me, and it wouldn't hurt to have friends who might hear things. That's the reason I'm in solitary, not because I messed up. If you hear something, any plans, anyone who's looking to hurt Samantha Ford, let me know, so I can let the guards know. I won't even mention your name."

"Why does anyone want to kill you?"

"My husband, Ransom Ford, was paying people to kill me. At least some of them were released inmates, a few of them failed, and got put back into jail. Those would be the most likely candidates. What are you in for?"

"Grand Theft."

"Do you have probation to follow? Restitution to pay?"

"Yes."

"Any job skills?"

"Not many."

"Why did you steal other people's money, Sally, if you don't mind telling me?"

"To take care of my two children. I got laid off during COVID, then just as I found work again, Hurricane Ian hit and wiped the next place I worked for off the map. I'd used up all of my benefits from COVID, and had nothing left when Ian hit. My kids were hungry."

"Did you lose them?"

"They're in foster care at the moment."

"Here's what I'm offering. You talk to people you trust, have them listen to the jail gossip. If anyone hears anything having to do with me, Samantha or Sam Ford, you tell me. You promise to do that for me, and when you get released, I can arrange for you to have a job and help getting your kids back. Just for talking, and getting me acclimated to jail, I'll make sure $100 a month goes into you commissary account as soon as I can talk to my lawyer, or I get a visit. Do we have a deal?"

"How can you help me with any of that?"

"The father of my baby is Robert Taft. Do you know who that is?"

"Sure."

"By protecting me, you're protecting his baby. He'll be grateful for all your help, believe me. I'm grateful for the help. I've got friends who can give you a job, even if it's only answering phones and setting appointments."

"We have a deal," she said. "I only trust about three people in here though. Not sure how much help we'll be."

"Anything is better than nothing. Thanks, Sally. I appreciate everything you're doing."

It was another guard at supper, and breakfast, and after breakfast, I had a video arraignment. The judge was on the TV screen, in a courtroom or hearing room, with the inmates put in front of a camera to plead. Our lawyers were in the room with him, as well as various State Attorneys. I didn't have the same one who'd been prosecuting Ransom's case, which might have been some kind of conflict of interest, but they came from the same division that prosecuted felony offenses. Chad Andrews was there, and when they called my name, he stood up, and my two guards moved me in front of the camera.

"How does your client plead to the charge of murder in the first degree, Mr. Andrews?"

So the State Attorney upped the charge. I guess I expected that. The man was physically helpless at the time, although not helpless by a long shot.

"Not guilty by reason of self defense, your honor."

"Self defense? I've read the arrest report, counselor, and the man was manacled to the floor and the table."

"There were extenuating circumstances not in the arrest report. I believe that I can prove self defense to a jury. I'm still gathering the evidence for that, but what I know so far, would certainly seem to justify it."

"Any motion for bond?"

"No, your honor, but I do have a written Demand for a Speedy Trial. My client wishes to be tried within fifty days of her arrest."

He walked the request up to the bench.

"This is a possible capital crime, Mr. Andrews. Surely you'd like more time to prepare?"

"No, your Honor. My client was adamant. She felt the death was totally justified and a jury would see it the same way. She'd like her trial to be concluded before her baby is born."

"Mrs. Ford, Do you agree with this Demand for Speedy Trial?"

"Yes, your Honor," I said.

"And you don't want to apply for bond?"

"No, sir. I killed the father of my child, and I feel there should be some penalty for that. I don't believe I should be found guilty of murder, but I don't want Emma raised to believe that killing someone is the right thing to do, and that something bad should happen, some punishment should occur, every time you've done something bad. I'm willing to stay in jail for that purpose, and that purpose alone, to be a lesson to her. The rest of my punishment I leave to a jury to decide."

He looked at me for a time, then ruled. "The court agrees to a speedy trial. Please add this to the docket for the week of December 2, which is within the mandated fifty days. No bond on the crime. What says the prosecution?"

"Uh, your Honor, I'm not sure the prosecution can be ready to have a case of this severity and magnitude ready by then?"

"If the defense can, you can. She admitted to the crime. What other evidence do you need?"

"The arresting officer, Detective Mark Hanson, seems resistant to the prosecution of the defendant. He originally filed the charges as Manslaughter. He may be a hostile witness."

The judge paused for a moment, looking at me again.

"You've dealt with hostile witnesses before, counselor. What makes this one different?"

"Other than that he's the arresting officer, your Honor. He felt the defendant performed a civic duty."

He paused again, once again looking at me, on the screen he had, I was sure. "What's not being said today?"

"The victim of the homicide had over thirty counts of criminal charges in Lee County, and we were going to file another six charges of murder for profit in Lee County, and there's another nine charges of murder for profit that were being filed in other Circuit Courts at the same time, plus there's two murders in Ohio that we have reason to believe were ordered by the victim, and two possible charges of attempted murder, one in Lee County and one in Collier County, which have yet to be solved. The perpetrators of those two crimes were shot by officers in those jurisdictions, and it was unknown who hired them or if they acted on their own."

"It sounds like she did perform a civic duty. Why did you charge her with murder in the first?"

"Because she admitted that she came for the purpose of killing the victim and had planned the crime ahead of time. The State is not of the opinion that people should take the law into their own hands, your Honor. It sets a bad precedent."

He turned to me again. "Mrs. Ford, did you intend to kill Mr. Ford when you arrived at the jail?"

"Yes, your Honor."

"Why were you unwilling to let the law take it's course?"

"Because despite being locked in jail for over two months, I believed that my husband had planned the murders of twelve people, my friends and family, including his own daughter, and one other four year old child, all of which failed in five separate attempts, except my father was wounded, including a possible bomb attack which might have killed another dozen innocent people in addition to the ones he wanted to kill, and that he successfully killed his parents in Ohio, and at least fifteen other children from the ages of five to twenty, with more deaths planned. I believe that there are still people who've been paid to kill me and my other family members and that if they failed, he'd plan more. He admitted as much when I saw him in the jail.

"The police are notifying other families now that Ransom purchased paid up life insurance policies on their children, and that their families may be in danger from that evil, soulless man I married, and that he had unknown and unnamed accomplices who might have killed others, like his parents. They were killed while he was in custody. I could not, in good conscience, allow that man to live to harm anyone else. The justice system would have taken too long."

"Is this true, State?"

"We're still trying to confirm all of the details, your Honor, but there are inmates in custody in the jail who've admitted they were hired to kill several people Ransom Ford wanted dead, including Mrs. Ford. They include a burglar and the bomber."

"I want all of the evidence on my desk within a week. Is the defendant in protective custody in the jail."

"As much as she can be, your Honor."

"What about her friends and family members?"

"Mr. Robert Taft has hired security for everyone else who may be at risk, your Honor."

"I feel I should be giving you a certificate of appreciation instead of charging you with murder, Mrs. Ford."

"I don't want anything like that, your Honor. I know what I did was wrong, but it was the only thing I believed I could do under the circumstances. I'm not proud of it. I'm embarrassed that I married the man, and it took me six years to find out how evil he was. I'd just like to go home to my little girl at some point in the near future and tell her how sorry I am I had to kill her Daddy."

"Was he a good father?"

"If he was a good father, your Honor, would he have attempted to kill her? He pretended he had emotions. He didn't really have any. As far as I can tell, he never loved anyone but himself, not even his own parents, hence the reason they were murdered."

"Let's bring on the next case. One week. I want everything in one week."

"Yes, your honor," both my attorney and the State Attorney replied.

I was led back to my cell. If I didn't have to go to trial, that would be even better. Maybe I could be home for Thanksgiving.

Sally brought my Monday lunch. When she gave me my food, there was a piece of paper with her name and booking number.

"Hopefully, I'll see the lawyer soon," I said. "We need to start planning my defense."

"Okay. Any other questions?"

"Not yet."

My attorney did show up that afternoon. I was put in another lawyer conference room, except this time I was in the crappy plastic chair while he was in the more comfortable cushioned chair.

"Were you happy with your arraignment?"

"It went better than I expected. I really expected I'd have to go to trial. It sounds like the judge might be ready to dismiss on the merits of the case."

"We'll have to see. I've got something coming for you this afternoon. Are you familiar with the tablet system here?"

"Yes, a trustee inmate told me about them. Before we go any farther, this is her name and booking number. I'd like $100 put in her commissary account every month until her release."

"Why?"

"Because I've got her and a few close friends of hers, listening for any rumors concerning yours truly. Kind of an early warning system, so's to speak. I'd like her to believe that I'm a person she can trust, so she helps me out. When she's released, I'm going to try to set her up with a job and legal help to get her two kids back."

"What's her charge?"

"Grand theft. I don't think she's a bad person, but was stuck between a rock and a hard place. if you want to talk to her yourself to see if my evaluation is correct before you or your office helps her, be my guest. I'll pay any legal fees necessary."

"I can do that."

"Thank you."

"They'll be delivering you a tablet. Robert loaded it up with time and money, so you can do just about anything you want with it. It's the easiest way to talk to your loved ones. I think it's superior to regular visitation, which is over a video monitor anyway, and doesn't have as many limits. Robert said to expect a video call around seven this evening. Everyone wants to talk to you."

I started to weep, tears rolling down my cheek. Chad handed me a handkerchief. He asked me to start at the beginning and tell him everything that had happened to lead me to kill Ransom. He pulled out a recorder so he wouldn't miss anything. I've told that story, so you know what it is. He asked questions, clarified some points that he was murky on, had me describe my state of mind at various places, leading right up the point where I crushed Ransom's throat, feeling his trachea shatter under my fist, and everything I felt at that moment. A sense of relief, mostly.

I cried off and on during the whole interview, and when we were finished, his kerchief was pretty soggy.

"I've got a lot of good stuff here. I'll type everything up for the judge to go with his other evidence."

"Is he the one who'll be holding my trial?"

"Not necessarily. They rotate judges to the different cases. I don't know who has that trial week yet, but I can find out. It could be any one of four different judges who try felony cases."

"Thanks for all the help."

"I've got to say, this is one of the most amazing cases I've ever been part of, and I've been practicing over twenty years. Your husband seems like he was a serial killer."

"With the exception of most serial killers doing it for fun and not profit, I'd agree. I don't believe he necessarily enjoyed killing people. It's just that they were means to an end, so they needed to die. It was like buying insurance on everyone on a plane, and then blowing the plane up, or making stock bets on a company, then causing their stock price to drop with some bad publicity like a bombing or fire. He doesn't look at people as people, but how he can use anyone to his own ends. He wanted to be rich, and making money the old fashioned way was too slow for him, so he got creative."

Chad left, and I got put in my cell again. Before supper, a guard brought my tablet. It was locked into a big safety case to protect it from misbehaving inmates. I didn't plan to let anything happen to it if I could. It was my lifeline to the outside world. I looked it over to see if I understood how everything worked before my televisit call at seven. I figured out the controls, and how to accept calls, plus send texts. I sent texts to Becky's and Pen's phones, as I remembered their phone numbers, saying I got my tablet, thanking them and telling them I'd be ready for their call later at seven.