Free Short Story
My latest story of betrayal.
Last Promise
By Danny Mac
The bailiff calls out, “Conrad Doyle, case number JB0156-2025, speeding and disorderly conduct.”
A thirty and barely five-foot-tall woman strides up to the mic on the defendant’s podium. “Denise Dolye-Miller appearing for Conrad” resonates strongly from her voice.
“Why isn’t Mr. Doyle here this morning?” The stern-faced Judge Rodriquez questions.
“He is stubborn and hardheaded is his response, your honor.” The judge’s eyes narrow at the cavalier reply, but she continues, “The doctors said he should have died last week, but he has never been one to follow orders.”
The judge's face softens at this news, and he resumes court by asking, “Are you, his lawyer?”
“No, just his younger sister. He promised to stay alive until I returned from court. He wanted a picture of police officer Wilson’s face when he found out that Conrad was on his last day in hospice, but he is not here today. He also wanted Wilson to come and arrest him today for not appearing.”
“What facility is Conrad residing in?”
“Conrad drove to St. Luke’s the morning Wilson pulled him over. He was motoring over eighty miles an hour before the curve where Wilson caught him doing fifty in the thirty-five. They cussed at each other for ten minutes when Wilson returned with the speeding ticket. The officer became so mad that he wrote another for disorderly conduct. Wilson walked away red-faced, mad, while my brother only laughed at him.”
“Why did your brother drive?”
“He sold his house and all his possessions to pay the medical bills, including his beloved 2020 Shelby GT350. He loves driving fast. My Camry was not as fast, but it was sufficient for his last time driving.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Rodriquez puzzled aloud.
“I promised him I would tell you just like I did, and I never break my promise to him. I broke my promise once when I was ten and he was twelve. I was supposed to clean the kitchen for him and forgot. The painful look he gave me hurt worse than the beating Dad gave him. We have never broken a promise since then. I would rather go to jail than break my last promise to him.”
The judge sat quietly for what seemed an hour before speaking, “I am holding this case over for trial. If I read his obituary, I will drop all charges. You are a good sister, and I hope your report to him makes him smile in his final hour.”