Dexter Grant vs. Marie Jones

[The Matt]

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October 19th, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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Apocalypse did not end up the way Marie Jones had hoped. She did not win the triple threat, she did not become number one contender for the United States Championship. That honor and distinction went to La Pequina Luz. Now The Phoenix finds herself at yet another bump in the road. Where does she go from here? Where does her SCW career take her? The Phoenix may currently lack a clear direction but that can all change next week on Breakdown when she goes up against newcomer, the unorthodox Dexter Grant. He has been making waves, both vocally and physically, in SCW. He has been making a name for himself and looks to make a name for himself at Marie’s expense. But The Phoenix refuses to allow herself to become simply a stepping stone for the next big thing in SCW. She will not roll over for Dexter Grant. Jones intends to put him down and in the process put her own career back on track and, hopefully, find herself in contention for championship gold of some sort.

Perhaps the reason Marie has slowed down a bit in her career has been the fact that she has been distracted? It wasn’t that long ago that she had been approached by her ex-lover, Julianne Buchanan, and asked to speak to the district attorney on her behalf, begging for leniency, trying to convince them that Julianne was not a master mind behind the crimes committed by the Inner Peace cult. After leaving Inner Peace, Marie had hoped to put that all in her rear view mirror, but her new boyfriend, an ex-convict himself, Percy Matthews, convinced her to give Julianne a second chance and help her out. Unfortunately, Marie’s good deed has put her back on the district attorney’s radar screen. In fact, the last time she spoke to the district attorney, a man named Kevin Hayden, warned her that Marie herself might face similar charges as Julianne since Marie herself was also involved with Inner Peace for a time. The idea that she might face legal repercussions due to being tricked, manipulated into joining a cult frightens Marie. But she is prepared to face the consequences head on, if necessary.

Today, The Phoenix must pay district attorney Kevin Hayden yet another visit. Just like the last time, she is obviously nervous. But she is prepared. She is ready. Marie Jones sits alone in the empty waiting room of district attorney Kevin Hayden; the fluorescent lights casting a soft glow over her. Her striking red hair falls in loose waves just past her shoulders. She’s dressed in a sleek, knee-length black dress, the fabric smooth and fitted to her slender frame, hinting at a sense of elegance. Over the dress, she wears a tailored, charcoal gray blazer with sharp lapels, giving her a professional, authoritative air. The blazer fits perfectly, emphasizing her posture as she sits with her back straight and legs crossed. Her legs are covered in sheer black stockings, which catch the light subtly, adding a polished sheen to her appearance. On her feet are classic black high heel pumps; pointed, with a thin stiletto that clicks faintly against the tile floor whenever she adjusts her position. Her hands rest lightly on her lap, fingers interlaced, nails painted a deep burgundy that complements her sophisticated look. The room itself is stark and impersonal with white walls, tiled floors, and rows of empty plastic chairs arranged in neat rows. There’s a faint hum of ventilation, but otherwise, the silence in the room feels thick, amplifying the sense of anticipation in the air. Jones glances occasionally at a wall clock, but her expression remains composed, her gaze steady. Despite the stillness, she radiates an air of readiness, as though she could spring into action at any moment.

“Ms. Jones?” The voice startles Marie and she nearly jumps. She notices that it is just she secretary, a young female, brunette. She smiles politely. “Mr. Hayden will see you now.”

“Thanks.” Marie says simply, with a nod of her head as she rises up out of her chair and slowly makes her way across the room towards the open door of district attorney Kevin Hayden. Marie has already been here once, and that was terrifying enough because she learned that Hayden was looking at potentially charging her with some of the Inner Peace crimes as well. Now she finds herself here yet again. The office is just as she remembered; large and well-lit, with tall windows that allow natural light to pour in, though heavy blinds in place. The walls are adorned with framed certificates, awards, and diplomas, showcasing the attorney’s qualifications and achievements. The centerpiece of the office is the desk. On the desk, there are neatly organized files, a computer, and a landline phone. A stack of legal documents and law books sit in one corner. An elegant brass nameplate displaying the district attorney’s name, Kevin Hayden, adds a professional touch. Pens, a legal pad, and a pair of reading glasses are carefully arranged, underscoring the importance of attention to detail. Behind the desk is a high-backed leather chair, black. Flanking the desk, on either side, are bookshelves filled with thick volumes of legal texts, case law, and state statutes. A large American flag stands in one corner of the office, symbolizing the weight of justice and the rule of law.

“Ah, Ms. Jones…” again she is startled, though not nearly as bad as last time; she turns to see Kevin Hayden. He tries to present a non-threatening, even friendly demeanor, but Marie still feels nervous knowing the implications that she may face from this visit. “...I am glad you could make it here this afternoon.” He extends his hand in a friendly gesture. Marie accepts the handshake and laughs lightly.

“It isn’t exactly a good idea to refuse an invitation to meet the district attorney, now is it?” Marie asks. Kevin chuckles and nods his head.

“I guess you’re right.” He motions to the other chairs in the room while he walks over to his desk and sits down. “Please, have a seat.” Marie nods her head and sits down, trying her best to appear comfortable and calm.

“Well I do not wish to waste any of your time, Ms. Jones. You are well known in and around Boston, you and your family are widely regarded for your wrestling skill and I would not want to keep you away from your training or your obligations to Supreme Championship Wrestling. So I will get right to the point. Have you heard from Julianne Buchanan or her brother Brandon lately?”

“I haven’t heard from Julianne since the last time I spoke with her in the park and that was several weeks ago. It was much longer than that since I last spoke to Brandon.”

“So it would be fair to say that you and the Buchanan family have no relationship any longer?”

“Absolutely not.”

“But you and Ms. Buchanan were real close. You were lovers.”

“Not anymore.” Marie shakes her head. “We went our separate ways. She’s taken her path, I chose mine. I only came here months ago to speak to you on her behalf because it was the right thing to do. Raul Alfaro was trying to paint her as an equal party to his crimes and that just wasn’t the case. Raul was the manipulator and Julianne, myself, and the other girls were his victims. I wanted to clear the air and make sure Julianne got treated fairly.”

“Fair enough.” Kevin nods his head. “Speaking of Mr. Alfaro, have you heard from him?”

“No, why would I?”

“He was recently released on bond, Ms. Jones.” Kevin says. “You and Ms. Buchanan were once two of his most faithful disciples. Perhaps he reached out to you?”

“He has no reached out and, quite frankly, I am glad he has not tried to contact me.” Marie’s expression grows angrier as she recalls the memories of Raul Alfaro and what he did to her. “I do not want to see him ever again. I want to see him get what he deserves.”

“Are you afraid of Mr. Alfaro?” Kevin asks curiously. “If you are, we could look into a protective order for you.”

Jones pauses to think. She didn’t consider a protective order before. But then again, she never thought Raul would manage to get out on bail. Somehow he raised the money to get out. Could he track her down? It is entirely possible. Marie nods her head.

“Yes, that…that might be a good idea.”

“I will see to it.” Kevin says. “Now then, my office has studied your case intensely, Ms. Jones, and we have talked long and hard about how to handle you.”

Here it comes. Marie braces herself for what might happen. Will the district attorney target her like he has targeted Julianne? Or will he leave her alone? Will her good deed go punished like all good deeds seemingly do?

“Let’’s face it, Ms. Jones, what you did in coming directly to my office, speaking to me on behalf of Julianne Buchanan, a woman who, based on our findings, you have no good reason to help, due to her twice manipulating you…”

“But she was brainwashed herself.” Marie nods her head. “As was I.”

“Yes, well, that being said, you made a good, strong case on behalf of Ms. Buchanan, so much so that our office did decide to accept an insanity plea for Ms. Buchanan’s involvement with Raul’s crimes. She might not have been the mastermind but she was working with him. That being said,” he points a finger at Marie “you were working right up there alongside Ms. Buchanan. It begged the question, if we charged Ms. Buchanan and let her plead insanity, should you not face similar consequences?”

“I can already see where this is going, Mr. Hayden, and I agree, I do need help.” Marie nods her head. “I was mentally and emotionally broken at the time; easily manipulated by Raul and molded into his twisted plaything. I may be free of his control now but I recognize that I need to deal with any lingering issues that may still be there or else I might find myself in trouble yet again. So before you go any further, I want to tell you that I have already sought out counseling.”

“You are being treated by a therapist? A psychiatrist?” He asks. Marie nods her head in confirmation. “May I know who?”

“With all due respect, Mr. Hayden, my medical business is my own private business and I would rather keep it private. However, I can assure you that this therapy I am receiving is doing wonders for my mental and emotional well being. You and the state of Massachusetts no longer have anything to fear from me and while I would much rather you not charge me, I will cooperate with whatever your office decides to do with me.”

Kevin taps his desk with his fingers. Marie stares at him, trying to get a read on him, trying to figure out what he is thinking. But he is unreadable. He has quite the poker face. Finally he leans back in his chair and sighs.

“I wish you would be more open, Ms. Jones, but I will not pry into your private matters. Furthermore, my office will not seek charges against you the way we charged Raul and Julianne.” Those were the magic words Marie had hoped to hear. She breathes a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Mr. Hayden.”

“You’re very welcome, Ms. Jones, but I do have to tell you that your dealings with this episode may not entirely be over.”

“Oh?”

“You may be called on to testify in court against Mr. Alfaro when he goes to trial. Are you prepared for that?”

The idea of testifying against Raul Alfaro is daunting. On the one hand, he brought so much misery to her life and nearly ruined her relationship with her family. Helping to bring him down and put him behind bars would make her day. Still, having to face him in the courtroom and having to be cross-examined by his attorneys would be challenging to her mentally. It would challenge the progress she has made since leaving Inner Peace. Still, this is yet another fight that she knows she cannot run away from. Marie nods her head.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

“Very good.” He extends his hand. Marie accepts the handshake. “Then you are free to go, I believe our business here is done.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hayden.

Marie Jones rises up out of her chair and turns and walks off. First she exits his office and returns to the waiting room area. There she is pleasantly surprised to find her boyfriend, the burly rough looking biker type Percy Matthews, better known as Death’s Head, wearing his torn denim jeans, faded white shirt, and black biker jacket. Marie quickly runs up to him and embraces him in a big hug.

“Percy!” She looks up at him. “I told you that you could have waited in the car!”

“Yeah, I know, but I wanted to surprise ya.” He snickers as he looks around. “I don’t exactly fit in a place like this, do I?”

“No, you don’t.” Marie snickers. Percy wraps an arm around her as the two begin to make their way out. Percy kisses her on her cheek.

“You were brave, Marie. The district attorney was gunning for you but you still stuck up for Julianne and did the right thing. I’m proud of ya.”

“Doing the right thing isn’t always easy.” Marie admits. “Sometimes there are consequences to doing the right thing.”

“Yeah, speaking of consequences, what did the DA say?”

“Hayden? Oh he said he isn’t going to charge me with anything. But I may be called on to testify against Raul during his trial.”

“Overall a good ending.”

“Yeah, but unfortunately that means Inner Peace still isn’t fully behind me yet.” She sighs. “I guess it won’t be completely behind me until Raul is behind bars.”

“Worry about that later. Focus on healing. That’s what you got the counselor for, right?”

“Yeah, well sort of a counselor.” Marie nods her head. “Its a therapist but from a religious perspective. In fact, my mom has one.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, she does.” Marie nods her head. “And I’m surprised that she never told me about it.”

“Sometimes we have our own inner demons that we’d like to keep hidden from the world. Maybe your mom is dealing with her own inner demons? Something she wouldn’t wanna talk about?”

“You’re right, she does have plenty of skeletons in her closet.” Marie furrows her brow. Then a sly grin forms across her face. “Maybe it’s time I talk to her about it?”