Autopsy of a Mind

Chapter 121: Mommy Fell Asleep

Another week passed. The Magician case was getting its first trial in a few days and I had not been called on to testify. Instead, Nash was. 

"They will ask you terrible questions that you shouldn't have to answer, Evie. I am not going to make you go through that, do you understand me?" he asked, patting her shoulder. 

"What could they probably ask?" I retorted. I was not displeased in the least for not being called on, but I was curious about what they could ask.

"They will ask about your father and your lack of initiative in escaping," I remembered the conversation I had with the students in Sebastian's class and frowned. "They will talk about how you had to choose between your own life and others and discredit your authority as an interrogator. I can't let that happen," he said softly. 

"Will my lack of license be a problem?" I asked, my brows scrunched in confusion. Nash shook his head. 

"No, you applied for it long ago and as Sebastian's assistant, you would be legally allowed to sit in. You just have to produce your contract with Sebastian for it to be valid."

I shook my head. "I can't imagine why the defense would want to question me about a past where I was clearly the victim."

"Law is a twisted thing," Nash made a disgusted face. "Lawyers twist it so beautifully that the judges let criminals go on a small wording made by the prosecution."

I shook my head. "Like?"

"Well, I can't give you an example, but the lawyer who was hired used to be a public defender before he quit and started his independent law firm. Very famous in the circles and never loses any cases."

"What kind of mystical being is he?"

"Completely wretched. He will do just about anything for profit, if you ask me." He shook his head. "I used to like him a few years ago when he started out, but the past two years, he has been a headache to work with. He keeps coming by the police station and demanding information. And lord knows how he gets people to talk to him and be influenced by him."

My eyes shot open. "And how did you say he got the Magician cases information?" I asked. Nash shrugged. 

"The family told us that they had hired him. Apparently, he approached them." 

"I will need to meet him but do you think he is involved with the accomplice in any way?" I asked. 

"Don't go about speculating such things!" Nash whispered. "He is very popular at the station and if he hears your speculation, he will burst out into flames and charge you. The man sues for a living and he sure has fun doing it."

"He has sued people before?" Nash shook his head. 

"Not for himself. But after he wins cases, he sues the government back. The judges are scared of him at this point." Nash sighed. 

"You sound scared of him too!" I was surprised. 

"He makes my skin crawl, honestly," Nash said in a low voice. He looked around to see if anyone was there. 

"And you never used your gut you investigate what he is up to? Sounds like he is giving you serial killer vibes," I joked. How I wished that wasn't the case. "So, will I get to see him during the trial?" I asked as I sipped on my steaming hot tea.

Nash nodded. "You sure will. The guy has presence in the courtroom. You can't look away from him." Charming, too.

"Guess I will be attending to cheer you on. I will depend on you to put that sick bastard behind the bars!" I waved. 

- - - - 

Two days later, I met the man in question. 

They had received an emergency call and rushed over to the location because they were close by. When Nash and I entered the house, there was dead silence. We searched through the room, following behind the armed police officers.

Finally, in the bedroom, we found a woman lying on the bed with a stab in her chest. She was laying sideways but you could see the blood profusely seeping out of her wound.

I rushed forward and checked her. She was barely breathing.

"She is breathing!" I called. "Where is the ambulance!" I shouted. 

"On its way," Nash called. He was crouching down beside a young boy who was curled up in the corner. He looked like he was in shock and shivering profusely. I pressed my finger to her wrist and realized that her heartbeat was barely there. Her breathing had stopped as well. 

I panicked but still called one of the cops over. "Do you have the emergency services on call?" I asked. 

"Yes, Miss Lewis," he replied. I took the phone from him and pressed it to my ear. "Hello. The victim has a stab wound to her chest and seems to be bleeding profusely. Her heart is about to stop beating and her breathing has stopped as well. What should I do?" I tried to remain as calm as possible. 

The static voice came from the other side. 

"How is the bleeding?" the person asked. 

"A lot," I replied. "They are on their side, so the blood is not pooling inside the body and resulting in internal bleeding and shock for now." There was silence.

"Put them down on the bed. Do you know how to perform CPR?" they asked. 

My mind went blank. "Yes!" I said finally. "I was trained." 

"Okay. Move the victim to the ground." I beckoned the cop over and asked him to help me. With some effort, the woman was on the ground. "You got them down?" the person asked. 

"Yes."

"You have to turn on their back and start CPR immediately." I checked the bleeding. 

"The bleeding?" I asked. 

"Has it reduced?" the person on the other side asked. I nodded before realizing that they couldn't see me. 

"Yes, it was reduced a lot, but I think the heart not working properly is at hand."

"Continue CPR, we will arrive in two minutes." And so I did.

I continued CPR and because there was nothing to intubate the woman with, I had to do it manually. I was no doctor, but I was good at what I did. There was rushing and shuffling of feet and finally, the medic arrived. I was pushed aside and they started their expert hands worked on the woman. 

Twenty minutes of trying later, nothing happened. The woman was transported to the nearest hospital but pronounced dead.

I was following behind with Nash driving. The little boy was snuggled under my arm, not understanding what was happening. When we arrived at the hospital, we were given the news. I scrubbed my face and held onto the boy's hand.

"Is my mother okay?" he asked in a small voice. I didn't know how to answer. I looked at Nash, pleading for him to help. Nash dropped to his knees beside the boy. 

"Do you live with your mother?" he asked. The boy nodded. "What is your name?" He refused to answer. "Do you have any other adults who can come?"

"Daddy," he murmured softly. 

"Oh, can you give us his number?" Nash asked. The boy shook his head. "Why?" he implored.

"Because Daddy made Mommy fall asleep." Nash controlled his expression and looked up at me. I knew what to do.

"Okay, honey. Come with me, okay? Give us your father's information and we will find him."

"I don't want to meet him!" he yelled. People turned around to look. I patted his back. 

"You don't have to meet him. We need to call him because he made your mother fall asleep, okay?" The child had no idea what death was. So different from Carol. 

He gave his father's name and phone number. I was startled when I read it. 

"What is it?" Nash asked, perplexed.

"It's Rodney McCain," I whispered. Nash looked confused. "The singer," I added. 

Nash hung his head. "Call reinforcement. The man divorced his wife on bad terms. He cheated and beat his wife, too. When the media finds out, it is going to be bad. The shit is going to hit the fan."

I groaned. One high-profile case after another.

"And guess who his lawyer is?" Nash lifted his brow. 

"Who?" I asked, oddly suspicious.

"Matthew Collins," he breathed. "The creepy lawyer I told you about."

My smile dropped. "Famous singer. Creepy lawyer. It seems we have to fight to get a confession or conviction, don't we?"

Nash shrugged. "Forget about going home for the next week, Evie. And kiss Sebastian goodbye. You won't be seeing him for long."

"You have got to be kidding me," I breathed when we got out of the hospital with the child in tow. The cameras flashed. I tucked the kid behind me, stopping the cameras from catching a glimpse of him. Nash strode forward and yelled. 

"Please make way!" They crowded around him like the locust. I saw a narrow road of escape and took it. I felt bad for Nash, but protecting the kid from wild questions was the priority. Damnit. 

How did they come here so fast?