Autopsy of a Mind

Chapter 122: Bold Accusation

"Aren't we going to wait for the uncle?" the kid said, pointing towards Nash, who was still surrounded in the distance. 

"Yes, of course," I supplied helpfully. "He'll be here shortly," I reassured him. "In the meantime, do you want to have something to eat?" I asked. 

The child shook his head. But a thoughtful expression crossed his face upon coaxing. "Can I get some ice cream?" he asked. 

I stifled my laugh and nodded. "You can have ice cream if you eat something heavier first," I told him. The first thing to do to overcome shock was to readjust the body to normal function. Food was the easiest way to nudge it back into the track. 

At first, the kid would either be high on energy or lethargic. Thereafter, he would not realize when he was hungry or in need to go to the bathroom. Therefore, to kickstart his system, we would need to feed him on time and make sure he goes to the toilet at practical intervals. 

How did I know this? I had faced it firsthand. And I had been learning these things to help victims and eyewitnesses be comfortable. The cause for it was first my own experience and second were to get information about the crime without the haze of shock and fear contaminating it.

"Like what?" the child asked, pulling me out of my train of thought. I thought about it for a minute. 

"What do you think about having a nice sandwich and some chicken nuggets?" I supplied helpfully. The child hummed and went back to his own thoughts in no time. I could see in his expression that the thoughts that came to him were not troubling.

Nash slid into the car in a few minutes, looking exhausted. 

"What did they ask?" I enquired. 

Nash shook his head. "I'll tell you a little later." We drove in silence and reached the station in no time. We had deposited the kid in the waiting room with an officer to guard him.

"We'll be right back, okay?" I said before I disappeared through the door. "Now, tell me."

"They were asking questions about the victim," he said blandly. "I didn't comment but tried my best to get some information out of them. Seems like someone tipped them off and it wasn't one of those public relations teams celebrities seem to have."

I scratched my head in frustration. "Do you think they were trying to buy time?" I asked bluntly. 

"Could be. Or use the media to interfere with the investigation." His eyes sank. "The house has been sealed off and the lawyer has been prohibited from entering," he commented. 

"What? Does he have a bad habit of trespassing on crime scenes?" I asked, horrified. 

"Yeah, he brought crime scene pictures that were not from our reserve once. It was a kidnapping case and he fought tooth and nail to prove that it was the manservant employed in the house who had done everything and that his client wasn't involved." Nash closed his eyes in frustration. 

"And what was the verdict?" He shrugged. "The suspect got acquitted?" I laughed. 

"Then he represented the manservant and got him acquitted due to lack of evidence." He looked gobsmacked still. I could imagine. 

"And he didn't take the second case because of money, I presume?" I asked with a chuckle. 

"Not at all. It was fun for him to play the game, so he did it. Wretched man. I hate him." He looked like he was about to let out a frustrated scream. 

Finally, the kid's food had arrived and I heated a plate before going to his room. Someone was already in there. A man in his late twenties or early thirties stood on the other side of the door, cooing and talking to the child. 

"May I help you?" I asked firmly as I entered. I clutched the plate in my hand when he turned to me. 

"Oh, hello there." The man smiled. I stared at his expression for a bit and saw unrestrained warmth and a genuine smile. But there was something off about him. He just gave off an evil vibe. "My name is Collins," he said, pulling out a box from his pocket and giving me his business card. 

I placed the plate down in front of the kid. "Start eating this. I'll talk to this man, okay?" With that, I turned to the lawyer. 

"Ah, yes, Mr. Collins. I have heard a great deal about you," I politely said. I took the business card extended towards me and looked at the design carefully. It was his firm so the design must have been made under his strict supervision. The card was just as I perceived him. The black metallic sheen, the raised lettering that prompted a sharp and ruthless approach to cases was evident through it. 

The design could reveal a lot about a person.

"Nothing bad, I hope?" he asked mischievously. 

"Of course not. I heard about your excellent track record and techniques at court. It is a pleasure to meet you." I was reluctant, but I shook his hands to go along with my words. "Might I ask what brings you here, though?"

I stared at him with no overt emotion and he looked rather impressed. 

"Oh, you must be new here," he chuckled. "I'm pretty infamous around these circles for representing celebrities and bigshots."

I kept my expression neutral. "I'm not sure I understand why that would bring you here," I commented. "Also, you can't be in here."

"Why so?" he asked with keen interest. 

"The child is a little shaken and we are trying to make him comfortable. Meeting strangers more than he is already being made to suffer wouldn't be good." His lips turned up into a grin. 

"Oh, but I am no stranger, now am I?" He stared at the boy who squirmed visibly. 

I placed myself between them so that the kid couldn't see this lawyer any longer. "Sorry, it's protocol. I will ask you to leave." I could see that he was about to protest so I raised a finger. "I don't care whose lawyer you are right now. You need to leave this room." 

He stared at my resolute face and then nodded. 

I followed him out and noticed when he paused mid-stride and swiveled back. "I have never seen you before."

I held in my sigh. "I am sure you have. You are the lawyer defending the perpetrator of the Magician cases," I pointed out. He threw his head back in laughter. 

"So, you do know who I am."

"I recognized you from your business card. Nothing else." I sighed. "The child won't need a lawyer and we have called his maternal grandmother to accompany him as the next of kin," I commented. "So, I don't know why you are here."

"Well, his next of kin should be his father," Collins pointed out. 

"No. I already know about the court settlement. Your client, Mr. McCain is not allowed to see the child. Therefore, I will not let you pretend that you are here to represent this kid or take him to his father."

"A woman of principle, huh? I really like that." What a sleaze bag. 

"If you are done with your commentary, might I ask why you are here?" The lawyer shrugged. 

"Of course, I am here to talk to the child and to the officers who arrived at the scene first." He smirked. 

"Why?"

"Well, my client is sitting outside, waiting to meet his son and comfort him." He shrugged. 

Of course. "Mr. McCain was called in for questioning about his whereabouts. I don't enjoy pointless chatter with people, Mr. Collins," I warned him. "You will not be allowed inside that room. If I find you there or even get wind that you tried, I will make sure you are thrown out of the station, do you understand?"

His eyes widened in surprise. "A gusty little thing, aren't you? Who gave you the right to throw out a lawyer from the station? Are you that powerful?"

I smiled at him politely but with a warning. "No, but when a lawyer tries to coerce the victim or their family in any way, it is my job to protect them. And right now, I am suspecting you of being manipulative." He became silent. 

"That is a bold accusation to make," he said quietly. 

"Yes. You already have some big cases coming up, so I would tread carefully, Mr. Collins. A complaint to the bar association will land you in a few days of suspension until the jury is called and a hearing is held. Will you be alright with that?" He gritted his teeth as he looked at me. 

"Please wait with your client. The investigators will come out shortly and speak to him." I turned around and made my way back to the room where the kid was.

I let myself inside the room and stopped in front of the police officer. 

"Why did you let an unauthorized person inside?" I asked firmly. The officer stiffened and I could see the panic in his eyes. "I asked you a question."

"Ma'am, he is an old-timer around these parts. He doesn't listen anyway." The excuse was pathetic. 

"Please inform Detective Nash about this incident. I will let you give your excuses to him because I will do you no favors." I stopped. "You look sensible. You must know how detrimental it is for a child to meet someone like that. If you are scared of a lawyer, remember that there are laws to protect you and punish him for doing whatever he likes."