A Murder Of Our Own (Inevitable Darkness)

by Michael Thompson

  Hoffman walked into her home walking into the living room.

  “Why haven’t you spoken about dating before?”

  “I figured you wouldn’t approve. After all we are break the rules.”

  “You are right so let’s make it worth it.”

  “I like your style.” Hoffman said smiling.

  “Just let me get dressed.”

  Lynn headed upstairs while Hoffman waited downstairs looking around the living room at the different items she had decorating it.

  Kyra meanwhile waited in her office patiently anticipating the arrival of Christian. The ticking of the clock filing the room. She periodically looked down at her watch to the see the time. As each minute passes the more impatient she got and soon enough she prepared herself to leave. She grabbed her purse and went for the door. She walked down stairs. She got out her car keys and headed to her car. She sat inside rubbing her hand through her hair sitting still. She kept sending herself through the cycle of upsetting herself over and over again. Blaming herself for losing Christian as a client. She pushed someone she could have helped away. She got too greedy and in the process anything could happen. She thought of all the unfortunate event that could lead in the process. She couldn’t pull herself for the endless loop. She put the key into the ignition and started up her car. She drove off home emotionlessly looking at the road. As she approached the intersection a car slammed into the side of her sending her car into a telephone pole. The front of the car wrapped around it in twisted metal. Glass laid on the black asphalt and sparkled as the light shined down from the street light on the destruction below. Her eyes darted as she look around to the broken glass and twisted metal that used to be her car. She sees the other driver head lying on the dashboard. She looks to the other side of her and see nothing but the crushed remnants of what was the passenger side. She lays her head down onto the dashboard having her soft cries turned into coughs of a punctured lung. She hears a man and woman talk outside the car as they call for help. She faded away and the sight of the ambulance in the distance.

  Kyra laid in the bed unconscious as the doctors carried her away on a stretcher to a room. They examined her body as she began to fade in and out of being awake. She fell back to her unconscious state as they continued to work giving her an I.V.

  Victor rushes into the emergency room lobby area.

  “Hi, my name is Victor can you tell me where my wife is. She was in a serious car accident.” Victor said to the receptionist rushed.

  “She is still under examination by the doctor. You can wait here and the doctor will come out and tell you when she is ready to be seen.”

  Victor began pacing back and forth as an half an hour passed. The doctor came out calling out Steven’s name.

  “Yes? Is my wife okay?”

  “Your wife is lucky to be alive. The way the car hit the wrapped around the pole protected her. It preventer the car from flipping and killing her. Along with that I do have some bad news.”

  Victor braced himself.

  “Your wife has been put in a coma due to the substantial trauma she has. We don’t know when or if she will come out. I’m sorry.” The doctor spoke.

  “What room is she in?”

  “A254.”

  He ran around the doctor and sped down through the corridors. He ran into a nurse.

  “Can you please tell me where A254 is?”

  “Down this hall to the left.” She said pointing.

  He followed her instruction and made it to the room to see Kyra lying in a bed unresponsive. In tears he began rubbing head and having her hair flow through his hand.

  “Remember you have a family here. Don’t leave us behind. Just remember you have Lily and me here. Please don’t leave us… not like this.” He said as he grasped her hand tightly.

  Chapter III

  “Where am I?” Kyra spoke.

  “You’re in the hospital. Victor left to go use the bathroom. He said he wanted someone to be here when you came to.” Christian said as he sat next to her on the bed.

  “I don’t remember much of what happen. All I remember leaving work and I was driving then it was blur.”

  “You drove across the intersection during a green light when a drunk driver slammed into the side of you. Your car was sent into a pole. A couple saw the wreck and call an ambulance. Here you were put in a medically induced coma and the doctor didn’t know when you were going to wake up… If you were going to wake up.”

  “I am so sorry for how I left thing before this happened. I was wrong for what I did.”

  “I can never really stay mad at you. I was never the one to hold grudges even to the ones who hurt me.”

  Kyra thought to herself.

  “What happen to you? Who are you?”

  “I need you to wake up.” Christian said holding her hand.

  “What are you talking about I am awake.”

  “I need you to wake up now, Kyra.”

  Kyra eyes slowly opened in her husband laid in the cushioned window ceil. She looked at her cardiograph that beep rhythmically with her heart with each thump. A nurse came in to assist Kyra. Kyra turned slowly to her using the little energy she felt she had.

  “Oh you are awake. You know you are one lucky lady to have survived that car accident.” The nurse said smiling at her. “You were out for a good four days we thought we had lost you. Your husband here stood by your side. He thought you were strong and you would make it through this. I can see he was right.”

  A tear ran down Kyra’s face.

  “And the other driver?”

  “He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “If you need anything, feel free to ask me.”

  Kyra nodded her head.

  Victor was just starting to wake up. He turned to see Kyra awake and he sprung to his feet.

  “You’re awake…” He said. He grazed her cheek with his hand in amazement. A tear ran down his face. “I thought we lost you. It’s only been four days but thing were starting look bad then I did know what to think… I didn’t know what to think. I was just scared that you were gone. Kyra pulled herself up and hug Steven.”

  “I am fine. I promise you that I would never leave you and Lily behind.”

  “I just need to rest and we will be out of here soon okay?”

  Victor laid her back down and walked outside the room.

  Kyra laid up looking at the ceiling. She turned to her side to look at the table where her purse was sitting. She turn her body, grunting in pain as she dug in her purse. She grabbed a small mirror and looked into it. She saw two staples in her head cover by a white bandage. She sat up and turned to get off the bed, still sore. She looked down at her leg that felt stiff and saw a cast wrapped around her foot and ankle. Out of reach was a crutch. She grabbed on to her I.V stand and clutched on it as she took a step down. As she sat her feet to the ground and prepared herself to stand she collapsed to the floor. He husband walked in to see her lie faced down.

  “Babe. You are not supposed to be out of bed.” He said helping her up. “You need to rest.”

  “I just want to go to the bathroom.” Kyra said.

  Victor handed her crutch and she stood up on her own with her I.V medication in one hand and her crutch under one arm.

  “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. That’s what we are here for.”

  Kyra nodded her head as she turn and walked away to the bathroom.

  She walking in closing the door and turning on both of the faucets. Steam from the warm water rose leaving condensation on the bottom half of the mirror. She looked in to see her face. He had few scratches from the glass and debris that swiped across her face. She felt pain in her side and back. She moved her gown exposing a large bruise to her side. She used her small mirror to look at her back. She had stitches that were where her left lung would be. She covered her mouth stifling her crying. She walked on her cast to the shower and sat of a be
nch that was inside. She wept silently to herself as the water masked the sound from the outside.

  Kyra got up. She turn off the faucet using a paper towel to wipe away her tears. She took a few deep breathes, inhaling and exhaling, then she left the bathroom. Victor tried to assist her.

  “Let me help you.”

  “No, I’m okay.” Kyra said still walking to her bed.

  “Babe it’s nothing.”

  “Yes it is, Steven! This whole time you have taken care of me and Lily and this whole time I felt like I wasn’t able to carry my own weight. Now I will you don’t have to worry about taking care of me anymore, I can take care of myself. So please let me have this.” Kyra said in tear.

  “Do you think I get tired of taking care of you and Lily? You work to take care of me ever since you had Lily. And I love her and I love you. This is the least I can do.” He said wiping away her tears.

  “I’m so sorry. I just feel sometime I put too much pressure on people and I don’t want them to leave. I don’t know what I will do if I lost you or Lily.”

  “You won’t. Ever. I promise.” Said Steven.

  He laid next to her cradling her in his arms slightly rocking with her. Kyra calmed as they sat together.

  Christian walked at the courthouse. He walked into the chamber of Judge Lynn.

  “What the hell is going on here?” He said as he watch Mr. Hoffman and her kiss.

  “Oh! Nothing!” Lynn said straightening herself.

  “Oh really because it looks like, you are screwing around with a lawyer that is a part of active case.”

  “Oh look at what we have here. Mr. Goodie Goodie. Are trying to say you never gotten your hands dirty to get what you want?”

  “Yes actually I am saying that. That what I am here for isn’t it. You see, I worked hard to get where I am right now.”

  “So did I...” Mr. Hoffman argued.

  “Sleeping with every professor you had to graduate is not working hard.” Christian said having his anger grow gradually.

  “You are just jealous that I began at the top and you had to work your way up from the bottom of the food chain.”

  “The only reason why you are where you are is because your father was well known. You only here because you want to win this case and you are willing to do anything to win. Even if you have to hurt someone in the process.”

  “I promise he is not like that. He wouldn’t do that to me.” Lynn said protecting Hoffman.

  “Can you look me in the eyes and guarantee that he won’t hurt you. That he is here because he care about you and not about the case.”

  “You know I…”

  “Can you?” Christian asked once more.

  “Lynn wouldn’t respond.

  Christian walked away.

  “Every dog has there day but you have yours every day.” He said to Hoffman leaving out of the room.

  Lynn turned to Hoffman. “Why did you want to be in a relationship with me?” She asked.

  “Lynn are you really letting him get to you?”

  “Yes and I want you to answer my question. Why did you want to be in a relationship with me?”

  “Because I thought you were beautiful and smart.”

  Lynn eyes filled with tears. “If you hurt me I swear.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Hoffman said kissing her. He left the room with Lynn all alone.

  Kyra was carried out of the hospital in a wheelchair. They got onto the elevator and headed into the basement. Neither one of them spoke a word on the way out. What was left to say? Kyra was surprised to be alive. She kept replaying the accident over and over again. She could stop and the more she saw it, the more she felt the pain, inside. She kept torturing herself but it was nothing she could do but endure through it. They made it to the car and Victor help her into the driver seat of his car. She collapse the wheelchair and put it into the trunk of the car. Got in and put his key into the ignition and looked over at Kyra. She stared forward motionlessly.

  “Are you okay?” Victor asked.

  Kyra turn to him. “Yeah I’m just ready to go home.”

  “Okay.” Victor started the car. He pulled out of his spot and left the parking lot.

  Kyra had her head lying on the window. Looking at the building and traffic as they passed. Victor was didn’t say much if he had say anything at all. Kyra didn’t say anything either. She began to feel herself nod off and woke herself as her eye continued to gradually grow heavy in close. She looked at her husband to see the same car slam into them sending their car into a pole.

  Kyra woke up at home with Victor getting her wheelchair out of the trunk. She saw that she was just dreaming, she was home, she was okay, beside for her prior injuries. Victor help her out of car into the wheelchair and closed her door. He wheeled her up in the house and help her walk upstairs.

  Christian went home and looked at his files again. He saw something didn’t add up. Something everyone missed. The location and the timing of his client didn’t add up.

  “Crap.” He said dialing his client. “I need to have a meeting with you as soon as possible. We have a problem.”

  He hung up, throwing his phone to the couch and rubbing his head. He looked back down at the floor where the liquor was hidden before. He walked over to it and pulled up the floor board. He got him a glass and filled it with three ice cubes. He pours some of the whiskey into the glass and took him a sip from the glass. He tensed arm relaxed and he sat taking a deep breath.

  Kyra sat in her bed, silently staring into space. Victor looked at her while she was still in her trance.

  “Are you sure there is nothing wrong?” He asked.

  “Yeah. Yeah. I was just caught up in thought that’s all.”

  “I know it’s overwhelming to be in accident that could have killed you. I can’t say that I’ve been in the same place as you and saw the same things you saw but I felt the same thing you felt. I felt the fear as you were being operated on because I knew that if they lost you then I lost you and that is basically losing everything. What I am trying to say is, I love you. Talking to me and letting me know how you feel is not a burden. So if you ever want to talk to me, I’m here. Okay?” Victor said grasping her hand.

  “I know. Thank you.” She said looking into his eyes. “Now I just want to rest.”

  “Okay.” Victor turned off the light and Kyra laid down. She starred into blank space for a few second, then taking a deep breath she closed her eyes.

  Christian met up with Connor sitting in his firm.

  “You are not helping your case, Connor.” Christian said. “Why did you lie to me?”

  “What the hell are you talking about? I told you how the night went I went to the party and seven thirty that night I had a few drinks got into a small argument and left to go home.”

  “Oh really. So what party did you go to because it sure as hell wasn’t the same party you was reported being at?”

  “Look if you don’t believe me that is your problem because I was there, you weren’t”

  “You right but I know you weren’t at the party because the party didn’t start until the game was over which was at nine pm. You were at that party and I can guarantee you that, if you don’t start telling me the truth right her, right now, the next game you will play in is a game of ass tag with your cellmate in Cell block D3! With the real rapist and murderers and criminals that actually committed crimes.” Christian said with his voice escalating from a calm to anger.

  “You know the only reason why you are helping me because you are trying to prove something to yourself. I never asked you to help me. You are just trying to show the world that you can help the enemy.” Connor moved in closer. “What did you get picked on at school when you were a kid? Treated as an outsider? Isolated cause you were different? Always envying the jock with the pretty girl and all the fame. With all the money and a nice car. The one who always win prom king while you lie in the background never noticed. Always forgotten, always failing to
win your parents love.”

  Christian sat quiet before speaking. “You can bite me. I don’t envy you because I wasn’t the one using my girlfriend for her family’s wealth. You claim to have all this money, then why was you trying to get a free ride. I didn’t struggle with my tuition fees because I was smart. People like you only act smart and get stuck. See the different between me and you is not the success that I have or the fact you are a jock who had the time of his life in high school partying and getting the school’s slut but because I am not the one that is getting convicted with a felony.” Christian said. “After this all ends, I can go home and get started on my next case whether you win or lose. You on the other hand you are facing fifteen years to life in prison for a crime you didn’t commit. I don’t have to prove anything because I already won.”

  Connor sat with nothing more to say. Christian stood up from his desk and began to walk away.

  “Okay.” Connor said.

  “Okay what?” Christian asked.

  “I wasn’t at that party that night, at least not when I said I was. I was out buying the ring that was found, for Lisa. I didn’t really have the money to buy it and I am still in debt with the jewelers. I was going to propose to her but then I stopped.” Connor turned to Christian. “I knew I was just marrying her for the money and I left the ring as an apology gift for leaving. I left it in her room on a table then I went. Later that night after the game everyone else celebrated I snuck out and found all these undressed pictures of her on the school’s collaboration website. I was pissed. She had never sent those to me and I would never humiliate her. I knew that she was fooling around on me and I confronted her on it but I didn’t kill her. I just found out that the ring was stolen by Magi and re-gifted. That’s all I know.”

  Christian stood amused by his truthfulness.

  “The guy that was mad before wasn’t just someone who had faked his love for someone just for the money. You wouldn’t have care to get upset over some pictures of her if you didn’t care. And that is why I am helping you. Not because I have some ulterior motive to fix a wrong in my past. Never make that mistake about me again.”