She began to fade into the scene.
He woke up in his chair sitting with one hand wrapped around what seemed like a coin. He wouldn’t dare look even though he had high suspicions that it was nothing but a quarter. A quarter. It dwelled his mind, what if it wasn’t. He feared that he would be proven wrong and just stuff his hand in his pocket, grabbing his wallet, sticking in his wallet. The epiphany didn’t frighten him, but made him sad. He even grew to believe that Connor was innocent and all his heinous action had made him sick to his stomach. Quickly nauseated he darted for the nearest trash can. He emptied his stomach of most of the contents He shook his head of his previous thought and assumed that was just the alcohol talking. Just the alcohol.
Christian slept on the couch. On the edge of waking he opened up his eyes to see a pillow cover his face.
“I told you to leave but you wanted to stay.” Victor spoke as attempted to suffocate Christian with the pillow. “You are starting to regret your stay here aren’t you. You should have just looked the other way. You should have never came here.”
Christian swiped blindly for Victor’s face and push up to get him off of him. Victor knocked his arms away. He pressed down harder with the pillow and Victor watched, glassy-eyed as Christian struggled for his last breath. He closed his eyes his body went still and breathed in. A piecing noise followed with is blood splatter spraying on the pillow in front him. A duplicate Christian stood dressing in all black with a gun in his hand and silencer attachment.
“Sorry to disappoint again Vic, but I told you. Always, a step ahead of you.”
Victor had awaken in a motel room with the sunlight peeking through the slightly open shade.
He sat on the side of the bed rubbing his face. He looked through each separation of his hand to making sure that he was actually awake this time. He pulled his hand down his face looking back up hearing the noise of a couple arguing outside. He dropped the cover and started to put on his pants. He walked over to the window, parting two folds so that he could get a glimpse of what was going on outside.
“How did I even end up here?”
He turn and saw miniature liquor bottles.
“That explains a lot.” He said as he threw on his shirt.
He threw on his shoe and then stalled, before venturing out the door.
Christian had woke to Kyra running on her treadmill in her living room. She had her earbuds in listening to fast paced music. Her eyes were focused on the T.V even though everything that was being said was muted behind her music. She seen Christian at the corner of her eye. She hit her button that slowed down the pace to a walk and then to a halt.
“Hey. Good morning.” She said as she turned to her side.
“Good morning.” Christian said. “Victor still hasn’t shown up?”
“Nope. But the funny thing about that is… I don’t care, I have not cared.”
Christian in his mind was somewhat worried that maybe if he stepped from the house that he could be killed on spot, but maybe that was too high of an expectation for a man he so easily reads.
“Well. How was your night?”
“Good.” She said saying nothing more. She stepped off the treadmill walked past Christian. “I felt like a new person leaving last night. I just stop caring over something I have no control over.”
“Good, I guess.” Christian parted way with her as she went into the kitchen and drank the final half of her smoothie. “I guess I will be going. I have to head back down to the court house.”
“Mhm.” She swallowed and then spoke again. “Would like a smoothie before you go?”
“No,” He said.
“Are you sure? It is delicious.” She said tempting him.
“I’m positive.”
“It would help you focus with the case.”
Christian sighed with a smile. “If I take one, can I go?”
“Yes.”
“In that case I would like one to go.”
Kyra smiled. “To go?”
“Yes. You never said where. You just ask if I wanted one.”
“I guess you’re right. Damn you, with all your technicalities.” She said searching her cabinet for a plastic coffee cup. As she reached she saw her wedding ring sitting but it wasn’t hers because she was wearing hers. It must had been Victor’s. It had distracted her, as she thought of him with another woman but shook from her trance as Christian called her.
“Are you okay?”
She turn back around with a smile on her face like nothing has treaded over her.
“Yeah, I just got something in my eye, that’s all. I’m fine.”
“Okay.”
She pour his drink and topped it with a lid.
“There you go sir, one smoothie to go. Thank you for coming to Kyra Black’s home.”
Christian walked away smiling and Kyra walked into the living room and began play with her daughter as she sat on the floor playing with her bricks. She occasionally looked up staring into space. She wind had picked up outside and the cloud casted a shadow that lasted longer than the other ones. Her living was dark for a few seconds returning back the bright room once the clouds passed and the wind slowed down but the Kyra, it was like the sun had not came back out at all.
Christian had made it to the court house with a small breeze blowing his jacket out a back softly. He walked into the build with his suitcase in hand having people reminiscent outside the courts door. He walked in and sat down his suitcase and Judge Maddox walked in. Everyone that wanted to view the case had walked in. Christian had turn and seen a new face that had somewhat surprised him, Victor. He didn’t even acknowledge him in the last row. Instead he prepared himself for what was next, his key witness.
“You have something new up your sleeves, counsel men.”
“You could say that.” Christian said.
“I call Lisa’s mother to the stand as to testify.”
“I object.” Brian stood and shouted with strong disapproval.
“Under what grounds?” Judge Maddox.
“The ground that she came into this case with bias and still is still presumably bias against his own client. Having her testify is moronic on his behalf.”
Judge Maddox looked over at Christian.
“Now I don’t agree with your doing. I actually agree on Mr. Hoffman on this. It is moronic to put a grieving mother on a stand for the man accused of murdering his daughter. But I believe you wouldn’t waste my time, right counsel man.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Proceed.”
“Mrs. Balmore I know you are upset. Very much so but the last time I spoke with you there was a lot of confusion. Emotional you grown to love and to hate him.”
“I don’t hate him, in fact I could never hate him. We pulled him into our family like he was a son. He was a son to us, this is just a complication in our family. We would get over it soon enough. It would be a hard road, long road but we will through it.”
“What do you think of him? Do you think he was capable of murdering your daughter that night?”
She stalled to answer not as she was hesitating but has she came to the edge of her understanding of all of this.”
“No.” She said. “Everyone is capable to express their anger and strong emotion but everyone is not capable of doing this.”
“Do you think he did this to your daughter?”
“No.”
“Councilman Grant, what do this have to do with this?” The judge spoke infuriated.
“It’s to prove that he has good moral for him to go up there and describe himself is selfish. I have to prove to the jury that others see the good.”
The judge silenced and Christian continued.
“So you believe that the night even after the argument, he wasn’t able to do what has happen to your daughter.”
“I would believe not.” She said.
Connor’s tears streaked down his and he wiped them with his hands in dismissal.
“A
woman in her darkest hour, can even admit that he wasn’t capable to do such a despicable thing. This may not be evidence of his innocence but it shows a lot of his character. Have you ever known someone with the same characteristics as she describes to be a cold blood killer?” He turns towards the jury. “I haven’t. But maybe that is just me, but I want you to feel the pain that she is feeling and I want you to see this woman as she come in front of all of you telling her of a love for her daughter’s boyfriend. I want you to understand how strong you have to be in order to do such a noble thing.” Christian faced the judge again. “I have no further questions, thank you.”
He sat down in his seat while Hoffman stood.
“Well I do.” He approached Mrs. Balmore and began what he do best. “Now you sat here in front today and you did tell us that you love the defendant.”
“Correct.”
“Are you saying that no matter what happens, you would always love him as a son, like you claim?”
“I am not worried about it. He has showed me a lot. He is a good kid. I know he wouldn’t do anything like thing to us.”
“Oh. How well do you know him?” Hoffman said. “Since he was in Junior High. They were too shy to tell me they were dating by I knew all along.” Balmore said.
“So you know him relatively well. Can I ask a question?
“Sure.”
“Why do you think, Mr.—Davenport is here right now?”
“Because he has been suspected of doing this to my daughter.” Mrs. Balmore said.
“So, whether he is guilty of this crime or not, he is guilty of something, would you agree?” Hoffman said pacing. “I mean we wouldn’t bring a man to court unless he was guilty of something. But you still believe he is innocent.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you never said he was guilty. So which one is it? He can only get one way or the other.”
Christian stood. “I object! He to confuse Mrs. Balmore to make an unreliable judgment on the courts behalf.”
As the judge began to speak he was interrupted by Mrs. Balmore.
“Sometimes, you can’t put logic to things. Sometimes you can’t put everything in black and white. I can’t explain to why he is innocent and that is the reason why we are here, because we don’t know. We have no right to play god, we have no right to decide what happens next whether it’s life or death. We aren’t born with that power but here we are today doing it.” She paused to breathe between her newly forming tears and spoke and they rolled down her cheeks. “I know he is innocent the same reason why you don’t know he is guilty. We weren’t there to witness what happen and you want to know something I am damn glad that I wasn’t because I would be in Connor’s spot and my family would be just as broken if we would have known.”
“I have no further questions.”
“But I do, and the least you can do is answer them.”
Brian stood ready to listen.
“Have you ever had something in your life, you were too afraid to face because you knew that the truth was more likely to imprison you than to set you free?”
Mr. Hoffman didn’t answer.
“That’s why we are here.”
The court had spilled out into the hallway and onto the streets. It seemed like a long day but as Christian realized that the case was coming to an end in a one more week, he felt more pushed to find out the killer of Lisa. As he thought he heard the calling of his name ring in his ears. He had turned around to see Victor stand at the top of the stairs.
“What do you want?”
“I need your help.” Victor said.
“With what?” Christian asked.
“I just need you to come with me.”
“There is no way I am going with you anywhere.” Christian said turning to walk away.
“It’s something that could destroy my marriage even my family.”
“Well you are doing that by yourself. Not showing up at all and nights and your constant mood swings. One minute you are up and the next you are down. It’s nothing I can do to help you.”
“I’m not asking you to do it for me…” Christian stopped and listened. “Just please do it for my family. I don’t won’t Lily to grow up in a world where she always wondered who her father was and never remember.”
Christian turned back around. “Where do we have to go?”
“To a motel just a little on the edge of town.”
Victor lead back to the car and both got in. As they got ready to drive off, Christian felt this was a trip that he hadn’t taken the necessary precaution for. And as they pulled up to the motel, he later finds out that he hasn’t.
Chapter XV
Christian and Victor had just pulled up to the motel. The sun was settling on the horizon glaring off of the windows slightly and reflected into the car. Victor pulled down the visor and blocked out the sunlight facing forward, frighteningly quiet.
“Why are we here?” Christian said. “You asked for my help. What happened here that you need my help with?”
Victor looked at him with still eyes and then continue to look forward. The clock soon changed a minute passed and he got out of the car and began to walk to the trunk. Christian go out and followed having Victor stopped him by handing him the key to the room.
You go up to room Four-twenty-seven. I will follow you up there.”
Christian took the key with no hesitation and saw a little change in the way he was. It was like there was a switch that made him not moody or angry, it was like all his worries was alleviated and he was more calm. He followed his instruction and walked up the stairs, step by step. As he climbed the one staircase, he grew more and more worrisome on what was hidden behind that door. It wouldn’t be anything pretty that’s for sure but it was like his curiosity kept him reeling to till the conclusion. He reached the door and used the key. A click signified it’s unlock and Christian opened the door to the dark room. He walked in with two steps and the turned around to see if Victor was following. A loud metal clang had filled the air. Christian hit the ground while a river of blood formed on his forehead. A blackened silhouette of Victor stood in the door way. The shiny shovel was dented and in the dark, only gleamed with dull grey. He looked at Christian and dragged him farther into the room closing the door behind him. He pulled out his first aid and began cleaning Christian’s head.
Christian had awake on the bathroom floor in a daze. Victor stared at him blankly as he watched him wake up into consciousness.
“Ouch.” He said weakly as he reached up to touch him head bandaged. He looked over at Victor. “Why would…” He said looking over at his wrist handcuffed to the sinks drain pipe. “What are you doing?” He asked. “Why am I handcuffed?”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t approve if I ask for your help while you were not restrained.”
“What exactly do you need me to help you with?”
Victor looked behind Christian without moving from the bed he was sitting. Christian turned around slowly looking in the bathtub behind him and saw a woman, dead.
“What the hell did you do? Did you kill her?”
“I don’t know.” He said softly.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I mean I just woke up and she was dead! I don’t know what happened.” He said as his head hung. Christian sat quiet.
“Well, did you call the police?”
Victor turn towards him. “Use your head. Doesn’t it look like I call the police? And besides how do you think this is all going to look for me. They would lock me up no questions asked.”
“I don’t know what you want me to help you with then. There is not that much I can do.” He saw the dented shovel in the background and began to understand what he use was. “What was it that you wanted me to help you with?”
“I need your help hiding the body.” Victor said with no stutter or resentment of his words.
“You know I can’t help you hide the body.” Christian began to yank the cuf
fs to escape as Victor went for the first aid kit. He had hope of breaking free but before he could accomplish, now pulling with both of his hand. Victor had injected something into his shoulder. He howled with pain as Victor pulled it out and Christian turn with shock.
“What the hell did you inject me with?” Christian said panting.
“A toxin that will travel through your body, and corrode all your arteries with the next hour and a half. Causing you to bleed internally.”
“You son of a bitch…what good would I be if I’m dead?”
“I don’t want you to die, but it will be your motivation to help me. If you don’t want to help me just because, help me because your life depends on it.”
Christian sat down with little droplets of sweat forming on his forehead from the scuffle and just stare at Victor with his dead eyes.
“You have an hour and twenty minutes remaining. What are you going to do?”
Christian just continued to stare at Victor, breathing heavily.
Kyra was at home and it was empty. That was unusual because at least Christian was home watching Lily. She had sat her down asleep in her crib and began looking around the house to see if somebody was home. There was no sign. She thought that maybe he travelled somewhere to do research but as she went on she began see that there was no signs that Victor had returned home either today. She looked at her phone and saw there was no messages sent, no missed calls, nothing. She had come from work and everything was reversed of what it usually is. She didn’t care much about it and sat down and watched T.V. But as she sat she began feeling anxious especial because of everything that had happened. She picked up her phone and dialed for Christian.
“Hello?” He answered panting.
“Are you okay? Is there something wrong?” She asked, fearing that her superstitions were true.
“No not at all. I just got caught up with work and I am on my way to finish.”
“Oh. Okay, are you sure you are alright?”
“Yeah. Just a little tired. I will see you later, Okay?” Christian said trying to leave the phone.
“Okay.”
The phone went dead and Christian threw it to the back seat of Victor’s car while they got ready to leave. He had set his timer on one hour that ticked down to fifty-nine minutes and fifty eight seconds.
A Murder Of Our Own (Inevitable Darkness) Page 11