He looked at the shocked faces and licked his lips.
“I stopped trying to fight it then. It was already too strong. I tried to kill myself Mr Winthorpe, more than once. But the vampire inside me just wouldn’t allow me to do it.”
Greer looked at Winthorpe and watched as the lawyers smile faltered a little. He composed himself, and then looked to the crowd.
“A moving tale, Mr. Greer. One told expertly by a man who is intelligent. Told by a man who knows that his only chance to become free is to make this jury feel sorry for you. And perhaps they do. But I implore them to consider the facts as they stand, and not to take into account the moving and well-told story that you have just relayed to us all.”
“You call it a story, Mr. Winthorpe; I call it answering the question that you have asked.”
“Really? Well, I put it to you, Mr. Greer that this humble, remorseful persona is just that. An act, a way to try and sway the minds of these good people of the jury in your favour. I put to you that not only did you learn to live with the Longboroughvampirosis, but you embraced it, you thrived on it. And for two hundred years you pillaged and murdered at will.
“You are wrong.”
“I also put to you, that given the chance, you would take back the parasite, and once again feast on those who our legal system serves to protect. People like Clara Wood, a young girl who had a promising future cut short by a foul beast whose only desire was to maim, murder and feast. She is a self-confessed shell of the bubbly, outgoing person that she used to be, and we, as a society, call her one of the lucky ones because she happened to survive?”
Winthorpe glanced to the jury and shook his head.
“No, Mr. Greer, I don’t think we have the right to call Miss Wood lucky. I think a ruined life, is a ruined life however you try to spin it. She was lucky to survive, that much is true. But what about the others? What about the ones who didn’t survive? What about the countless innocents who have their blood on your hands, Mr. Greer? What about them?”
Greer glared at Winthorpe, and spoke softly.
“I’m not hearing a question, councillor.”
Winthorpe flashed a false, elastic smile at Greer, and turned to the Judge.
“No further questions.” He said as he returned to his seat.
The tension was heavy in the air, and with everyone in apparent need of a break, the court broke for an early lunch, and when they returned, it was Longborough who was in the witness box, and Greer who was preparing to question him. Those in attendance waited with bated breath, as Greer approached the man who had, for better or worse, changed the direction of his life forever.
He was still shaken, stirred by the powerful words of Winthorpe, and for as much as he didn’t particularly care for him; he had to acknowledge a certain professional respect for the lawyer, who had delivered a masterful performance. Greer composed his thoughts and approached Longborough. He looked at him and then spoke.
“Do you believe in the law, Mr. Longborough?”
“Of course, I do.” Longborough snapped.
“Do you abide by it? Do you follow its rules?”
“Yes.”
“And would you consider me as a law abiding man?”
“Of course not.”
“But a man all the same.”
“Yes.”
“Would you please tell the court how the parasite is removed from someone unfortunate enough to be infected?”
“Objection.” Bellowed Winthorpe. “This is hardly relevant.”
The Judge looked at Winthorpe, then at Greer.
“The line of questioning is valid. Answer the question please, Mr. Longborough.”
Longborough took a deep breath as Bernard watched.
“The process is complex, I’m not sure I could explain fully.”
“Oh, I appreciate your need to keep the specifics private. Your company stands to make a lot of money if this trial goes the way you expect it to.”
“That’s irrelevant I...”
“It's fine,” Greer said with a thin smile. “Just a general description of the procedure for the court will suffice.”
Longborough squirmed in his seat, and seeing no way to get out of the question, reluctantly answered.
“We put the host under a local anesthetic, then using specialised laser equipment, we open the ribcage. Then, our teams locate the parasite by moving the heart aside. From there, we cut the parasite free.”
“And what about the part that you said attaches to the brain?”
“That isn’t removed. Without the main body of the host, it cannot survive. They are in separate locations, but part of the same organism.”
“Is the process a complex one?”
“Very,” Longborough said, straightening in his seat. “There are very few people alive that could perform it in the world.”
“And you are one of them, correct?”
“You know I am. I performed it on you, and here you stand.”
“So for those of us who do not understand the complexity. Would it be at the same level as, say a heart transplant, for example?”
“Yes, I’d say it was in the same ballpark.”
“So,” Greer said as he turned back towards the jury. “What we have here is a very dangerous, invasive surgery, correct?”
“Yes, but if it’s done by someone like myself, who knows how to perform the procedure safely, the survival rate is almost seventy percent.”
“I see,” Greer said, taking another leaf out of Winthorpe’s book and pausing for a few seconds.
“With such an invasive procedure, I presume that release forms would have to be signed?”
“Longborough locked eyes with Greer and again fidgeted in his chair. He glanced at Winthorpe, who looked back blankly.
“Yes of course, but this was experimental.”
“So, you are saying that you performed a dangerous, invasive, potentially lethal surgery on me without my consent?”
“Yes... no! You are different!”
“True, I’m different, but I’m still a man. A man who has the same rights as anyone in this world, and yet, you snatched me off the streets, and performed a very dangerous procedure on me without my permission.”
“You are a beast, a creature!” Stammered Longborough.
“Am I? But your own witnesses and your own council have said on numerous occasions that this is a parasite, something that attaches to the host and controls it. It doesn’t change the man into a beast; it simply alters its behaviour. Isn’t that correct?”
“I refuse to answer anymore,” Longborough said, a light sweat forming on his brow.
“You will answer the question, Mr. Longborough.” The Judge ordered.
Greer waited. The public watched. Longborough squirmed.
“Maybe it doesn’t change the person in so many words, but the advances in science are worth the risk.”
“You call me a monster, but yet you are the one who brought me against my will and performed surgery on me that wasn't permitted.”
Greer lifted up his shirt, showing the huge scar to the jury.
“You did this without my authority. You took another man’s life in your own hands, and even though you say it’s for science, we both know that it’s for financial greed. Isn’t it Mr. Longborough?”
“No, it’s not like that!” He raged.
“How much does your company stand to earn from this procedure? How many people will you have rushing to your clinics, sure that they are infected and paying your extortionate fees just to be examined?”
Longborough stammered, and couldn’t formulate an answer.
“You paint me as a monster, and it’s true that there are crimes that I am guilty of, but you are worse because you can’t admit to yours.”
Silence.
Greer looked at the jury. They were looking at him in wonder and at Longborough with contempt. Winthorpe had his head in his hands and had lost interest in proceedings.
“No further
questions.” Greer snapped, and returned to his seat.
“Okay.” Judge Jeffries said. “We will take a brief thirty-minute break, then reconvene for the final statements from both parties before we hand over to the jury.”
Court was dismissed, and the various television crews hyped up the final statements. Public opinion was strictly divided, and the consensus was that the result could go either way.
The court reconvened, and the final statements were ready to be made. Winthorpe stood, having recovered from his head in hands dejection from before lunch. He approached the jury, smiling confidently, then paused, basking in the silence.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” He began. “You have heard the information. You have heard testimony of experts and also of those directly involved. You have also heard the words of Mr. Greer, a man who delivered a very convincing, heartfelt speech. But don’t be fooled. Here is a man that for two hundred years has maimed, killed and murdered all for his own self-gratification. Look at him now, ladies and gentlemen.”
Winthorpe paused and looked at Greer with a smug half smile.
“Look at him. What looks to be an innocent man on the surface, is actually a cold blooded monster. And yes, perhaps mistakes were made by my client in his manner of treating Mr. Greer, but nevertheless, his intentions were sincere. And rest assured, his reasons for the manner of removing the Longboroughvampirosis from Mr. Greer were genuine.”
Winthorpe turned back to the jury, making sure to make eye contact with each of them.
“My client has devoted his life to the pursuit of a cure for what is, without a doubt, the biggest single threat to humanity, bar none.”
Winthorpe smiled, and inserted one of his trademark pauses.
“Just think about that for a moment. On one hand you have a man who has devoted himself, his life, and his own personal fortunes and that of his company to devise this cure, and then on the other side, you have Edwyn Greer. A murdering, violent monster that has terrorised this planet for over two hundred years. Make no mistake. Edwyn Greer is guilty. And Edwyn Greer deserves to be punished if only to show others of his kind that wanton murder of innocent people is unacceptable, and will be punished.
Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen. Ensure that whatever decision you make is the correct one, because to make an incorrect choice, could lead to more deaths, murder and more suffering for countless innocents the world over.”
He stood straight and clasped his hands in front of him.
“Edwyn Greer is guilty, ladies and gentlemen. And it’s up to you to see that he is punished. Thank you.”
Winthorpe returned to his seat, and the Judge motioned to Greer. He hesitated, his mouth dry. He wasn’t even sure if his legs would hold him, but he stood up smoothly, his restraints rattling as he shuffled towards the jury. He wasn’t even sure how he was going to begin, or what he intended to say until it happened and he found the words ejecting themselves from his mouth.
“I won’t try to dazzle you like Mr. Winthorpe over there. I won’t even try to sway your opinion. I’m sure by now you already know what you are going to decide. All I will say is that I didn’t ask for this. On that day many years ago, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And because of that, and the control that my parasite held over me, yes I did terrible things. Things which, now that I am free of it, I deeply regret. Truth be known, I don’t blame Dr. Longborough for what he did. Although he performed his procedure on me without permission, I don’t blame him. In fact, I want to thank him. Because he freed me. And yet, it seems that he also wants to see me put to death, which begs the question why? Why would a man who was referred to by his own representative as a man who had devoted himself to curing this disease, then be so determined to see me put to death?”
Greer walked towards Longborough and watched him.
“Greed? Personal gain? Fame? All valid reasons. I wonder if this is the fate that befalls everyone cured of the parasite he has given his own name to. What if one of you, here in this court contracts it and do not seek help in time? Perhaps you too would be put on trial and put to death. Freed of your curse, only to be punished at the very first scent of a freedom which is then taken from you.”
Greer walked back towards the jury.
“Perhaps, this entire procedure is worthless if those cured are put to death. Some might even say a waste of time and money. In closing, ladies and gentlemen, let me ask you this. If the parasite is responsible for my actions, and then removed, why punish the man? Surely I am as innocent as any of you here in this room? Either way, for better or worse, I have lived for a very long time and think I have seen enough of human nature to know that we are a flawed species. The real battle is already won, and with Dr. Longborough’s cure, nobody need suffer as I have suffered. So please, ladies and gentlemen. Do not punish the man for his misfortune of contracting a disease that was neither understood nor curable. Perhaps I am wrong, and the flaws that I have seen in our species over the years are not quite so clearly cut. That is for you to decide. And whatever the outcome, I thank you.”
Greer returned to his seat and sat as Judge Jeffries organised his papers.
“The jury will now recess to formulate their findings. We will reconvene as soon a decision has been made.”
Greer was led away to the holding cells, as the jury filed away to discuss the evidence before presenting it to the Judge. He assumed the jury would take a lot of time to go through the evidence that had been presented, and thought there was a good chance that the trial could yet stretch into a fourth day. He was wrong, however, and less than three hours later, a verdict had been reached.
For what would be the last time, no matter the outcome, Greer was led back into the courtroom which was already full, as nobody wanted to miss the verdict.
Greer glanced over at Longborough and Winthorpe, but both were intently watching the Judge.
“Has the jury reached a verdict?”
The head juror, a middle-aged woman with short hair stood and responded.
“Yes, Your Honour. In the case of Greer versus Longborough, we find the defendant. Not guilty.”
The courtroom became a symphony of whispered chatter and excited murmur. Greer sat for a moment, not quite able to comprehend what had happened. He glanced at Longborough, who was glaring at him.
“You got it wrong.” He bellowed standing and staring at the Judge with wide eyes. “He’s a murderer, a mass murderer.”
“Sit down, Mr. Longborough.” Judge Jeffries warned as Winthorpe tried, and succeeded in calming his employer.
Judge Jeffries took a deep breath and addressed the court.
“The decision of the jury is, for the record, one which I am in full agreement with. The actions of Mr. Greer were conducted under the influence of what has been confirmed to be a very violent, very potent parasite. One which is now cured. I urge everyone here in this courtroom, and everyone watching around the world to acknowledge this fact. And also to allow Mr. Greer to live his life now in peace as he should have done many years ago. Even though many have suffered, Mr. Greer cannot be blamed. He was as much a victim as anyone, and although I won’t go into it here, I suspect that the main reason for this trial taking place was, as suggested, financially motivated.
Mr. Greer, you strike me as a man who has lived through years of things which most of us cannot begin to imagine. You also come across as a very sincere man who, despite your years on this earth, has not yet had a chance to experience life as it should be lived. I urge you to go forth from this courtroom and live that life to the full, and try as best you can, to put the events of this trial and the events of your life, which have led to this moment, behind you.”
Greer nodded, and the Judge turned to Longborough.
“ As for you, Mr. Longborough, for as much as your procedure is appreciated, and its brilliance cannot be denied, I sense that you are a man who will do anything to achieve whatever he wants to in life, and will stop at nothing to do so. Your treatment of Mr. Gr
eer was nothing short of barbaric, and Mr. Greer would be well within his rights to take legal action of his own if he so desired, although I would hope that he would take my advice and not waste any more time with disputes in this or any other courtroom.
I give you this warning, Mr. Longborough, knowing that the eyes of the world are upon you. Pursue this no further. Leave Mr. Greer to enjoy his life and you, in turn, go back to the brilliant work that you are conducting in the advancement of science.”
The Judge stood, and looked at Greer with a small smile.
“You are free to go, Mr. Greer.”
The armed guards that had been with Greer since the trial began released his shackles, freeing him at last. He rubbed his wrists and looked around the courtroom, unsure what to do. He hadn’t ever planned for winning, or what he would do with himself if he did. He supposed it was possible that some fanatic might try to kill him, or make an example of him, but he decided that it wasn’t something that was worth worrying about too much. The world, for better or worse, stretched out in front of him, and finally free of the thing that had consumed him; he couldn’t begin to even imagine the possibilities. With everyone watching him in silence, Edwyn Greer stood, and walked out of the courtroom as a free man.
THE VISIT
Arnie Jones never liked his grandmother’s house. He stood at the threshold, glorious June sun at his back, his shadow already thrown inside the gloomy property. It smelled of age and dust, which suited the ugly three storey townhouse to perfection. He heard his mother following him from the car, heels of her shoes clicking on the paving slabs. He imagined the overgrown weeds from the garden reaching for her and tickling her ankles as she approached the cavernous space.
“Go on inside, don’t just stand there,” she said as she joined him, her arrival heralded by the overpowering stench of perfume which still wasn’t quite enough to banish the musty house smell. He didn’t move. He stood there as her shadow merged with his in the grid of sunlight on the threadbare hall carpet. “What are you waiting for?”
At The Edge of Night - 28 book horror box set - also contains a link to an additional FREE book Page 25