Facing Evil

by C L Hart

  “So?” Abby asked. “The department has used Jensens for years.”

  “That’s right.” Lincoln turned to Nathan. “Except...the department stopped using them three years ago.” Abby leaned forward in her chair. “They changed to a more environmentally friendly product.”

  Nathan watched the interchange with interest, and then with annoyance. “Okay, it sounds good, but if I don’t understand it, then a jury sure won’t.”

  Lincoln tried to explain as Abby started to pace the room. “When you take a fingerprint, you dust first with powder, and then you take transparent cellophane strips which you lay over your print, to lift it off. The bookbinding tape is an adhesive you use to lift prints off curved surfaces, like the edge of the counter at the motel. It’s mandatory for everyone to wear gloves, and the gloves are provided to you by the department.” Lincoln looked for the light to dawn. “What it means is someone was wearing old gloves while they lifted Abby’s fingerprints.”

  “Couldn’t someone have just had an old pair lying around?” Nathan asked.

  “Old gloves become fragile over time, and they rip easily, so no one wants to wear them,” Abby said, Lincoln nodding in confirmation.

  “This is all interesting, but it doesn’t prove anything,” Nathan said.

  "Okay then, how about the fact that Hyme told Webber what he had found,” Lincoln kept his eyes on his partner, “and Webber told him to bury it.”

  “Now that’s interesting,” Nathan said.

  Abby’s eyes widened. “That dirty son of a bitch.”

  “Hyme says there’s enough for him to testify that someone could’ve tampered with Abby’s prints.”

  “Now that’s something I can work with,” Nathan said happily.

  “And one other thing.” Lincoln reached for some papers. “In the complete autopsy, and I quote, ‘the mid-shaft fracture of the left clavicle, and the majority of the bruises and lacerations covering the victims body, were caused by blunt force trauma...postmortem’.”

  “Postmortem?” Abby questioned.

  “Postmortem,” Lincoln confirmed. “Whoever beat the crap out of Ward did it after he was dead.” Abby looked at her uncle but said nothing further as she leaned against the wall. “And last but not least,” he pulled a picture out of his attaché case, “the murder weapon.” He handed the photo to his partner. “Look familiar?”

  “It’s one of my kitchen knives,” Abby said in shock as her uncle snatched the picture.

  Nathan studied the photo. “Are you sure, Abby?”

  “Yes — well, as sure as I can be from a picture. How can this be good news?”

  “Think about it, Abby.” He looked at her and then at Nathan. Neither understood what he was trying to say. “You still had one of your kitchen knives after your house burned down? Ward was the only suspect in the arson investigation. What if he took one of your knives back to his motel? That would explain your fingerprints being on it.”

  “Feasible,” Nathan agreed. “And arguable.”

  Abby’s mind was swirling with all the information. “I still think Webber had something to do with this. At the very least, he hindered the investigation. He knew about evidence and he didn’t do a thing to find out the truth. And if he overlooked that, what else was overlooked or pushed to the side?”

  “Sabatini?” Nathan questioned.

  “Webber?” was the name that came to Abby’s lips.

  “I can’t believe Webber would’ve murdered Ward,” Lincoln said.

  “I don’t think he did it. He’s not smart enough for all of this. But he sure was quick to pin it on me.” She slid down the wall and sat on her haunches with a tired sigh. Lincoln knew she had ended the conversation just as Sarah had done earlier.

  Silence fell over the room as the two men went over the paper at the table, leaving Abby to herself.

  After a while Lincoln pushed his chair back and strolled over to talk to his partner.

  “How are you holding up?” he asked. Abby gave him a shrug, keeping her eyes on the cement floor. “Tell me what you need, Abby, and I’ll do my best to get it for you.”

  “You can’t undo what’s already been done.” She lifted her eyes. “How’s Sarah doing?”

  “She’s doing well. Robin says the physical therapist is pleased with her progress.”

  Abby lifted her head and looked Lincoln in the eyes. “But? I hear a ‘but’ in there.”

  Shooting a quick glance over at Nathan, Lincoln turned back to Abby. “She won’t come out of her room, except for therapy. We tried to coax her out, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with it.”

  Abby stood up and stood eye to eye with Lincoln. “What do you mean coax her out? She’s not a frightened animal in a cave, for Christ’s sake!”

  “You have to try to understand, she holes up in her room, with the curtains drawn. She’ll talk only to Robin, and sometimes to me. She’s still pissed at Nathan.”

  “Pissed at Nathan?” Abby looked to her uncle. “Why’s she mad at you?”

  Nathan threw down the file he had been looking at. “Because I didn’t tell her that the State is trying to gas her girlfriend. Don’t worry, she set me straight. I was informed that I need to learn to communicate — lack of communication is half of the world’s problem. People don’t know how to talk anymore and they definitely don’t know how to listen,” Nathan said smartly as a small smirk lifted the corner of Abby’s mouth. “You find this funny?”

  “No,” she said. “I find it reassuring. That’s the Sarah I fell in love with. She said the same thing to me.” She wandered back over to the wall with the comfort of knowing that the real Sarah was alive and improving. But the warm feeling inside soon turned to an ache. The thought of the old Sarah only brought to mind the new one — the one with all the pain, the scars, and the memories of what had been done to her.

  Little else was said between them, though the two men could see Abby’s mood changing and not for the better. The smile faded and she grew quiet as she sat alone against the wall. When they addressed her, she would answer only with a yes or no.

  Nathan had noticed that Lincoln had been keeping a close eye on the time, so he was not surprised when Lincoln leaned over and whispered. “Trust me with this.”

  “What?”

  Lincoln looked over at Abby. “I need you to watch the guards.”

  “What are you thinking, Lincoln?” Nathan questioned suspiciously.

  “Hand me your cell phone.”

  “You can’t use it in here,” Nathan said as he looked in the direction of the guards.

  “I know. That’s why you’re keeping your eyes peeled.”

  ♥

  Sarah was lying on her bed, doing some of the exercises her therapist had left for her. Robin had taken her book and said she would be in the garden if Sarah wanted her.

  Sarah paused, and with no one watching, she reached up and traced the scar that ran over the bridge of her nose.

  It’s not as painful as it used to be, she thought as she felt the smooth raised skin, but it still feels odd, like it isn’t me. Over and over she followed the thin red ribbon down to the edge of her chin. She stopped when she heard the warble of a phone.

  Rising up on one elbow, she looked around to see where the sound was coming from as the phone rang again. It was coming from Lincoln’s coat hanging on the back of a chair. “Lincoln, you...I’m not answering that.” She flopped back down on the bed. After a few more rings, the cell phone went silent.

  Reaching over, she pulled back the thick curtain just enough to let in a little sunlight. She missed things that she used to take for granted — the fresh smell of the outside world, the warmth of the sun on her skin — but her life as she had known it was over. And as she felt the scars on her face and the thick scar on her neck, she knew she never wanted to leave this room again.

  The cell phone in Lincoln’s coat warbled again and Sarah glared over at its intrusion. It kept ringing, but she had no intention of answerin
g it.

  But what if it has something to do with Abby? That thought was enough to move her. Walking slowly over to stand next to the chair, she hesitated and then reached into the inside pocket and pulled out Lincoln’s small cell phone. What if it is Abby...but what if it isn’t? She looked over at the window and at the sliver of light she had allowed in. Torn between the longing she felt and the fear that had overgrown her life, she stood in a tug-of-war of emotions. A feeling of desperation overwhelmed her as she realized how much she missed Abby and how badly she wanted to look into her eyes again, though she feared what she would see. People had been so kind to her since all of this had happened, but she would always see the truth in their eyes, the horror and revulsion they tried so hard to hide, and the pity that quickly followed.

  The cell phone warbled again and she jumped. Sitting down at the edge of the bed, Sarah stared at the phone.

  ♥

  “She isn’t answering,” Lincoln said in a whisper.

  “Keep trying. No one can ignore a ringing phone forever.” He looked past Lincoln’s shoulder to see if anyone was watching them. “Are you sure she can hear it?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Lincoln tried again. “Robin said the coat was right where I left it.” Nathan eyed him hopefully, but Lincoln shook his head as he listened to the ringing of his phone.

  “What are you two up to?”

  They turned to Abby’s stern accusation, their faces showing their guilt as she rose to her feet. She waited for some kind of answer, but neither of them knew what to say.

  She glared at her old partner. “Lincoln, you know you’re not supposed to be using a cell phone in here. You two are gonna get me in more shit.”

  “There’s no answer anyhow.”

  “Then hang up.”

  Lincoln felt dejected. “You know, one of these days, Abby, your impatience is going to bite you in the—” The ringing suddenly stopped and Lincoln spoke quickly into the phone. “Sarah, Sarah, don’t hang up,” Lincoln pleaded as he kept his eyes on Abby’s pale face. There was no sound on the other end, “Sarah, just wait...please.” Lincoln handed Abby the phone. The men did their best to block the guard’s view as Abby slid down the wall with the cell phone to her ear.

  Abby’s heart was beating so loudly, she was certain Sarah would be able to hear it on the other end of the phone. “Sarah.”

  Sarah wanted to hang up, to keep the outside world out of her room, to keep it all at bay — the truth, the realities, the fear.

  “Sarah?” Abby whispered desperately.

  A sob broke from Sarah’s heart, and Abby closed her eyes at the childlike sound that came through the phone. No more words were needed as the two women connected for the first time in months.

  “Abby?”

  At the sound of Sarah’s voice, Abby’s heart ached and she dropped her head to her chest. There was so much she wanted to say, but she suddenly couldn’t find her voice. Her mind flooded with visions of the times they had spent together — sharing laughter and tears at the resort, the long and heart-wrenching hours she had spent in the ICU. She wanted nothing more at that moment than to be able to reach out, brush back Sarah’s hair, and look into her eyes.

  Alone in her room, Sarah sat on the bed with tears streaming down her face. The sound of Abby’s voice made her realize how long it had been since they had spoken to each other. A lifetime had passed since their evening on her deck at Gold Creek, a lifetime of pain and medication since she had looked into Abby’s eyes and seen her perfect smile.

  Sarah sniffed and Abby instantly asked, “Sarah...are you okay?” The sound of her concern brought a combined sob and chuckle to Sarah’s lips. “I’m better than I was the last time you saw me.”

  Another wave of strong emotion washed through Abby as she heard the difference in Sarah’s voice and the tightness in her speech because of her wired jaw. “Is there anything you need?”

  Sarah wiped away tears with the heel of her hand. “Anything I need? You’re in jail on a murder charge and you’re worried about me?”

  “Yeah, so what’s so wrong with that?” Abby felt a warm glow that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  “There’s so much I want to say to you; I just don’t know where to start. We left a lot of things unsaid when you left the resort, things I...Abby, I never lied to you. I may not have told you everything I should’ve, but I did not lie to you.”

  “I know that, Sarah.”

  “Do you? I mean, after everything that’s happened?” Sarah paused. “Abby, I’m so sorry about Buck, I can’t even imagine...” She couldn’t finish and neither could Abby. After a moment of silent thought for the dog that had meant so much to them, Sarah finally found her voice. “This is such a mess, Abby.”

  “I know, and I wish you hadn’t been dragged into the middle of it. I’m sorry, Sarah, I’m sorry this happened to you.” Abby fought to keep her composure, but she lost the battle and Sarah heard her voice break.

  “You didn’t do this, Abby. Billy did. He brought me into this not you. That’s the kicker, isn’t it? If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met you.”

  Abby opened her mouth to speak, but said nothing. This was the Sarah she knew, the one who could look through a disaster and see a flower blooming in the rubble. She was right and it made it all the more unbearable for her to think about. “But if it hadn’t been for me—”

  “Don’t, Abby! Do you hear me? Don’t! You told me once that we can never go back, we can never change the past, and you were right. We can’t. What is done is done.” Sarah was a little taken aback herself by her own outburst and the ferocity of her statement.

  Abby took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “And what about what he did to you?” she asked quietly. “How do I deal with that?” There was no sound on the other end of the phone, but Abby knew Sarah was crying. It tore at her heart not to be able to hold her, and she felt her frustration growing. “He did it to hurt me, Sarah, and for as long as I draw breath, I will know that.”

  “And what could you have done differently? Nothing.”

  For a moment there was silence on the phone, as they each thought about what could have been and what was.

  “Sarah...” The truth was on the tip of Abby’s tongue, but the pain of it silenced her.

  “Hey, what’s going on in here?” A guard was standing in the doorway

  “Oh, shit,” Lincoln muttered.

  “Sarah, I gotta go. Be strong, please. I love you,” Abby said quickly. Before Sarah could respond the line went dead.

  ♥

  The gentle ocean breeze wafted the smell of roses through the garden. The crash of the waves below the tall cliffs echoed rhythmically in Robin’s ears as she did her best to concentrate on the book in her lap. The wooden benches along the manicured pathways were her favorite places to sit and read, but today she just couldn’t keep her eyes on the words. The moment Lincoln had left, she had second thoughts about his plan, but by then it was too late. She prayed it wouldn’t have negative repercussions. Sarah was making progress, mentally and physically, but if they pushed her too hard, they could send her deeper into her depression.

  Looking down at her romance novel, Robin realized she couldn’t recall the words she had just read. So she started once again at the top of the page.

  His passion wouldn’t be denied. He wanted her and he was going to take her. “Magdalene, I must have you with me. Without you...” Raoul pressed his naked chest against her outstretched hand. He could feel her fingers as they ran through his dark chest hair, causing his loins to ache and harden...

  Robin’s cell phone rang and she quickly answered it, ignoring Raoul and his aching loins.

  “Hello.”

  “Robin?

  “Lincoln. How’d it go?”

  “Good, really good. They talked, they finally talked.”

  “That’s great,” Robin said.

  “I haven’t seen Abby smile like that in a long time. And at least we got Sarah to talk on the phone
,” Lincoln said.

  Robin looked back at the house and there, in the doorway leading out to the gardens, was Sarah, blinking against the bright sunlight. “You did more than that, Lincoln. A lot more than that.”

  Chapter 28

  Many things changed after that day in the rose garden. Those in and around the mansion saw a whole new side of Sarah. No longer did she hide out in her bedroom. She even started to join the others downstairs for her meals. Robin kept track of Sarah’s medical needs, which were diminishing by the week. Lincoln’s time at the mansion was also diminishing as he spent long hours tracking down even the smallest of clues in hopes of finding new evidence. Nathan had his hands full dealing with a now cooperative but emotionally declining Abby.

  The conversation between Sarah and Abby had been a catalyst for change for Sarah, helping her find the courage and strength she needed to face each day, though she still refused to face herself. However, it had the opposite effect on Abby. She had become bitter and angry over her imposed incarceration. The cell phone incident deprived her of her last privilege, now the only person she was allowed to see was her lawyer. With only her uncle to talk to, her world became dark and desolate. Letters came in for her daily from Sarah, but they seemed only to draw her more and more into herself and deeper into her depression.

  The trial date was looming and Nathan had approached Abby about getting a continuance, but she wouldn’t even discuss it. That was the date that they’d been given, and that was the date they’d keep.

  One afternoon while going over papers, Nathan leaned back in his chair and took a long hard look at his niece. Her once shiny black hair, now hung limply around her pale face, and her eyes were sunken with dark circles below them. Her eyes had always held a mystery, a mystique, but as he watched her peruse a document, he realized they had lost their luster, their sparkle of life. Abby was dying in prison — mentally and physically. The guilt and isolation were killing her.