Facing Evil

by C L Hart

  “I know you are, but it’s not as bad as you think it is.”

  “It’s not just that.” She turned and faced Robin. “Yes, my appearance scares me, but not for the reasons you think. See, when I met Abby, it wasn’t by accident. It was planned, though what followed wasn’t.” She paused for a long moment and then decided to speak the truth. “For the first time in my life, I found unconditional love. I found someone who loved me for who I was...or at least, who she thought I was. I kept things from her and I pretended to be someone I wasn’t. I didn’t intend to fall in love with Abby, but I did. I so wanted to tell her that, to tell her the truth, and I was going to, but...” She turned and looked over the ocean as the tears fell. “She fell in love with who she thought I was, and that wasn’t me. What do I do if the real me isn’t who she is in love with? I’ll never know if it’s me she loves, or the image she remembers and is unwilling to forget.”

  The admission didn’t surprise Robin, but Sarah’s fears indicated just how deep her scars were. “I think you need to give yourself, and Abby, a little more credit. The woman I got to know in the hospital, the one who slept by your bedside, doesn’t seem like the type that falls for just anyone. She fell in love with the real you, Sarah. What’s inside is who you are, not the skin on your face.”

  “But how will I ever know?” she sniffed.

  “Because you will be able to see it in her eyes.”

  Chapter 29

  They pored over papers, reports, documents, lab results, photos, anything that might lead to an overlooked piece of evidence, but it only led to further frustrations. They talked about the case, and they talked about Abby, but neither Sarah nor Lincoln ever talked about what had happened that afternoon out on her deck.

  Nathan left them to their own devices as he began the tedious work of scripting out his opening statements. If he knew about the unspoken tension between them, he showed no sign of it. His heart and his mind were on the task before him, and on the life of his niece. Leaning back in his chair at his desk, Nathan heaved a heartfelt sigh, and both Sarah and Lincoln looked at him.

  “You okay, Nathan?” Lincoln asked with concern.

  “Yes. I’m just going over everything for the opening statements. At times the task seems so overwhelming, but then... Abby is right. It is possible that Ward was responsible for his own death, though there’s nothing here that makes it probable. It will be a hard sell for the jury. I just wish there was more.”

  “More? Are you kidding me?” Lincoln squawked.

  “No, I’m not kidding. It’s all out there somewhere. No one’s clever enough to do what he would have had to do, and not leave evidence behind.” He tossed his glasses onto the desk.

  “We can’t just give up,” Sarah said.

  “Never, not even after the jury has read the verdict. If it isn’t an acquittal, then we start on appeals.”

  “That’s if we lose, and we aren’t going to,” Sarah stated firmly.

  “What points do you have so far?” Lincoln asked.

  “Let’s see.” Nathan reached for his glasses and then perused the tablet in front of him. “I’m going to start off by putting Billy on trial. I hate the ‘discredit the victim’ defense because it can blow up in your face and you can wind up just getting sympathy for the victim, but I’ve no choice.”

  “Sympathy for Billy?” Sarah shook her head. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No,” Nathan said reluctantly.

  “After everything he did to those girls!”

  “I’m going to try to sneak it in as often as I can, but Billy was never convicted. Therefore, it’s inadmissible; however the prosecution is going to have to allow some of it. If not, they have no motive for his murder, and that helps us.” Nathan looked down at his notes. “If I guess right, de Barr will try this by a time line. He will start with opportunity: Abby left the hospital and had the time. Then the picture of her at the motel will show she was there—”

  “Picture of her at the motel?” Sarah interrupted.

  Lincoln nodded. “Yes. An ATM camera across the street got a video of her arriving in her Jeep. We have the video here somewhere,” Lincoln looked to the shelf where they’d stored some of the evidence, and then he looked down at the table. “Video’s over there, but here’s a couple of still photos.” He handed the grainy black and white pictures to Sarah.

  “Is this supposed to be her?” Sarah asked, examining the pictures.

  Neither answered the damning question. They silently went back to work as Sarah continued to study the picture.

  “This isn’t her,” Sarah suddenly stated.

  “It's grainy, and a little fuzzy, but it is clear enough for de Barr to say it could be,” Nathan suggested.

  “No, this is not her.”

  Nathan and Lincoln looked at Sarah in surprise. “What do you mean it isn’t her?”

  “Look.” She pointed to the figure standing next to the Jeep.

  The two men looked at each other, but neither understood what she was trying to show them.

  Sarah sighed at their lack of comprehension. “Her Jeep is here, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. After they were done with it, we had it brought here. It’s parked in the garage.”

  “Follow me.” Sarah rose to her feet and the men followed. She led them to the large garage outside, walked over to Abby’s black Jeep and stood next to the driver’s door. “See,” she said with her arms out.

  “See what? I don’t get it,” Lincoln asked in mild frustration.

  With her back to the Jeep, Sarah measured herself against the height of the hardtop and then held up the photo. “Whoever this is, it isn’t Abby. Look for yourselves. That person comes to the same height on the Jeep as I do. What’s Abby?” Sarah looked to Lincoln. “Six foot and then some?”

  “Six one,” Lincoln stepped forward and took the picture from Sarah’s outstretched hand. “How’d we miss that? There’s no way this is Abby. This person’s way too short.”

  ♥

  The early morning sky was gray and the air was cool as Sarah moved gracefully through the rose garden. The only sounds around her were those of nature as she came to the end of the pathway. There, surrounded by roses and overlooking the ocean, Sarah took a seat on the bench to enjoy the view for a moment. It had become a morning ritual for her, coming out to the garden and doing her exercises on a small patch of grass in relative seclusion. No one was there to bother her, no one was there to push her beyond where she wanted to go, and that was just fine with her.

  The case against Abby was foremost in her mind as she watched a lone seagull playing in the currents of the wind. There were times when the stark reality of what they were doing was too much for her, when the color photos would flash vividly in her mind and she would have to step out for a break. She would feel that they were making progress, bringing to light more discrepancies in the prosecution’s case, but then Lincoln or Nathan would remind her how unpredictable a jury could be, and she would feel fear waft over her once more.

  She rose from her seat, walked over to the small patch of grass just above the high cliffs, and began her exercises. By the time the sun actually broke over the horizon, Sarah’s skin was glistening with sweat. Finished, she picked up her towel and bottle of water, and returned to sit on the grass. Taking several long drinks, she looked over the ocean and was amused to see the seagull was still there, happily enjoying its freedom. Suddenly she was aware of a presence, and she turned around as Lincoln came into view.

  “If I’m bothering you, I can leave.”

  “No, you’re fine,” she said, but there was a slight hint of reluctance in her voice.

  “Sarah, I wanted to talk to you alone before the trial starts.” Lincoln nervously wiped his palms on his pants, and then crossed and uncrossed his arms. “I know...um...” Lincoln quickly closed the distance between them and squatted next to her. “Sarah, look at me,” he pleaded softly.

  Her eyes searched the skies for the seagull, bu
t to her disappointment, it was nowhere to be seen.

  “Sarah, please.” He reached over and laid a gentle hand on her forearm. The contact was enough and she turned to him, though she kept her eyes on the ground.

  “I’m sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you and I didn’t mean to upset you. I was only trying to help, and instead I did you wrong.”

  His words were sincere, but she still couldn’t look him in the eye. “Me too,” she said softly. “You’re a good man and a good friend, Lincoln, and I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.”

  He smiled at her. “Yeah, I think you would’ve.”

  “Thanks, Lincoln,” she whispered.

  ♥

  It was early Sunday evening, the night before the trial, and the only indication of the pending case was the rise in tension throughout the mansion. The extra staff Nathan had brought in had either been sent home or back to the office. Reasonable doubt was all he needed and while he wasn’t feeling confident, he was definitely feeling hopeful.

  “Nathan?”

  The lawyer looked up at Lincoln who was standing over the table that had been covered with evidence and documents. “Are you going to need all of the pictures for tomorrow or do you want just the ones you’ve marked?”

  “We should have them all there in case someone throws us a curveball.” He gestured to all of the papers on the table.

  “We can pack them up and take them with us,” Sarah said.

  “Uh, us?” Nathan looked to Lincoln.

  “Yes, us,” Sarah stated. “You didn’t think I was going to hide out here, did you?” Seeing their startlement, she put down her pen. “Forget it. I don’t care about the press anymore. They’re going to find out who I am sooner or later, and I don’t care who sees me. I’m going to be in that courtroom tomorrow morning.”

  Nathan scratched his head and licked his dry lips. This was something he hadn’t anticipated. “Unfortunately, my dear Sarah, no, you’re not,” he said as gently as he could, though he still saw the fire ignite in her eyes.

  “Yes, I am. After all of this, damn right I’m going to be there.”

  “Sarah.” Nathan came around his desk toward her.

  “Don’t you ‘Sarah’ me,” she fired back. “I’m strong enough. I need to be there for her.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, “but you can’t be.”

  “What do you mean, I can’t be? Why not?” She looked from Lincoln to Nathan for an explanation.

  “Sarah, you’re a witness for the prosecution,” Lincoln said. “You’re the key to the prosecution’s case, the catalyst that set Abby’s rampage in motion.”

  “What does that have to do with me going into the courtroom?”

  “You can’t be in the courtroom until after you have testified.”

  “What?” She looked desperately from one to the other.

  “But you’re testifying and you’re going in tomorrow,” she said to Lincoln.

  “Yes, I am, but my name’s first on the witness list. After I’m done, I can be in the courtroom.”

  “But then...” The realization hit her. “Where’s my name on this list?”

  Lincoln looked to Nathan and Sarah’s eyes followed. “Nathan? Where am I on this list?”

  “Last,” the lawyer finally said.

  “Last! Then that means I can’t be in...” Sarah’s words trailed off as she grasped the impact of what they were saying, and she sunk into her chair.

  “Sarah, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would want to be there — with the press and the people. I thought you understood.” Nathan got up and walked over to her chair. Crouching down, he placed his hands on hers.

  “It’s not fair, Nathan,” she said through tears of frustration. “Why do I have to be last?” She looked into his familiar eyes. “Nathan?”

  “Because...” He paused as he considered how best to explain the prosecution’s strategy. “They’re going to use Billy’s attack on you as Abby’s motive. Your love life is about to become very public, Sarah, and for that I’m truly sorry. Especially once the press finds out who you are.”

  “And my father said I’d never amount to anything.” She pulled her hands out of Nathan’s grasp. “I guess Mother’s bridge club will be flapping their gums like crazy.” She walked over to the open window and stood silently listening to the distant crash of the surf.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah—” Nathan stopped when she held up her hand.

  Her entire body and soul ached as the knowledge started to sink in. She had been at the height of anticipation, her mind constantly thinking about Abby and what it would be like to see her again, but the reality of life had put an end to all of it. She wouldn’t be seeing Abby tomorrow, she wouldn’t be seeing her for a long time yet, and there was nothing she could do to change it.

  “If there’s nothing else, I think I’ll go outside. I need the fresh air.”

  Neither said a word as Sarah quietly left the room.

  ♥

  Dressed conservatively in a tailored dark suit, Abby paced the room as she waited for Nathan. The level of her nervousness surprised her, but she did her best to remain calm as she walked back and forth across the tile floor. For the first time in a long time she instinctively reached into her pocket for a cigarette and then stopped when she recalled that she had quit quite a while ago.

  The door opened and Nathan walked into the room. “You’re looking fresh and ready this morning.” Nathan pulled out a chair.

  She looked at him in annoyance. “You know, for a lawyer, you suck at lying.”

  Nathan realized the suit improved her appearance, though it did nothing for her attitude. Regardless, she still looked exhausted and run down. “Did you get much sleep last night?” When she didn’t answer him, he looked over at her. “Abby?”

  “Where’s Lincoln?”

  “He can’t be in here or in the courtroom until he’s done testifying.”

  “Oh, yeah. Bet he’s happy.”

  Nathan went back to his papers and didn’t notice the perplexed look on her face. “Now, I don’t have to remind you about courtroom etiquette, do I? Keep your emotions in check. No laughing, no smiling — unless it’s appropriate, which is never. If you have something you want to add, whisper it or write it in a note. Pay attention to what’s happening and,” he looked over at her and knew she wasn’t paying attention even now, “keep your eye contact with the jury to a minimum, and... for God’s sake don’t tell anyone that you’ve been golfing... with O.J. Simpson. Abby, you’re not even listening to me,” he said impatiently.

  “What?” She looked at him in confusion. “I know courtroom etiquette; you don’t have to tell me.”

  “Really? Been golfing lately?"

  "What? I don’t golf.”

  “Abby, pay attention. I need your head in the game.” He pleaded with her, but he could tell her attention was elsewhere. “Abby, your trial starts in forty-five minutes. Are you aware of that?”

  “Yes, Nathan, I am.”

  Nathan turned to his niece. “What’s going on?”

  “Why?”

  “Don’t bullshit me, Abby, we don’t have the time.”

  “It’s just that...I thought Sarah would be with you.”

  “You know she can’t be in here.”

  “I know. I was just hoping that maybe you could’ve pulled a few strings and... Whatever.” She dropped into one of the chairs.

  “I wish I could.”

  “This is going to be hard on her. I can't begin to tell you how much I regret having to put her through all of this.”

  “You don’t have a choice, my dear. Don’t you think it’s time that you concerned yourself with your own well-being? I assure you, we’ve no intention of letting anything or anyone upset Sarah. Mind you, when the press finally figures out who she is and who her parents are, I fear things could get out of hand.”

  “Nathan, depending on how things go, I want your word that you’ll loo
k after—”

  Nathan held up his hand. “You don’t even have to ask.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “There’s no need.”

  “Yes, there is, and I should’ve done it earlier. Uncle Nathan, thank you for everything. I can’t imagine what this would’ve been like without you.”

  It was the first time in a long time that she had referred to him in the related sense, and he had to admit it felt good. Being back in the legal trenches had been satisfying, but having his niece’s life and freedom in his hands was draining. He wasn’t the young man he had been the last time her welfare had been in peril, though he was still looking forward to being in the courtroom again. He just wished he could predict what the outcome was going to be. “Are you ready to do this?” He gathered up his papers and slid them into his briefcase.

  She hesitated for a moment. “Would it matter if I said no?”

  “No, not really.” Nathan stood up. “Any questions?” He paused when he saw a shadow of something cross her face. “Abby?”

  Standing tall and quiet next to the table in her expensive suit, she looked more like a model than a murder suspect. Taking the last few steps toward the door, she stopped and, much to his surprise, she reached out to give him a hug. The embrace was as real as the fear he felt in her tension-filled body. Still holding on to her, he whispered into her ear, “It’ll be okay.”

  Pulling back from him, she shook her head before she looked into his eyes. “And if the truth comes out?”

  Holding the stare, Nathan tried not to show how he felt. “We’ll deal with it — but for our sake, I hope it doesn’t.”

  ♥

  The courtroom was packed to capacity — parents of Billy Ward’s victims, lawyers and law students, sitting shoulder to shoulder with reporters and members of the general public who just wanted to be there. The air was filled with electricity as people coughed and shuffled, whispering to each other.