Death and Deceit

by Carol Marlene Smith

  “But, you know I can’t leave,” Jessie said.

  “You can leave if you want, Kent,” Alan yelled from the doorway. His red hair was soaked and clinging to his forehead. He walked over to a cupboard drawer and pulled out a hand towel, then gave his hair a good wipe and finished off by brushing the towel across the dampness of his arms. He tossed the towel on the cupboard top. “That is, if you want to leave Jessie alone here with Liz. I have to head back right away. I’ve got a custody case beginning tomorrow.” He poured himself a coffee and reached into the bag of cookies resting on the table.

  “Hey, I wouldn’t leave Jessie,” Kent said, giving Alan an angry look. “I just said it would be nice if we could.”

  Jessie looked at her brother. “So, you’re not going to be with me tomorrow when I go to court?”

  “You’ll be fine. There’s nothing I could do anyway. Sam will be with you and he’s your lawyer.”

  Jessie sighed. “You’re right,” she said finally, when the silence had only been broken by the sound of the beating rain. “I’ll call Sandra later. I’m sure she’ll keep me informed on Ricardo’s condition.”

  Liz still wondered why Jessie really cared. If someone had tried to rape her, it wouldn’t be high on her agenda to care if he lived or died. But Jessie was that kind of person. She found the good in people.

  Later, Jessie was giving Alan a hug goodbye in the hallway, when someone banged on the front door.

  Alan grimaced. “If that’s Sandra, I’ll —”

  “Don’t be mad, Alan,” Jessie soothed. “She’s only trying to help. Besides, have you ever known Sandra to use the front door?” She opened the door.

  “You Jessica Albright?” A tall town policeman, Jessie didn’t know, stood in the rain.

  “I am,” she replied.

  “Then you need to come with me to the station. The chief wants you for more questioning.”

  “What?” Jessie’s eyes bugged out with astonishment. “Why?”

  Before the cop could answer, Kent was beside Jessie. “This is ridiculous. Stop harassing her. It was self defence. How many ways can that be said?”

  “Cool it, Kent,” Alan chimed in. “It’s okay.” He looked at Jessie. “Jessie, you have to go. I’ll follow you in my car, okay? Let’s just go see what this is all about.”

  Jessie heard the reassuring words topple out of Alan’s mouth, but it didn’t stop the clammy feeling from running through her body. She looked from Alan to Kent, then onward to gaze in Liz’s horrified eyes. They all looked helpless. Helpless and silent. She turned then and stared at the rain-soaked, impatient-looking cop. “All right,” she said. “I’m ready to go.”

  ****

  Liz sat in Kent’s car. She thought about all the time they’d spent together over the weekend. She had never expected though to be once again in the front seat, with Jessie off somewhere in jeopardy again. They had saved her the last time she was in trouble, but could they do it again? It looked to Liz like maybe Alan was the only one who could help Jessie this time. Kent had said to her after Alan followed the police car, “Are you coming with me?” Liz got in the front seat and Kent started driving.

  He hadn’t said a word since. Liz broke the silence at a set of lights leading to the downtown mainstream. “Where are we going, Kent?” Kent had been following behind Alan and the cruiser for most of the way, but they both just took a right turn at the previous set of lights. “I thought we were driving to the police station too.”

  Kent didn’t take his eyes off the street. “No...I’ve got a plan. If that bastard, Alvarez, is awake, I’m going to talk to him. And you’re going to help me do it.”

  Liz didn’t like the bitterness settled in Kent’s voice. “What do you have in mind? And what makes you think — even if you get to see him — that he’ll talk to you, and how will that help Jessie?”

  Kent glanced at her, his eyes shone with determination. “He’s the only one who can confirm Jessie’s plea. I’m gonna remind him that if he dies, she’s apt to suffer more. I’ll play on his conscience...if he has one of those things. It’s only a slim chance, but I’ll try anything to get the cops off Jessie’s back.”

  Liz relaxed. She had been almost afraid to ask Kent about his plan. Now she felt ridiculous. For a minute she had felt he might threaten Alvarez or try to harm him. Now she realized Kent could never do that. He was a kind person, like Jessie. And he was compassionate. Hadn’t he swallowed her story about the e mails and never mentioned a word of it to Jessie? Thus giving her a new chance with Alan and a chance to redeem herself in Jessie’s eyes? He had laid the burden of the guilt on her own shoulders, so she would have to deal with it in her own time. Liz felt proud that Kent respected her that much, and she vowed in her heart that someday she would tell Jessie the whole story, and Alan too, no matter what the consequences might be. Her own self respect and honesty were more important to her than holding on to a man through deceit. It was a lesson she’d learned over Kent, and she’d learned it well. But right now was not the time to add more fuel to an already out of control fire. Jessie was in enough trouble, by the looks and sounds of that tall, wet cop who’d escorted her to the police station.

  ****

  Jessie’s hands were white-knuckled, as she clenched the arms of the chair in front of Chief Alton Davis’s desk. He sat across from her, chewing on one of those tooth picks, and informed her again that he was charging her with attempted murder for shooting a policeman.

  “An Information will be laid in the morning before a justice of the peace,” he droned in a mundane law-officer voice. “In the meantime, you’re free to go home, but don’t leave town. That’s all, Ms Albright.”

  “What? No more questioning? I thought I was brought here for questioning?” Jessie’s voice carried a high tremour.

  “Come on, Jessie,” Alan urged, taking her by the arm.

  Jessie rose on numb legs and crossed out of the room, her brother’s arm guiding her weakness. She was unable to speak until Alan pulled the car door closed and started the engine. The rain had stopped, and although the air was crisp, the clouds broke sending streams of sunlight across the still damp windshield. Alan gave the wipers a blast to clear the window. “Don’t worry,” he said softly. “You’ve got a great lawyer, and he owes me one.”

  “What’s an Information?” Jessie asked in a small, defeated voice.

  Alan pulled his car up to the set of lights, where his and Kent’s car had parted company earlier. “It’s a document that contains a sworn statement claiming that the accused person has committed a certain offense at a given time and date.”

  “And I’m the accused,” she stated in the same lacklustre voice.

  “If the justice believes there is sufficient sworn evidence,” Alan went on, “then a summons or warrant is issued for the accused person’s arrest.”

  “Oh, stop the lawyer talk, Alan. Why don’t you just come out and say my arrest, never mind this accused person stuff.”

  “I’m sorry, Jessie. I was just explaining —”

  “Tell me this,” she interrupted. “Am I arrested or not? Davis said I was under arrest for shooting Ricardo.”

  Alan didn’t like to see tears in his only sister’s eyes, especially after they’d just reunited from years of disagreement. And hadn’t they just both lost their mother? It made him wonder how much more Jessie could take. “Sometimes arrests are made before charges are laid. Usually that’s the way. And Chief Davis does things his way, I guess. Makes me wonder though about him. He seems to do everything half-assed backwards.”

  “He acted pretty cocky. How can he be so cruel-hearted? I never wanted to hurt anyone. It’s killing me that Ricardo is at death’s door. Why can’t he see that?”

  “He’s a cop first, Jessie, and don’t forget his attachment to Alvarez. Davis has known him since he was a kid, and he wants someone to pay for this.”

  The tears were streaming down Jessie’s face now, as they neared their home. She couldn’t thin
k straight anymore. If Ricardo died, not only would she have to live with the reality that she’d killed him, but now she would have to pay for it for the rest of her life. The thought of never being with Kent again, of never fulfilling her career plans, probably never having children. She’d be put away maybe twenty years or more. She’d be almost middle-aged when she got out. And where would Kent be? Sure he might stand by her for the time being, but she couldn’t asked or expect him to wait for her. This was a nightmare and all because she got that computer.

  It seemed silly to put the blame on an object, when her own stupidity at trusting someone on a chat line was really at fault here. She could even take it further back and blame Liz. Liz talked her into getting the computer, and she even set up the chat line. Jessie shook her head to clear her mind. It wasn’t right to blame Liz. It wasn’t even right to blame herself. It was circumstances, that’s all. Could have happened to anyone, she reasoned. The doubt crept in again. If only she hadn’t been so needy. She’d been looking for love so desperately, she’d been willing to grab it from anywhere.

  Alan reached across and passed Jessie his hanky. She took it and blew her nose, then dabbed at her eyes. Blinking back tears, she asked in a stronger voice than Alan had thought her capable of, “If the justice believes there is sufficient evidence, then when will I be arrested?”

  Alan’s own voice broke when he answered his sister. “Charges are usually laid within twenty-four hours.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  After watching the door to Alvarez’s room for a while, Liz and Kent were agreed there was probably no one in the room. Liz stepped forward from the small waiting room and walked towards the nursing station. While she occupied the nurse at the desk, Kent slipped into Alvarez’s room.

  He was taken aback by the mélange of tubes and wires and machines, beeping around the man’s bed. By the looks of the contraptions, Alvarez could go any minute, he felt. And now that he was in the room, Kent felt stupid just being there. As if Alvarez would confess to him that he’d kidnapped and tried to rape Jessie. Him of all people. He should have let Liz do it. She was a more conniving type of person than he was.

  Kent tiptoed up to the bed and peered down at Alvarez. His face was pasty-white, but his dark, wavy mane of hair looked perfectly groomed. There was a plastic tube with prongs that fit in his nostrils and hooked around his ears. Even under the present conditions, Alvarez was still a strikingly handsome man. No wonder Jessie had been taken by him, Kent thought. He’d offered her hope, when she believed Kent was the culprit.

  “Can you hear me, Alvarez? If you can, you need to speak up and do what’s right.” Kent’s voice sounded hollow to himself, as it vibrated around the IVs and machines. “You have to tell someone that Jessica Albright shot you in self defence. If you don’t, she might very well be arrested for attempted murder. God, they might be doing that right now. We both know that’s wrong, but your old friend, Chief Davis is determined to make someone pay for this shooting. Alvarez? Open your eyes. I know you’re conscious, I can see your eyes darting around behind the lids. You can hear me, for God’s sake, speak up.”

  Kent’s voice rose in frustration, and he realized he had to calm it if he was ever to get a response from Alvarez. He sighed and spoke softly, “Okay, Alvarez, but you think about it. Think about Jessie while you lie there. She doesn’t deserve this and you know it.”

  Kent took a last look at Alvarez and turned away, heading towards the door. He hoped Liz was still watching for him, so he could leave the room unnoticed. He didn’t want to get caught leaving, in case he decided to try it again, but he felt hopeless now. Alvarez was definitely conscious, he knew it, but the stubborn bastard seemed ready to even die and still leave Jessie dangling.

  With his hand on the door, Kent stopped short of opening it. Did he actually hear a voice? He whipped around and stood over Alvarez. The cop’s eyes were open and he stared at the ceiling. They were dead man’s eyes. But his lips moved. “Self defence...Jessica... innocent.”

  “What?” Kent leaned his face nearer to Ricardo’s face. “You’re admitting it? You have to tell the chief. You have to hang on Alvarez, for Jessie’s sake. You’re doing the right thing, believe me.”

  By the looks of those eyes, Kent wondered if Alvarez would be around long enough to say another word, and it wasn’t good enough that he’d told him. Kent already knew of Jessie’s innocence, it was the chief who had to be told. But a nurse would do, anyone who could be a witness would do, except Liz, of course, no one believed her earlier. It didn’t matter now if he was caught sneaking from the room, he had to get someone else in there, pronto!

  ****

  Before Alan reached the driveway of their house, Jessie yelled, “Stop, Alan! You’ve got to turn around and take me to the hospital. I’ve got to convince someone to let me see Ricardo. If he’s conscious, I have to talk to him and tell him I’m sorry. If he dies and I don’t get to say those words, I’ll never be able to live my life without guilt forever. He has to know I’m sorry.”

  Alan drove on, but turned in Sandra’s driveway before he’d reached their house. He headed back towards the hospital knowing there was no point in arguing with Jessie. Besides he understood how she felt. Here she was more concerned about telling Alvarez she was sorry, than to have him tell someone she was innocent. That was his sister all right, a heart as soft as mush, kind and forgiving.

  ****

  Liz saw Davis get off the elevator, but there wasn’t time to warn Kent. Davis strode quickly past the nurses’ station, straight into Ricardo Alvarez’s room. Liz rose from her chair and stood now with her mouth hanging open and her eyes bulging, waiting for the uproar that would most certainly occur, when Davis found Kent in the room.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Davis screamed. “You’re in cahoots with that woman.” Davis’s face was purple with rage.

  “The guy just told me Jessie’s innocent, as if I didn’t already know, but now he can tell you.”

  The anger on Davis’s face vanished like mist in the hot sun and was replaced with wonder. He shifted his attention towards Ricardo. “Is that true, boy? Is the woman telling the true story? Ricardo...Ricardo.” Davis turned around and cast a chilly eye at Kent. “I don’t think he hears me. And I think you’re lying to protect her.”

  Kent’s shoulders slumped. There was no use trying to convince Davis. Only Alvarez could do that. And by the looks of him now, it was probably too late.

  Liz paced the corridor. What was going on in that room? She almost wished a nurse or someone would enter so she could peek in.

  “What are you doing here, Liz?” Jessie came up behind her and Liz jumped like someone had pinched her. Now she’d have to come clean. Alan and Jessie both gaped at her for an explanation.

  “Kent wanted to see Alvarez, so I was covering for him, but —”

  “He’s in there?” Alan’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

  “Oh, yeah.” Liz scratched her head nervously. “And Davis just went into the room.”

  Jessie started towards the door of Ricardo’s room, but a passing nurse stopped her. “You can’t go in there, Miss. Mr. Alvarez is very ill. No visitors.”

  Jessie stopped in her tracks just as the door burst open and Kent walked out. The look on his face told Liz he had failed.

  Chief Davis followed behind Kent and caught the nurse’s arm. “I think he’s lost consciousness again, nurse. It doesn’t look good at all in there.” The nurse entered the room with Davis behind her.

  The door closed and Alan asked, “What’s going on, Kent?”

  Kent walked back to the waiting area and the others followed him. They all sat while he explained.

  “So Alvarez actually talked to you?” Liz asked excitedly.

  “He said the words, Jessica’s innocent. But I can’t prove that. He looks real bad. If I had to place a bet, it wouldn’t be on his survival.”

  “Oh, God,” Jessie moaned. “I wanted so much to speak to him.”
>
  “If only he’d hung on another few minutes,” Kent said. “Davis walked in right on cue, but Alvarez couldn’t wait. Damn.” Kent rubbed a hand over his face and drew a deep breath then expounded.

  The group sat in utter silence until Liz broke the quiet. “What happened at the police station?”

  Alan glanced at Jessie before answering Liz. “Attempted murder charge. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

  “What? Are you defending her, Alan?”

  “No. Of course not. I’m not a criminal lawyer, you know that. But Sam Bent is the best around here.” He rose. “There’s no sense hanging around. Why don’t we go back to the house and figure out what to do next?”

  Jessie felt Kent’s arm on her shoulder and reached up to squeeze his hand. She looked into his eyes. “Thanks for trying,” she said. “Maybe Ricardo will speak again. If he talked to you, Kent, then he has a conscience. I always knew there was good in him. He just had a tough life and it warped him.”

  Kent watched Jessie’s eyes brim with tears as she spoke. He loved her more each minute, and the thought of losing her to a prison cell almost killed him. But he couldn’t let that feeling, that pain, overcome him now. She was trying to be strong, and she needed him more than ever before. “You’re a good person, Jessie. That’s why I love you so much. But I can’t leave here right now. And I don’t think we should go until we see Davis. He’s still in the room. Maybe Alvarez is talking.”

  They all sat down again and waited in silence. Fifteen minutes passed and the nurse came out of Ricardo’s room. All four of them stood, like soldiers on watch duty and marched towards her.

  “How is he?” Jessie asked.

  The nurse looked them over. “Who are you people anyway? Are any of you relatives?”

  “Look,” Kent spoke up quickly. “It’s important to us to know if he’s regained consciousness or not. Please tell us.”