In The Defendant's Chair

by Lynn Moon

  “A six,” Early said in a slurred voice.

  “I’ll give you a little more,” the nurse said as she checked the instruments and tubes attached to Early’s body.

  Early continued to breathe as deeply as she could. The pain was definitely easing and she was slipping into a wonderful darkness.

  “Ms. Sutton, your pain…”

  “A two,” Early whispered as she fell into a peaceful slumber.

  * * * * * *

  Loomsbury was stumped. With the latest odd cases assigned to him, he didn’t know if he was coming or going. He studied the DNA results from the young boy. It matched his mother’s, but then again it did not. Although human, a few strands were most definitely from the Surnia Ulula species, or better known as the Northern Hawk Owl. A bird native to Washington, which is where Carrie and Lacey are currently assigned. The odd DNA strands were added where the boy’s eyesight would be affected. He read the report again. He thought about Carrie and Lacey, and then the boy. He tumbled them around his mind contemplating the results. As the minutes ticked, Loomsbury had a large pain in the pit of his stomach.

  “I’ve got to examine that boy!” he yelled.

  * * * * * *

  Drake jumped out of his chair in the waiting room.

  “How’d she do?”

  “She did good, very, very good…” the surgeon answered. “We got it and she’s fine. It was much deeper than we expected. Much deeper.”

  “How long had it been in her?” Drake asked.

  “For some time, years probably. Her tissue had already fused with it. The infection caused her initial pain. If I had to guess I would say it’s been in her somewhere in the neighborhood of five or six years.”

  “My God!” Drake exclaimed. “Where’s the damn thing now?”

  “The lab has it for analysis,” the doctor answered. “They’ll let you see her soon. She’s in recovery and will be for a few more hours. Why not get something to eat? You could use the break.”

  “Come on, babe,” Vickie urged. “We can do nothing for her now, we’ll come back.”

  Drake glanced at his wife and frowned. It hurt him deeply to think of what Early had just gone through. It angered him. Why was it there in the first place and for what purpose? As they left the hospital for the nearest restaurant, Drake’s phone rang. He listened to the hysterical Shelby scream and cry about Lark and could only stare at his wife in horror.

  * * * * * *

  “Hi sweetheart,” Drake said as Early opened her eyes a couple of hours later. He had a strong but loving grip on her hand. Vickie’s eyes were tearing as she watched her husband soothe a woman she felt she knew better than herself. At first Vickie just knew Early was guilty. But after meeting her and reading over the case file, it was clear Early did not hurt her family. Witnessing an innocent person go through hell to prove their story, scared Vickie to death. What if something like this happened to her someday? Who would take care of her and fight to find the truth? Vickie loved her husband and was proud of him. She was about to say something when a man entered the room.

  “How is she?” Dr. Barnes asked.

  “Not sure,” Drake replied not taking his eyes off Early. “She hasn’t spoken a word.”

  “They had to go deep, went through layers of muscle. Moved her organs around… I’m sure she was in pain when she came to. She’s on some strong meds that’ll make her sleepy for awhile.”

  “Yes,” Drake whispered. “They’re taking good care of her.”

  “Did you hear?” Barnes asked.

  “Hear what?” Drake added glancing at the doctor.

  “Four of the accused women were blown apart, that’s what. It was the same device implanted inside your girl. I highly recommend you and the other lawyers pretend your clients were also blown to pieces… unless… you want them dead too. They’ll be safe if people think they’re six feet under.”

  “I heard about them. Thank God we got Early’s out in time. And just how do you suggest we fake their deaths?” Drake asked sarcastically.

  “I’m sure it’s not hard. But I know where they would be safe,” Barnes added. “But I’ll need to make a few calls first.”

  * * * * * *

  Gabe stood protectively in front of his mother as Loomsbury entered their room. “My name is Gabe, and this is my mom. Her name’s Laflur Jolene Huntington. But she goes by Lafie.” Gabe smiled at the man, but Lafie continued to stare into her hands.

  Loomsbury took a seat near Gabe and his mother.

  “Hi Gabe, nice to meet you,” Loomsbury said, “but it’s your mother I need to talk to.”

  “What answers do you need?” Gabe asked.

  “Mrs. Huntington… Lafie. We know Gabe is a hybrid. But we don’t understand how or why.”

  Lafie raised her head and said softly, “He’s not a hybrid.”

  “But the DNA…”

  “His genes were spliced… upgraded. He has a human mother and a human father.”

  “How… why?” Loomsbury asked.

  “Are you going to kill us?” she asked.

  Loomsbury sat back. With her question came a pounding in his chest.

  “No,” Loomsbury stated. “Absolutely not.”

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “I am Dr. Loomsbury, the head scientist here.”

  “And where is here?”

  “Has no one talked with you?”

  “No, no one.”

  “I see,” Loomsbury was surprised; this was completely against The Agency’s protocol. “Well, perhaps we need to.”

  “Perhaps,” she replied.

  Chapter 66

  THE AFTERNOON SHOWERS created a newness that was mesmerizing and soothing. Greghardt stood in the middle of the Oval Office and stared down at his brown leather shoes. His pants flowed flawlessly around the curve of each loafer. Lewis studied Greghardt’s movements while shaking his head. He knew his friend was getting old, but now he wondered if perhaps his mind was also out of date.

  “They’re called shoes, Allen,” Lewis mused.

  “Really?” Allen answered not taking his eyes off the floor. “I did not know that.”

  “Funny,” Lewis added turning to glance out the window, “it stopped raining… for now. Strange how a nice shower can make everything seem so clean and fresh.”

  “Yes it is,” Greghardt replied not taking his eyes off his shoes.

  Lewis watched Greghardt staring at his feet.

  “Okay, I give up,” Lewis said walking toward Greghardt. “What’s wrong? Did you accidently wear two different types or something?”

  Greghardt looked up and snickered. “Please, I’m not that bad off… not yet anyway.”

  “Honestly, what’s wrong?”

  “I just realized where I’m standing,” Greghardt said then added, “and I’m bothered by the realization.”

  “Explain please?” Lewis asked sitting on one of the sofas. “We’ve been here many times before, this is nothing out of the ordinary.”

  Greghardt inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly before he spoke. “This room has been here for how many years? A hundred or so? Since, ah… Taft if I remember correctly… in 1909 I believe it was… yes, in 1909 William Howard Taft walked this very room. Way over a hundred years ago. This very office.”

  Now Lewis knew Greghardt had lost his mind. “Okay, and your point is?”

  “This office has seen a lot of action, has it not,” before Lewis could answer he added, “and it has seen many faces both new and old. But only somewhere in between does the answer lie.”

  Lewis sighed and clasped his hands together. Not only had his dear friend Allen Greghardt lost it, but now he wondered if he ever had it to begin with.

  “Thus,” Greghardt continued, “we must examine what little we have to conclude we’re right back where we started.”

  “Which is?” Lewis asked getting up to stand next to his friend and co-worker.

  “Here,” Greghardt pointed to the floor. “We
started here and we’ll finish here. They made this room round for a reason, and that reason was to show how everything comes back to its origin at some point.”

  In a strange and scary way, what Greghardt was saying actually made some sense to him. Now he wondered if he too was losing his mind. Lewis stared down at his feet. “Full circle, huh?”

  “Full circle,” Greghardt repeated.

  “What are you two looking at? Did you put on different shoes or something?” Strickland entered the room only to witness two grown men staring down at their feet. “Or did you lose something? Need help finding it?”

  “No and no,” Greghardt answered.

  “What’s going on then?” Strickland asked as she laid her papers on her desk.

  “Come see,” Greghardt said.

  Strickland stood between the two men and stared down at the floor, then up at their eyes. They did not blink.

  “Full circle,” Greghardt whispered.

  Strickland raised her eyes as she said, “Huh?”

  “Allen here has it all figured out, Madam President,” Lewis said smiling. “It has to do with walking in circles.”

  “Oh, I figured there was a simple explanation to everything,” Strickland stated with a bewildered look on her face. “Okay, start talking.”

  “Well let’s look at what we have.” Greghardt said. “It all began with the women who woke up in court remembering nothing. Not one, mind you, but several. Then we’re told they were drugged with the help of an implant. Next we have a company in Washington that’s analyzing tampered DNA. We’ve assigned two agents to investigate a hospital in the same region and odd bones were stolen from a lab. Not to mention the female Army general who’s missing, or for that matter, those poor women blown to bits from the implants.”

  Greghardt stopped talking and glanced up at Strickland. His face was red and flushed. She’d never seen him so angry before. He frowned adding, “I’ll bet our government is involved… somehow.”

  Strickland didn’t respond. Memories of years past and how she was used by her predecessor became vivid in her mind. The idea of another person using his or her government position to gain personal wealth angered her. Would this crazy world ever be a safe and wonderful place? Why couldn’t people accept the only way to get ahead in life was to work hard and be honest?

  “It would have to be someone in either the CDC or Department of Health, that’s the first place I’d look,” Strickland said staring at Greghardt. “Why always on my watch?”

  “It’s not you sweetheart.” Greghardt said patting her arm. “Let us check it out.”

  Strickland nodded.

  “Safer that way,” Lewis added.

  “Safer for who?” she asked.

  Chapter 67

  CHARLOTTE SAT ON the armchair next to the smoldering fireplace. Although she was in deep trouble, she felt better about herself and more in control than ever. The feeling of empowerment overwhelmed her. Before entering the room, Charlotte decided she’d fly away and be free of them forever if they punished her. The large room was cold and the warm fire was inviting.

  She always loved this room with the huge marble and brick walls and large squared floor. Her patent-leather shoes echoed as she walked. If she had to flee for her safety, she would miss this room more than any of the others. The large sculptured lion heads seemed to be smiling at her. She wasn’t sure if they were mocking or if they were proud of her for being independent.

  “Now what’s keeping them?” Charlotte whispered. Sitting on her knees, she glanced around the chair to see if anyone was coming down the stairs or through the wooden front doors.

  Charlotte sighed and slid onto the floor. Her bare feet touched without making a sound. She stood in the middle of the large room with her hands on her hips. Her anger was rising. They scolded her over and over and sent her to her room. It’s been days and now she was waiting to be punished, but no one was showing up.

  “Pssst!” a voice echoed into the room.

  “Who’s there?” she asked glancing around. She was sure it was one of those stupid kids playing a joke on her again.

  “Pssst… over here quick!” the voice said a little louder.

  Again Charlotte scanned the room only to find no one. “Who’s there?”

  “Over here!” the voice yelled. “Here!”

  Squinting toward the sound, she made out the dark figure of a boy trying to get her attention. He was partly hidden behind a statue in the far corner where the sunlight didn’t reach. After glancing around to make sure she was alone, Charlotte half ran, half walked into the dark.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “You must follow me.” His voice was full of urgency and his eyes showed a fear Charlotte had never known.

  “Why?” Now she was curious how this boy was able to get into the house with no one seeing him. “How did you get in here anyway?”

  “Look, we have no time for talk. Follow me.”

  His sternness scared her and she backed away.

  “I’m not going to hurt you, but they will. They’ll cut off your wings now that you’ve used them. You should never have let them see you. Do you want that to happen?”

  “Well of course not,” Charlotte answered but then added, “How would you know what they’d do to me?”

  “Are you going to follow me or not? I’m not going to get caught because of you. Now stay here if you want. But I’m out of here. Are you coming?”

  Charlotte thought for a few seconds then decided it would be more of an adventure to follow this boy. Besides, she could always come back if anything wasn’t right and if the kids were playing another joke, she’d tell.

  “Okay, let’s go,” she said.

  “This way, and hold on to this rope. It’s dark down here. Hang on okay?”

  “Okay.” She giggled.

  The boy pushed a wooden plank. It moved slightly. Then he pushed on an emblem engraved in the floor. He turned it right, then left, then right two times. A small shaft opened a few feet away and they darted inside. They walked only a few feet before the shaft closed behind them.

  “Don’t talk until I say so,” he whispered. “And be as quiet as you can.”

  Charlotte nodded as she grabbed tightly to the rope. Every so often she reached out and touched the brick wall. The floor was smooth and level which made it easy for her to follow this strange kid. They descended a round staircase, one step at a time. In the dark it was hard for her to keep her balance. When they finally reached the bottom, the boy flicked on a flashlight and handed one to her.

  “We can talk now, no one can hear us down here.”

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “I’m your brother. My name’s Charlie, we have the same parents. We’ve watched you grow over the years and how you’ve changed. But when I saw you fly, I knew they would have to do something. What they’re doing here is bad and no one can know.”

  “No one? What’s that supposed to mean and what’s a parent?” she asked. “And, you said you’re my brother?”

  “Okay, slow down,” he said as they walked side by side through the long tunnel. “Listen up. Each person has a mother and a father… okay? But a mother and a father can have lots of kids. You’re a kid, a girl like you is called a daughter.” As they walked, Charlie explained to Charlotte how she came to be and how they’re related.

  Her eyes brightened as she realized she was a part of someone else, and she shared the same blood with another living person. Perhaps she was not alone after all.

  “Are our parents still alive?” she asked.

  “No, they killed them a long time ago. But our grandparents are. That’s where I’ve been living and where I’m taking you.”

  “But I don’t understand,” she added. “How old are you?”

  “I’m fourteen,” he said. “We lost a couple of sisters before you were born. Their bones were too soft.”

  “I still don’t get it,” Charlotte added.

  “You wil
l,” he replied. “Now follow me, we’re almost to the trees.”

  * * * * * *

  Lee woke feeling much better. The pain was gone and so was the fever. The attendant smiled as she adjusted her covers.

  “We must be feeling better today,” she said.

  “Yes,” Lee answered. “I am. I would like to get up.”

  “Let me find the doctor first,” the attendant replied. “Just to make sure it’s okay.”

  The attendant left the room and Lee reached for her cell phone. It took a couple of seconds for the call to go through but soon her friend was on the other side.

  “Are you all right?” Tabatha yelled. “I’ve been worried sick about you. Where have you been, I must have left a million messages.”

  “How long has it been?” Lee asked.

  The phone was silent for a few seconds before there was an answer. “Long since what?”

  “Since we last talked.”

  “At least a week,” Tabatha groaned. “I’m worried, Lee.”

  “A week?” Lee screamed. “No way has it been a week.”

  “Yes way,” Tabatha yelled. “And I’ll feel much better when you’re home. When do you come back?”

  “I don’t know. Look if I don’t call in a couple of hours, come and find me, okay?”

  “Right,” Tabatha sighed. “I’ll just jump on the next plane and fly right over… to where ever over is.”

  Chapter 68

  A KNOCK AT the door announced Tina’s presence.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt Madam President, but Dr. Lewis has an important call on the secure line.”

  “Thank you, Tina,” Strickland said as she waved Lewis to the phone.

  Lewis clicked the speaker button. He knew whatever Martha had to say affected everyone. “Lewis here.”

  “Dr. Lewis, I’m sorry to intrude sir, but I have a few messages for you,” Martha announced. Martha’s one of Lewis’s personal assistants and is extremely formal and accurate. If Martha was calling, then it was important.

  “That’s fine, Martha,” Lewis urged. “What are they?”

  “First, we’ll have a new visitor soon, a Ms. Early Sutton. She’s to be transferred in a few days,” Martha said with a pause.