In The Defendant's Chair

by Lynn Moon

  “I didn’t say that… I mean…” Caiden sighed.

  “Will you make up your mind?” Tyler giggled, staring at him for an answer.

  Tyler knew Caiden was in a lose-lose situation. No matter what he said now, he was in deep trouble.

  “Okay, if we get through the next few weeks alive we’ll go out for real, but for right now just listen to me.”

  Tyler leaned forward again and smiled. He covered himself good on that one. “Just giving you a hard time. So spill.”

  Caiden shook his head and glanced around the room before he began. “The extra research we conducted on that weird DNA has gotten a lot of attention… and it’s not the kind that gets you promoted either. It’s the kind that gets you dead.”

  “Good evening, have you been to Ambrosia before?” The waiter smiled down at them with his hands folded precariously across his chest.

  Both Tyler and Caiden almost fell out of their chairs as their hearts jumped through their throats.

  “I’m sorry,” the waiter said. “I startled you. May I bring you some drinks to start off the evening?”

  Caiden answered for the both of them after catching his breath. “Yes, we’ll have sweetened iced tea.” When the waiter left, they both laughed. “He scared me to death.”

  Wanting to get back to their conversation before the interruption, Tyler asked between giggles, “Okay go on, you have my attention now.”

  Caiden kept glancing around as though he felt someone was watching them. “I found out where that DNA sample came from.”

  Tyler was now excited and frightened. “Where?”

  “You know that old hospital that’s just over the mountain toward the east?”

  “You mean the old Berryview place?” she whispered. “I thought that place closed a long time ago.”

  “So did I,” Caiden said softly, peeking around the menu. “But I discovered that it never really closed. It only seemed to close, or to look like it closed.”

  “Here you go,” the waiter said, sitting two glasses of newly brewed and chilled iced tea in front of them. A small mint leaf rested on each glass rim along with a slice of lemon. “Are we ready to order?”

  “We’ll both have the baked stew in the bread bowl,” Caiden replied looking over at Tyler for approval. She nodded and after the waiter walked away Caiden added, “I did some snooping and that old hospital quit taking patients about twenty years ago. I was told it switched from sick people to weird people.”

  “What’s a weird people?” Tyler asked sipping on her drink with a strange feeling rippling through her body.

  “Like extra arms and legs, or half-human, half-rat type people.”

  “Right… and I suppose Elvis Presley lives there too? Come on, give me a break Caiden,” Tyler laughed as she took another drink. “You’re talking stupid now.”

  “Stupid or not, Tyler. I’m telling you the truth. We’re in big trouble.”

  Suddenly an eerie feeling of being watched blew over Tyler’s body. As she sipped, a feeling she didn’t like was slowly consuming her.

  Chapter 12

  THE ROOM WAS barren and echoed with every sound, such as a clank of a cup on a table, the screech of a chair on the floor, or a simple cough. Cool air radiated with a strong aroma of disinfectant, which created a sterile sensation that discouraged any soul brave enough to enter. Ceiling fans circulated the arid air, which formed a heavier and more confusing stench.

  “I don’t like it here,” Early said with tears in her eyes.

  “Neither do I,” Drake replied. “I’ve got to get you out of here. Even a mental hospital would be better than this stinking place.”

  The sounds of Drake’s feet pacing the room echoed against the barren walls.

  “Sit down, that noise is creepy,” she snapped.

  “Early, you have to talk to me. Do you understand?” Drake gazed into Early’s eyes, begging for understanding.

  “What do you want from me?” she cried as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “I’m saying you have to talk to me. I can’t help you if I don’t know what happened.”

  “Okay, but what exactly am I supposed to tell you?” she yelled. “I don’t know anything. You know more than I do.”

  “Start at the beginning; just start talking, Early. You probably know more than you think you do,” Drake said, clicking on the recorder. “My name is Drake Anderson, lawyer for Early Sutton.” Drake nodded and she nodded back.

  “My name is Early Rize Sutton. I’m twenty-seven years old.”

  Early looked up at Drake and sighed. Drake nodded his head to say go on.

  After a short pause and another deep breath, she continued. “I was born on January 7th. My mother is Margaret Rize-Hampton and my father is Bruce Eagleton Hampton.”

  Early became suddenly quiet, which frightened Drake. “What is it?” he asked desperate to keep her talking now that she started.

  “I haven’t been allowed to see my parents,” she cried into her hands.

  “Early, you’re on trial for murder,” Drake said. “This is no country club. You’ll not be allowed any visitors until after the trial. That’s the law. Now continue… please.”

  Early’s tears ran down her face as she talked. “My father’s a surgeon and my mother was a nurse. After I was born she stayed home…she doesn’t believe in daycare. I have four sisters and one brother, all younger. I was born and raised in Dallas, where my parents still live… in the same house. I love it there, I was happy.”

  “That’s good Early, just keep telling your story,” Drake urged.

  “After high school, I went to Texas Women’s University. I majored in music therapy. It’s a great major. I studied dance, visual arts, physiology, and music. If I had to choose what I like best about my life, I’d have to say my college days were some of the best ever. Aside from my life with my children and husband of course.” Her eyes lowered and her voice softened. “Because that’s where I met Alex… during my junior year.”

  Early paused, and Drake prayed she would continue. After a few seconds she began again, “He was attending the Texas Medical School. His goal was to become a surgeon but he ended up in research. He likes his profession… I think, yes… he likes it a lot.”

  “Was there a specific area of concentration for Alex?” Drake asked, wondering why she hesitated in her answer.

  “Actually yes. He’s especially interested in skeletal deformities. He believes there’s a way to cure the problem before a child’s born.”

  “Really?” Drake asked, now curious. “Such as? Can you give me an example?” Drake scooted his chair closer to Early.

  “Spina-Bifida for one. Alex learned if the spinal opening was surgically closed before birth, then the child had a better chance of developing normally. Alex loves children and feels especially strong about those who have medical conditions. He’s dedicated his life to his research. That’s what made me fall in love with him. I met him in February and we married a year and a half later. It was September fourteenth. We had such a beautiful wedding. I became pregnant right away and nine months later we had Daren. Then we tried for another but I just couldn’t get pregnant. So we decided on in-vitro, and it was successful on the first try. It was just three years ago I gave birth to our twins, Nevada and Dakota. When I became pregnant with the girls we bought our house. It’s not far from the hospital where Alex works. Then all this…”

  “How was your love life with Alex?” Drake asked.

  “Excuse me?” Early gazed eerily up at Drake.

  Drake sighed but then urged, “Just go with it, Early. I promise I’m taking this somewhere.”

  Early frowned. “We love each other very much. It is good, okay?”

  “Your children, anything about them, anything at all?”

  “No, they’re perfect,” Early yelled. “My babies are perfect and I want them back.”

  “Okay, Early, let’s get back on track to what we’re talking about. Why don’t you tell me about
your average day?”

  It took several minutes before Early could speak calmly again without crying. “I stay home to take care of our children,” she said protectively. “I’m a housewife and I love it.”

  “Did you ever work outside the home?” Drake asked.

  “No, I work in our home. I make sure the house is clean and dirty clothes don’t pile up. I cook and plan our dinners…I just do what every other housewife does every day. I love and care for my family.”

  “Okay, okay. Now tell me about your husband.”

  “Well, Alex is a doctor at the hospital. He conducts research.”

  “Do you know what he researches?”

  Early shook her head as the tears continued to fall. “I’m sorry, but he never talks about his work. He keeps it pretty much to himself—patient confidentiality. But it must have something to do with the bones; like I said it was his concentration at med school.”

  “Hmm,” Drake was now wondering what could be so confidential about his work. “He’s in research?”

  “Yes,” Early replied. “But he also has patients.”

  “Did you ever meet any of these patients?”

  “Only one… her name’s Marty… Marty Starling. She’s pregnant and my husband’s her doctor.”

  “Her doctor? Is Alex a gynecologist too?” Drake asked, thinking of things faster than he could write, forgetting all about the recorder.

  “No, he works with bones and bone marrow. I told you that.”

  “Then why would a pregnant woman go to him?” Drake asked.

  “I don’t know,” Early answered, shaking her head looking confused. “Maybe her baby has a problem other doctors can’t fix.”

  “Just a couple more questions,” Drake said. “Did he ever go on trips?”

  “Sometimes. There’s an annual meeting in Washington.”

  “DC?” Drake asked.

  Early smiled. “No, state… Washington state. Then there’s other conferences he attends from time to time. They’re all over the world. We went to Rome once. It was wonderful.”

  Drake sighed and knew he had to ask one more question no matter how much it hurt her. He took in a deep breath and reached for her hand. Then he said, “Tell me what happened the last night you were with your family.”

  With this question, Early’s sobs became uncontrollable. Her face echoed a remorse and sadness Drake had never seen before. “We had to stay indoors all day,” she cried between sobs. “The weather was so bad. The children wanted to bake cookies, so we did. I put a chicken on to roast about three-thirty and we ate about six. Then I bathed the children and cleaned the kitchen.”

  “What was Alex doing during this time?”

  Drake studied Early’s face and it looked as though she was trying hard to remember everything exactly as it was. “I don’t believe he was doing much of anything. He was on the computer for a while, then he was on the phone, and then he made a fire to warm the living room.”

  “Did you have anything to drink before you two made love?” Drake asked, studying her reaction.

  “Yes, Alex poured us some wine… why?”

  “Did you see him pour the wine,” Drake asked.

  Early paused a moment before answering, “No, he’d already poured the wine before I came into the room. I went to make sure the children were asleep and tuck them into their beds. When I came back, Alex had the glasses in his hands.” Early paused for a few seconds then added, “We made love in front of the fire. Are you saying he put something in my wine?” Her sobs became louder and stronger.

  “What’s your next memory, Early?”

  “Hearing voices and sitting next to you in the courtroom,” she cried looking lost and confused.

  “Nothing at all between making love and the courtroom? Like using a bathroom or climbing into bed? Anything?”

  “No… nothing,” she yelled.

  “Okay, Early, that’s all for now,” Drake said turning off the recorder. He noticed his scribbled notes and slapped himself on the forehead. He was losing it faster than she was, and he’s not on trial. “I want you to rest. The doctor wrote you a prescription for a sedative so you can sleep.” Drake put his hand on top of Early’s that were resting on the table and smiled. “You take care, I’ll get to the bottom of this… okay?”

  “Okay,” Early replied as another tear rolled down her cheek.

  Chapter 13

  THE RAIN PELTED Tyler as she darted for her front door. Not even an umbrella could keep her dry on this kind of a night. Prince, her hefty Golden Retriever, excitedly greeted her as she shook off the rain.

  “Hey dude,” she said as Prince danced breathlessly around the room. “Ready to go out?”

  Prince gave Tyler a look of are you nuts.

  “Well, maybe it’ll stop raining in a little while,” Tyler laughed. She glanced over at the chocolate cake sitting all alone on the kitchen counter. After the strange dinner with Caiden, Tyler felt a little comfort food would ease her mood. With Prince sleeping peacefully on the hearth rug near the fire, and a large piece of chocolate cake paired with a glass of milk, Tyler plopped down on the couch next to her Mickey Mouse phone. She punched in the well memorized number and waited as the rings echoed in her ear.

  “Who diss?” the wonderful familiar voice sang through the phone.

  “Aunt Mad?” Tyler whined.

  “Hi sweetie, how’s my little TyTy doing?” Mad’s voice instantly calmed her yearning heart.

  “Aunt Mad, I really need to talk. Are you busy? Did I call at a bad time?”

  “Never am I too busy for my TyTy, and it’s never a bad time, sweetie, you know that. Now, what’s up? Is it the new job?”

  Tyler knew her aunt could tell something was bothering her. But Maddie’s past experiences was something Tyler knew she could rely on to guide her through this crazy maze Caiden stuck her in.

  Tyler is an identical twin. Skyler and Tyler were Maddie’s younger brother’s and he was devoted to them while she spoiled them. They were always at her house and she was active in their life just as much as their father and mother. Their cousin, Toby, and the girls were always together, Christmas, weekends, vacations; they even went to the same private school. Toby graduated several years ahead of the girls, but they remain close. Toby left college after his master’s degree to work for the FBI, but the girls decided to stay in college and work on their doctorates instead of entering the workforce.

  Skyler went to work for The Agency right after graduation, but Tyler accepted a position with a bio-medical research facility just outside Granite Falls, Washington. Her position not only paid a hefty salary, but also offered her the chance to work on her internship toward an additional medical degree. Unfortunately, the position took her a long way from home, which bothered everyone in the family. But it gave the girls a chance to become their own person instead of a mirror image of each other. This was the first time the girls lived apart and being alone for the first time is always hard, but for a twin it can be especially difficult.

  “Well, remember all the stories you told us as children, Aunt Mad?” Tyler asked.

  When the girls spoke of their past it was never me or I, it was always us or we. It’s only recently they’ve started identifying themselves as individuals.

  “Well one in particular keeps nagging at the back of my head,” Tyler added.

  “And which one is that?” Maddie asked.

  “Well, it’s not a story exactly,” Tyler hesitated. “But a situation.”

  “Okay, spill the beans, kiddo, what’s wrong.”

  Tyler was a levelheaded young woman and never jumped to simple conclusions. So, for her to be stuck on a past memory meant something was definitely wrong. Tyler knew she had to explain carefully.

  “You know where I work, well the other day a co-worker and I did a little… side job… and the sample gave a strange reading. It’s almost like… like we were not only analyzing human DNA, but also fish DNA… at the same time.”

&nb
sp; “Excuse me?” Maddie asked.

  “I know it sounds crazy, Aunt Mad… but what really bothers me… well, Caiden, my co-worker, and I spent hours playing with that sample. And tonight… well tonight he said we’re in trouble because of our extra research. Aunt Mad, can you check on my company and make sure everything’s on the up and up?”

  “No problem, baby. I’ll get right on it. In the meantime young lady, if anything weird happens, anything at all, you come straight home. You understand? Home to Oklahoma.”

  “Okay, I understand. I feel safer just knowing you’re aware of some of these things.”

  “You want us to come up for a few days for a visit, kiddo?” Maddie suggested. “Nothing strange about an aunt and uncle coming to visit their niece now is there?”

  “That would be wonderful, but I…”

  “Look, your safety and security comes first. Let me do a little research and I’ll check on flights. See you in a few days, my sweet. Be safe, and TyTy, I love you very much.”

  “I love you too, Aunt Mad. Bye.”

  * * * * * *

  After hanging up, Maddie looked over at her husband, Nate, and frowned.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “We need to do some snooping on TyTy’s company. Make sure they’re the real deal and not into something they shouldn’t be.”

  Maddie told Nate what Tyler told her and he too thought something sounded odd. They decided perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea if Nate also stopped by Lewis’s office in the morning for a brief chat.

  Chapter 14

  SPANGLEHOLTZ STARED ADMIRINGLY at little Lizzie. She was beautiful in her own way. His hand shook as he touched her. A light layer of golden blonde hair covered her small body and felt soft to the touch.

  “Fur?” he asked softly. “I wonder how long it will grow.”

  Spangleholtz pulled out his wallet and flipped through the photos until he found the one he was looking for. The quarter horse was a blonde beauty. He held it up to the light and compared it to little Miss Marie Elizabeth. The color was almost the same, so was the shade. He chuckled then stood back and smiled. This little experiment was a success and the salvation of the human race was close at hand. All his plans, his hard work, the cost, the lives, everything had been worth it—even the failures.