In The Defendant's Chair

by Lynn Moon

  “Perhaps,” Tabatha whispered. “But they had pictures of the thing. The head looks like a cat and the body looks like a human, except it didn’t have any feet or hands.”

  “Paws?” Lee giggled.

  “We’re not sure what they were, too deformed to really tell,” Tabatha said, ignoring the mocking. “But the DNA results so far have come back positive for both animal and human mixed together.”

  “That’s impossible,” Lee stated.

  “Well obviously it’s not, because someone succeeded.”

  “Succeeded in what?” Lee asked. “In having sex with a cat?”

  “No, silly. Someone took animal DNA and implanted it in a human. Then brought the egg to full term.”

  “You’re joking right?”

  “I’ve never been more serious in my life. This whole case scares the crap out of me. I mean, do you know the implications of their success?”

  “Scary thought,” Lee sighed.

  “Did I mention the skeleton had clothes on when they found it?”

  * * * * * *

  “I’m not feeling so good,” Lee said rolling onto her stomach.

  Tabatha sat next to her friend. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. I hurt.”

  Tabatha placed her hand on Lee’s forehead. Fear gripped her body. “My God, Lee, you’re burning up.”

  Lee jumped from the bed and ran into the bathroom. Tabatha knew Lee was very ill. She grabbed her phone and Dr. Loomsbury picked up after the first ring.

  “Looms!” Tabatha yelled. “Lee’s sick, I mean really sick. She’s puking all over the place. She’s been sick since she got off that plane.”

  “Can you get her to me?” Loomsbury asked.

  “We’ll be right there,” Tabatha replied, as she threw her cell onto the bed.

  * * * * * *

  Tabatha paced the floor at The Agency waiting for Loomsbury to give her any news on her friend. After what seemed like forever, the door opened and Loomsbury stared at her.

  “Looms… how is she?” Tabatha asked.

  “She’s alive. Very sick… but alive.”

  “What’s wrong with her? Is it food poisoning?”

  “Although I would agree eating your dinners could be dangerous,” Loomsbury said with a grin. “It was not food poisoning. She’s pregnant.”

  “Pregnant?” Tabatha yelled. “That’s not possible.”

  “Well she is.”

  “You don’t understand,” she replied. “Lee doesn’t date men.”

  * * * * * *

  Lee was asleep when Tabatha entered her room. She sat next to her friend and took her hand. Tears ran down Tabatha’s face as she contemplated the facts. Did Lee cheat on her… was she unfaithful? She loved Lee and refused to jump to conclusions. There had to be a logical explanation as to how Lee got pregnant. But until she could talk to her, she knew nothing good would come from speculations.

  “She has a serious infection,” Loomsbury said standing at the foot of Lee’s bed.

  “She said she had an appendicitis attack,” Tabatha explained. “They took out her appendix.”

  “No,” Loomsbury replied with a frown. “I don’t know what the surgery was for, but it was not to remove her appendix.”

  “But the scar,” Tabatha added.

  “She has a new scar,” Loomsbury said. “But I’m not sure why.”

  “Could they have made her pregnant?” Tabatha asked.

  Loomsbury thought for a moment before answering. “Perhaps. But whatever they did caused the infection she’s now fighting. And this infection just might kill her. Oh my!”

  “Oh my what?” Tabatha asked now more worried than ever.

  “I just thought of something.” Loomsbury grabbed the phone and yelled, “We need to schedule General Longhorn for emergency surgery. I believe she’s carrying a device.”

  * * * * * *

  “Lee?” Tabatha whispered between sobs. “Lee, how are you feeling?”

  “Like shit,” she moaned. “What happened to me?”

  “You just had surgery,” Tabatha replied, holding Lee’s hand.

  “Where am I? I feel like someone’s sitting on my stomach.”

  “Lee,” Tabatha whispered. “I have something to tell you. Something terrible.”

  “Am I going to die?”

  “No,” Tabatha replied.

  “Then it’s not that terrible. So tell me already.”

  “You’re pregnant.”

  “What do you mean I’m pregnant?” Lee said laughing. “How can I be pregnant? I haven’t been with anyone but you.”

  Tabatha wasn’t sure how much she should reveal to her friend… her lover… her life. Could she handle the news? What would it do to her in her delicate condition?

  “When you were overseas,” she whispered. “Remember how you were so sick?”

  “Yes. So what? People have appendicitis all the time.”

  “Well…”

  “Well what? Speak up, Tabatha,” Lee demanded. “What are you not telling me about my surgery?”

  Tabatha sighed and decided to just say it. “They took your eggs… fertilized them… and put them back inside you. There I said it.”

  “They did what? Why?” Lee screamed as tears ran down her cheeks.

  “We don’t know why,” Tabatha said trying to console her friend. “But there’s more.”

  “More?” Lee asked not sure if she wanted the answer.

  “When they ran tests on the fluid around the baby… well…”

  “Well what, Tabatha?”

  “Well… the DNA results came back funny.”

  Holding her breath, Lee asked, “Funny ha-ha or funny weird?”

  “Funny weird.”

  “Weird how?” Lee whispered.

  “The DNA of your baby also includes DNA of an animal.”

  “An animal? Really?” Lee yelled. “And what kind of an animal?”

  “A lizard,” Tabatha whispered with her eyes squinting to shut out the view. “Actually a chameleon.”

  “I’m carrying a chameleon?” Lee cried. “A reptile?”

  “Not exactly,” Tabatha tried to explain. “You see, there’s only some chameleon DNA in the baby. But we’re not sure what it’s for. They’re running tests now.”

  “Oh great,” Lee screamed. “This is just great. I’m having a baby that’s going to hang from the trees and change color. Do you know how hard it will be to find a kid in a room if he looks like a couch?”

  “On a good note,” Tabatha said with a smile. “It has one head, two arms and two legs. All the important parts are there.”

  “Like that makes me feel a lot better,” Lee snorted as she slapped the mattress.

  Chapter 87

  NATE’S STOMACH GROWLED from the aroma of cooking pizza. He wondered if he had time to order and eat before they arrived. But no sooner did he have the thought than the womp womp echoed through the parking lot. The four Forest Rangers wearing freshly ironed uniforms ran into the field and stood at attention.

  “Ah man,” Nate yelled running to get them out of the way. “Hey guys. Back up or they can’t land.”

  Nate yelled several times before the men finally ran back to the parking lot. The helicopter descended and several men in black uniforms jumped out. They found strategic places to stand guard and stared into the sky. The Rangers looked at Nate as if needing direction.

  “Why don’t you make sure the cars keep moving through the lot,” Nate said pointing to the line of cars that had stopped to watch.

  Nate pulled out his badge and the Rangers nodded. They almost looked relieved. One of the men in black approached and when he was satisfied with Nate’s credentials waved at the helicopter. Jeff Lewis was followed out by Allen Greghardt. Strickland, the president, stepped out last. Nate smiled as Lewis got closer.

  “How was the ride?” Nate asked, shaking Lewis’s hand.

  “Not bad,” he replied. “Let me introduce you. Viv, this is Nate, one
of our top agents.”

  “Nice to meet you, sir,” she replied.

  “My pleasure to meet you, Madam President,” Nate said.

  Strickland held out her hand.

  Nate shook Strickland’s hand and said, “My car’s over here.”

  The helicopter left as quickly as it arrived and soon all four were heading down East Galena Street toward Tyler’s house.

  * * * * * *

  “You have a very nice home, Miss Brighten,” Strickland said as she was introduced to Tyler.

  “I’m honored to have you in my home,” Tyler said motioning for Strickland to take a seat on her couch. “Please make yourself comfortable. And you can call me Tyler”

  “Wow, our manners are just too much for me right now,” Maddie said, walking into the room.

  “Mad!” Strickland yelled jumping up to give her a hug. “It’s so great to see you again. How’s the leg?”

  “Oh, it’s a leg,” Maddie said hitting her prosthetic limb.

  “I keep forgetting your leg is fake, Aunt Mad,” Tyler said.

  “I hate to intrude on such a tender homecoming,” Greghardt interrupted. “But we do have business to discuss.”

  “Fine,” Strickland said sitting on the couch. “So where do we go from here?”

  The sound of the doorbell made everyone jump. Nate opened the door and laughed. Skyler smiled and waved as she walked in.

  “Evening, Uncle Nate,” Skyler said, giving him a hug. “This is Gabe.”

  * * * * * *

  The results were printed in black on the stark white paper. Caiden pulled the sheet from the printer himself. But neither could believe what they were reading. What he was seeing was impossible, completely impossible. Tyler read the report next, praying the words would magically change.

  “Now what do we do?” Tyler asked staring at him.

  Caiden shook his head. He was just as bewildered. “I have no idea? Quit?”

  “And who’d pay our bills? Huh?” Tyler asked.

  Caiden folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket. “Let’s get to work on the real stuff.”

  “This is real stuff,” Tyler said as a tear ran down her cheek. “That’s why I’m so scared.”

  “Someone is doing something they shouldn’t,” he said, trying to calm her. “That’s all this is… nothing more.”

  “But what if these people’s DNA should mix with everyone else?” she asked. “What happens to humanity when that happens? Do weird things start popping out of our kids?”

  “Tyler… it’s okay. Usually when people play God, the hybrids can’t reproduce… like the male mule for instance.”

  “Thanks,” Tyler said shaking her head. “I’ll try to remember that when I see someone glowing in the dark.”

  “We’ll give the results to your aunt and uncle tonight,” he said. “Your aunt invited me over for dinner again.”

  Tyler smiled.

  Chapter 88

  TINA SAW THE red light blinking on her phone. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to answer it. The number was from NIH. Vernon Geeshmore was not checked off her list yet and she wasn’t sure if he’d been cleared. But if she didn’t answer, ignoring his call could cause problems.

  “Madam President’s Office, Tina speaking.”

  “Where is she?” Geeshmore demanded.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Ears clogged, Tina? Where is she?”

  “Excuse me?” Tina was stalling for time. She waved for an agent. “I’m sorry?”

  The agent clicked on his earpiece so he could listen. He nodded to Tina who tried to keep the man talking.

  “Tina… where’s the president?” Geeshmore demanded again.

  “She’s in conference sir,” Tina replied. “May I take a message for her?”

  “NO!” he yelled. “Go get her.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “What the hell is going on over there?” Geeshmore yelled. “Get me the goddamn president.”

  The agent smiled and slapped his hand over his mouth. It took all of Tina’s strength not to laugh.

  “Excuse me, sir? Madam President is in conference and cannot be disturbed. May I take a message please?”

  “Tina,” Geeshmore yelled. “Put Viv on the damn phone right now.”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” Tina replied. “Madam President is in conference and cannot be disturbed. May I transfer you to the vice president perhaps?”

  “Tina!” Geeshmore screamed. “If you don’t put her on right now…”

  “You’ll what exactly, sir?” Tina replied glancing up at the agent. The agent nodded and pointed his finger to the phone. Tina knew they had a lock. The agent wrote a short note and dropped it on her desk before running from the room. The note said… keep him talking.

  * * * * * *

  The smoke floated through the air as the aroma of sizzling meat aroused their anticipation of the coming meal. Vivian was enjoying herself. It’d been a long time since she’d been with a group of people in a family setting, and this felt like a family. She slept soundly through the night and woke full of energy. With their meetings behind them and a beautiful summer day ahead, Strickland was ready to relax and visit.

  “Hmmm,” Strickland hummed. “Those look good.”

  “Who wants cheese on their hamburger?” Nate hollered flipping them one by one.

  “Who in the world is asleep on my bed?” Tyler asked handing a plate of cheese to Nate. “That’s the question I have.”

  “Ah man,” Nate moaned. “I forgot all about the damn lawyer. Is he still asleep?”

  “Yes and who is he?” Tyler asked with her hands on her hips.

  “You’ve got a strange man in your bedroom?” Skyler said laughing, opening a jar of pickles.

  “Do I know him?” Caiden asked hugging Tyler and kissing her on the cheek.

  “I forgot you ran to the store, sweetheart. I brought him in early this morning,” Nate explained. Tyler stared so he added, “It’s a long story. Hey Mad, can you wake the lawyer?”

  “Certainly,” Maddie said walking into the house laughing.

  “Who’s the lawyer,” Strickland asked.

  “The strange guy sleeping on my bed,” Tyler replied.

  It was so comfortable being around Strickland, everyone was forgetting she was the president. But they were all having a good time joking on Tyler about the stranger in her room.

  “Actually, that’s Early’s guy,” Lewis replied. “He’s a little upset over losing his client so I thought he should rest.”

  “He lost his client?” Strickland asked. “How do you lose a client? You mean she fired him and hired another?”

  “No,” Greghardt replied taking a sip from his beer. “He actually lost her. We don’t know where she is.”

  “Okay,” Strickland said surprised. “Where was she last seen?”

  “In jail,” Nate answered chuckling while stacking the hamburgers onto a plate.

  “In jail?” she repeated. “He lost her while she was in jail?”

  “Actually,” Lewis added. “She was taken from her cell and we don’t know who took her.”

  “I see,” Strickland said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Yes,” Nate replied laughing. “Go find her; we need her.”

  Everyone was laughing when Maddie and Drake walked outside.

  “You look like shit,” Nate said to Drake.

  “I feel like shit,” Drake replied. “Any news on my client?”

  “Yes,” Strickland said giggling. “She’s missing.”

  “Can I have a hamburger?” Gabe asked.

  “By the way,” Greghardt added with a smirk, “That missing client is our little murder lady. Remember?”

  “Oh my,” Strickland replied.

  “Are you the president?” Drake asked, and everyone laughed.

  Chapter 89

  CARRIE WATCHED AS Marty ate with one hand and held the other close to her chest. How long is she going to pretend? />
  “When do you plan on feeding your baby?” Carrie asked staring at Marty.

  Marty looked at Carrie and frowned.

  “You’re obviously protecting something very special and precious,” Carrie explained. “Your jacket is moving. It’s either a small animal or a baby and I’ll bet on the baby.”

  “It’s our little sister Lizzie,” Eliza said with a mouth full of crackers.

  “I’ll bet she’s hungry,” Lacey interjected. “Where’s her bottle and formula… I’ll make one for you.”

  “I have it,” Macie offered handing Lacey her pack. “She has to have a special bottle in order to drink.”

  Lacey stared at the huge nipple and shrugged her shoulders. “Mix the formula as it says on the container?”

  Marty nodded but didn’t release her strong grip on Lizzie.

  “May I?” Carrie asked holding out her hands for the baby. “Please, I promise not to hurt her.”

  “She needs to be changed,” Marty replied.

  “May I change her?” Carrie asked. “Please?”

  Marty reluctantly released her grip on little Lizzie and allowed Carrie to take her. Carrie gasped as the beautiful fuzzy little girl with the extra long jaw squealed in her arms.

  “She is one of us,” Seith screamed when he saw the little girl. “She has fur like me.”

  “Wow,” Carrie whispered examining the little girl. “She’s adorable.”

  Carrie’s eyes looked down at the baby who was a little over thirty inches long. Soft white and golden hair covered her body and shimmered in the light. As Carrie changed her diaper, she could see Lizzie was a human, except for her feet. She had no toes, just soft stubs… almost like hoofs. Her long tail was interesting and Carrie wasn’t sure what to do with it until she saw Marty had already cut a hole in the diapers. Her hands were normal. Lizzie’s eyes were a dark green and her thick lips were beautiful. Her jaw and nose protruded a little more than normal, but it wasn’t enough to take away from her beauty. In fact, it added to it. Lizzie smiled and Carrie’s heart melted for this little baby girl.

  “What kind of a defect is this?” Carrie asked glancing up at Marty.

  “The doctors couldn’t give us an explanation,” Marty said.