James's lawyer
Bethany and Sunny stayed at Axel's as she planned for the funeral. There was an entire plan already mapped out. Norma -jean had it all planned out. Bethany thought she really was just waiting to die before she came into her life .
The funeral parlor already had the casket and the plot paid off. Even the flower shops were hand picked and preordered. She sat and looked at a package the complex paperwork came in.
The harder part was contacted the loved ones. Bethany had only been there two years. She didn't ever see Norma-Jean have visitors or talk of any family except Mr. Barry and James . Bethany wondered if she even had any loved ones.
All she could do is put her piece in the obituary section of the newspaper. Perhaps pack up Norma -jean items and put it in storage below the complex . Possible make her apartment a shrine. She didn't know if she had the strength to pack up her belongings.
There were picture on the wall a younger Norma -jean and Mr.Barry. pictures of James and a young girl who looked like her Bethany could only assume it was Gertrude . Old car tags from each state. Diplomas and certifications .
The tenants were more of a help Bethany was. Some help her sort the items and take it down stairs ,and others helped with the reception planning the wished to host inside Norma -jean apartment.
Meanwhile James had been sitting in jail. He was dragged up to the integration room in cuffs a lanky man with a knock off suit sat in the chair with a file. James smirked as he saw the man engrossed in the file as he walked in the room .
" You got one hour." Announced the guard as he shoved James inside and closed the door.
" Not this room " James said as he knocked on the mirror in the room." I can see you. I request we change to a room that isn't monitored by her. " He said refusing to Mrs. Mulosky.
The other man stood up as both men were taken to a conference room. When James was settled her propped his legs on the table and leaned the chair back. He glared at the man .
" Who are you?" He said now spitting on the ground .
" Oh. Hello I'm Christopher Dayo from Evenburg and Associates law firm. I'm your lawyer you probation officer contacted on your behalf." He said extending his hand in greeting.
" So your the lucky bastard that's going to prove my innocence. " Said James.
" I'm going to t. TA try." Stuttered Christopher.
" I'm sorry if I seem nervous this is my first murder case. Usually fraud and misdemeanor is my forte ." He explained.
" Aren't you going to ask me if I did it?" Smiled James as he sat his chair down and put his elbows on the table.
Christopher opened the file and flipped through the pages as he scratched his head .
" Well Mr. Barry it's not shaping up to be in your favor. " He said cautiously.
" Call me James . Mr. Barry was my father. " He said calmly.
" Well James did you do it." Christopher finally asked sitting down and pulling out a note pad .
" Maybe I did maybe I didn't . Isn't that your job to figure that part out." Smirked James.
" I'll tell you what . I'll sign any little confession you want. Let you lock me up because we all seen Shawshank redemption. We are all innocent in here . But I want only one thing before I spill the tea." Said James popping his knuckles .
" Which is?" Asked Christopher.
" I want to go to my mother's funeral. You know to say goodbye. You can play it off as my remote and possible sign of redemption in the case ." He negotiated.
" The same funeral of the person you killed. You do realize she is having a funeral because of you, James." Said Christopher more plainly .
" Whoa whoa whoa . I allegedly murdered. We can do this the east way or the hard way. Scratch my back I'll scratch yours." He said now more direct.
" No allegations. You were caught in the act. You took down six security guards . And broke a restraining order against this said person." Explained Christopher now firm.
" Those are my terms. We can make this simple and settle outside of a court room or you can prepare for litigations. I watch a lot of law and order in rehab . It was kinda a thing. So I know fancy law terms." Explained James.
" Was this your first trip there . I mean rehab ? Christopher asked.
" Well more or less. First time I went with my wife . But the first time I was court mandated to go then yes." He admitted.
" I'll have to call my partner to ask if your request is even possible. I've never heard a murder want to attend the funeral of their victim." He said closing the file.
" She's my mother I want to say goodbye." Said James firmly.
" And that makes it better. Because she is your mother." Remarked Christopher.
James shrugged . Then sat back in his chair. Christopher thought it was odd he didn't really react to being called a murderer. What his mother his only victim . Christopher picked up the phone as it rang.
A sleepy Roger looked at the phone as he knocked over wine bottles where the party continued in Regina's bedroom. The platinum blonde was asleep next to him.
" What is it now Christopher?" Growled Roger .
" I have a case. " He started .
" Good for you. Your actually being a lawyer. What does it have to do with me and you waking me up for this call?" Said Roger sat up . He rubbed his face looking at the still asleep girl from the bar as he wondered why she was still there.
" A murder case where a son killed his mother. But he wants permission to attend her funeral. " Explained Christopher.
" Didn't he already say his goodbyes by killing her in the first place." Stated Roger .
" Who knows. I just thought it was a weird request. He said that's the only way he will talk." Said Christopher.
" He is trying to bluff you. He knows he is guilty as fuck. He is just trying to milk the situation . " Scoffed Roger.
" So that's a no." Confirmed Christopher.
" That's a hell no. This one is trying to get to someone or something he knows that will be at his mother's funeral. Tell him you were on the phone with a judge. He will implode . He is a sociopath. He cares for no one but his own goals." Suggested Roger .
Christopher hung up the phone. He took a deep breath as he stood by the door planning his escape if this woke the beast he was about to wake.
" That's was the judge. He said no on the funeral." Christopher said watching his face. The sour expression rose as James rose up and grabbed a chair .
" She is my mother and you deny me her son some closure. " He yelled as Christopher banged on the door seeing the hostility. The door opened as he dove outside the room. A chair flew across the room with a force.
Christopher looked at the officer that let him out." He is a monster. That's my client . " Complained Christopher.
The chair flew by as the officer barely stepped out of the way . James had then a metal chair in the heat of the moment. The officer slammed the door shut seeing first hand the mood swings of the man inside. James slammed himself against the door .
"" You heartless bastard. She is my mother. I want to say goodbye to my mother." James banged on the door over and over.
" Good luck ,bruh with that one. That guy is a few screws short of a hinge . We call him unhinged Barry ." He said as Christopher glared at the officers comment.
" I see. Does he realize he even murder someone?" Asked Christopher.
" He knows. But he don't care. Rebel without a cause type . Makes things harder than it has to be. It is amusing Everytime we bring him to and from the cell he still thinks he can escape . We rotate turns in escorting him to places . He is a total douche this one." Explained the officer.
" Hey we need a unit to take unhinged Barry to the cell. He threw a chair at the lawyer. I guess you won this bet, charlie." Called the officer over the radio on his shoulder.
" Unhinged Barry?" Questioned Christopher.
" Yeah. Dude broke out a cruiser window while he was sitting in the precinct parking lot. Then tried to fight a few of us when he was let out. Then he spent hours trying to uproot the table he was cuffed to. Yeah you can say he earned the name ." Chuckled the officer.
" It's yours and Michael's turn to handle unhinged Barry." A voice came over the radio.
" Shit." The officer signed in defeat.
" What exactly have I gotten myself into?" Asked Christopher.
" Ask detective mulosky . Or as we call her fatal attraction two point oh yeah baby. She is like a total babe. But ruthless too " he said clearing his throat .
" Is nicknames a common thing here?" Asked Christopher.
" It makes it easier to go home and sleep at night. The things we see. Some fun lightens the mood." He said seriously.
Another man showed up and they acknowledged each other. Christopher assumed this was Michael's . Both men buffed up like ready to go into a ring. Then opened the door to grab James. Christopher looked horrified to see James try to swing his cuffed hands at Michael's .
" Come on man. We do this every time. Your not going to win. Come quietly." Said the other officer .
Christopher was briskly down the hallway trying to to escape what he saw. What the hell was the agency thinking of assigning him to this mad man as a lawyer. If we lose this guy is going to kill me. Dead by failure thought Christopher.
A tall leggy blonde who wore all white came in . His view. He assumed this was the woman the officer told him about. She could double for a fatal attraction type. He stared a bit to long as she turned at looked back at him.
" We can do this all day. I match energies ." Said the lady in white.
" I'm so sorry. You must be Mrs. Mulosky?" He said now cutting his eyes to her side.
" I am. It's not often I get gawked at them told my own name before I even offered an introduction. My reputation must proceed me." She smiled cunningly .
" I am Christopher Dayo from law offices of Evenburg and Associates. I represent James Barry. " He explained.
" Ha. Um.oh.your actually serious . I'm am so sorry ." She said now pity ran over her face.
" Sorry for what?" Scoffed Christopher.
" Mr. Barry. Well he is what we say a bit to handle. He tolerated you but make a woman question him he was ready to fight. Mr. Barry has a history of violence against well my kind. Anger management. Rehab. Stalking. Stealing. Breaking and entering. And now murder. You name it he probably did it already." She explained.
" Is there anywhere we can speak. I mean about the case. I know I'm going to need some insight of my client. His file is well lack of a better word a horror novel." Said Christopher.
Mrs. Mulosky motioned to a door that was down the hall. Her office had two desk a murder board and a pot of coffee brewed. She sat down and moved the murder board around from a case she was putting together .
" No. No. Is that James Barry's board ." He looked as he saw red lines and pictures and dates on the board.
" Well it is. We've been following him a while. How much do you know about Mr. Barry?" Asked Mrs. Mulosky.
Christopher raised up the file " about page four in this file like I said it's a novel." He sighed .
" Okay I'll do a cliff notes version. James William Barry has been in and out of crime since he was well seventeen. His first victim was his sister Gertrude . She was in the car with him when they were hit by a simi-truck. Gertrude when we found her she was in bad shape. She was thirteen when she went into a coma . When she was fifteen well they pulled the plug." She said pausing.
" Who pulled the plug ?" He asked .
" Her father Mr. Barry." She said.
"Next he got out in rehab the first time at his father's request, than the second time at his wife Jessica's request leaving her alone and pregnant.James went off the deep end. Robbing convince stores and breaking and entering in cars . Procession of stolen property at eighteen. Did about five years up state." She continued.
" That is where he met a sixteen year old girl named Jessica who became his wife after he got out of prison for his crimes . He was nineteen then . She was visiting her dad in the pin and came across James . Him and her got serious real fast. As soon as she turned eighteen she became a pin wife. Him and her were like ride or die. When James was released they were hard and heavy. In and out of rehab and petty crimes in between. Neither could keep a job. " Mrs. Mulosky said as she painted a picture .
" Good gosh. So he is no stranger to crime." Sat back Christopher. He realized this would be more of a challenge then he was anticipating.
" About three years ago they had a baby girl named Amelia . She lived only six months and happened to die while in James's care. " She said Christopher face grew concerned . He contemplated if he wanted to hear anymore about his client at this point as the picture that was being painted was already looking like a bad horror story.
" Now the story James spined for his parents was that child protective services took the baby from the home with a reason for daycare neglect. He even went so far to say she was adopted out. When is interviewed his mother the recently deceased Norma jean she was convinced this was what happened to her granddaughter." She said rubbing her head.
" But that's not what happened." Gathered Christopher.
" No. Cause of death was unknown. He didn't even go to his own child's funeral. After that Jessica and him went separate ways . The way he spun it was Jessica left him over the death of her and his daughter and never came back No one has heard from her since then ." She said with a heavy heart.
" No one reported her as a missing persons?" Asked Christopher trying to grasp the concept of what he was understanding.
" Not any that I have seen or heard about. Her dad's is in prison . Her mom is dead , and she had no siblings that I knew of." Explained Madeline Molusky.
" I see. " Said Christopher as a bewildered look crossed his face. He thought of all he knew about his client up to now .
" But he wants to go to his mother's funeral." Christopher said confused.
" No. That is a whole nother can of worms. His mother took in a tenant and her young daughter . A Bethany Grigorii and her toddler .The two became very close. Her daughter looked like her granddaughter she lost. The mother and this tenant became well almost like family." She said delicately.
" I take it James didn't like her and his mother's relationship." Now understanding the situation.
" No. Five months ago we get a call for a domestic disturbance . James was trying to attack this tenant . He ransacked his mother's apartment looking for drugs and money. When she didn't give it to him he decided the tenant was the cause. When we showed up the three were locked in a car outside the complex. He was sent off to rehab for the third time by his mother . A restraining order was placed on him for the safety of this said tenant." Said the detective trying to wrap it up.
" So how did this end up him killing his mother?" Asked Christopher cautiously.
" Well after that his mother placed a restraining order on him and sent him to rehab. He was doing the program. Check in. Testing.meetings.counciling. the normal post release. One day he showed up disregarding the order and push his mother down the stairs. She broke an arm, leg, her hip ,and fractured three ribs. Head force trauma put her out for three days." She explained.
" So there was an incident prior to the murder." He revealed as he began to add up the facts in his head.
" Then he smothered her in the hospital. Between shift changes. What that told me he watched her. Waited for her to be alone. When he didn't get his way he killed her. This looks like more of a premeditated murder than a crime of passion as he was fully aware of the time and his opportunity to get to his said victim.James don't like being told no. Even his center officer said he would do things on purpose to push her buttons.what was it she called it . Oh yes willful definance ." She said plainly.
" I'm starting to see a pattern here." Said Christopher now the information overloading him.
" This tenant will be at this funeral. He wants to be there to hurt her. He blames her for his mother's abandonment of him. If he is allowed at this funeral he will try to hurt her and her child." She wrapped up the evidence.
" Good God. He is a monster. I'm representing a monster. " Admitted Christopher.
" We still had an open investigation from the baby. But when we got the call at the complex another thing added to the murder board ." She said pointing to the board in the room.
Christopher stood up pacing ." I can't represent someone whom is clearly guilty. He threw a chair at me. Shit I'm a dead man walking." He voiced our loud his concerns.
Meanwhile Caden's grey eyes glared into Sunny's hazel eyes. The game was called hand slap. The two new friends had been sitting there over an hour playing. Cadens hands red where Sunny had bested him in this match. Her palms on top and he tried to distract her. Sunny moved her hand a fraction faster then him. Now his hands were on top as she tried to syke him out as he jumped out of reaction. She smiled at her tactic.
Bethany and Avery looked at the two kids as they are some fruit and cheese at the picnic table.
" How much longer do you think those two will sit like that?" Asked Avery.
" Until Caden gets tired of being bested by a girl. " Snarked Axel stealing a banana from Bethany.
" Both of them are so stubborn. You would think they were brother and sister how competitive they are with each other ." Laughed Bethany.
" I think they played long enough." Stated Avery . She was losing patients as she had never been one to wait around for things to handle itself.
" Let them be Avery. I remember when Caden couldn't even speak to her. Now those two are inseparable . They mirror each other." Axel said observing his nephew and his future daughter.
He sat down beside Bethany as he rubbed her hands looking deep in her eyes.
" Oh my god you two get a room will you." Scoffed Avery.
" Now that wouldn't be gentleman like , Avery I'm old fashioned." Replied Axel .
" Since when ?" Scoffed Avery as she rolled her eyes as Axel shot her a look to stifle herself.
" Well since I met the correct kind of woman worth waiting for. Not everything needs to be jump and go in a relationship." Replied Axel as he was offended the insinuation of his sisters words in front of Bethany.
" You mean you and him haven't done anything. Bethany I would think you want to test drive the sports car before you buy it." Laughed Avery.
" Avery I don't know what more disturbing. You comparing me to a sports car or telling her to test drive me." He said glaring at his twin.
" Just marry him already ,Bethany. It's nauseating b watching you two hold out for each other." Avery joked, but at the same time was annoyed at her brother's gentlemanly gesture towards Bethany.
Axel glared at Avery ." Don't you have a filter? Like is their no gap between your brain and your mouth?" He accused.
she smirked " about as much of a filter you have."
" Whoa this got awkward." Said Bethany excusing herself to the gardens. She sat there along time watching Avery and Axel bucker at each other but her mind was elsewhere. The viewing was a lot to process . Tomorrow was the actual funeral. She looked at Sunny wondering what this event would do to her daughter.
She wanted to cry. She wanted to fuel her anger and frustration because not the matter. James had no right to take that sweet woman away. Bethany was depressed only a few tenants came to the viewing. Norma-Jean was truly alone outside of James. It made her sad for her friend.
" Penny for your thoughts." Said Axel appearing out of nowhere .
" You need to stop poofing ." She said as she jumped .
" Poofing?" He teased her.
" Doing that hiding slash Chris angel crap. It's very concerning you have silent footsteps. " She said glaring at him.
" You know my father was a skilled trainer. He taught me to be silent to be still." He said whispering in her opposite ear .
" Well I get enough of it from Sunny. She is like a mini you but smaller." She remarked.
" And cuter." Added Axel.
" I believe you two has grown thick as thieves .and how well her and Caden get along. I just worry how long it will take before she knows we will eventually have to go back to the complex. I promised Norma-jean we take care of for her when she was. Um. Is gone." Teared up Bethany.
Axel hugged her comforting her. He looked at Bethany and layed her head on his chest." Just listen to my heartbeat, Bethany. I want this to be the last heartbeat you hear beside you. " Bethany now looked up at Axel eyebrows risen.
" I'm not sure how to take that statement." She confessed.
" Well there is only one way out for you Bethany." He said as Axel kneeled on one knee and held Bethany's hand . Bethany watched him confused .
Just then Sunny came up behind him with a ring box . " Marry us." Said Sunny handing her the box.
Axel fist bumped Sunny and both looked at Bethany. Their two face made her world complete.
" Well since you put it that way. I have no choice but to make both of you happy ." Bethany said as Axel stood up and kissed her and Sunny hugged her legs. Then he pulled the ring out and slid it on her finger.
" I can't wait for you to be my wife." He said kissing her forehead.
Across the yard Avery stabbed her fruit. Caden sat confused at what he just saw happening.
" Momma what just happened?" He asked his mother.
" You just gained a cousin. Looks like Uncle is going to keep Bethany and Sunshine." She said with a bitter tone.
" Yay!" Yelled Caden as he ran to his uncle to celebrate what he just learned.
