Barry case
Regina got out of the car at the police precinct as Christopher stood waiting by the door. Roger didn't tell her her role. Just to flirt her way in a mad mans heart. They patted Regina down removing a nail file from her purse. She raised her eyebrows and thought that is the least of your worries.
Christopher secured visitors pass and was shown a room where James sat chained to a table. Christopher introduced Regina to James sat there looking up at her not moving. Regina smirked feeling a kindred spirit in James .
Regina placed herself beside James. He scooted back looking at her strangely.
" I won't bite if you don't.unless your into that than tell me where " she smirked throwing James off a bit.
" You do know I'm in here for murder. Yet you sit next to me like I'm not dangerous." James tried in an intimidating manner.
" You call smothering a helpless old woman a murder. Amateur at the most." She retired purposing provoking his ego.
" Well what would you have done differently if your so smart." He flared now offended.
" Not get caught. A crime isn't a crime unless you get caught." She reasoned with him.
" Regina. We are here to defend not encourage ." Intervened Christopher.
" Hush it. The lady is talking." Cutting off Christopher.
" I'm sure you had good reason to commit an act of mercy. For that poor suffering woman." Mused Regina." It must have been hard to see her in so much pain for something you did out of anger. You wanted to make it better didn't you." She said rubbing her hand on James knee.
" Yes. I did want to apologize when I came to the hospital." Said James as Christopher watched the two like they were in there own little world. What is she doing thought Christopher.
" So now we established you didn't mean to hurt her and you were trying to make amends we can conclude this was just an accident. " She said coaxing a confession.
Regina wasn't being sympathetic for James sake. She saw potential in James. Screw the car hitting Roger outside the courtroom. She had herself a raw homemade explosion waiting to happen. All it needed was some molding and mentoring. If she could manage to get James out with minimum punishment served . She can unleash him on Roger and he wouldn't hold anything against any of them again.
" James you want to be my friend right. Because I want to be yours." Persuaded Regina as James kept his eyes on her.
" Yes. " He said softly .
" Well what I need is you to talk to my friend over there . The more we know the more we can help you . We don't believe your guilty just misunderstood. We are going to do our best to get you out of this situation with your full cooperation of course." Regina said now rubbing his upper shoulder.
Christopher looked astonished at the scene. He had been trying to get this guy to talk for days now and bring in her and he is all gentle and agreeable. He seen this tactic before but it never actually worked for long.
" Okay I will talk. If you think it is best." He stammered out as Regina smiled from ear to ear .
" Corey, can you get me a Carmel frappe and a slice of mixed berry pie ." Demanded Regina.
" It's Christopher." He corrected her.
" Do you want a frappe or coffee and a slice of pie. Perhaps pizza. I imagine the food her isn't made for sustainability." She smiled at James.
" Can I get a pizza and some ginger ale ." He answered now in a better mood.
" Did you get all that Charles . A large pizza a Carmel frappe mixed berry pie and a ginger ale." Said Regina looking at Christopher. He bore his eyes at Regina Wondering what the hell she was doing.
" Spilling the tea makes people hungry. Can't work on the case if belly's are hungry." Christopher stood up and threw his hand in the air to admit defeat.
While across town Axel was warming up for the tournament. He was so use to pre match sparing with Avery like a pre match ritual . He hated to see a very give up after all the years they have been doing this. He wanted to know what changed her mind. It wasn't all about her rivalry with Bethany.
Avery found a reason to not like one girl or the next. They didn't stay long after meeting his sister. Avery been acting strangely . Last time she acted this way was when she was seeing the lawyer guy. She was moving mountains for him. That was it she is in contact with him. That's why she wants to stay homebound to be near him. It has to be there is no other explanation.
When he got home from tour he would have to talk to his sister about that . Right now all phones were off and head was in the fight. We don't win or look good on TV we don't get paid. It's not about the sport it about the show. Paul use to say that when they first started training.
Right now the sponsors paid well. With Avery stepping down there went the gimmick of the Jing brother and sister duo. So many press pictures of them together. Paul was on the phone smoothing over the sponsors because of Avery quitting.
Axel saw Paul hang up and come over to them perplexed .
" What's up man?" He said now noticing the wrinkles forming on his head.
" Other than losing a signing bonus from your sisters disappearing act. We also had to reimburse the fights that was cancelled that was on the schedule. I hope your sister knows this caused me thousands to change the tour schedules." He said not happy about it.
" Dude that not cool. I don't what got into Avery. She tossed it at me like you. No warning or anything. I came home her refusing to go on tour. I don't get her mood swings sometimes." Admitted Axel.
"It's not your fault. Women are biologically engineered to make it difficult for us to tolerate them. Find a simple woman and I'll change my mind." Vented Paul.
Both men started to laugh . Paul had always been more like a brother than a manager. Paul remembers when Axel was only ten and him coming to him with his father. He used to think Axel would be a pain in the butt. But they bonded like an older brother. When Axel wasn't with his father he was with Paul.
Paul patted Axel on his back and they went out to warm ups . As Axel entered the ring. He stood there alone for a minute. This was the part him and Avery did together. It was there thing a psych out as the other competing fighters watched them rough house as they warmed up. Then there was the weigh ins and that the match up announcements.
Axel looked lost . Paul smiled and pulled on some gloves and circled Axel. It had been years since he warmed up with Paul. When Avery joined it was his idea he warm up with her to give off the untouchable bond of their twin fighters.
" What are you doing?" Axel asked looking around the other competitors now looking at them. A few whispered to each other and looked at Axel.
" Focus on me. Right here Axel . I may be retired but I'm still a fighter. Once a fighter always a fighter ." He motivated Axel.
It didn't feel right practicing without Avery. Paul jabbed and cased him as Axel blocked his ribs and covered his ears . He warmed up with Paul all the while knowing the room was watching.
" Come on look alive. They don't come for the fighters they come for the show." Axel and Paul said in unison .
Axel was great ful to Paul. Without Paul he'd be lost. He glared at the judging faces. The curious faces, and the calculating faces. Axel was a heavy weight champion . Undefeated. Everyone in that room was looking at him like an opportunity. Avery earned some props for fights but didn't get a title shot yet.
Axel started thinking about Bethany. About all the time he would be away from her. This was his job, but Avery made a point about having kids. One day he would have kids with Bethany. He wanted to be there to see them grow up.
" Head in the fight . Keep home at home and work at work. Distraction is a fighters downfall. Focus ." Reminded Paul as she swung on Axel .
But he couldn't abandon Paul after all he has done for him. Paul couldn't loose him too.
Christopher left the room to make an order for the necessary items requested. He couldn't believe how quick the unhinged Barry's tune changed when he met Regina. He questioned Rogers motive in including her in this sensitive case. Certain things were supposed to be in discretion . A murder case is one of those cases.
This was the same girl Roger shared how her brother and her were not doing sister and brother behavior. She was the same girl he was asked to dig up her families financial past. Now she was helping in a murder case. She wasn't a lawyer. In fact she was very contradictive.
The fact that Roger didn't like her was also know knowledge . But when the baby had Rogers grey eyes he assumed they were a thing. Like a love hate relationship. He came back in the room as James and Regina casually chatted like old friends. Christopher shook his head.
A knock came on the door as a extra large pepperoni pizza came in along with two liter ginger ale. Regina grabbed her frappe. She glared at Christopher as an entire mixed berry pie instead of a single piece was placed before her.
" Do you expect me to eat this with my hands " demanded Regina .
" They have certain rules here about utensils " Christopher tried to explain.
" What is he going to do stab me with a plastic fork. " He glared Regina. " You want him to talk or not?" She reminded him why she was here.
James shoved the pizza in his mouth and drank directly from the two liter using the back of his hands like a napkin.
" Napkins too. You expect us to eat like savages ." She barked another order.
Christopher got up and asked for a plastic fork and napkins as he was fed up with the progress of the day. Regina and James talked and ate like friends catching up.
" You should be writing this down instead of gawking like an imbecile." She tapped the table on Christopher's legal pad.
" I'm sorry James please continue . Tell me about your mother. I'm listening." She said touching his hand gently.
Meanwhile Bethany was across town trying to clear up her missing person status . She walked into the police station and asked for missing persons division. A man in blue took her back to his office. He offered her some coffee and a seat.
" Hello I'm investigator Hemsworth . How may I help you today?" Mused the man in a choppy manner.
" Hello I am Bethany Bruno Grigori and I was reported as a missing person." She said a nervous hitch to her voice.
" How long ago were you reported missing?" He asked typing the name in the database .
" Six years coming on seven." She said nervously.
"Well miss Grigori one more year or be considered legally faking your death and come back with a new identity." He said not looking at her.
Bethany didn't know how to take that statement. Was he joking with her or stating facts?
" My half brothers Ryder reported it when I ran away after our father's death. That and my fiance was getting married to someone else." She explained.
" I see. That's a bit dramatic to say. So you know why he reported you missing if all you did is run away." Asked inspector Hemsworth.
" To get his hands on our trust fund. Trust me he didn't do it out of the goodness of his own heart. Without me he can't touch it." She explained watching the inspectors face twist in confusion.
" So it's safe to assume you don't want your brother to know you have been found?" He mused.
" No. I was a grown woman who ran away . That was all. He overreacted. Being a spaz ." She said bluntly.
" Well in order to complete this and get the reward for turning yourself in I'll need identification and residency papers to verify your story." He explained.
" Reward what reward?" Screeched Bethany.
" Oh you didn't know. Ok there was a ten thousand dollar reward to return you home safely. " He explained.
Bethany let out a laugh. " How was he going to pay that if someone else turned me in? Like I said it's my trust fund not his . Daddy didn't leave him a dime." She said in disbelief.
" I see he failed to mention that part. He does know it illegal to offer money off of margin."scoffed the inspector.
" That's Ryder . Spending money that isn't his . I'll give you the information you need. You can go square away the fraudulent money with Ryder later. I'm planning on getting married and I don't need my future husband to be marrying a missing person." She said searching her purse for the proofs of her updated status as not missing.
" My advice to you is if your brother is such a spaz as you say you might need to obtain a restraining order . Because you asked me not to share you location I can since you are alive and you have rights . Next time you run away leave a note or a text saying you need space. That way brothers don't overreact and commit crimes." He said printing off a paper from his computer . He stamped it with a seal and pointed to the door.
" Take that to the front desk to process it be a few days to reinstate your status as living." He said dryly. Bethany laughed because she knew that was a joke . The inspector just stared at her as he narrowed his eyes at her seriously. Okay apparently not a joke after all Bethany thought to herself .
Bethany went to the front counter to file her reinstatement of life when the inspector scurried out to catch her. He handed her a card with the name Billings and Frasier insurance company. Bethany looked at it perplexed confused to why he was handing her that card.
" Call that number. They asked about you too. Something about a will reading.i didn't ask questions I told them if we found you we pass it along to you." He said as the hit the counter top with his palms.
" Okay will do." She replied confused by his information given to her. The front desk printed out some paperwork for Bethany to sign and she left to go home. Bethany mind wonder why would an insurance company be looking for me.
She started to call the number as a female secretary answered.
" Billings and Frasier life insurance where we insure your life so your loved ones don't have too. This is Tina speaking how may I help you?" Said a perky voice .
" Yes hi I'm Bethany Grigori May I speak with agent fraiser ,please." She said reading the name in the back of the card.
" Oh I'm terrible sorry Mr . Fraiser is out of town this week can I take a message and he will get right back to you." She said upbeat .
" Tell him I will call him next week. That's all. Thanks." She said getting annoyed with the woman's voice.
" Ok will do and thank you for calling Billings and Frasier life insurance company you have a nice day okay." She said as she hung up the phone.
Life insurance company what the hell was going on? Thought Bethany.