The Unspoken Relative

The door to the interrogation room creaked open. A girl was inside, still in the depths of REM sleep, did not stir. Sleep was all she had. Her only escape, and only therapy from her current fate. She remained curled up on top of the table like a feline, conserving her energy before the Hell hounds would be turned loose on her.

           Hayley, a psychiatrist, made her way into the room. She could see the subject, Emily, had insomniac circles around her eyes that made her look like a raccoon almost. Hayley felt bad for having to wake her, but if Emily wanted sleep, she would need to talk at some point.

           She reached out and took Emily’s hands in hers. They were cold and clammy. Emily emitted a faint whimper, but her eyes remained closed. Hayley let go of her hands and brushed Emily’s hair. Emily stirred and her eyes sluggishly opened. Her dark eyes, with saucers for pupils, studied the green emeralds Hayley had for eyes. They remained still, watching, then closed again.

“C’mon hun, time to get up.” Hayley spoke, lightly shaking her.

           Emily whimpered and covered her face with her arms. Hayley stood and scooped her off the table. She expected a fight, but Emily remained docile in her grasp. Before Hayley could put her down, Emily clung to her and rested her head on Hayley’s shoulder. It was difficult to imagine Emily was capable of what the police were accusing her of. Emily was acting more like an eight-year-old than eighteen. That could be cracked up to the recent traumatic experience she endured. She had recently learned who her real father was, after he took her, her mother, and stepfather hostage.

           Her mother was currently recovering from injuries in the hospital, while her stepfather had succumbed to his injuries. Emily wailed suddenly, catching Hayley off-guard. The reaction was so sudden that Hayley almost dropped her.

“Honey…”

           Emily buried her face in Hayley’s chest, with heaving sobs that made her tremble all over. Hayley rubbed her back and comforted her, something that Emily never got from anyone since they found her in the house. She had passed out with the landline phone still in her grasp, with a split table beneath her that broke her fall. Hayley had a job to do here however, and that was not to comfort a possible suspect. Hayley gently pried her off and sat Emily down in a chair.

“I’m going to be honest.” Hayley began. “They suspect you conspired with your father.”

           All the melanin drained from Emily’s skin. This couldn’t be happening. She quickly shook her head in denial. Emily strained herself attempting to protest, but her voice cracked, and her words died in her throat.

“You may want to see this.” Hayley said, handing her a tablet.

           A frightened moan escaped her mouth when the video started playing. When Emily learned the truth, she attacked and interrogated her stepfather in the basement for putting a wool over her eyes, while her real father was otherwise engaged upstairs. And now, law enforcement suspected she was hiding her father’s whereabouts. They intended to use this footage as leverage against her if she refused to cooperate.

           Her knees drew up to her chest as reality washed over her. His blood was on her hands too, whether she liked it or not. But this didn’t mean that she conspired with her father. They needed to know that. Emily tried to speak again but like before, her words could not reach the surface. Like baby sea turtles being plucked away by famished seagulls before reaching the ocean, words still eluded her. She buried her face in her hands, sighing shakily. Hayley placed a small notebook before her, along with a pencil. Emily sniffled and started to write.

“So, he took your cuffs off for good behavior?” Hayley asked.

           Emily nodded.

“And after you found out the truth, you became angry with your stepfather.”

           Emily replied with a reluctant nod. She wrote her next question with a trembling hand.

There’s nothing I can do to avoid prison, is there?

           Emily pushed the notebook over to Hayley with tears starting to trickle down her face again.

“You can tell me where he is.” Hayley said.

           Emily whimpered in frustration.

I don’t know where he is, because I did not conspire with him. She wrote.

“It’s not up to me on what happens to you.” Hayley began. “But you need to give them something if you wish to avoid prison. Even if you didn’t conspire with him, you still assaulted your stepfather, who is now dead.”

           Emily huffed and snatched the notebook.

My father’s gun killed him, not me! She wrote.

“You stabbed your stepfather with a fork. He already had a severed leg and a missing finger, which I believe had his wedding ring on it. You very well could have. Do you think a jury would let you go free after that?”

           Emily choked back a sob.

“I’m sorry hun. I know you were under a great deal of stress, but that still does not excuse your actions.”

He’s one of my teachers in high school, okay? Mr. Black is what he goes by. I’m sure that’s how he found out that I was his daughter. Emily wrote.

“Okay. Maybe that will help them find him. Anything else?” Hayley asked.

Please, I need to be there for my mom, so she pulls through. Emily wrote.   

“I’ll see what they think about this.” Hayley said, taking the notebook with her. “But after what you did to your stepfather, I doubt you’ll be allowed to see your mother in the hospital. It’s for her own safety.”

           Emily’s face fumed in disbelief at what she heard. With that, Hayley left her to sit alone with her thoughts.

2

           When the sheriff entered the interrogation room, Emily’s heart sank like an anchor to the depths. She sheepishly wiped her tears away with her sleeves. Save your crocodile tears for another day. His eyes said.

“You’ll be held at a local hotel under house arrest till’ your court date.” The sheriff said, attaching a tracker to her ankle. “You can use the phone inside the motel to call your mother in the hospital. Perhaps that will help you find your voice again. Better pray you find it by your court date.” He continued, escorting her out.

3

           On court day, her mother was not well enough to attend, however she was thankfully still alive and recovering. Emily quietly sat next to her appointed lawyer. The judge and jury were informed that due to the events Emily had been through, she had trouble speaking and her lawyer would speak for her. They had given her a notebook and pen to use to communicate as well.

           Emily was prepared to own up to what she did, however. The crowd was certainly a surprise, which threw her off. She hoped it stemmed from curiosity about her father rather than hatred towards her. She nervously watched as the judge made his way to the podium. He was an older gentleman with a horseshoe mustache that commanded respect. A man with true grit that would not hesitate to punish any poor soul that dared question his authority, to the full extent of the law. He despised any scumbag attorney that would willingly fight for a defendant that was obviously guilty. Emily could not tell what his initial impression was of her just yet.

“Take your seats ladies and gentlemen. Let’s be mindful of the jury and the defendant. Keep y’all’s voices down so they can hear themselves think.” The judge spoke as the jury filed in.

           Emily reluctantly turned to see who her selected peers would be. Six women of varying ages filed in first. Perhaps she had a chance of being shown mercy after all. Six men followed and suddenly her throat felt deprived of oxygen and her eyes dilated like saucers.

The word escaped her lips, and she quickly covered her mouth with both hands. But the room had grown silent as a Buddhist temple. It was too late.

“What was that miss?” The judge spoke, making her flinch.

           Emily quickly turned away from the jury and spoke, for what felt like the first time in weeks.

“N-nothing! S-s-sorry.” She spoke with an awkward rise in her voice.

“Mind repeatin’ what you said a moment ago? I was under the impression that you didn’t speak.” The judge said.

“Objection your honor!” Her attorney stepped in.

“Overruled. You were sayin’ miss?” The judge spoke.

           Emily swallowed hard and her skin was as crimson as a lobster. Much like a lobster, she was in hot water now as well.

“Do you want to be held in contempt for lying to the court about your condition?” The judge asked.

“N-n-no! I-I’m not,” She hiccupped. “Lying.”

“Enlighten me on how you did not lie to the court, miss.” The judge pressed.

“Your honor, I made it clear she has difficulty speaking and that she is or in this case, was temporarily mute. The key word was, temporarily.” Her attorney spoke.

“Clearly, she speak for herself now, mister. Now would you or she care to repeat what her first spoken word was so we can move forward with this case?” The judge replied.

“Objection your honor.” Her attorney spoke before Emily placed her hand on his wrist.

“Overruled.” The judge spoke to him.

“Please.” Emily said to her attorney, before standing to face the judge. “I-I saw someone that looked like my dad. That’s all. I’m mistaken obviously. B-but it took me by surprise.”

“So, we have it on record, repeat the exact word you spoke for me miss. I will not ask you again.” The judge said.

“D-daddy. That’s what I said. I was mistaken. S-sorry your honor.” Emily spoke meekly.

“Why don’t you point out the individual you mistook for him, would ya kindly?” The judge spoke.

           A small trickle ran between her legs and Emily winced, hating herself.

“In fact, why don’t we show everyone what her father looks like, shall we?” The judge said, and a projector flashed a picture of Mr. Black on the wall behind him.

“This is the man responsible for the death of Emily’s stepfather and for her mother, who is currently in hospice care. What we are here for currently, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is to figure out whether Emily knows of his whereabouts, and two, whether she conspired with him against her stepfather.” The judge spoke.

“Now isn’t that a load of horseshit!” A voice cackled.

           A man in the jury stood, and Emily’s fears were confirmed. His disguise could fool most, but not her.

“You think she’s capable of this? Hell, she couldn’t even keep it together when she caught a glance of my face!” Mr. Black laughed, pressing his revolver against another juror, urging them to walk up with him.

           The police officers and security guards all drew their weapons, but Mr. Black revealed his own weapon that was strapped to his chest. There was a rise of panic from the bystanders and the jury.

“Enough!” The judge roared, and the crowd simmered down.

“As the Joker once said, let’s not blow this out of proportion. I’ll only take a moment of your time, one way or another.” Mr. Black said.

“You’ve got balls showing your face around here.” The judge spoke.

“I’m just here to make sure an innocent person doesn’t go to jail. Lord knows the law has a way of fucking that up.” Mr. Black replied.

“I propose an exchange then. You go to jail while she goes free. That I reckon is how it should have been all along.” The judge said.

“Ha! You should go on stage and see how far that joke gets ya.” Mr. Black cackled.

“What’s the plan here? What’s your endgame?” The judge asked.

“It’s simple. If you all want to live, you let us leave, quietly. Remember, the juror I replaced is elsewhere, awaiting your assistance.” Mr. Black said.

           The judge, a veteran from the war in Afghanistan recognized the bomb Mr. Black had strapped to his chest. It was capable of taking out a whole block. Everyone inside this building would be cooked like a Thanksgiving turkey when all was said and done.

“Drop y’all’s weapons.” The judge ordered.

           The officers followed suit.

“Let’s be on our way, Emily.” Mr. Black spoke.

           A frightened moan escaped her mouth. She had no idea her father was capable of this. He would be labeled as a terrorist in the news. There was no coming back from that.

“Don’t waste my time, sweetheart.” Mr. Black hissed, pressing his revolver against the juror’s forehead.

           Emily whimpered and reluctantly stood up.

“Can you tell me where the other juror is, before you go?” The judge asked.

“Good man.” Mr. Black said, opening the door to the judge’s quarters.

           Through there was a quick exit to the parking lot.

“I left a note with an address under my juror seat. If anyone stops me, that place will blow too.” Mr. Black said.

           Emily gagged as her nerves started getting the better of her. This was all too much to take in. But Mr. Black tugged her inside by the collar of her shirt, urging her to keep moving, and they ran to the exit door. Outside, there were two cars waiting for them. Mr. Black shoved his hostage to the floor and slammed the door shut behind him. Emily eyed both cars in confusion.

           She yelped when she felt something hot sting her arm. Emily looked up at her father as everything around her grew brighter.

“Why?” She whimpered.

“Can’t risk ya having second thoughts.” Mr. Black replied with a wink, removing the small needle from her arm.

           Emily was too weak to resist when he laid her down in the back seat of a Chrysler 300. He rode in a different car, and she passed out before they drove away.

4

           Emily awoke with a start in what felt like another lifetime. She was cocooned in a hammock, ready to hatch into a new life it seemed. Her sluggish eyes registered a clustered forest of coconut palms around her and a man sitting at a nearby table. He wore a straw hat and was sipping on a Pina Colada.

“Welcome back.” Mr. Black said.

           The ocean was a shimmering shade of teal in the sunlight, roaring in the distance.

“Is…mom okay?” Emily slurred.

“She’ll be fine.” Mr. Black said. “But she’ll need her distance for some time before she forgives us.”