Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:08 pm
Thanks for the feedback. Please keep it coming.
Erina
Mica
Timelord31
tequathisy
Alex Balex
begonia9508
kiwigirl
roswell3053
orphyfets
L-J-L 76
dreamer19
Morning Dreamgirl
FSU/MSW-94
RhondaAnn
Tinkerbell_luvs_roswell
Part 11
“I don’t get it.” Isabelle put her head against Tess’s dining room table in anguish. “Your saying that he didn’t pull that trigger, not even in self defense?” All this time, she had been so sure.
The women had gone back to Tess’s apartment. Isabelle was still in a fragile state but after a glass of water and some reassurance from Tess she found herself a bit more stable, fueled by her desire to find out the truth and exonerate her brother.
“All I know is that he was frantic when he called me, begged me to lie about what happened that night.” Tess explained.
“When was this?”
“It was after your mother had posted bail. He had already started working with his lawyer on his defense.”
“What exactly did he ask you?” Isabelle asked.
“He said the prosecution would need a witness…someone who had been there, seen him pull that trigger.” Tess said as she thought back to the trial.
“Where were you at 10 pm that night?” The prosecutor asked her.
“I was at the Evans house.”
“What were you doing?”
“Max and I were watching a movie in his room.”
“What movie?”
She looked at Max across the courtroom and continued the facade. “I don’t remember…we sort of got distracted.”
“Distracted by what?”
“Every time we try to watch a movie in his room we end up having sex. That night was no different.’
“So what happened at 11pm?”
“Max went to get us something to drink. I heard yelling from the kitchen and then things being thrown. I ran out into the hall. That’s when I heard the shot being fired. When I got to the kitchen Mr. Evans was on the floor, bleeding. Max was standing over him, the gun in his hand.”
“Was anyone else in the kitchen?
“No.”
“Where were his sister and mother?”
“They came running into the kitchen a few seconds after me.”
“Why was the witness so crucial? They had the fingerprints.” Isabelle asked.
“Without a witness his lawyer could have argued that he picked up the gun after the fact…but of course they’d need another suspect,” Tess explained. “He was trying to protect someone else. He handed himself to them on a silver platter.”
“Why not say it was self defense? Why not admit what he did to us, to mom?” Isabelle cried.
“My guess is that he was worried they would look into it too deeply and realize he hadn’t done it or that the real killer would come forward. He planned it perfectly, he pleaded innocent and went to trial, knowing that if he admitted to it right away and someone else came forward it would look like he had been covering for them. Instead, he went for a trail, making sure the prosecution had the murder weapon and a witness. Then he used his own lawyer, convinced him to call him to the stand in order to plead his innocence where he conveniently ended up breaking down and admitting to the murder.” What strategy. Max Evans was a genius and he would make one hell of a lawyer.
“So who did this Tess? He must have told you?” Isabelle was frantic.
“You were there that night Isabelle. You tell me.”
Isabelle covered her eyes in frustration. “It’s all a blurr…so you…you think I did it?” Did she really have it in her to kill her father?
“I’ve thought all these years that it was you and that’s why you were trying to get Max out. I guess it could have been Diane.”
“I knew where the gun was Tess. Max had shown it to me the night before.”
“She could have found it Isabelle. It wasn’t a big house.”
“I have to find out Tess. I’m going to go to see someone, a psychiatrist that uncover repressed memories. Then we have to get Max out of there. Will you take his case?”
“Isabelle, I will take it unofficially, do some digging. His lawyer works at my firm so I’ll start with him but understand one thing. Someone else coming forward won’t be enough to acquitt him unless we find solid proof that he’s innocent. If we can’t, even if you remember Max has to agree for me to defend him…I’ve offered and he refuses.”
Isabelle gave her a look filled with fierce determination. “You do your lawyer thing, I’ll find a way to get through to Max.”
“Isabelle, you realize that if it turn s out that you did it, it might mean jail time for you, if we can’t prove self defense. It would be hard to prove after all this time.”
Isabelle nodded as she picked up her purse. Max had already lost way too much time. “Can you drive me back to pick up my car now?
Tess nodded. She would get to the bottom of this and free Max no matter what sacrifices she had to make. She just hoped the incarceration of Isabelle would not be the price paid for Max’s freedom. No. Don’t think that way, she chided herself. You won’t let that happen.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
“Liz, are you sure you don’t want to hang out tonight. With Maria out again, you must be lonely?” Serena asked from the other end of the phone.
“Thanks, but I’m kinda tired. I’m just lying on the couch right now, watching some TV, enjoying my solitude.”
After Liz hung up the phone, she lay back on the couch and pulled out a familiar envelope. It was the letter that Max had written her 2 days before. She had already read it multiple times but couldn’t resist reading it again, especially since she had the house to herself.
Dear Liz,
I am so sorry to hear about Sean. To loose someone that you cared about in that way, must be so hard especially if no one else is aware of your pain. It sounds like he was a great guy, you had a lot in common but was more of a companion to you then a lover? Don’t worry, I won’t say a word to Michael. I must confess, he doesn’t even know about these letters, I’m just not sure how we would react. And that guy that hurt you in college doesn’t know what he’s missing. He must have been a real loser to let you go.
You asked a lot of questions about prison life. I have to be honest, it can be worse than what you see on TV. On TV the bad inmate is usually punished or moved before things get to out of hand. That’s not always the case in here. As far as your question about hierarchy, it’s all about who is strong and who is weak. As long as you show you can’t be messed with, most people leave you alone. I sort of have a secret on one of the troublemakers here, so I have both Michael and I covered.
I had someone before I came in here. Her name was Tess. My relationship with her was similar to yours and Sean’s. We weren’t really lonely per say but we had a lot in common. We both came from very dysfunctional families, in fact dysfunctional is not a strong enough word. I do sometimes dream about meeting my soul mate but seeing as how I’m in here for the best years of my life, it will stay a dream and nothing more. Now Liz, you are a different story. You can go out there and meet someone. Don’t let your fear of getting your heart broken hold you back. Just make sure you heart makes it’s way to someone who can really cherish it.
Michael is doing ok. He doesn’t talk about Maria much but he is talking about other mundane things, you know motorbikes and videogames. How is Maria? How far along is she? Will you attempt to try to visit Michael again?
Ask me anything you want. I’m sure it sounds pathetic but your letters are the highlight of my week. Tell me anything and everything about you Liz parker. There is nothing I don’t want to know.
Sincerely,
Max Evans
Liz closed her eyes and sighed. She wondered what Max Evans looked like? Was he tall dark and handsome or was he some old fat, bald guy? He mentioned in one of his first letters that he had seen her when she visited Michael. She wished she had paid more attention, but she had been so focused on Michael and so creeped out by the prison that she hadn’t noticed much.
Ask me anything you want. I’m sure it sounds pathetic but your letters are the highlight of my week. Tell me anything and everything about you Liz parker. There is nothing I don’t want to know
It was so romantic. She knew she should feel uncomfortable that a convicted felon had said this to her buts she wasn’t. For the first time in years she felt cherished, she felt seen. She wanted to write him letters and letters about herself and she wanted to find out everything about him too.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Tess asked her boss if it would be ok to do some Pro Bono work for a friend. Once it was okayed she went up to the 12th floor at Mclleland and Heigl’s and talked to Stuart Matheson.
“Mr. Matheson, I’m new here and I was wondering if I could see your case file on the Evans case from 2001.” She hoped he wouldn’t recognize her from the trial, but with the many cases he had, she doubted he would.
“Why do you need it?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m working on a similar case and thought it might help.”
“Evans case? What was that about?”
“It was a murder case.”
He obviously didn’t remember. “Ask my secretary Betty, she’ll get the file for you.
“Thank you sir.”
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Dear Max,
Thank you so much. Your letters are so beautiful. I find myself reading them over and over again. Sorry to hear your childhood was so painful but it makes you stronger right? Maybe that’s why your so compassionate.
It sounds like Tess was really important to you. I’m glad you had some love in your life. It sounds like things ended when you went to jail? Thank you for your words of encouragement on my love life. It seems like you know me so well. You are so kind. Please be just as kind to yourself. Don’t give up on finding love for yourself. Don’t give up on love just because you are in jail.
Today I went with Maria for her first ultrasound. Seeing her and Michael’s baby on that screen was a miracle. We both realized that we haven’t been treating each other very well and resolved to change that. You see, she has been seeing her ex boyfriend billy for the last 2 weeks. I told myself I was upset because I was worried about her but I was only lying to myself. Truthfully I was angry at her, for giving up on Michael. I know he is being unfair, giving her limited options but in the end I feel they would be much better off with each other. No matter what happens they have created a precious life together and they need to support each other right now. If Michael continues to shut her out he will miss the first two years of his son or daughter’s life. So sad. We have to change that Max. You work on Michael, I’ll work on Maria. I hadn’t given much thought to it before now, but I really want to have a baby myself. Guess I need to find myself a father first, right?
I think you made the right choice, not telling my brother about the letters. I know you are sort of friends or whatever, but he is a very overprotective brother. More of a father figure really and I want you to stay safe.
You said I could ask you anything. What I really want to know is what you look like so that I can picture you when I am reading your words. You already know what I look like, so you have an unfair advantage.
Sincerely,
Liz Parker
Max stuffed the letter under the mattress with the others and laid back, his mind full of images of Liz. She wanted to know what he looked like. She was thinking about him, like he was of her.
The cell door opened and Michael wobbled in escorted by a guard. His face was cut up pretty badly, his arm was in a sling.
Max sat up quickly. “Michael, what happened?”
“I had the shit beat out of me, what does it look like?” Michael grunted as he lay on the bottom bunk on his back trying get comfortable.
“Gary would never…”:
“It wasn’t Gary. It was some new guy.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing, Nothing at all.”
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Tess arrived home to find Kyle had cooked her spaghetti and garlic bread, her two favorites.
“Your quiet tonight.” He commented, once they were finished.
Tess took a deep breathe. It was now or never. “Kyle, I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”
She told him everything starting with her father’s abuse , then Max’s father’s abuse, his innocence, her purgery on the stand, and finished with her visit with Isabelle the previous day.
Afterwards he was quiet, taking it all in. “Wow,” was all he could say. Now he understood why Max Evans was so important to her.
“I’m sorry Kyle. It’s not that I didn’t trust you. It’s just I made a promise and….” She didn’t know what else to say. “And now I need to help him.”
Kyle nodded. “So you wouldn’t even be a lawyer if it wasn’t for him.” Kyle was referring to the 80,000 dollars.
Tess nodded. “And I blame myself for lying on the stand. I shouldn’t have done it.”
“But you loved him.”
She nodded.
“So if you do this it might mean you’ll loose your law license?” he asked.
“Yes Kyle but I need your support. If this happens, I might have to start over. We might not have much.”
“It’s ok. You do whatever you have to do.”
Tess threw herself into his arms. “Thank you Kyle.”
Kyle cleared his throat nervously. “Tess, while we are confessing or whatever ... there is something about me...that you need to know.”
Erina
Mica
Timelord31
tequathisy
Alex Balex
begonia9508
kiwigirl
roswell3053
orphyfets
L-J-L 76
dreamer19
Morning Dreamgirl
FSU/MSW-94
RhondaAnn
Tinkerbell_luvs_roswell
Part 11
“I don’t get it.” Isabelle put her head against Tess’s dining room table in anguish. “Your saying that he didn’t pull that trigger, not even in self defense?” All this time, she had been so sure.
The women had gone back to Tess’s apartment. Isabelle was still in a fragile state but after a glass of water and some reassurance from Tess she found herself a bit more stable, fueled by her desire to find out the truth and exonerate her brother.
“All I know is that he was frantic when he called me, begged me to lie about what happened that night.” Tess explained.
“When was this?”
“It was after your mother had posted bail. He had already started working with his lawyer on his defense.”
“What exactly did he ask you?” Isabelle asked.
“He said the prosecution would need a witness…someone who had been there, seen him pull that trigger.” Tess said as she thought back to the trial.
“Where were you at 10 pm that night?” The prosecutor asked her.
“I was at the Evans house.”
“What were you doing?”
“Max and I were watching a movie in his room.”
“What movie?”
She looked at Max across the courtroom and continued the facade. “I don’t remember…we sort of got distracted.”
“Distracted by what?”
“Every time we try to watch a movie in his room we end up having sex. That night was no different.’
“So what happened at 11pm?”
“Max went to get us something to drink. I heard yelling from the kitchen and then things being thrown. I ran out into the hall. That’s when I heard the shot being fired. When I got to the kitchen Mr. Evans was on the floor, bleeding. Max was standing over him, the gun in his hand.”
“Was anyone else in the kitchen?
“No.”
“Where were his sister and mother?”
“They came running into the kitchen a few seconds after me.”
“Why was the witness so crucial? They had the fingerprints.” Isabelle asked.
“Without a witness his lawyer could have argued that he picked up the gun after the fact…but of course they’d need another suspect,” Tess explained. “He was trying to protect someone else. He handed himself to them on a silver platter.”
“Why not say it was self defense? Why not admit what he did to us, to mom?” Isabelle cried.
“My guess is that he was worried they would look into it too deeply and realize he hadn’t done it or that the real killer would come forward. He planned it perfectly, he pleaded innocent and went to trial, knowing that if he admitted to it right away and someone else came forward it would look like he had been covering for them. Instead, he went for a trail, making sure the prosecution had the murder weapon and a witness. Then he used his own lawyer, convinced him to call him to the stand in order to plead his innocence where he conveniently ended up breaking down and admitting to the murder.” What strategy. Max Evans was a genius and he would make one hell of a lawyer.
“So who did this Tess? He must have told you?” Isabelle was frantic.
“You were there that night Isabelle. You tell me.”
Isabelle covered her eyes in frustration. “It’s all a blurr…so you…you think I did it?” Did she really have it in her to kill her father?
“I’ve thought all these years that it was you and that’s why you were trying to get Max out. I guess it could have been Diane.”
“I knew where the gun was Tess. Max had shown it to me the night before.”
“She could have found it Isabelle. It wasn’t a big house.”
“I have to find out Tess. I’m going to go to see someone, a psychiatrist that uncover repressed memories. Then we have to get Max out of there. Will you take his case?”
“Isabelle, I will take it unofficially, do some digging. His lawyer works at my firm so I’ll start with him but understand one thing. Someone else coming forward won’t be enough to acquitt him unless we find solid proof that he’s innocent. If we can’t, even if you remember Max has to agree for me to defend him…I’ve offered and he refuses.”
Isabelle gave her a look filled with fierce determination. “You do your lawyer thing, I’ll find a way to get through to Max.”
“Isabelle, you realize that if it turn s out that you did it, it might mean jail time for you, if we can’t prove self defense. It would be hard to prove after all this time.”
Isabelle nodded as she picked up her purse. Max had already lost way too much time. “Can you drive me back to pick up my car now?
Tess nodded. She would get to the bottom of this and free Max no matter what sacrifices she had to make. She just hoped the incarceration of Isabelle would not be the price paid for Max’s freedom. No. Don’t think that way, she chided herself. You won’t let that happen.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
“Liz, are you sure you don’t want to hang out tonight. With Maria out again, you must be lonely?” Serena asked from the other end of the phone.
“Thanks, but I’m kinda tired. I’m just lying on the couch right now, watching some TV, enjoying my solitude.”
After Liz hung up the phone, she lay back on the couch and pulled out a familiar envelope. It was the letter that Max had written her 2 days before. She had already read it multiple times but couldn’t resist reading it again, especially since she had the house to herself.
Dear Liz,
I am so sorry to hear about Sean. To loose someone that you cared about in that way, must be so hard especially if no one else is aware of your pain. It sounds like he was a great guy, you had a lot in common but was more of a companion to you then a lover? Don’t worry, I won’t say a word to Michael. I must confess, he doesn’t even know about these letters, I’m just not sure how we would react. And that guy that hurt you in college doesn’t know what he’s missing. He must have been a real loser to let you go.
You asked a lot of questions about prison life. I have to be honest, it can be worse than what you see on TV. On TV the bad inmate is usually punished or moved before things get to out of hand. That’s not always the case in here. As far as your question about hierarchy, it’s all about who is strong and who is weak. As long as you show you can’t be messed with, most people leave you alone. I sort of have a secret on one of the troublemakers here, so I have both Michael and I covered.
I had someone before I came in here. Her name was Tess. My relationship with her was similar to yours and Sean’s. We weren’t really lonely per say but we had a lot in common. We both came from very dysfunctional families, in fact dysfunctional is not a strong enough word. I do sometimes dream about meeting my soul mate but seeing as how I’m in here for the best years of my life, it will stay a dream and nothing more. Now Liz, you are a different story. You can go out there and meet someone. Don’t let your fear of getting your heart broken hold you back. Just make sure you heart makes it’s way to someone who can really cherish it.
Michael is doing ok. He doesn’t talk about Maria much but he is talking about other mundane things, you know motorbikes and videogames. How is Maria? How far along is she? Will you attempt to try to visit Michael again?
Ask me anything you want. I’m sure it sounds pathetic but your letters are the highlight of my week. Tell me anything and everything about you Liz parker. There is nothing I don’t want to know.
Sincerely,
Max Evans
Liz closed her eyes and sighed. She wondered what Max Evans looked like? Was he tall dark and handsome or was he some old fat, bald guy? He mentioned in one of his first letters that he had seen her when she visited Michael. She wished she had paid more attention, but she had been so focused on Michael and so creeped out by the prison that she hadn’t noticed much.
Ask me anything you want. I’m sure it sounds pathetic but your letters are the highlight of my week. Tell me anything and everything about you Liz parker. There is nothing I don’t want to know
It was so romantic. She knew she should feel uncomfortable that a convicted felon had said this to her buts she wasn’t. For the first time in years she felt cherished, she felt seen. She wanted to write him letters and letters about herself and she wanted to find out everything about him too.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Tess asked her boss if it would be ok to do some Pro Bono work for a friend. Once it was okayed she went up to the 12th floor at Mclleland and Heigl’s and talked to Stuart Matheson.
“Mr. Matheson, I’m new here and I was wondering if I could see your case file on the Evans case from 2001.” She hoped he wouldn’t recognize her from the trial, but with the many cases he had, she doubted he would.
“Why do you need it?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m working on a similar case and thought it might help.”
“Evans case? What was that about?”
“It was a murder case.”
He obviously didn’t remember. “Ask my secretary Betty, she’ll get the file for you.
“Thank you sir.”
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Dear Max,
Thank you so much. Your letters are so beautiful. I find myself reading them over and over again. Sorry to hear your childhood was so painful but it makes you stronger right? Maybe that’s why your so compassionate.
It sounds like Tess was really important to you. I’m glad you had some love in your life. It sounds like things ended when you went to jail? Thank you for your words of encouragement on my love life. It seems like you know me so well. You are so kind. Please be just as kind to yourself. Don’t give up on finding love for yourself. Don’t give up on love just because you are in jail.
Today I went with Maria for her first ultrasound. Seeing her and Michael’s baby on that screen was a miracle. We both realized that we haven’t been treating each other very well and resolved to change that. You see, she has been seeing her ex boyfriend billy for the last 2 weeks. I told myself I was upset because I was worried about her but I was only lying to myself. Truthfully I was angry at her, for giving up on Michael. I know he is being unfair, giving her limited options but in the end I feel they would be much better off with each other. No matter what happens they have created a precious life together and they need to support each other right now. If Michael continues to shut her out he will miss the first two years of his son or daughter’s life. So sad. We have to change that Max. You work on Michael, I’ll work on Maria. I hadn’t given much thought to it before now, but I really want to have a baby myself. Guess I need to find myself a father first, right?
I think you made the right choice, not telling my brother about the letters. I know you are sort of friends or whatever, but he is a very overprotective brother. More of a father figure really and I want you to stay safe.
You said I could ask you anything. What I really want to know is what you look like so that I can picture you when I am reading your words. You already know what I look like, so you have an unfair advantage.
Sincerely,
Liz Parker
Max stuffed the letter under the mattress with the others and laid back, his mind full of images of Liz. She wanted to know what he looked like. She was thinking about him, like he was of her.
The cell door opened and Michael wobbled in escorted by a guard. His face was cut up pretty badly, his arm was in a sling.
Max sat up quickly. “Michael, what happened?”
“I had the shit beat out of me, what does it look like?” Michael grunted as he lay on the bottom bunk on his back trying get comfortable.
“Gary would never…”:
“It wasn’t Gary. It was some new guy.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing, Nothing at all.”
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Tess arrived home to find Kyle had cooked her spaghetti and garlic bread, her two favorites.
“Your quiet tonight.” He commented, once they were finished.
Tess took a deep breathe. It was now or never. “Kyle, I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”
She told him everything starting with her father’s abuse , then Max’s father’s abuse, his innocence, her purgery on the stand, and finished with her visit with Isabelle the previous day.
Afterwards he was quiet, taking it all in. “Wow,” was all he could say. Now he understood why Max Evans was so important to her.
“I’m sorry Kyle. It’s not that I didn’t trust you. It’s just I made a promise and….” She didn’t know what else to say. “And now I need to help him.”
Kyle nodded. “So you wouldn’t even be a lawyer if it wasn’t for him.” Kyle was referring to the 80,000 dollars.
Tess nodded. “And I blame myself for lying on the stand. I shouldn’t have done it.”
“But you loved him.”
She nodded.
“So if you do this it might mean you’ll loose your law license?” he asked.
“Yes Kyle but I need your support. If this happens, I might have to start over. We might not have much.”
“It’s ok. You do whatever you have to do.”
Tess threw herself into his arms. “Thank you Kyle.”
Kyle cleared his throat nervously. “Tess, while we are confessing or whatever ... there is something about me...that you need to know.”