chapter 4.37
August
I felt worse than shit. My anger at Daniel just didn't seem to matter anymore. It wouldn't bring back the people I loved. So, I picked myself up and somehow made it back home without crashing into someone.
I felt worse than shit. My anger at Daniel just didn't seem to matter anymore. It wouldn't bring back the people I loved. So, I picked myself up and somehow made it back home without crashing into someone.
When I arrived, I was met with that detective asshole's snarling face.
I'd never forget the looks on my parent's faces either--my mother wanted to spit nails. My dad...he was so disappointed. I was bewildered.
Before I knew it, I was being arrested.
For the murder of Daniel Fortner.
It was like I was in this neverending nightmare. All I wanted to do was wake up. The detective was relentless--questioning me about stuff I had no clue about. But he didn't believe me.
"You lured him to your boyfriend's apartment and that's when you stabbed him 27 times. Admit it and things will go better for you."
He'd said that to me over and over again until I snapped. "I didn't! I had no idea about any of this. Where's Beau? What'd you do with him? I want to see him, please?" All I could think about was Beau--the idea that he might be alive now was my obsession.
Pointing at me, he said, "Confess and you can see him. I'll bring your little butt buddy right here for you so you can plow each other to your hearts' content. Confess! You murdered Daniel Fortner. Admit it so we both can get out of here. It's not like I don't personally know how much you hated him."
I couldn't take him snarling at me--my emotions were so jacked. I shook my head, crying at...I had no idea what anymore..."I didn't do it. I didn't."
He hovered over me. "Oh...they're going to like you inside. A fresh little piece of meat who likes it in the ass? You're going to be like a sweet treat and I'm going to give you to them with a bow wrapped around your dick."
"Confess and maybe your sentence will be shortened. Otherwise, I wouldn't give a sweet girl like you much of a chance. Rape isn't pretty. And oh, they're going to go after you like junkyard dogs on a bitch in heat."
I decided not to say anything more. He was going to have to give up on me eventually. I didn't care what happened to me either just as long as Beau was safe. I was worried he was in another room getting the same treatment. Jumping all over us until one of us confessed.
Anybody could have done it. Daniel Fortner had more enemies than friends, that's for sure. I just couldn't believe they pinned it on me. What evidence did they have?
After the detective failed to scare me into a confession, they locked me up. I was powerless. The Fortners were bent on blaming me for Daniel's death. And as everyone in Brindleton Bay knew, the Fortners get what they want.
*****
Siobhan
Seth and I were beside ourselves. How could the police possibly think our August could commit such a heinous crime? It was ludicrous. When they took August away, I was so angry at the police. They knew someone was after August. I'd even talked to the detective who'd arrested him myself only a few months ago after he'd been beaten up. There were thugs running around our town. Why would August kill Briar's boyfriend? And after she'd died? It made no sense.
I called the best counsel I knew. Theo Wolff. He'd gone from corporate law to criminal law fifteen years ago. And made headlines for representing Dr. Malcom Tesla who'd been accused of murdering his wife. Tesla denied it although there was a lot of circumstancial evidence against him. Theo did such an amazing job and the jury was hung once and then the next time, they found him innocent. The media trashed Theo as a master manipulator in the courtroom only to find out two years later, new evidence turned up a serial killer was the real culprit. I knew Theo would be the one to save August. And he was all too glad to help us when I'd called him.
When he entered our home, I fell into his arms in tears. I'd been so brave before, but seeing Theo under these circumstances was too much.
Seth shook Theo's hand, saying, "We're so grateful you're here, Theo. Siobhan and I don't know how we'll ever repay you."
"No, I'm very happy to be here, Seth. I've looked over the evidence and it's a very weak case. I really don't think you have to worry. I'm glad to help."
It took a while for us to finally get the first court day. With jury assembled, our journey to our son's hopeful freedom began. My nerves were in literal threads by the time it'd started.
The prosecutor was known for being relentless in pursuing criminals--the city heralded him as a genius. He could make the most innocent of defendants look like Satan himself. But Theo told us not to worry about Prosecutor Wright. Theo held the same crime evidence that he had--by law, the investigators had to give the defense everything, and according to him, it just wasn't enough for a conviction.
Mr. Wright gave his opening statements to the jury. My heart felt as if it was going to jump out of my chest.
"In the next few days, I have no doubt you will learn the absolute truth of how an obsessed high school student used his body as a lethal weapon. Driven by insane jealousy, he pursued his victim, Daniel Fortner, beating him senseless as a warning to leave the girl he loved, Briar Blackwell, Daniel Fortner's girlfriend, alone. August Day somehow managed to woo Miss Blackwell, having copious sex with Mr. Day while they were away on a senior trip. But then she broke it off to go back with Fortner, and August Day couldn't accept that.
"In fact, you'll be seeing countless records of text messages and phone calls made to Miss Blackwell as she doesn't accept these overtures from Day. With no way out from Day's obsession with her, Blackwell does the unthinkable and jumps to her death the night of May 29th. And then August Day creates a plan to kill Daniel Fortner in cold blood, using his skill as an MMA fighter and his mother's butcher knife.
"The prosecution will make its case against Mr. Day that will leave you no doubt. This was a crime of precise plotting and vicious hatred. August Day would not stop until his revenge on Daniel Fortner was complete with stabbing the victim 27 times, well beyond what was necessary to get the job done. It was senseless, gruesome, and without feeling for a human life. I have no doubt you will do the right thing and find August Day guilty of murder in the first degree."
Next update is on Wednesday, February 7th
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