Finally it's here! :) Sorry for the delay...i had finals :( BUT I'm completely done now so hopefully i'll have more time to write! :)

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Chapter Sixteen: Evidence

There was a strange beeping noise like some kind of alarm. I didn't want to wake up though. I didn't want to leave the peace I had behind. Eventually, I had to return to reality. The strange beeping noise continued and made it hard to slip into unconciousness. I opened my eyes to a dark room. it didn't take me long to process that I was in a hospital room. An IV was attached to my arm and I realized the beeping noise was from the heart monitor. My heartbeat was steady and seemed healthy. That was a good sign. Then, I heard another noise like someone snoring and something caught my eye. Someone was sitting in a chair against the wall to my left. The person was sleeping with their hat covering their face. The person seemed familiar and it only took me a moment before I knew it was Monty Kensicle. I was so relieved to know that he had survived the fire at Hotel Denouement, but seeing him also filled me with despair. I still didn't know what had happened to Beatrice, his niece, let alone the Baudelaires.

At that moment, Monty Kensicle's snore pattern faltered and he jerked awake, taking off his hat and looking from side to side as if someone were watching him. Then, he noticed I was awake and gazing at him curiously.

"I'm sorry did I wake you?" he asked.

I shook my head, but stopped when it hurt.

"What happened?" I asked. "Where am I?"

"Don't you remember?" Monty asked. "There was a shipwreck. You were brought to this hospital in the city."

"The doctors took you into surgery," Monty continued, "You're in poor condition. You swallowed a lot of sea water and your body is quite dehydrated."

No wonder why everything hurt. My throat felt like sand paper, and my leg still hurt. It was bandaged up where I had been cut by those sharp rocks.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember what happened, but it was as if a wall had been put up to block them out. I knew there was a shipwreck from Monty explaining it to me, and I knew that I was afraid. That strong feeling lingered in my mind as I tried to push past the wall. What had I been so worried about?

My eyes widened as I remembered Albus Dumbledore and Hagrid appearing and taking care of me. It seemed like some kind of dream—almost too good to be true that these two wizards had saved me yesterday. But my main concern right now, was for the Baudelaires.

"I'm sorry," I said, sadly. "I failed you. I have no idea where Beatrice is, let alone the Baudelaires. They could be in grave danger and I can't do anything about it."

Monty shook his head and scooted his chair closer to my bedside. "Don't apologize," he said. "You're not at fault. The Baudelaires and Beatrice are fine."

"Are they here?" I asked. "I want to see them."

"You can't go anywhere right now," Monty said, "Not in your condition."

"Where are they?" I asked again.

"Beatrice is here at the hospital," Monty said. "She's being treated. Fortunately she's in good condition. As for the Baudelaires, I'm afraid they're not here right now." Monty looked very sad for some reason.

I could hear the heart monitor speed up slightly as I feared the worst was happening to them.

"Please," I begged him. "Please tell me…Where's Klaus?" my voice had risen an octave as tears glistened in my tired eyes. I wasn't ready to let go of him just yet and it felt like the more time I spent in this hospital, the farther apart we were.

"They were here," Monty said, "but they were taken out of here as soon as they were treated."

"Where?" I asked again, "Why?"

"They're still wanted for many crimes, Jamie," Monty said, "unfortunately, they'll be spending the next few days under the supervision of authorities. At least until the trial."

My eyes widened and my heart sank. "Trial?" I said, in despair, as I recalled how the blindfolded trial had been filled with corruption by the judges. Olaf's associates had been among the three judges and of course, they helped Olaf kidnap Justice Strauss.

"I'm so sorry, Jamie," Monty said, putting a hand on my forehead. "I wish there was something I could do."

"But what about Olaf?" I cried, "The Baudelaires didn't do anything wrong. Count Olaf framed them. He did it!"

"I know," Monty said, "but the authorities don't. They're not naming anyone guilty until a full trial has been conducted. In the meantime, the accused aren't allowed to be walking around freely in case they try to escape. Count Olaf has been put on what they call house arrest. Not the best idea, but I hope it will give us the time we need to plan a strategy."

"Let me go too!" I cried, "I want to be with them! I don't care if I'm behind bars! I just want to be with the Baudelaires!" I started to sob.

"I'm sorry, Jamie," Monty said, "but that's up to the authorities and not me. We'll just have to wait for the trial and present our evidence to prove that horrible man guilty for the crimes your friends did not commit."

"What about the things we did do?" I asked, tears pouring down my face, "We did bad things too. What will happen if they realize that? They'll put them in jail for sure."

Monty pursed his lips. "They may not go to jail," he said, "there are other ways of punishment that won't involve such things as children going to prison. Of course, it depends on the degree of the punishment."

"But they can't be tried," I cried, "no one will believe them and then they'll be in jail for the rest of their lives."

"We'll find a way to help them," he said.

I averted my eyes, feeling helpless and vulnerable without the Baudelaires. Without Klaus. I couldn't fathom the idea that they would be locked up in a jail cell. The thought reminded me of the Village of Fowl Devotees when Olaf framed them for killing Jacques Snicket…Jacques Snicket… My fault. My fault. I knew it was true. I had been helpless. Just like I was helpless to save the Baudelaires.

"This is my fault," I whispered, "it's all my fault. I should be going to jail, not them."

"Truthfully, I think none of you should be put in jail," Monty said. "But it's not your fault, Jamie."

"It is," I insisted, my eyes filled with tears. "I led them to the basement with Olaf and they were there to set the fire. Because of me. I'm a terrible person, Monty."

"No, you're not, Jamie," he said, "I know terrible people. Count Olaf is a terrible person. You and the Baudelaires went through horrible things. When the jury realizes the situation you were in, they'll understand."

"How can you know that?" I said. "After everything that has happened to us? We have been failed so many times by the authorities. They're supposed to protect us and they fail every time."

Monty nodded. "I don't know that for sure," Monty said, "But I do know that if we play our cards right, we could achieve justice for them. Right now, we can't do anything."

"Well, if they're going to jail, then so am I," I declared.

I tried to sit up, but it made my head spin and I had to lie back down.

"You're not supposed to be getting out of bed," Monty said, "and I don't think you going to jail will help your friends. They need you now more than ever, and you know what I'm talking about. You're their only hope that people will believe them."

I frowned. "But I don't have any evidence to prove them innocent," I said, "I don't have anything."

Monty gave me a small smile and pulled out what looked like the small suitcase Olaf had given me to keep my belongings in. I knew if I searched its contents that I would find a familiar snowsuit, as well as several other outfits belonging to Esmé, and I would find the owl figurine. I gasped.

"You left this behind and I thought it was too important to dismiss," Monty said. "And that's not all I have."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a round black object. My eyes widened.

"That's the tape," I gasped, "the one the Quagmires and I took from…" I shuddered as I remembered stealing it from Count Olaf's tower room and the events that followed. "Have you seen what is on it?"

Monty nodded and grimaced. "You can view the tape if you want," he said, "but I warn you that it's very unpleasant."

"I don't think I want to see it," I said, "at least not right now. Maybe its better not to poison myself with certain secrets."

Monty nodded again and we were both silent for a moment.

"And that's not all I've got," he said, after a moment, "but it's not safe to discuss it here. It's thanks to you that I've got this tape and of course, there's your notebook, Klaus' common place book, and my books." He also pulled out a small book titled The Bad Beginning and a second one called The Reptile Room. "I have written a number of books so far and it seems I need to write one more."

"That's incredible," I said, as I examined the contents of the two samples of his books. I realized The Bad Beginning contained the Baudelaire's first unfortunate event when they were living with Count Olaf. "Thank you," I added.

"The world needs to hear your story," Monty said, "no matter how dreadful it is, I want to give you the justice you deserve. Every one of those books contains nothing shy of the truth. Of course, I did take out the parts with your magic. I understand how big of a secret it is."

"So is that it?" I asked. "What if it's not enough?"

"Well, there's something else too…" Monty added.

"What is it?" I asked.

"When the doctors were in here treating your poor condition," he said, "they found a chip in your wrist. Apparently, it's some kind of tracker. They're still trying to figure out what it does, but it might turn out to be good news for us."

"It was in my wrist?" I asked, looking down at my right wrist, which was wrapped in gauze to conceal the cut.

"Yes," Monty replied, looking disgusted, "my guess is that Olaf or one of his associates put it in when you didn't notice."

"That's probably why he was able to find me every time I escaped," I muttered, "and the Baudelaires too. Oh, if only I knew, I would've stayed away from them…it might have saved them a lot of trouble. To think, this entire time, I've been a magnet for it."

Monty nodded. "It's awful, I know," he said, "but it also had a camera on it and there might be footage on there that could be used to our advantage."

"So that everyone can see the truth," I said, "in case the jury or the judges are imposters like last time, we'll at least have evidence that not even they can say no to. Of course it depends on when they stuck it in me..." I paused as I tried to think back to when it could have happened without my knowledge. "It must have been after I saw you last. Before I was sent to the jail at the Village of Fowl Devotees. Olaf didn't know about you until much later. At least just your Monty Kensicle persona. If he did know about it before, he probably would have done something horrible to me," I said, "and perhaps to you…" I shuddered. "Maybe…it has…your brother's…" I trailed off, but I didn't need to finish for Monty to understand what I was saying.

"Well, at least his last words to you," Lemony said.

"More than that," I said, my voice faltering. I looked up at him. "I saw it…"

Monty raised his eyebrows.

"I-I never told anyone…" I mumbled, feeling more tears coming, "it was just so awful…and I know it's my fault…I saw the whole thing…it was awful…and I didn't save him…I'm sorry…I tried, but Olaf had me locked in that jail cell…" I began to sob again, the tears falling into my hands. "It was my fault he died…just like it's my fault that Dewey died…and now I'm going to be the reason for the Baudelaires' misery…I'm sorry…"

"None of that was your fault," Monty said gently, "You mean to say, Olaf forced you to watch that terrible deed?"

I nodded. "I'm sorry…" I said again. "I was in the cell beside him…I should've been clever enough to help him escape. It was one of the hardest things to record in my notebook…but I think…in a way…writing it down saved me…It gave me solace…so does singing…he asked me to sing to him before Olaf came. I was too afraid to finish…but when I saw him lying there…I knew I had to finish. Not for me…not for anyone…except for…Jacques Snicket…" My voice broke as I spoke his name aloud and stared down at my hands. "Olaf made me swear not to tell anyone. It was not his threats that stopped me from confessing…it was my guilt."

Monty patted the top of my head. "You're not the one who should be sorry," he said, "I should have warned him not to go wandering into that village."

"Don't you see?" I said. "I'm a terrible person. I could never forgive myself for what I've done. How can I? I joined Olaf and then I aimed that gun at poor Dewey Denouement. I was going to kill him! Me! Maybe I didn't pull the trigger, but that doesn't mean I'm not responsible for his death."

"Did you?" Monty asked.

I shook my head, tears falling into my lap.

Monty touched my shoulder and I looked up at him. "You're not a terrible person, Jamie. You may have had moments when you almost did the wrong thing but you always have the will to stop. Most people don't." Monty frowned. "I've had my share of villainy."

"When?" I asked.

"I learned that Olaf suggested that his parents were murdered by poison darts," Monty said. "I may have been a part of that crime."

"You were?" I said in shock. Though it might explain why Olaf hates Monty so much.

"So you see," Monty said, "even I have had my fair share of villainy. I'm not proud of it at all. Revenge did nothing for us, but bring us more misery. We took the easy way out when justice wasn't around. That's why I need your help building this case. Your friends need justice and only you can give them that."

"How can I?" I asked. "I'm just a kid. No one listens to children."

"Look at yourself," Monty said, "You've changed so much this year. You've faced tremendous hardships that no child should ever have to face. You're not a child anymore, Jane."

"But I am," I said, "I'm not cut out for this-for any of this! I only just turned eleven!"

"And yet you've survived," Monty said, "I know what happened to you was intolerable but you survived. Now it's your chance to get the justice you deserve. Don't let this opportunity go to waste."

"I-I just can't lose them," I whispered, and reached for his hand. "If I lose them again after all this time I spent trying to find them again…it would kill me."

"I know," Monty said, "but this is their only hope."


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