XIX.
4 months later.
Grace lay on her bed, slept and hugged one of the pillows while her breaths were deep. A kind of flutter arose inside her belly, she opened her eyes and sat on the bed to bring her hands to that place.
"You move a lot," she said sleepily. "What's wrong?"
She stroked her bulging belly and that curious wiggle intensified. The baby was already entering week twenty of his process and the doctor told her that she would begin to feel his movements. The redhead yawned and got up from the bed to go to the bathroom, while sensation that feeling inside her. In the bathroom, Grace heard her phone ring, she snorted bitterly and let it go on. When she got out of there, she leaned over the door frame and looked down the hall that led to the living room; the phone did not stop until the answering machine came in:
"Good morning, Miss Davis. I'm lawyer Cane." She growled at the name. That person was the one who represented Arthur at his trial. Grace walked away from the place and drove to her room, letting the message go on, "my call is to request you an urgent appointment at my office and it's about Mr. Fleck." The redhead stopped under the lintel. "You missed my calls, miss, but I really need to talk to you. Mr. Fleck's last trial is next week and ... I really need to talk to you. You have my number, please contact me as soon as you can. I'll see you soon."
A bitter sigh was the only thing she could do and willing to return to bed, heard a knock at her door.
"Can't be possible..."
She put her hands behind her back and headed for the entrance. The redhead looked in the peephole and noticed a young man, perhaps her age with a mahogany coat, good suit and a severe attitude. Grace shuddered, opened the door as far as the lock allowed it and in the darkness of the place, that man distinguished the woman.
"Good morning, Miss Grace Davis?"
"How I can help you?"
"I'm Detective Gordon ..." he said. She shivered and slammed the door, stunned the man. "Miss Davis?"
"Please, go away!" She exclaimed. "Months ago I made my statements!"
"I know, miss ... ah ... listen. I don't come directly from the police department, I come on my own and ..."
"I already did my statements!" She insisted. "Miss ..." He sighed sourly, brought his fist to the door and let go: "Arthur Fleck left something for you."
Grace was surprised at that revelation. Anguish covered her face, bit her lower lip and struggled to open her door. Detective Gordon stood firm, not moving a muscle until the click of the door rang again. He moved away a few centimeters and saw the redhead, giving him access to her home. Gordon thanked and entered, waiting for her to close the door and offer him a seat.
Jim Gordon was waiting patiently in the chair, put aside his files and analyzed the place without much care. Grace prepared some coffee for the man, in which she served herself a fruit juice, at the time she looked sideways at the detective, discovering her bad analysis. Listening to the kettle, Grace poured the water and ready the cup to return to the living room.
Seeing how she was heading with two cups, Gordon got up from his place and assisted the redhead, discovering her pregnancy. Noticing how he looked at her, Grace tried to hide her belly between her long sweaters. It was already late, he knew it.
"Please, have a seat," she offered. The detective returned to his place as she addressed the individual sofa. "Thank you very much." He sipped his coffee and placed it on the table. "Mrs.?" He questioned. Grace looked at him and nodded. "All right..."
"What did he leave me?" She demanded. "Well ..."
"It was a lie, right?"
"No, it wasn´t. He leaved anything for you but first I want to explain my visit." The detective put his hands together and exhaled as best he could, in what he thought with which words to begin. "I am one of those who have the case of Arthur Fleck, and one of my tasks is to try to understand the suspect better."
"Are you a kind of psychiatrist too?"
"No, not really. I have to look for a way to understand what motivated the person to do what he did, try to know his actions. And Arthur Fleck is hard for me to understand." The redhead made no expression, took some of her juice and continued listening to the detective. "When Fleck was investigated for the murders at the subway station, my co-works Garrity and Burke were much exhorted to him. Burke, who trained me, came to give me advice to understand the actions of a criminal, knowing that he could not understand Arthur Fleck."
"And you think I can help you with it?" She asked wryly and he watched her with some hope. Grace let out a small chuckle and set her glass on the table. "Detective, I couldn't understand him either, I tried but I didn't achieve anything."
Gordon clenched his lips, looked at his folder and took him in search of what he needed. Grace frowned and saw how he took out a notebook from that folder. It was Arthur's notebook. Her nerves betrayed her and the detective took his eyes to her.
"Do you recognize it?" She nodded. "It has a dedication to you."
The detective extended his arm and placed the notebook near her. Grace looked at it really scared, that notebook was more wrinkled than she remembered, it looked very careless and worn out, the detectives probably passed their hands and read their contention to the exhaustion.
"Did you ever read this notebook?"
"No ... he always wrote on it, he used to told me that he wrote down his jokes ... He never allowed me to look at it."
"In part it is right. There are jokes, several, not very good. However, I would like you to read the notebook. He really left it for you."
He insisted on giving it to her and Grace, with endless emotions stuck in her chest, raised her hand and took it. When he felt the rough cover, her nerves intensified. That notebook was a primordial part of him, and as her fingers tightened harder and harder, she could feel him. Grace swallowed hard and opened the cover to bump into his writings. Grace looked several photographs, some erotic but she let it pass; she read certain words that goose bumps her skin. Arthur's deepest and disturbing desires were revealed in this notebook, and with every bitter and painful word, Grace avoided shedding her tears. She continued reading, and in the last pages she found what the detective had told her. Arthur had really left that notebook for her.
"Grace, you once told me that when I felt confident enough I would tell you the reason for my laughter. There are many things that I did not have the courage to tell you, all of them you will have seen in this notebook, and it is only a bit of my true feeling. I wanted to keep you by my side and if I told you, you would walk away and ignore me. Like everyone around. I always had confidence and now, I leave you this notebook as proof of who I really am. I'm not that Arthur you think you know. Please do not walk away. You are the little good thing that has happened to me in life. Stay by my side. I love you."
The redhead's green eyes were covered in a crystalline blanket, she closed the notebook and placed it on the table, bringing her hands over both eyes to prevent that blanket from spreading. Detective Gordon analyzed the woman, sought a serene and firm stance, but seeing her breaking something prevented him.
"Why do you show me this now?" She asked furiously. "Beforehand, I apologize. You were one, or the only person attached to him. If I showed you this, you could help me understand Arthur Fleck better."
Grace rubbed her palms on her cheeks, which turned red and brought one of her hands over her belly as she felt the baby's movement.
"I thought I understood him," she spoke. "I really thought I did. He never told me anything, I tried but his lips remained sealed until he did what he did on that TV show. Every night I wonder why, but never came up with a concrete answer. The most feasible, he was not fine."
"If you had learned of his condition, would you still be by his side?"
"I would have supported him to continue with his treatment but ... that was not what he wanted. That night, it was the best night for him, he released what he always kept locked up. His true being ..." Grace Bit one of her fingers and tears continued to flow. "Excuse me detective, I can't help you," she said as she handed him the notebook. He looked at her and sighed sadly. "Keep it."
"It is an evidence."
"I won't need it anymore." Grace snorted and set the notebook on the table. "Next week is the last trial. He will be sentenced to death penalty." At those words Grace's gaze snapped open. "You did not know it?"
"No ... I haven't been paying attention to the trial."
"Didn't Mr. Fleck's lawyer look for you?" She did not answer. "If he have done so, take the call. I must not say this, but he will want you to be the only witness who speaking well of him." Gordon got up and adjusted his sack. "I see you still feel something for him. Why?" He asked, hoping to find an answer.
"Because I did something that nobody ever did for him. I accompanied him in good times and bad times, I always tried to support him, care about him and he was the only one who really give me love, in his own way… and I loved him. I love him as you has no idea and, now, I will have a son from him."
An awkward silence fell on both. Grace watched the man with a sad smile, Gordon nodded and buttoned his coat, thinking he understood Fleck's wandering mind a little. And he prepared to retire.
"Thank you very much for your help, ma'am. Do not bother to accompany me, I will go to the exit. Good day."
The detective withdrew from the apartment and upon hearing the door close, Grace let the tears finish coming out and her crying covered her home.
Grace looked at the lawyer Cane's office, the place was full of boxes and files and a certain suffocation reached her. She took the collar of her blouse and fanned at a great speed.
"Do you want me to open the window?" Asked the lawyer, who was next to her. "Please," she said with a nervous smile. "Sure!" He went to a window and opened it, entering the cold air of the season. The redhead thanked with a slight gesture and the man sat down in front of her. "I know this is none of my business but ... how long you been pregnant?"
"Soon it will be five months."
"Congratulations," he said with a fake smile. "Lawyer, I don't want you to use my pregnancy as an argument to soften the jury. Very few people know it and I want to keep it as discreet as possible."
"I will respect your decision."
"Thank you..."
"Well, Mrs. Davis, thank you very much for agreeing to come to my office. I suppose you know that Arthur Fleck will be to sentence him to the death penalty." She nodded calmly. "Okay ... we have looked for witnesses who speak well of Mr. Fleck, and as you might imagine, there was no one to speak for him. Only one of his work colleagues could speak well of him but he moved away from this and I had to respect his decision. You were his couple for a long time."
"Yes..."
"I only need a testimony, yours, to be able to leave Arthur Fleck free from the death penalty and be locked in Arkham until the end of his days."
"Locked up, huh?"
"It will be the best for him. We know that Mr. Fleck's mental condition is not the best, and when you speaks well of him to the jury, he will have the safe pass to the psychiatric. Where he always should have been.
"I will do it..."
"Thanks Mrs."
"One question, will he be at the trial?"
"Not likely. Last time he almost killed a guard."
"It's okay. Tell me where we should start."
The day of the trial, Grace arrived earlier than agreed with the lawyer and when she looking at the place her surprise was enormous to see the number of people protesting the release of Arthur. The same people who let themselves be influenced by the chaos were there, with their clown masks and claiming the freedom of their representative:
"Free the clown!" Free our leader!"
The redhead felt a hand rest on her shoulder and surprised looked at lawyer Cane.
"Here, ma'am, if we enter that place, we will not get survive."
She nodded and followed the path indicated by the lawyer. When the chills entered to her, next to the baby movements, the redhead was looking for control. For the good of both.
"Do you remembered everything that will answer to my questions and those of the opposite?"
"Yes, I do."
"Perfect. Relax Mrs., I need you firm."
"I am trying."
The two walked and arrived at the courtroom where the trial would take place and, before entering, one of the guards stopped the lawyer and both looked at him.
"They brought your client," he said and Grace froze. "Why?" He asked surprised. "He was suspended, the judge no longer requested him."
"As today is the last trial, they asked him to listen to his sentence."
"Shit," the man whispered, who quickly looked at the woman. "Is there a problem if Arthur Fleck is there?" She denied nervously. "Perfect."
The lawyer opened the doors, began to take steps through the courtroom and Grace watched Arthur. After four months she saw him again. He was giving the back and smoked quietly. His clothes was all white and his hair had regained his tone. Grace sat down behind him and fear covered her. The lawyer crossed the door to take place on his side and politely greeted Fleck, who, as always, did not respond. Cane talked and talked and Arthur ignored him. The redhead never took her eyes off him and at the weight of her gaze, he slowly turned his head and looked at her.
The two looked at each other, those four months had been decades for both. Instinctively, Grace covered herself with her huge coat and Arthur looked down at her belly. She tightened her coat and looked back at those green eyes. There were no expressions from both of them and Arthur looked back to the front, continue smoking. Grace swallowed hard and began to pray for this to end. The trial was slow to begin and the judge, of arrogant bearing and hard character, arrived to begin the last trial he would attend to that man. The lawyer Cane went to the front along with his rival to give the news of a new witness.
"Please come in here, witness Grace Davis," she heard. She got up and breathed as deeply as she could. She reached the podium and proclaimed the oath to the truth. She sat down and waited for the lawyer to start his questions.
Cane's interrogation focused on showing the human side of Arthur Fleck. Grace was a "survivor" in his life, the perfect specimen to save his client's neck. The questions were answered calmly and avoiding eye contact in him, who did not stop smoking and laugh with a certain sneer. At the end of lawyer Cane, the next lawyer continued, who would insist on sending Fleck to death penalty.
"Miss Davis," he called. She thanked herself that he didn't notice the pregnancy." Why should we consider leaving Arthur Fleck in the comfort of the Arkham psychiatric?"
"Objection, he's harassing my client."
"Overruled. Answer Miss." She swallowed again, clenched her lips and looked thoughtful. "Miss?"
"I..."
"You?"
"Your honor, he is pressing my client."
"Arthur," she said, "is a person who suffered the worst of society could give. Arthur was ignored, humiliated and attacked of the condition he presented."
"A delusions of madness are not a condition, miss."
"Regardless of that, lawyer, Arthur didn't deserve to be treated as he was. In that TV show he was invited to be mocked, without even caring what he might feel. I do not justify their actions but I do with their catalysts. Perhaps, if this society were willing to spend some time learning to listen and understand someone who seems to be different from one, things would not go out of control as we are living now. Our society, the rich, the poor are a cause of it. We don't deserve be ignored for anything."
The majority of the jury frowned at the redhead's words, the lawyer raised one of his eyebrows and withdrew. There was no more to ask.
The verdict was slow to arrive.
"How do you consider the accused?"
"We consider Arthur Fleck guilty of the homicide acts committed and the violence generated in the city." Grace brought her hands to her face. "But we have decided that Mr. Fleck remains locked in Arkham's psychiatric hospital for the rest of his life."
Relief came in the redhead and the lawyer, while Arthur smoked and a slight smile was drawn on his face.
Upon leaving the courthouse, Grace watched as the guards led a cuffed Arthur. Curious she followed them and when they set foot outside the place, the protesting people watched their hero leave. Everyone shouted with fervor, anger and admiration, they wanted their leader but it was still difficult for them. Arthur looked at the entire crowd, the clown masks and the posters with the symbol he had created, formed a big smile on his face. He stopped his walk and raised his hands to bless his followers and the cries of victory were louder.
Arthur's laugh came up, he boasted about what he had achieved and the attention that the people finally gave him. And as this moment passed, Grace watched in horror as that man, who was maintaining his love for him, began a new era in the Gotham City. Arthur turned and with that smile he looked at her beloved; this was just the beginning. The cops took Arthur to the patrol car, who accelerated when they saw all the people coming over the car.
Grace brought her hands to her belly, feeling her baby move at what had just happened. She promised herself that she would take care of her future son and not let anything bad happen to him, her son would be the happiest little boy in the world.
And Arthur was looking through the glass at all those people running after the patrol, letting his laughter be heard through all the streets of the city, which would soon know his new future under the orders of the Joker.
A/N:
Thank you so much for reading. I will be deeply grateful with any comments, constructive criticism, opinions and / or suggestions :3