"Suppose..."
Chapter 2 – All Change
Just one second, that's all it took. One lousy second and everything would have been different – maybe. What if I had skipped that coffee? Well we wouldn't be here now, that's for sure. I was ready to get on out there and face the world – but what I ended up facing...well let's just say that If I had known, an extra cup of coffee wouldn't have covered it. Just one second! Damn, just a flash in the corner of my eye...
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May 1982, Chicago
9:00am
Martin Vail turned abruptly as the flicker of the television screen caught his attention. Warmed by an expert breakfast at "Butterflies", he was all set for his latest interview - and they had promised him a killer front page. However, his sense of adventure could not be repressed, and he slid back onto a stool as the words "Breaking News" flashed upon the tiny screen at the corner of the bar. The newsreader sounded hurried, and her eyes flickered anxiously around as she began the report.
"Now we go live to The Hollows in the centre of Chicago, where a young boy has just been arrested in what is being described as "the most horrific murder the city has ever seen." The boy was caught at the scene, and after a brief chase apprehended several blocks away in an alley. The authorities are refusing to release any specific details at this time, but they have told us that both the victim and suspect are in their teens. Here is our reporter outside the main building known as The Hollows."
A man's concerned, pinched face appeared on the screen. Behind him loomed what seemed to be an old warehouse. From the grimy windows above several terrified people peered down at the commotion in the street, and then darted out of sight as if to prevent themselves from becoming suspects. At the foot of the building, police had set up the usual barricades to keep back the hordes of reporters who surged against them, and the flashes from cameras were a continuous visual assault for anyone in the vicinity. The man was jostled violently as he began to speak, but he planted his feet firmly and squared his shoulders against the tide.
"Thank you. Well as you can see there has been immediate attention drawn to this case, not least because of the reported savagery of the attack but also the swiftness with which the suspect has been apprehended. He is being held as we speak in the local station..."
Vail had heard enough. Grabbing his tattered briefcase once more, he darted out of the door and headed straight for his office, the highly polished saloon doors clattering shut behind him. Some of the other customers muttered to themselves:
"Obviously he has family there - "
"What, one of the best attorneys in the State? No, he has a new case..."
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Continuing his general disregard for furniture, Vail threw open the door of his office with unnecessary force. Naomi looked up from her papers with an exasperated sigh.
"Marty, what's the rush?"
Not bothering to reply, he crossed the room to the filing cabinet and began rifling through papers.
"Get on the phone to the Judge, Naomi: and the Chief of the Chicago PD. I want to visit that suspect as soon as possible."
Naomi knew better than to ask: "What suspect?" She knew that there was only one case that could have possibly interested him. Working quickly, she picked up the telephone and began. Vail used his second line to call Tom Goodman, his investigator.
"Hello? Tommy? I need you today."
"Sorry Marty, but today isn't a good day."
"What d'you mean?"
"I'm in the hospital Marty. Keeled over last night. The Doc says it's my heart or something, but I'm not allowed out; won't be for a while. They want to operate."
"Jesus, Tommy!"
"I know, but this is what I get for going on too long, eh? Hopefully they'll sort it soon, and then I can be back on the job. I hope you can get along without me."
"I'll do my best, but you were the number one Tommy."
"Thanks, Marty. You'll come and visit, right?"
"Course I will. See you."
Vail hung up. His mind whirled in a confusion. Tom Goodman ill, and possible the biggest case of his career looming on the horizon. There was only one thing for it.
"Naomi, I want to be the first and only lawyer that suspect sees. I'll go to the station in an hour. First though, I've got some investigating to do."
"What about Tom?"
"He won't be investigating anything for a while – laid up in hospital, so now the best we have is me. Don't worry, I may not be big or mean, but I have the power of the law with me at all times."
Giving her a teasing wink, he rushed out of the office, leaving his flustered secretary to clean up the shower of papers he had blown onto the floor.
"Just be careful, Marty." She sighed to herself.
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9:25am
It had been easier than he expected to dodge the reporters, and now Martin Vail was doubly sure that it pays to be dressed somewhat less than smartly in his line of work. Not only does it throw people off guard, it also allows him to blend in with his surroundings, and even sneak around with relative ease. To help even further, he had left his briefcase in the car, and just had a notepad tucked into his pocket.
Approaching The Hollows from the back, Vail thought it looked even more forbidding than it had on the news, though the mob of reporters were thankfully absent. Grease squirmed its way around the pipes, and mould dotted the bricks, giving them an eerie sheen. The windows were all barred, and despite of this, there were few of them intact on the lower floors.
Inside the building wasn't much better. The door squealed as if tortured, and the bare boards squeaked with moisture under his feet. Most of the rooms were occupied, and the doors were a motley collection of the original metal, and bolted wood. Larger rooms had been broken up with flimsy partitions, and people had tried to make them as secure as possible: a necessity in a place like this.
On the second floor, all the doors were heavily locked, and his knocking yielded no reply. This floor seemed even more crowded with rooms, and though he knew people were present they merely refused to answer or shouted abuse.Vail was just about to give up when he came to the last room on the corridor, at the corner of the building. The door was slightly ajar and as Vail watched he could see someone shuffling about inside. He decided to keep the polite approach, and knocked on the door.
Immediately there was a sharp bang, and Vail flinched. Then the sound of swift footsteps and the door was braced from behind, and left open a mere crack."What do you want?" The voice was strangely young, and held more than a hint of apprehension.
"I just want to ask you a few questions."
"Who are you?" The voice was now more fearful, and Vail got the feeling that he had to act fast.
"Look, my name is Martin Vail. I'm an attorney. I just want to ask you if you know anything about the murder – If you heard anything or saw anything. I'm not a police officer, and I will make sure you remain anonymous."
The door quivered slightly, and then opened; revealing a boy no older than eighteen. He had large blue eyes that looked very frightened, and his pale blond hair fell loosely over his forehead, making him appear almost angelic. His mouth was twisted into a nervous expression, and his thin hands gripped the door just a bit too tightly. He inched the door open a little more, and then released it, giving it another glance as if he expected it to move by itself.
"Just stay there, sir. I have to tidy up."
He crossed over to the narrow cot, and started packing several things away. The door wasn't open enough for Vail to see, so he took a step forward, arms outstretched.
"There's really no need – "
"I'm afraid there is sir. People here will steal anything if you leave your door open for just a little while."
"Perhaps I can help."
Vail started forward again.
"Stay right there, Sir. I don't like people other than myself being in here, and if you are an attorney you know the law."
Vail smiled. "And what is that?"
The boy's eyes never left his own.
"Since I have a legal written contract of lease with the rightful owner of this property, which has been met and fulfilled; any unauthorised entry on behalf of yourself could result in you being charged with trespassing."
"And if I contested?"
"I would take you to court for also gathering evidence in a murder enquiry when you have no legal permission to do so and without producing identification. If that is your grey car outside my window, you would also be fined for parking illegally, causing an obstruction at a crime scene and interfering with possible witnesses."
The boy grinned, and turned his back on Vail, leaving him to pick his jaw up off the floor and back swiftly out of the room.
"You...how do you know all this?"
The boy held up one of the things he was shoving under the cot.
"This, a book of Law. I'm doing the course in my spare time – Gonna try to get a job someday."
"You have a job now?"
"Cleaning at the Library"
"Cleaning? Christ! You can do better than that, kid. How would you like a job in my office. I just lost a good man on my team, and if you work hard and finish the course while you're with me, there may be a possibility for promotion in the future. What do you say? You would start at $500 a week, and I'd get some decent accommodation sorted for you."
The boys eyes grew larger, and he jumped off the bed, his face lit up with excitement.
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"I could do with some young blood in my office, and if you prove to me that you are capable I don't see why you can't become a permanent part of the team. So, you in?"
"Of course! When can I start?"
"Well I was supposed to be interviewing you about the murder, but let's get you settled somewhere first. Go and see your landlord this afternoon and get your contract terminated. I know a perfect apartment for you."
"Sir," The boy said with a smile "I don't have a landlord. Lucky for you, huh?"
Vail laughed. "Yes it is! Well come on then and pack."
The boy pulled out a case from under his bed.
"Already am."
"Well then, let's go. What's your name, kid?"
The boy looked at him with his angel eyes.
"Stampler. Aaron Stampler."
"Well then Aaron, how about we go to see your new place, and then I can finally interview you?"
"Okay Sir – "
"My name is Martin Vail, Aaron."
"– Mr Vail, I'd just like to say: I have no idea why he'd do such a thing..."
"You knew him? The suspect?"
"Yes Mr Vail, he's my best friend. His name is Alex, but they are calling him "The Hollows Butcher Boy."
"Jesus. I have to see him later, but you don't have to come Aaron. I hope for his sake he's innocent."
They had reached Vail's illegally parked car. Vail put the small suitcase in the back, and then they both climbed in. The imposing nature of the building forced them both to look up in awe.
"Mr Vail?"
"Yes, Aaron?"
"When you see Alex...be careful."
"I'm assuming he's innocent - I have to defend him."
"I hope he is innocent too, Mr Vail."
