Chapter 6
Derrick and Max are talking at his house.
"Okay, Max. I need to know everything about you're relationship with Gosalyn Mallard." Derrick said.
"Derrick, I'm telling you I can't remember anything." Max said.
"Are you sure? Cause if you're hiding something it's just going to come out later." Derrick pointed.
"I hung out with Gosalyn a few times. But that's it." Max said.
"How well do you know her?" Derrick asked.
"I just told you that we hung out." Max said.
"Then how did she get in you car? Is it possible that after a few beers you found her more attractive?" Derrick asked.
Max shrugged. "I don't know maybe. I can't think.." Max said.
"Well you better think. Cause this is very serious." Derrick said.
Herb and Binki walked into the hospital.
"Have there been any updates on Gosalyn's condition?" Binki asked.
Drake nodded his head. "Yeah, I just talked to her doctor before he went in to check on her, he said that operation was a success and they repaired the skull fracture." Drake said.
"Oh thank god." Herb said.
"She's a young and healthy young girl, the doctor said she should pull out of this." He said.
"That's great to hear Drakearoo." Herb said.
"Yeah, I can't wait to look into her eyes and tell her she's going to be okay." Drake said.
The doctor walked up to Drake.
"You're daughter should be waking up soon, Mr. Mallard. She's just starting to come out from under the anesthesia." Olivia said.
"Can I see her?" Drake said.
"Nurse Davis is still keeping a close eye on her vitals, making all the notes in her chart, so let's give it a few minutes before you go in. I promise you'll be there when she wakes up." Olivia said.
She walked away and Drake sighed.
"Wouldn't be long now." Drake sighed.
"We've been so lucky." Morgana said.
Max and Derrick are still talking.
"What do you mean maybe! Max, you have to tell me everything!" Derrick said.
"I don't know, I still can't remember what happened. You have any idea what's going to happen to me?" Max asked.
Derrick sighed. "It's hard to tell." Derrick said.
"Detective Weber was talking about jail time." Max said.
"It's best not to think about that." Derrick said.
"You know what? I want you to be straight with me. I mean, what are we talking about here. Am I going to jail? And how long am I going to be gone for? Months? Years?" Max asked.
"You're looking at aggravated D.U.I., which is a class four felony." Derrick said.
Max looked confused. "Aggravated?" He asked.
"It means someone was hurt." Derrick said.
"How long will they put me away for that?" Max asked.
"It carries a sentence of 1 to 12 years." Derrick said.
"And if Gosalyn doesn't make it?" Max asked.
"It becomes vehicular homicide, a class three felony." Derrick said.
"So--so what are we talking about here, like, five years more? What?" Max asked.
"A minimum of two years. There's no doubt you'll do jail time, possibly several years." Derrick said.
"So I could be, like, 25 or 30 years old by the time I get out. I haven't even graduated high school. Do I have any options? " Max said.
"You do, Max. This is your first offense. Sometimes you can bargain down to probation, community service, although, the felony will always remain on your record." Derrick said.
"Okay. Be honest. Is there any chance that I'll get probation?" Max asked.
"I am going to do my best. But so much depends on what happens with Gosalyn." Derrick said.
"Okay, well what if she walked out of the hospital today?" Max asked.
"Well, Mr. Mallard isn't going to forgive you period! He's going to come after you with everything he's got." He said.
"Yeah, he's already to hang me." Max said.
"There's not much sympathy for drunk drivers." Derrick said.
"So basically what you're telling me is no matter what happens to Gosalyn, I'm going to jail." Max said.
"Just let me do my job." Derrick said.
Just then there was a knock on the door.
"Stay calm." Derrick said.
Weber walked in.
"Hello, Mr. Beagle is Max here?" Weber asked.
"Yup." Derrick said.
"Maxwell Duck I'm here to put you under arrest for aggravated driving under the influence." He said.
Max just stood there not knowing what to say.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have the lawyer present while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before you answer any questions. Do you understand these rights I've just stated to you?" Weber asked.
"Max, stay calm and answer Detective Weber's question." Derrick said.
"Do you understand?" Weber asked.
"Yes." Max replied.
"Okay, knowing and understanding these rights, do you wish to answer my questions without a lawyer present. Okay, Mr. Duck let's go." Weber said.
He handcuffed Max and the three of them walked out of the house.
Drake is listening to the police scanner when he heard about the arrest.
Gosalyn was asleep and so was everybody else.
"Justice has been done." He said.
He got up from his seat and headed out of the room.
At the station Max is being finger printed and getting his mug shots.
"I don't think I ever seen such a perfect mug shot in all my years of crime fighting." A voice said from the darkness.
Everybody looked and Darkwing came flying in.
"Darkwing, what brings you here?" An officer asked.
"Well I was in the neighborhood and I heard about the car accident. And I wanted to see the face of the guy who took advantage of a little 14 year old." Darkwing said.
The officer pointed over to Max. "Right over there. Kids these days, think they immortal or something." The officer said.
"Hmmm.. Do you think I can talk to him for a minute? You know scare him up little bit." Darkwing asked.
The officer chuckled. "He's already scared to death. But I don't see what a little more wouldn't hurt. Maybe get some since in that pretty boy of his." The officer mussed.
The officer walked away, Darkwing walked over to Max.
"Well, Well, well. What have we here?" Darkwing asked.
Max looked at him. "Who are you?" Max asked.
"Don't you read the papers? I'm Darkwing Duck. And I can't stand stupid teenage punks who take advantage of a 14 year old girl." Darkwing said.
"I don't have to listen to you." Max said.
Max was about to walk away when Darkwing grabbed him and pinned to the wall.
"Oh, I think you will. I know you punks all to well. You think you can get away from it. And this time there's a 14 YEAR OLD girl involved. I take it very serious." Darkwing said.
"I know! I feel terrible about it!" Max exclaimed.
"No, you don't. I'm watching you." Darkwing said.
He turned around and headed out of the station.
Max sighed. "Well come on Max. Time to see you're new pad." The office said.
The officer and Max walked back to the jail.
Max walked into the cell and the officer closed the door behind him.
"Sleep tight." He laughed.
Max sat down in his bed and sighed.
The next morning…
Max's mom is in the police station with steam.
"Let me tell you something. Yeah, you. You had no right to keep my son here overnight. No right at all. He's a minor. He must be scared out of his mind. I posted bail. What's the holdup? I want you to go back there, and I want you to get my son." She said.
The officer looked up from his papers.
"Settle down, ma'am, all right? He'll be out when his paperwork is finished." The cop said.
"Diana." Derrick said.
Diana turned around and narrowed her eyes at him.
"You let me son rot in jail! What kind of lawyer are you?" Diana asked.
"You are fighting with the wrong person. I'm on your side." Derrick said.
"Well, then why am I the only one mouthing' off at these idiots?" Diana asked.
"I'm doing my job. Max, is in terrible trouble." Derrick said.
"Oh good. This is coming from my lawyer. That's great. It's you're job to do something about it." Diana said.
"Could we please try and do this differently this time? Work with me instead of against me, regardless of how you feel. Could we try that just this once?" Derrick asked.
With Drake and the others.
"Oh, I think I had about 10 minutes of sleep. Did I miss anything? Anything new?" Launch Pad asked.
"I don't think so. I want to believe that no news is good news. But as long as Gosalyn's fever doesn't come down, I'm very concerned." Morgana said.
Olivia walked up to them.
"Good morning everybody. How's everybody doing?" She asked.
Drake looked up at her.
"Never mind about us. How's Gosalyn?" He asked.
Diana looked at Derrick.
"Work with you? Are you joking me? My son spent the night here last night, Christine. They didn't even set bail until this morning. Am I supposed to be impressed by you?" She asked.
"Well, it was later. We couldn't get a hearing." Derrick said.
"That's bull! They kept in here to teach him a lesson!" Diana said.
"You have to understand. There is a lot of pressure on the system to deal harshly with drunk drivers, especially when someone gets hurt." He replied.
"He's a minor!" Diana exclaimed.
"I know you want to protect Max, but you have to get it through your head that this is a very serious situation. It won't be easy for me to convince the powers that be that Max's not a monster." Derrick said.
"If you're not up for the challenge, why don't you tell me that right now? I'll get another attorney." Diana said.
"Oh, please, you don't think I'm up for the challenge?" Derrick asked.
"Absolutely not, not the way you're.." Diana trailed on.
"Mrs. Duck, there's still one more thing you need to sign, so please don't leave yet."
The cop said.
Max came walking out of the back room.
"Yeah, that's fine. Come here. Oh, Max, I'm sorry you had to spend the night here. I'm so sorry." Diana said.
"Are you alright?" Derrick asked.
"How's Gosalyn. Please tell me she's alright." Max asked.
Back at the hospital.
"So after monitoring her through the night, we've determined that Gosalyn's fever has stabilized. This is good news." Olivia said.
"But it still needs to go down soon. Isn't that what you said?" Morgana asked.
"Well, I'll be more comfortable when that happens. Infection to the brain can spread very quickly." Olivia said.
"So there's not a lot of time left if Gosalyn's gonna beat this thing." Drake asked.
Olivia sighed. "No, but right now, we're not even certain that this fever is in any way associated with infection. It's stabilized, and that's reason for optimism." She said.
"Well, let's hold that good thought." Morgana said.
"Thank you Olivia." Drake said.
Drake looked up at the ceiling and walked away.
Back with Max.
"There is no news regarding Gosalyn. As far as I know, her situation's still tenuous." Derrick said..
"Oh god." Max cried.
Diana looked at Max.
"Listen was they okay to you?" She asked.
"Last night was like nothing I've ever experienced before. I mean, once that sealed door closes behind you, it's just, like, all your freedom's gone, and then you just don't matter at all any more. Nobody cares about you. Can I borrow your cell phone?" He asked.
His mom was about hand it to him.
"Wait, who are you calling?" She asked.
"The hospital, I want to make sure Gosalyn is okay." Max said.
"NO!" Derrick exclaimed.
"I want to see this for myself." Max said.
"Max, you are not going anywhere." Derrick said.
"Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Mr. Mallard will see that he's sorry." Diana said.
"I just want to see how she's doing." Max said.
"Stop, both of you. First of all, you haven't officially been released from custody. There's still paperwork to do. And, secondly, you could make things so much worse for yourself if you go to that hospital." Derrick said.
"How? Why?" Max asked.
"Max, just let me do my job. I'm going to have a conversation with the D.A." Derrick said.
"He's right Max." His mom said.
Derrick walked away and Diana looked at Max.
"Are you going to do what she said?" She asked.
"Maybe, I don't know right now." Max said.
Max is finishing his paper work.
"I want to be finished with this stupid paperwork. I want to get out of here already." Max said.
"I know. I know. I gave them the cash. I don't know what's holding them up." Diana said.
"You know what really sucks about this whole thing? It's the police. You know, it's like--it's like-- it's like they own you. They get to call all the shots. You know, they tell you to wait, you have to wait here. They tell you to go in there, then you have to go in there and then they lock you up after it. I've just never felt so helpless in my entire life." Max said.
"I know." Diana said.
"You know, Mom, I messed up big time here, and the question isn't-- isn't if I'm gonna go to jail. It's how long am I gonna be there?" He asked.
"Now don't be pessimistic." Diana said.
"I think it sounds more like realistic than anything else, you know?" Max asked.
"Listen, shh. You're not giving up. Don't you dare give up? Derrick is very tight with the D.A., and he's gonna do anything he can to butter him up." Diana said.
With Derrick and the D.A. in his office.
"I hope you're not trying to tell me that this kid is innocent. Are you? Because I have more political pressure on me now than I did." Glenn sad.
"I know you do, Glenn." Derrick said.
"Do you know how closely watched aggravated drunk driving cases are?" Glenn asked.
"Yes, I do." Derrick replied.
"It's an epidemic in this country. Young Mr. Duck will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The fact that his father is famous is not gonna help either. Between that and Mr. Mallard I mean, I have the press all over me, Derrick. This is going to be a high-profile case." Glenn said.
"And I know. The phones have been ringing off the hook at the office." Derrick said.
"And we don't know the outcome with Miss Mallard either. She could be crippled for life. She could die, Derrick." Glenn said.
"When I think about what happened. I hate it Glenn! But, is that justice for the law to ruin another life in the bargain?" Derrick asked.
"We have this kid dead to rights. I'm not backing' away." Glen said.
At the hospital Drake is walking around the halls.
"Drake, don't give up. The news is good." Morgana said.
"You mean because it's not getting worse as we speak?" He asked.
"Well, we settle for that right now." Morgana said.
"I don't want to settle! I want my daughter back to normal!" Drake exclaimed.
"I know you do. And so do I. But we have keep strong." Morgana said.
"When I think about what that punk kid did to my daughter. I just want to rip him to shreds. I heard that his mommy posted bail for him this morning. So he can get out and have a life while my daughter is lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life!" Drake exclaimed.
"I know darling." Drake said.
With the lawyers
"Derrick, drunk driving ruins life's. It ruins families. Do you have any idea, how many people are killed in accidents involving alcohol each year?" He asked.
"Yes, I understand." Derrick said.
"No, you don't. The press is going to have a field day if I give this rich kid with a famous daddy a free pass." Glenn said.
"Look, I'm not asking for a free pass. I just don't want you throw the book at him. Maybe community service." Derrick said.
"That doesn't fly with anyone. People want punishment. They want to know that-- that you're gonna think twice before you climb behind a wheel loaded." Glenn said.
Back with Gosalyn and her dad.
Drake is holding her hand.
"How you feeling sport?" He asked.
"Okay, I guess. I have a headache behind believe." She said as she took a breath.
"I'll go get a nurse to get you some medication. And let you get some sleep okay?" He asked.
Gosalyn nodded her head.
Drake smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
He stood up and walked out of the room.
Once he walked out he started crying.
Morgana walked up to him.
"Come on Drake, let's go get something to eat." Morgana said.
"I can't what if something happens?" He asked.
"They'll page us. Why don't we go to the cafeteria." Morgana said.
The two of them walked out of the waiting room.
Max is in the waiting room, he's wearing sunglasses and a hat.
He waited for Drake and Morgana to leave.
Back with Derrick and Glenn.
"Damn it Derrick, Gosalyn means a lot to Mr. Mallard. I'm not going to be easy on Max. We can't make one kid more important then the other." Glenn said.
"So what do you suggest we do?" Derrick asked.
"You tell you're client to get down on his knees and pray that Gosalyn Mallard gets better." Glenn said.
"And if she doesn't?" Derrick asked.
"He'd better clear his calendar, because either way, he's gonna be doing' some time." Glenn said.
Max walked into Gosalyn's room. She was sleeping form the medication.
"Gosalyn. Gosalyn it's me Max." He said.
Gosalyn blinked and looked up at him.
"Max?" She asked.
"Yeah, I just had to see you." He said.
Gosalyn wasn't sure what to say to him.
"Well, now you have seen me. You better leave before my dad comes back." She said in one breath.
"I swear to god, I don't remember what happened." Max said.
"Yeah, that makes too of us. You look like you get banged up too." Gosalyn said.
"If I could switch places with you, I'd do it in a second." Max said.
"No you wouldn't. You get to do what you want." Gosalyn said.
"No, not really." Max said.
"You're in trouble aren't you?" Gosalyn asked.
Max sniffed. "Don't worry about me." He said.
"You are aren't you?" She asked.
"Does it hurt?" Max asked.
Gosalyn looked at him not believing it.
"Does it hurt? Max, I got a fracture skull! I had to have surgery to fix it. And you're asking me if it hurts! What do you think!" Gosalyn exclaimed.
"I am really sorry. Do you want me to call a nurse?" Max said.
"I don't want anything from you." Gosalyn cried.
"This is all my fault." Max cried.
Gosalyn sighed. "No, it's half my fault. I know better then to get in a car with somebody whose been drinking." Gosalyn said.
Just then the door opens up and Drake and Morgana see Max in there.
"What the hell?" Morgana asked.
"You get out of here! Get Out!" Drake exclaimed.
To Be Continued..