1Landmine

Chapter Four

When Carson pulled up to the River Height Police Station, he had to admit he felt pretty bad. In fact, if a bus was coming down the road at that exact moment, he would gladly step in front of it. Especially if it would take away the pain that he had just caused his daughter.

He grabbed his briefcase and entered the station. Though he was burning up, he immediately felt a chill in the air as he walked into the lobby. He couldn't help but notice the cold stares that he was receiving. They would do the same thing if they were in my position, he assured himself, but it did little to alleviate the anxiousness he felt.

He walked over to B.D.'s office and knocked on the door.

"It's open," he heard and entered the small office.

B.D. glanced up, but when he saw it was Carson, he immediately looked back down at the papers that were crowding his desk.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Drew?" B.D. asked, frigidly.

Carson sighed. I should have known this wasn't going to be easy. But what do you expect, Carson? You're defending the one person that this whole town would care less if he dropped off the face of the earth without a peep.

"I just thought I'd let you know that I was about to talk to Dominic," Carson said.

"Well, that is part of your job, isn't it?" B.D. asked.

Carson let out another sigh. "Is it going to be like this, B.D.?" he asked. "Am I going to get attacked every single time I come in here?"

B.D. threw down his pen and glared at Carson. "Forgive my hostility, but I'm still having a hard time believing that you agreed to represent that scum. Not only has he wreaked havoc in this town, but he put your daughter through an unbearable hell!"

"I know exactly what he did to Nancy," Carson said, coldly.

"And did that at all affect your decision to represent him?" B.D. asked.

"Of course it did!" Carson bellowed. "But you have got to believe that I also have my reasons for why I have to represent him!"

"What are those reasons, Carson?" B.D. asked. "Because, by God, I can't think of anything that is more important than your daughter!"

Carson seemed to lose his steam. If he hadn't been sitting, he was sure he would have collapsed on the floor. "B.D., if I could tell you, I would. I just beg that you trust my judgement and assure yourself that I know what I'm doing."

B.D. stared at him, not speaking. Finally, after a few moments of tense silence, he was able to speak again. "I'm going to tell you right now, Carson–it's not going to be easy. You will not get my support on this. If Nancy walks through that door and she needs me, I will drop everything to help her. She needs people on her side more than you do right now."

"I would never ask for your support for me right now," Carson said. "I've hurt her in more ways than I thought was ever possible in the course of a few minutes. I promise that I will tell you more when the time is right, but right now...I can't."

B.D. was going to say something else, but decided against it. Carson stood up and grabbed his briefcase. "I shouldn't be too long with him."

"Take all the time you need," B.D. said. "It's not as if he's going anywhere."

Carson gave a small smile and left the office. B.D. watched him close the door as a thought was occurring to him. He had a sinking feeling he knew why Carson was representing Shepard, but he wasn't sure.

He only hoped that he wasn't right.

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When Carson got to the conference room, he saw that Dom hadn't been brought in yet. He was glad because he knew it was a confrontation waiting to happen. It gave him a couple of minutes to himself in order to think.

It wasn't too long before Dom was led into the room and seated across from Carson.

"Thank you, Officer," Carson said.

The officer nodded and stepped out of the room.

"Always the cordial one," Dom said.

Carson ignored him and opened his briefcase. He pulled out a legal pad and pen, and returned the briefcase to the floor beside him.

"No comment, I see," Dom said, sitting back in his seat.

"Let's just get this over with," Carson said.

"Of course," Dom said. "But before we begin, tell me–how did Nancy take the news?"

"My daughter is none of your business," Carson said.

Dom ignored him and smiled. "I bet it hurt her. Even more so than I managed to do to her."

Carson gritted his teeth and held in his retort. All he wanted to do was to get this whole thing over with and try to mend his relationship with Nancy. She was the only thing that he had left in this world, and he wasn't going to lose her to him.

"All right, I can take a hint when it's thrown at me," Dom said. "So...my case. How do you plan on winning it for me?"

"I'll tell you something right now, Mr. Shepard," Carson began.

Dom interrupted him. "Please, call me Dom. After all, we're going to get to know each other pretty well."

"As I was saying, Mr. Shepard," Carson continued, laying an unpleasant tone on his name. "Your case is not going to be an easy one to win. There is a lot of evidence against you and the prosecution is going to have a solid case against you."

"I'm not worried about anything," Dom said. "As I recall, you have never lost a case."

Carson shrugged. "There's a first time for everything."

Dom started to laugh. "Are you trying to intimidate me, Mr. Drew? Because I assure you that it will not work."

"I'm just stating what could happen," Carson said.

Dom shrugged his shoulders. "I may not have been clear to you before. You will either win my case, or I will make sure your precious Nancy doesn't live to see her twentieth birthday."

"Your threats can only take you so far," Carson said, steaming.

"They've taken me this far–what's to stop them now?" Dom asked.

Carson ignored him; there was no sense in goading him on. "How do you plan to plead, Mr. Shepard?"

"I'm really torn between two choices: not guilty or insanity. Tell me, Mr. Drew...what do you think I should go with?" Dom asked, leaning forward in his seat.

"It doesn't really matter to me what you go with," Carson snapped. "Good luck in trying to find a doctor that will classify you as insane. You knew perfectly well what you were doing when you murdered those women."

"So you say," Dom said, smiling. "But I also seem to recall I was living out a book. Some doctors would classify that as insanity."

"I would recommend you talk to a psychiatrist," Carson said.

"When is my bail hearing?" Dom asked.

"I'll try to set one up for tomorrow, but don't get your hopes up," Carson said. "Judges really don't like to let killers roam the streets."

"That's fine with me," Dom said. "It will give me time to think."

Carson stood up. "I think that's it for now. I'll let you know about the hearing."

Dom remained seated and watched as Carson packed up his things. "I was wondering if I could get a meeting with Nancy."

"Why would you want that?" Carson asked, staring at Dom.

"Just need to get a few things off my chest. Make sure there's no hard feelings between us," Dom said.

"I don't think that can be arranged," Carson said.

"I think it can," Dom said. "Besides, I may not need you after all. I'm sure she'll come in here all on her own."

"My daughter has no desire to see you again," Carson said, as he knocked on the door to let the guard know he was ready.

"Maybe...maybe not," Dom said with a chilling smile.

He watched as Carson walked out of the room.

She'll be here...after all, she just can't stay away from me...

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Author's Note: Sorry about the delay in the update, but I had a very serious case of writer's block. My brain did not want to work for me, even when I begged it to. My brain can just be so stubborn sometimes! I want to thank everyone who has read this so far, and have been anxiously awaiting an update. I just have a lot going on right now, with school and everything, and it's hard for me write like I want to.

I also want to warn you that there may not be another update for a while. I am currently working on another story, but it will be a while before that is posted, as well. I am making sure I have a lot written on it so I don't leave ya'll hanging again! I am just letting Landmine come to me as it unfolds, so please don't be angry with me!

I would like to thank katie janeway and tesubcalle for being there for me while I worked this out. You guys have listened to my ideas and complaints and have been there offering your support. Thank you so much!

Please review and let me know what you think!