Landmine

Chapter 11

Author's Note: Another update, yay! My updates should be a little more frequent since I am out of school right now, but you know that I don't make guarantees. I do have to take a Spanish course this summer, so that will be the only thing that will take my time besides ordinary life problems.

A lot of you have wanted Frank and Joe back in the story and that will happen eventually. Just remember that this isn't a mystery. The mystery has already been solved in Never Again. In the upcoming chapters, I will be focusing on the trial of Dominic Shepard.

As always, let me know what you think…good or bad!

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"Nancy, we've got a break," B.D. said.

Nancy clutched the phone tightly, making her knuckles turn white. "What?" she asked shocked.

"We have someone who may be able to send Shepard away…for good," B.D. said.

Nancy dropped down onto the sofa in the den, her excitement growing. "Who is it?" she asked.

"Dean Sayers. He happened to be in a cell next to Shepard and let's just say that Shepard couldn't help bragging to his new friend," B.D. explained.

"And this guy just happened to have a conscience and decided to tell you all of this?" Nancy asked.

She could hear the slight hesitation in B.D.'s voice. "Not exactly," he said.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

B.D. sighed. "He was the one who attacked you last night," he said.

"What? Did he tell you why?" Nancy asked.

"He said Shepard told him to do it. Made Sayers believe he would be hailed as a hero if he did it," B.D. said.

"And you believed him?" Nancy asked, skeptically.

B.D. let out another sigh. "This guy will never make it as a career criminal. He feels guilty as hell for what he did to you. Shepard was able to sense his weakness and he acted upon it. He told this kid everything he's been waiting to hear for a long time."
"Dom seems to be very good at that," Nancy said, disgusted.

"Yes, he does," B.D. said in agreement. "He wants to testify against Dom at the trial. I'm going to work out a deal for him for attacking you."

"Don't," Nancy said, surprising him.

"It's the only way to get his testimony, Nancy," B.D. argued.

"I know," she said. "But I don't want to press charges against him."

"Nancy, he could have killed you last night. He deserves to be punished for that," B.D. protested.

"It wasn't that bad, B.D. Besides, it seems to me as if he's punishing himself enough already," Nancy said. "And it's inevitably my decision to make, isn't it?"

"Are you sure?" B.D. asked, not liking her decision.

Nancy smiled into the phone. "B.D., if I could throw him a parade right now, I would do it."

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Carson Drew looked up at the sound of a soft knock on his office door. The door opened and he was greeted by the sight of Doctor Madison Sullivan.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

Carson shut the folder he had been reading and nodded his head. "Sure," he said, waving her in.

"I thought you would like to know how my sessions with Dominic Shepard are going," she said, taking the seat across from his desk.

"Yes," Carson said. "How has it been going?"

Madison pulled off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. I have to admit, it's been a little tough with him."

"Is he not cooperating with you?" Carson asked, concerned for the doctor.

"No, he's cooperating," Madison said. "I just can't get much of a read on him."

"He seems to have that effect on everyone," Carson conceded.

"He's been very open with me about his past," Madison said. "It's just when I ask him about the murders, he sends me some mixed signals."

Carson furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"He accepts no responsibility for what he has done. He blames the murders on several things—his childhood, the book, women who have scorned him the past. He's not afraid to admit that he committed the murders; he just wants it come off as something he had to do," Madison explained.

"So, can you clinically classify him as insane?" Carson asked.

Madison shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, Carson. I will admit that he is a very troubled man. But Dominic Shepard knew exactly what he was doing when he committed those murders. He can blame them on anything that he wants, but no jury would ever grant him an insanity plea."
Carson nodded his head and sighed. "Thank you, Madison," he said, extending his hand.

Madison stood up and shook his outstretched hand. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of further help to you."

"You've been wonderful," Carson said. He walked her to the door and closed it softly behind her. He then leaned against it, taking in everything that she said.

"Dominic Shepard knew exactly what he was doing when he committed those murders."

He couldn't show it to Madison, but those words filled him with joy. It only confirmed the fact that Shepard would be going to prison no matter how well he tried the case. That insanity plea was Shepard's one shot at freedom, but now that had been taken away from him. That thought alone brought a smile to his face.

Another knock at the door startled him out of his reverie. He opened it up to see Assistant District Attorney Gwen Lawson standing in front of him.

Gwen smiled at him. "May I come in?" she asked.

"Yes, of course," Carson said, stepping back to let her in. he waited until she was seated before he went around his desk and did the same.

"I take it this isn't a social call," Carson said, grinning.

Gwen flashed him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, this is strictly business."
"Well, maybe next time," he said.

She tried unsuccessfully to hide the blush that crept in her cheeks. "I'm here to discuss a possible plea bargain."

"What will you offer?" Carson asked.

"He pleads guilty to all charges, he serves forty years in prison with the chance of parole in twenty," she said.

"I just spoke with Doctor Sullivan and the insanity won't work for him," Carson said, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "I'll talk to him about your offer, but I'm pretty sure he won't take it."

Gwen leaned forward in her seat. "Carson, I just got off the phone with Lieutenant Hawkins. He's found a guy who's willing to testify against Shepard at the trial."

"Who is this guy?" Carson asked.

She reached into her satchel and pulled out a small notebook. She flipped through a few pages until she came to the one she wanted. "Dean Sayers. He was in the holding cell next to Shepard and apparently Shepard was feeling a little chatty."

Carson let out a tired sigh. "I'll talk to him."

Gwen gave him a small smile. "It really would be best for him to take the plea bargain. It would save everyone a lot of unnecessary heartache."

Carson nodded. "I'll let you know what he decides."
"Please do," she said, standing up. She walked to the door but turned around to look at

him before she could open the door. "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Carson said.

"Why are you doing this, Carson? You have an unblemished defense record, so why throw that away on a man like Dominic Shepard?" she asked.

Carson seemed to think about that for a moment and then he shrugged. "Because I have to make sure he doesn't hurt my daughter or anyone else anymore."

Gwen smiled weakly. "Just be careful, Carson."

He watched her leave the office and then leaned back in his chair.

This day just keeps getting better and better, he thought with satisfaction.

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"Well, if it isn't my savior coming to check up on me and see how I'm doing," Dom said as he was escorted into the conference room. Carson was sitting at the table, his hands interlocked in front of him.

Carson waited until the officer left them alone before he spoke. "I'm afraid I have some bad news, Mr. Shepard," he said, trying to keep the joy out of his voice.

Dom smiled. "You seem to be in high spirits," he said.

"I guess you could say that," Carson said, nodding.

"Don't keep me in suspense, Carson," Dom said, smiling. "I can see that you are bursting with anticipation to tell me what this bit of bad news is."
Carson didn't waste any time. "I just spoke with Doctor Sullivan and it's her opinion that you are not clinically insane."

Dom pouted. "And after I tried so hard to make her think that I was."

Carson looked at Dom, his face expressionless.

"I knew I wasn't ever going to get that defense," Dom said, chuckling. "Come on, Carson. You and that daughter of yours need to lighten up a little."

Carson ignored him. "If you care to listen, the ADA has offered you a plea bargain."

"I'm listening," Dom said.

"They are willing to give you forty years in prison with the possibility of parole in twenty if you agree to plea guilty to all charges," Carson said.

Dom seemed to think about that.
"It's the best thing for you, Mr. Shepard," Carson said. "And you would save people a lot of grief if you agreed to this."

Dom chuckled again. "Maybe you haven't noticed this, but I don't care about protecting anyone's feelings. If so, I never would have done any of this. Besides, how else would I get to see Nancy? It's not like she's going to come and visit me again."

Carson flew up from his seat and punched Dom in the face. Dom fell from his chair and brought his hands up to his nose. He looked down and saw blood on his hands.

"Very good, Carson. I knew I could get you to do that soon enough," Dom said, laughing.

Carson looked down at Dom, breathing hard when the officer opened the door.

"Is everything okay in here?" he asked.

Carson looked at the officer and shrugged. "Mr. Shepard fell out of his chair."

"Is that true, Shepard?' the officer asked.

Dom looked at Carson with somewhat pride. "That's exactly what happened, Officer. Guess I was just a little clumsy."

The officer grabbed Dom and helped him up off the floor. Carson packed up his belongings as the officer and Shepard left the room. He knew he had overreacted when he punched Dom, but the guy was finally getting to him. He was tired of the constant threats and he was tired of him trying to intimidate him through Nancy.

If the choice had been up to Carson, he would have made sure that Dominic Shepard never lived to see his trial. And he was pretty sure he would have had the town's support on that.

It really is too bad that wishes can't come true…

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