Heroin and Vodka
Author's note-So, I was originally planning on posting this chapter towards the end of March, but then I thought I might as well do it before I hit a writer's block. So without further ado, chapter 2. Lets go.
Chapter 2
Annalise and Frank were walking down a hallway in a hurry. It was dark and very poorly lit.
"What idiot hires a new lawyer and then murders their aunt? she asked rhetorically.
"Rich idiots." Frank replied, with a sigh.
As she glanced up, she noticed a certain someone already awaiting their arrival. It was Bonnie.
"What's she doing here?" she asked skeptically.
"Saw the news first." Frank replied.
"Why aren't you in with them?" Annalise asked without looking at her.
"The siblings only gave their names. The sergeant wouldn't let me in." Bonnie replied.
"Its probably because you didn't try hard enough. Game over detective" Annalise replied, pushing open the door, addressing the detective who was in the middle of questioning Catherine Hapstall. Catherine sighed with relief.
"The arraignment of the siblings is in seventy two hours. We have to establish an alibi in order to get the charges thrown out." Annalise replied, picking up her coat and her purse.
"An alibi for the night their parents were killed or the night their aunt was murdered?" Asher replied cheekily. "Sorry, I'm just trying to keep track of all the murders here."
"Alleged murders, Mr. Millstone. And since when have you backed off a challenge?" she asked before continuing. "Besides we're only dealing with the aunt today."
She turned to Frank.
"Frank try to get a copy of the sealed warrant." Annalise asked. Frank nodded. Bonnie looked up expectantly at Annalise. Annalise caught her look. She sighed.
"Bonnie. With me." she replied before turning to followed her out of the house.
"You're running point on Caleb and Catherine." she replied, before turning around, catching a small smile on Bonnie's face. "Don't you dare smile." she continued "The only reason I haven't let you go is because I can't be in two places at the same time. Screw up again and you'll be the next dead body in this house." she finished with a warning, before leaving.
As Bonnie watched her retreating figure, her mind flashed back to the previous night.
Flashback
"You killed her." Annalise replied in shock.
"I did it to protect you." Bonnie replied softly.
"Oh. Don't you dare go putting this on me. She was innocent." Annalise replied.
"We don't know that." Bonnie replied.
"We do. And now that you've done this, you're a monster!" Annalise replied, in disgust and contempt.
Bonnie sighed before turning around and re-entering the house.
"So, how are we doing today?" Isaac asked, as Annalise entered his office.
"Fine." she replied, "It feels good to be back."
"Really?" Isaac replied with a small chuckle, "You don't have to say that for my benefit."
"I'm not. I'm…. just tired, that's all." Annalise replied, with a shrug.
Isaac nodded. "Are you not sleeping?" he asked.
"No. It's just this case that I took up recently. I've been quite busy in the last few weeks." she replied.
"Tell me about it." he replied, taking up a notepad in his hands.
Her mind flashed back to an hour earlier.
Flashback
"This reminds me of the time we were in the library and Mr. Ricardo walked by—" Eve replied, but was cut off abruptly.
"Is Nate going to do it?" Annalise asked.
Both were sitting in the front row of Eve's car which was parked in the US Attorney Office parking lot.
"Do what?" Eve asked with a sigh.
"Lie on the stand." Annalise replied, "Say that he fought with Sam the night he was murdered."
Eve rolled her eyes.
"Ok, I might have agreed on this insane situation but I did not agree to break my client's confidentiality."
"What confidentiality?"Annalise argued, "The only way he wins is if he follows my plan."
"You mean my plan." Eve replied, eyeing her critically. "I'm an attorney Annalise, and I'm very good at what I do. So stop trying to micromanage me."
Annalise broke off. She looked down.
"I'm sorry." she mumbled.
They were both quite for a few moments before Eve broke the silence.
"Do you love him?" she asked, turning around to face her.
"He's innocent." Annalise replied after a short pause.
"That's not what I asked." Eve replied.
Annalise was silent for a few moments before she replied.
"I care for him. And none of this can affect him while you are—" Annalise replied before Eve cut her off.
"What did I just say about you micromanaging me." she replied with a shake of her head. "You're freaked out, aren't you? About the other night?" she asked softly. "Don't worry. It doesn't have to mean anything. We just…. had fun. At least I did." she replied with a chuckle.
"So did I." Annalise replied, with a smile.
Both of them burst into laughter at that.
"This is crazy Annalise." she replied with a shake of her head. "I mean I want to say I feel bad or at least a little bit guilty but.." she broke off. After a short pause she replied, "No wonder everybody's having affairs."
"Annalise?" Isaac asked, after a short pause.
Annalise shook her head as she was brought out of her thoughts. Isaac gazed at her, perturbed.
"It's a bit….complicated." Annalise replied after a short pause.
Isaac chuckled in amusement.
"I have the time. Besides, I deal with complicated for a living." he replied. "So, why don't you go ahead and give it a shot."
Annalise looked him up and down, as if gauging him.
"Alright." she replied with a shrug. After all, what did she have to lose?
20 Minutes Later…
"They're both spoiled, rich children who have never seen the harsher side of the world. I counted 5 public defenders that represented her, most of whom wanted them to plead out."
Isaac nodded before rising from his seat and turning to his table.
"Am I boring you?" Annalise asked sarcastically.
"No. I just forgot to have you fill this out during our last session." he replied, taking up a clip board with a paper attached to it. He walked over to Annalise and sat down on the couch next to her. "It's a list of traumatic life events that are often risk factors in substance abuse disorders. You just check all the boxes that apply. If you've ever been a natural disaster, if you've ever experienced an acci—"
"And then?" Annalise asked, cutting him off.
Isaac turned to her. He put the clipboard down and stared up at her.
"So…" he replied, glancing down at his watch "…you've wasted 21 minutes now telling me about your case. I want to know more about you."
"Its my job. It is about me."Annalise replied.
"I think you're telling me about them to avoid talking about you." Isaac replied, analytically.
"Well, this is only our second session and clinical guidelines specify that the therapist is supposed to listen during the first few sessions and let the patient guide the narrative." she replied pointedly.
"Is that what your last therapist did?" Isaac asked, rhetorically.
"Why are you giving me such a hard time here?"Annalise asked, frustrated.
"I'm not. You are. By not opening up." Isaac replied, critically.
"Like I said, this is only our second session and—" she replied, but was cut off.
"So?" Isaac replied. "You've been hiding. For two sessions now. Maybe your last therapist put up with that….but you're stuck with me. So do the work to get better. Or get out" he shook his head towards the door.
Annalise shook her head in frustration. This man would be the end of her.
Author's note: The update schedule will be a bit sporadic over the next 2 months as I have exaams coming up in May and I have to study. But don't worry. I plan on seeing this story through.
Please read and review.