AFTERMATH

Chapter 3

Calleigh's expression was dark. "What sort of deal?"

"Reduce it to an assault -"

"No!"

"Wait, hear me out. She'll plead guilty. She'll have to allocute in court, say exactly what she did. The judge could question her… though whether he'll choose to…"

"How long will she get?" Horatio asked.

"If we're lucky? Maybe ten years… Maybe less… Could be as low as six… parole in four… Is that enough for you?"

Horatio frowned. "Why would she? I mean, if she gets away with an insanity plea…"

"It's a big 'if'. I said fifty-fifty, but if she loses, she's looking at twenty-five, minimum. Even if she wins, it might mean going into a mental institution for a while." He shrugged. "It's all a gamble."

"Horatio…" Calleigh murmured, and he felt her squeeze his hand. "She hurt you so badly… Don't let her get away with it."

"She's not really getting away with anything. Ten years… Even if it's less… I know you worked hard to get an attempted homicide, but I'm not sure…" He looked at the lawyer. "Can I think about it?"

"I need an answer by noon tomorrow." He stood up. "Call me."

After Duffy had left, Horatio turned to Calleigh. "Would it upset you if I went for the deal?"

"No… No, of course not. I'm just not sure why you want to… I mean, you know how good Duffy is - whatever he says, there's a good chance he'll win for you."

"I just… Stupid, I know, but the thought of sitting in court, with all the details of this being dragged out…"

"Do you mean medical things?"

"Partly - it was pretty gross… But pictures? Hero stuff? How can I sit and listen to that?"

"You're being too modest. You are a bit of a rock star, you know."

"Calleigh! Rock star? Anyway, definitely not in this case. I was stupid, careless… And I wasn't modest at all, I was vain… I was flattered, I think. So far away from heroic, you wouldn't believe it. I can't listen to that sort of BS in court…"

"Well, if it's going to be painful for you…"

"It's going to be embarrassing. Duffy thinks it'll put a jury on my side, but it might just make them think I've been as foolish as I'll undoubtedly feel. It hardly makes the department look good, does it?"

"I think you're being over-sensitive - you did nothing wrong…"

"You're disappointed."

"Of course not. As long as she doesn't walk away from it."

"She won't do that. Let me think about it for a while. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay?"

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Horatio called his friend. "Fancy a beer after work, Frank?"

"Beer? Yeah, why not? You drinking now?"

"Well, it'll be a club soda for me, but you know what I mean. Few things I want to ask you…"

They sat in a booth, where they were unlikely to be disturbed, or overheard.

Frank took a long draft of beer. "Ah, that's good… So how are you? Still on the milkshakes?"

"I've graduated to chicken and rice… Tea and toast… I'm getting there. Slowly."

"I'm glad. So what did you want to talk about?"

"Would you like not to testify in Michelle Freeman's trial?"

"Hell, I don't mind testifying! Why?"

Horatio recounted the discussion he had had with Gerald Duffy.

"Well, don't do it for me. I'm only too happy to tell the court what I think of her. But Duffy's good… If he thinks it's better to take a deal…"

"He doesn't. He wants to go for the 'hero' bit… You know how theatrical he can be. I just don't think I'm up for it."

"Well… your decision. A guilty plea, even to assault, is worth having."

"Calleigh wants me to try for the big one."

"All respect to Calleigh, but it's not her who'll have to hear her life played out in court. I've got a lot of time for Duffy - God knows, he's put some of the worst away for us - but shy and discreet he ain't. My opinion? I don't think you need it. You need the whole thing behind you - quick guilty verdict sounds good."

Horatio smiled. "That's what I thought. It's probably a bit cowardly…"

Frank shook his head in exasperation. "What is it with you? You've got this need to make yourself uncomfortable? Let it go, pal. Get the bitch behind bars and move on."

"God, Frank, you make it sound so easy…"

The detective sighed. "No, I don't think it's easy. Not for you."

"Know what? I could really do with getting drunk."

"Do you think that's wise?"

Horatio gave a mirthless chuckle. "It would put me back in hospital. So no, I'm not going to. I'm fed up, Frank! I can't eat, I can't drink, I'm too damned tired to do the job…"

"You seen your doctor this week?"

"Routine check-up… He said it was my own fault I was so tired. He told me to convalesce 'properly'."

"Give yourself a break, Horatio. It hasn't been very long." Frank was silent for a while, then said quietly. "Can I do anything?"

Horatio appeared to make a conscious effort to lighten his mood. "Maybe. Did you have anything to do with that school trip drowning?"

"What? Oh, no… I was on another case. Doesn't it look like an accident?"

"Don't know. Superficially it does."

"You don't think so?"

"I need to go out to the scene… Don't repeat this, but my lot seem to have done a pretty half-assed job on it…"

"There was a lot going on. You chose a bad week to be off."

"Yeah, I know. But I want to look at it again."

"And…?"

"I wondered if you'd come. If you've got time…"

"You want my detective skills? Or a driver?"

Horatio smiled ruefully. "Both?"