“Counselor?Is your client stable enough to stand trial?” asked the judge.
“We’ll be having a psychiatric evaluation, sir.I’m not certain yet.”
The Marshalls turned him toward the door, leading him down the long hallway and then down the massive staircase.So far, no one was out of place but a slew of reporters were standing outside.
“This could get crazy,” said Ben.
“It’s about to,” nodded Hiro.
“Senator!Senator!” came the cries from the reporters.
“My client will not answer questions at this time,” said the attorney.
“Senator?Were you aware that your illegitimate daughter, Marilyn Sanders, formerly an employee of the government, released hundreds of documents today that were sent between the two of you?”
Cain looked up for the first time, staring at the reporter.
“Were you aware, senator?” asked another reporter.
“The allegations in this document are serious, sir, including murdering her mother.”Came the cry of another.
Then the unthinkable.The unimaginable.Marilyn stepped from the crowd, Ben and Kiel ready to pounce.But she just stared at him, then turned to face the reporters.
“I am Marilyn Sanders, illegitimate daughter of Cain Hampton.One of many.He has manipulated, bribed, bullied, and threatened me for years.And, he and his wife killed my mother.”
That was all she said.She was done.Cain fell to the steps, his face pale, his body cold.Dead from a massive coronary as Marilyn walked away.
“Not so fast,” said Ben gripping her arm.She turned and looked at him, nodding.
“It’s fine.I’m ready now.”
It would be weeks of testimony, investigation and hearings for Marilyn.In the end, she was charged with the murder of the young soldier, conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, and about forty more charges.She didn’t kill herself and didn’t deny anything she’d done.
After her sentencing, AJ asked to speak with her at the jail.
“Why did you want to see me?You already proved that you were better than me,” she said with a smirk.“Much better.”
“I know that,” he said calmly.“That young sergeant wanted to meet with me about something important to me.Something very important and now I’ll never know what he had to tell me.”Her face fell and she shook her head.
“It was an accident.I didn’t mean to shoot him.I thought he was sent by Cain to kill me.It doesn’t make it any better but it wasn’t intentional.”
AJ thought about his options then stared at the woman.
“Did he have anything on him?Anything he was trying to give to someone?” he asked.
“No.But ask the other soldier.He rushed into the alley as I was leaving.”
“Other soldier?There was no else on the cameras,” said AJ.
“He came from the other end of the alley.I thought he was going to chase me but he just stopped at the body and I ran.Maybe he took something from him.”The guard opened the door and gripped her arm, taking her back to her cell.
“I really am sorry,” she said staring at him.
“I know.And thank you for giving me that piece of information.It will be very insightful I’m sure.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“You guys did a helluva job with this,” said Luke.“It was teamwork at it’s finest.We’ve even got Uncle Sam asking us for more assistance to beef up their security and controls.”
