Chapter 3 3

"Even so... Jack Randall still won't be acquitted, right?" Whatever this lawyer has committed, even a crime, thereby dooming an innocent, or rather, insane, to the death penalty, does not justify his murder?

- Of course not. Only self-defence, a threat to life, can justify murder. And then ... not always. They can justify him only if it is proved that he did not kill. But this is impossible.

- Why? I heard that there are no witnesses who saw that it was he who shot. There were two others next to him. This is his assistant Zach Riley and bodyguard. The gun that was fired belonged to the bodyguard. After the shots, it was the bodyguard who had the gun, and not Randall. And seized the weapon from the bodyguard.

- I heard it. So what? Randall just threw his gun at him, that's all. Took it out and then returned it. Quickly, so that no one had time to notice.

- But they say that Randall's fingerprints were not found on the weapon! Only the prints of his bodyguard! Randall pleads not guilty. As soon as it turned out that there were no witnesses, he declared his innocence. Refuses to shoot.

- Who then?

- His bodyguard. Randal claims that he started arguing with the lawyer when he left the courtroom, that in response to the words of the lawyer that his wife would get what she deserved, he shouted out that he would get it himself, and his bodyguard misunderstood what he meant, and fired.

- But this is absurd! snorted Scavello. - Who will believe it?

Thores shrugged.

- Maybe it's absurd, but his prints are not on the murder weapon, he had no gloves, and no one saw that it was he who shot. Except for the ones he shot. But one of them is dead and the other is in a coma.

"I missed that," Scavello gasped in surprise. - It is necessary, well, business! So Randall wants to push everything onto his bodyguard? Well, you bastard! Although, this will surprise no one. This is Randall. He always doesn't care. Just to get it.

"But why don't you admit that it really wasn't him who fired?" If he fired, there would be prints on the weapon, his prints, but they are not there!

- Think! Wiped quickly in a flurry. The weapons were seized last, after Randal had already been arrested. Or the bodyguard himself, or that Zach Riley... They say he's as bad as Randal! Two pair of boots, not for nothing his right hand! And what about the bodyguard?

- Not known. He disappeared. They can't find it, they've lost their feet. Like it fell through the ground.

- Escaped! Or they banged so that they would not open their mouths. Here's the deal! How did I miss it! Now it is clear what Randall is up to! No, well, this is unheard of, simply shocking impudence! Kill a person in plain sight and try to shove it onto another! - in the voice of Scavello condemnation mixed with delight. - Oh yes Randall, oh yes such a bastard! I knew that he would throw out something in this spirit, in his own spirit - striking with arrogance and unscrupulousness ... It's so easy to accuse another of your crime - it's not for nothing that he is famous for having no conscience.

"Maybe it's just not him," Thores didn't give up. - That's all.

What does Zach Riley say?

He confirmed Randall's words. Under oath, he testified that he saw with his own eyes how the bodyguard pulled out a pistol and fired two shots.

- Lie, you bastard! Lying under oath! Well, well ... let's assume. Why did the bodyguard shoot Randall's father?

"Neither Randal nor Zach Riley know that. You have to ask the bodyguard.

- And he disappeared - that's bad luck! Scavello laughed. - Randall will get out, too slippery, he will slip out, they won't hold him. Although I had no doubts. He always pulled other people's asses out of all sorts of shit, can't he really pull his own?

- Only his bodyguard's prints are on the murder weapon, there are no witnesses - it turns out that it can slip out. Although not a fact. There are no fools sitting in court, - Thores sighed sadly, clearly sympathizing with Randal.

- Fools are not fools, but proof is needed! No matter how crazy his story sounds, that it is not him, there is no evidence that it is him!

"Even if he didn't touch the weapon, he could be accused of ordering his bodyguard to shoot," Tores suggested.

- Blame? Can. But how can they prove it? No, - Scavello laughed again. - The only witness speaks for Randall. If a bodyguard shows up - which I doubt - or another witness appears, or George Randall wakes up and tells himself who shot him - and it's Randall, I'm sure - then he's dead. But if none of this happens - Randall can really get away with it! It turns out that his lawyers are already ruining the whole case against him, all the charges. Incredible! Really cool?

Thores shrugged.

- Not cool if he's not guilty.

- So the fact of the matter is that he is guilty - that's why it's cool!

- If guilty - also not cool. Then it's... it's... I don't even know what to call it.

- Oh, don't be a bore! I'm sure he slammed that lawyer for the case. His wife is really crazy, it is clear without any psychiatric examination. She needs to be treated, not executed. Well, or there to exorcise the devil from her, if she is obsessed, and not crazy. Possessed or crazy - all the same, insane, does not know what she is doing. So she was not judged fairly. They could not recognize her as sane, which means that this lawyer really did meanness, he replaced the real examination with a fake one. That's why Randal's roof was blown off. For Randall to be so stupid, crazy, out of his mind that right in the courthouse he killed a man - Randall, and not someone else - there had to be a reason out of the ordinary. For this to happen to Randall! For him to commit such a stupidity, such an imprudent act! It doesn't look like him, - Scavello shook her head, pursing his lips. - For me, so let him get out of all this shit. It doesn't matter how... I feel sorry for him. Such a man ... It was necessary to break loose like that! And all because of her. And she still pouts at him. Foolish women. Fools.

Thores didn't say anything to that, and quietly changed the subject.

Later, when Scavello began her evening round, since it was her turn today, Tores took a piece of paper from her pocket and dialed the number written on it on the phone.

- Hello. This is Thores. Has Mr. Randall arrived yet? We agreed on this time. Yes, thank you." She trailed off and cleared her throat, waiting. - Mr Randall! Good evening. Yes, it's all right. She's better. Started to eat. And the pills helped, she almost does not vomit. There are no problems with Scavello. She notices that I am bringing her food, but is silent. Thinks I'm feeding her to get her secrets. For her silence, I share with her information ... admissible. No, they do not offend, I did not notice. You know, they call her Snowflake here... because of her hair. So unusual, so young and so white... She is quiet and obedient... - Thores nervously cleared her throat and added embarrassedly. - Mostly.

She waited for Jack Randall to ask what it meant, but he didn't say anything to that, as if he hadn't heard anything unusual or new, and he knew why 'mostly'.

- Letter? Thores chuckled in embarrassment. - Eh, no. I gave it away two weeks ago, I assure you. And I ask every day. Today she said she wasn't going to answer. And she got mad when I asked why. She didn't answer. I said that they say that you love her, and she smiled so much ... I ask, "Isn't it?", And she snapped back so evilly, "No!". That's it, Mr. Randall... that's all for now. She is not very responsive, especially when I start asking her about something. She doesn't like it, she's nervous for some reason. I should be more careful. Need time. Good. I understood everything. Don't worry, I'll take care of her. She'll be fine now, I promise." She paused, listening. No, I didn't notice her crying. She's calm... for the most part. Stay young. Of course, I had no experience with suicide bombers before ... Sorry, Mr Randall. She doesn't moan, she doesn't complain, she doesn't fall into despair, she doesn't throw tantrums... You know, she even sings... Yes, I'm not joking, she really sings. Never heard? Weird...we're all pretty sure she loves to sing here. After all, she's good at it. And she mutters to herself all the time, "Here, sing, my girl, sing!" Maybe that makes it easier for her to endure. Everyone relieves stress in their own way... And such stress needs to be relieved somehow, or it won't take long to go crazy... The priest doesn't really help her with this. He's trying. But he is sure that she is possessed by some evil, afraid of her ... She refuses to talk to him. She says that he will not help her in any way, will not save her soul, because she is cursed and after her death neither salvation nor paradise awaits her ... She gives the impression of a resigned person. And her calmness... is the calmness of a person who has accepted his fate. She does not believe in her salvation, and does not hide it. As well as the fact that she has come to terms with it. No, it didn't break, it's different... I don't know how to explain it to you. It just needs to be seen, observed, to be understood. There was no strength left in her body at all, but in her eyes ... They burn so much, you should have seen it. Burning with such power... Supernatural. There is something else... strange. I don't know how to explain it in words... I described everything in a letter and already sent it to you. I'll be waiting for your instructions on this. Just don't think I'm joking... Something very strange is going on here. Highly. Yes, with your wife, with her. They hide it. And I think that the problem with her health is precisely in this, and not in toxicosis. In general, everything is described in detail in the letter. Thank you Mr Randall, you are very generous. Until communication. that made peace with it. No, it didn't break, it's different... I don't know how to explain it to you. It just needs to be seen, observed, to be understood. There was no strength left in her body at all, but in her eyes ... They burn so much, you should have seen it. Burning with such power... Supernatural. There is something else... strange. I don't know how to explain it in words... I described everything in a letter and already sent it to you. I'll be waiting for your instructions on this. Just don't think I'm joking... Something very strange is going on here. Highly. Yes, with your wife, with her. They hide it. And I think that the problem with her health is precisely in this, and not in toxicosis. In general, everything is described in detail in the letter. Thank you Mr Randall, you are very generous. Until communication. that made peace with it. No, it didn't break, it's different... I don't know how to explain it to you. It just needs to be seen, observed, to be understood. There was no strength left in her body at all, but in her eyes ... They burn so much, you should have seen it. Burning with such power... Supernatural. There is something else... strange. I don't know how to explain it in words... I described everything in a letter and already sent it to you. I'll be waiting for your instructions on this. Just don't think I'm joking... Something very strange is going on here. Highly. Yes, with your wife, with her. They hide it. And I think that the problem with her health is precisely in this, and not in toxicosis. In general, everything is described in detail in the letter. Thank you Mr Randall, you are very generous. Until communication. There was no strength left in her body at all, but in her eyes ... They burn so much, you should have seen it. Burning with such power... Supernatural. There is something else... strange. I don't know how to explain it in words... I described everything in a letter and already sent it to you. I'll be waiting for your instructions on this. Just don't think I'm joking... Something very strange is going on here. Highly. Yes, with your wife, with her. They hide it. And I think that the problem with her health is precisely in this, and not in toxicosis. In general, everything is described in detail in the letter. Thank you Mr Randall, you are very generous. Until communication. There was no strength left in her body at all, but in her eyes ... They burn so much, you should have seen it. Burning with such power... Supernatural. There is something else... strange. I don't know how to explain it in words... I described everything in a letter and already sent it to you. I'll be waiting for your instructions on this. Just don't think I'm joking... Something very strange is going on here. Highly. Yes, with your wife, with her. They hide it. And I think that the problem with her health is precisely in this, and not in toxicosis. In general, everything is described in detail in the letter. Thank you Mr Randall, you are very generous. Until communication. I'll be waiting for your instructions on this. Just don't think I'm joking... Something very strange is going on here. Highly. Yes, with your wife, with her. They hide it. And I think that the problem with her health is precisely in this, and not in toxicosis. In general, everything is described in detail in the letter. Thank you Mr Randall, you are very generous. Until communication. I'll be waiting for your instructions on this. Just don't think I'm joking... Something very strange is going on here. Highly. Yes, with your wife, with her. They hide it. And I think that the problem with her health is precisely in this, and not in toxicosis. In general, everything is described in detail in the letter. Thank you Mr Randall, you are very generous. Until communication.