Wide Knowledge Of The Late, M A D N E S S [Lucas]

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

The police groaned, stretching himself as he tilted his chair back. Yawning as he hand reached over to grab another swig of his coffee, It was late, and he didn't feel like watching this kid for another two hours. He stared at her through the two way mirror. This, serial killer was seemingly oblivious to her current situation. As she randomly doodled with some pen and paper that the officer had given her.

"Sheesh, she acts like a kid." The officer looked up as he partner came into the room, a plump sorta fellow but he was good at heart. He took a seat next to the first one, offering him a donut from the box of them which he had brought. The first officer took up the offer taking a pastry from the box. The other cop to a bite crumbs falling out of his mouth as he spoke. "So has there been any change Jack?" The other guard shook his head, holding off from eating his donut just yet. "Nope other than I've watched her forget where she is about three times now." The second officer lifted an eyebrow as Jack pulled her file from a near by table, looking over the file as well as the picture of her. The Phay in the picture held a cold expression, her eyes haunted Jack, they seemed completely soulless and lack of empathy...he had seemed them before they were the typical eyes of a killer.

Yet the girl in front of them, who sat; one wrist handcuffed to the table, innocently doodling away held no appeal to the picture and description. She was suppose to be a cold blooded killer and yet earlier she had defended spider from being step on. Claiming that they had no right to play god on innocent creatures. "There's just got to be no way this is the girl Paul." Paul simply shrugged gobbling down another donut. Jack slumped in his chair not taking his eyes of the girl. "If she's faking...she's got me fooled."

Paul laughed. "Psychos like her are bred for that Jack, the trick is not to believe them." He took a look at his watch. "Jesus when's that lawyer gonna be here?" Jack sighed. "You know I don't think he was to pleased about coming down here so late in the first place." Paul grumbled. "Well I wasn't so pleased on be stuck babysitting a Psychopath!" Jack just shrugged. "Don't worry he'll be here soon." Lifting the donut to his lips, he took a bit.

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

“To me,” he yawned, “sounds batshit,” answered Luke slowly, his voice still somewhat heavy with sleep, as he walked out of his bedroom holding the phone to his ear, half-way buttoned shirt and belt waiting to be fastened. He was in no hurry as he walked toward the kitchen, grabbed a mug and in it poured some coffee from the pot he’d made right after getting call from the police station. That had been several minutes ago and he’d hung up rather nastily before getting out of bed with a grunt. The second call had been from Peter, a colleague of his who was somewhat familiar with the case he was being asked to look into and who was still trying to talk Luke into it, even though the latter was already getting dressed and preparing to head out to the station. ‘You’ll be surprised’ seemed to be Peter’s argument of the night, but at that ungodly hour Luke was having difficulty believing he could be surprised anymore. Much too tired to continue to argue, Luke hung the phone, put on his jacket and left. If this girl walked away not guilty by reason of insanity, he was going to be sorely pissed.

Despite the macabre vibe, Luke liked Switchblade at night. No traffic. No sound. Just lights. Lock the doors, carry a gun in the glove compartment and you should be fine. As of recent years, Luke didn’t see himself living anywhere else. Not only was there enough work in Switchblade, but also some of the most alluring cases, the kind you’d have to travel to The Middle of Nowhere, Nebraska to find otherwise. Luke thought of this as he stepped out of his car once having arrived at the police station. He was in no mood to pretend to be concerned about a young girl, probably schizophrenic, and meant to have a quick chat with her before referring her to a colleague and a psychiatrist. He strode down the hall, one hand in his pocket while the other toyed idly with his car keys, with the same pace as before; still, no hurry. He could smell the doughnuts even before reaching the door, which he knocked on as he let himself him.

“Alright, I’m here.”

Luke threw a short glance at the two officers and immediately after entering the room he faced the two-way mirror that took most of the wall. There was the girl. She seemed peaceful enough. There wasn’t a Children of Corn vibe about her really, although if what they said she’d done was true, it only made the whole thing creepier. Still, crazy people were of no interest to Luke. At the first mention of commanding voices inciting her to kill, he was out of there. He had both hands in his pockets and remained staring at her, unfazed and focused on whatever she was doodling.

“What’s the story?” he asked the cops.

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Jack had been about to finish off his coffee when Lucas had appeared in the door. Paul fumbled, trying to brush off the crumbs from his shirt. Jack was the first to stand up walking over next to Lucas, but not breaking his gaze from the mirror as he handed Luke the file. "I'm afraid there's isn't much. Her name's Phay Amelia Cortez, about four years ago she goes insane slaughtering her family before setting her entire home on fire, only to later on that night kill several more people. Police find her the next morning curled up in the snow half frozen to death and covered in blood. She happened to be from a small village, so police were automatic to assume it was her even though there was no hard evidence to prove it."

Jack then handed Lucas some records. "She was placed in an asylum under intensive care only to escape a few months later and then go completely missing for two years. Apparently she's been living on the streets since then. Cops find her earlier tonight after getting a report of her shoplifting only to find out there was more to her when they pulled up her file." Jack pause so Lucas could let everything sink in. "The proof of the Asylum records are true we've had them check but any evidence that she is the actually killer is missing or been destroyed." Paul finally stood up. "And that's were you come in, we need to find out if this chick is actually the killer or not." Jack frowned at Paul. "Right now she's giving us this innocent act but I can see right through it. You know a good few nights of lock up will get her out of that." Jack growled at Paul. "Where not locking up someone with no proof of anything." Paul shrugged. "She stole didn't she?" Jack sighed. "She stole a cheap dollar piece of soap, have you looked at her? I would have done the same." Jack didn't understand why he was defending her so much but he couldn't help it, something just felt off about this whole thing.

They momentary turned to look at her, only to watch her throw around paper airplanes that she made. "Another thing, she's seems to act a little different and apparently know nothing about herself other than her name. She's a bit forget full so just be wary of that." Jack turned to main door, opening it. "Shall we go see her." Without waiting for an reply Jack led Luke into the room where Phay sat, her baggy tomboyish cloths and mismatched shoes and just about all her scruffy exterior made Paul stand at a far distance. "Phay?" Phay looked up blinking as Jack spoke in a soften manner. "This man is here to talk to you so make sure you answer all of his questions alright." Phay lifted an eyebrow at the man. "He looks expensive." Unsure of how to answer that comment Jack ushered Paul to leave the room. "We'll be...in the other room if you need us Mr. Pratt." He spoke before leaving the two of them alone.

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

Luke took the file and the records as they were handed to him. His brow creased as the officer told the story and every now and then he lifted his eyes to steal a glance at the small figure on the other side of the glass. It was certainly unnerving. He’d been wrong earlier that night to think he was done being disturbed. Even after years of hearing the most sadistic of stories first hand from their protagonists, human nature remained fascinating to him. As he listened to the tale, however, his mind raced. There was a pretty good chance the girl was in fact innocent. There plenty of maniacs out there, he knew this well, who could have done something so vile without real purpose and disappeared, unknowingly leaving the daughter of the family the only survivor. Then again, he had to review the file meticulously because that theory wouldn’t necessarily explain the other killings. The asylum staff would certainly have a lot to say. In the meantime, she was here and apparently all there, so a trial was definitely in order. If all evidence had been destroyed, well, this girl had just made Luke’s job a little easier and the D.A.’s more of a pain in the ass.

"Right now she's giving us this innocent act but I can see right through it. You know a good few nights of lock up will get her out of that."

It was probably true, Luke secretly agreed. This young and with no one to call, he didn’t expect her true colors to stay hidden for long. This whole amnesia thing had been a smart move on her part if she was indeed guilty. An asylum wasn’t that different from juvenile hall but the care was still better. Luke really hoped she wasn’t planning on keeping the act up with him, though. If he couldn’t know the truth, then what was the point?

"She's a bit forgetful so just be wary of that."

“Right,” muttered Luke as he was led into the room. For a brief moment, though, he paused. It was one thing to claim to have lost all long term memory, it was another to pretend to keep forgetting stuff. Guilty or not, she was going to need a new strategy. But choosing to say nothing quite yet, he continued and stepped in the room as a paper plane landed smoothly at his feet.

The girl lifted an eyebrow at him. “He looks expensive.”

She seemed fine. Quite unlike the picture he’d been shown only a minute ago.

“He is,” Luke replied. He had already established, anyway, that right after a brief exchange with the girl, he would pass her on to someone who was willing to sustain that she was either a) crazy or b) innocent, which Luke didn’t think left any other possible, more interesting, options open.

The cops left. Luke lingered in his spot for a second, still assessing the girl, before finally moving toward the table and taking the sole chair opposite her. He opened the file and spread its contents somewhat. Then he looked at her. No, the eyes of the person in front of him did not resemble those of the characters he’d seen locked up in strait jackets.

Maybe there’d be no need to call another attorney. Maybe she wouldn’t have to worry about him being expensive. Maybe.

“Phay,” he began, “I’m Luke Pratt, criminal attorney. Do you know why I’m here?” he continued after a pause. His eyes rested on her.

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Phay looked down at the table in shame. Her soft jaded eyes not daring to look at Lucas. "Yes, I know why you're here..." She seemed to sink in her chair much like a child who was about to be scolded by there elder. "I'm sorry, but I know sorry doesn't cut something like this...so I." She suddenly paused going very and still as if her body was suddenly made of stone. The two officers exchanged glances before turning to look back at the two way mirror. Jack could feel the atmosphere changing, becoming damp as seconds seems to tic away into oblivion.

Then Phay slowly moved her hand, shuffling through the endless amounts of paper. Her hair casted over her eyes as she brought up a single piece of paper that was folded up to Lucas's view. "So I...wrote them a apology card!" Phay smiled before reading the card said out loud. "I'm really sorry for stealing your soap, please forgive me so we can be friends." She looked up over the paper at Luke. " How does that sound? You think it's a good enough apology or should I maybe add something else." She turned it over to look at it herself. "I drew some puppies and flower because I really like them and everybody seems to like puppies so I thought maybe the owner would like them as well!" Phay beamed, all smiles towards Lucas.

That's about when Phay's eyes caught the contents that had been laid out before her. "What's that?" When she saw a picture of herself, her eyes suddenly widen. "Is it about my parents!? D-Did you find them? Are they okay?! Her voice was all panic and excitement as she leaned over, eyes twinkling. "I've been searching everywhere for them!" She wanted to stand up, run around, dance, even hug the man in front of her.

She hadn't yet given him time to explain the truth, to far lost in her little fantasy world. Soon they be together, soon she wouldn't be alone anymore. She have a mother and a father and who knows maybe a sister or brother! She shook with glee, her grin starting to hurt as she finally looked back at the man in front of her. "What are they like do you know?" She released a happy sigh, finally giving an annoying tug to the handcuff around her wrist. Pouting upon giving up she notice that Luke had yet to make a sound, but she didn't take in his expression still to happy to see the hateful truth in his eyes that there was more to this random encounter then there appeared too be.

Still Phay couldn't help but smile..."When do I get to see them?

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

Luke watched Phay carefully. He stayed silent as she shrunk apprehensively and began expressing remorse. She fumbled through the numerous documents that lay in between the two and Luke followed her hand with his eyes. Through his mind several expectations ran. First, it seemed to him that the girl was going to break sooner than he or the cops had anticipated. She’d been busted and, despite all previous claims, she now appeared to be aware of what was happening right then and there. Could it be that she was about to pull the plug on the whole thing and release a statement? If so, Luke would have to stop her on time, give her a chance to discuss the full story with him before a detective came in to do the official bullying.

She was talking. Slowly. Hesitating. Visibly sorry. Luke searched her gaze before redirecting his eyes to the piece of paper she was holding for him.

"I'm really sorry for stealing your soap, please forgive me so we can be friends."

It took him a second, but Luke eventually caught on and blinked despite himself. His eyes immediately traveled back to her, surely a bit wider than before. Soap. Nothing more. This whole thing, to her, was still just about the soap. She had been read her rights and the whole time she’d thought it was about stealing soap.

Or at least pretended she had.

Letting out a soft, calm sigh, Luke leaned back in his chair and resisted the urge to look at the two-way mirror over his shoulder as his defendant continued to explain, this time saying something about puppies. He’d pointedly ignored her request for input and instead shifted his focus to the documents before him.

Well, if she this committed to playing the innocent, little girl, he could work with that. But it was now imperative that they got to meet alone, no cops, no judges and no doctors. Just the two of them. And she would have to tell him the truth or there was no deal.

By this point, Luke had unconsciously signed himself in.

“What’s that?”

He looked up at her sharply. Phay had apparently shifted her own focus to the file as well and a particular picture had caught her attention. Luke followed her eyes. It was a picture of her and a mention of the very family she had been accused of slaughtering. Except, judging from the hopeful tone of her queries and the twinkle in her eyes as Luke turned to her with a raised eyebrow, Phay had no idea of the fate she had allegedly inflicted upon them.

“Okay,” he finally said and once again leaned forward, “Phay, that’s not why I’m here. And yes, this is about your parents. You remember the last time you saw them? And can you honestly tell me that you have no idea what happened to them?”

That would be all he needed really. If she responded the way Luke was expecting her to, there was nothing more to it and the judge would have no reason to keep her locked in this place until a trial.

Well, this was certainly different.

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Phay's cheeriness faded, as she finally started to come into grips with the situation. An uncommon look of seriousness washed across her face...her parents, they weren't here? Worst yet this man had said happened as in past tense. Phay suddenly felt a cold chunk of rock hit her gut. What had happened to her parents? Gulping, she knew she looked slightly nervous. Unsure of what was going on anymore Phay decided it was best she explained herself to the man in front of her. From under her shirt Phay pulled out an old brass pocket watch, it was large and round and easily told it's age.

Phay clicked the some button at the top and the watch opened revealing the contents inside. The clock itself was broken, underneath the clock you could see a small music box that seemed to be also not able to work. On the back of the cover, held a picture of three people. It was Phay's mother and father standing next to there daughter with proud smiles on there faces. Phay stood between them, grinning happily a small glass trophy in one hand and a red violin in the other. Giving the hint that she had one first place in something she figured to be music, but picture itself was a happy one, it held no signs of anger or bitterness only the blissful look of a happy family.

"This is all I have of them...The farthest back I can remember is waking up in an alleyway in this city about two years ago...this was around my neck when I woke up. I haven't part with it since...it's my only clue, that I actually have a family." Her voice was heavy with sorrow and remorse. "The truth is the only time I've ever saw them was in this picture I can't remember anything..." She choked on her words a little her eyes became glossy as she fought back tears. She didn't wanna cry, she always cried she wanted to toughen up be stronger.

That's when Phay fully understood what he meant but his second question. "No I don't, I can't even tell you there names let alone what happened to them...but there okay right?" Her eyes looked hopeful, these two people...they were her whole world. All she dreamed about. All the days and night she fantasied what it was like to have a perfect family. The idea of being able to sleep in a soft warm bed and wake up to her mothers cooking every morning...her dad's lame jokes for when she woke up late. These things she made up in her head, she didn't know if they were true or not but it helped her sleep during the night.

Now she felt everything was about to come crashing down on her in a instance. This man in front of her...he held her pitiful hopes and dreams in his hands and he didn't even know it. She needed to know, if he knew or not. She needed to know where her parents were, if they were okay, if they needed her. So she spoke her voice filled with honest grief. "What happened to them?"

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

Luke took a moment to let the words sink in. There was a small tug in his gut as he listened to her, her eyes momentarily causing him to wonder and doubt his previous certainties. But that wasn’t important. Whether she was the best actress in the world or not, all that mattered now was that she was released so that he could begin working on a case as soon as possible. It was important to speak with the judge before they did anything else, so that she wouldn’t have to remain at the station. It was too risky to keep having this conversation with the cops watching. Luke normally wouldn’t have minded bluntly letting her know where her parents were and how they were theorized to have gotten there. However, right now, it would have been safer if he acted as the sole witness to her reaction instead of someone who could testify for the prosecution. They couldn’t arrest her, though, without her knowing what her crime was and petty theft was hardly reason for her to be interrogated by the police.

“I see,” he paused, “You don’t remember anything about your life before Switchblade, correct?”

No family, no asylum, no cold-blooded murders. It was all on the record now; under the circumstances, no plea and no written statement would be necessary. That was satisfying. Or it would have been if there wasn’t something unfathomably irksome about the whole situation. Luke tried not to shift uncomfortably. He didn’t like doubting like this. And he didn’t like relying on hunches rather than facts, but there was something about this that unsettled him somewhat and it wasn’t the murder suspect status of the girl. If she wasn’t faking it, this was some fucked up case. And he was going to have to deal with severe emotional trauma after she found out the truth. He hesitated slightly, but afterwards continued in the same formal tone as before.

“Your parents are dead.” He looked up at her without a hint of emotion. Inside, he was actually dreading it a little to have to be the one to communicate this to her. “They were murdered. You’re the prime suspect.”

After a moment, Luke tore his eyes away from Phay and began collecting the various components of the file. He stood up finally, documents in hand, and paused to look at the girl one more time.

“Listen, I’m gonna go make some arrangements for you, talk over the next course of action. Phay,” he leaned in and looked her straight in the eye, “it’s very important that you don’t talk about this with anybody starting now. Unless I say so. You understand?”

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Her heart almost stopped....

...Dead?

There was just no way, no...no, no no! Phay shook her head rapidity not wanting to believe this to be true, but the tone in Luke's voice made everything all to clear and no room for argument. Phay's parents where dead...gone and she never got to say goodbye to them. She screwed her eyes shut, holding on desperately to the tears threatening to fall. How could everything be over so quickly, her years of searching had been in complete vain! There was nothing left, she knew nothing of any other family she might have...Phay was alone and it crushed her.

"You think I killed them?!" Her voice was frantic as she looked up, tearful eyes wide. "There's just no way...I would never do something like that to someone I'm suppose to love, never!" Phay couldn't even kill a insect let alone her own parents, but she have to face the truth...she couldn't remember her parents, she couldn't remember anything. There was just to many spaces opened for her to claim her innocence. At the same time her heart wrenched at the thought of her actually being the one for her parents demise.

If Phay could feel a bit of bitterness in her heart she would have growled and escape this place to sought out revenge on her parents murders, but Phay wasn't that type of person, she held no negative feelings in her heart. Even when someone was the up most cruel to her, Phay could always forgive and forget...but could she really forget this? Phay could only nod solemnly as Lucas spoke of arrangements, she was still trying to wrap what he had just told her around her head so much of what he said was lost to her.

Though when he looked her in the eye, Phay's breath caught in her throat as he warned her not to speak of any of this. She could only again nod dumbly, watching his back as he exited the room. When he was finally gone, Phay looked down at her lap...her fingers clutched into the fabric of her baggy boy shorts. Phay couldn't hold in any longer, she burst out into quiet sobs. Her shoulders shuddered as tears leaked down her cheeks, she sniffled looking at her one handcuffed wrist. It was like he life was over and it never really was able to start.

Jack watched Phay cry his own eyes seemed to reflect pity for the girl but he couldn't say it out loud, it wasn't his job. "I'm gonna go see if she needs a break." Paul nodding finishing off the last of donuts before deciding to follow Jack after all they were partners. Jack opened the door quietly walking over to Phay, who seemed to automatically stiffen up. Where they gonna ask her about her past now, already Lucas's orders were flying through her head. She knew she needed to stay silent...but it seemed Jack held no interest in learning of Phay's past. "Did you wanna go wash up?" He spoke in his usual soft tone, right now she looked a mess, her eyes were red and puffy and her face was a little scruffy with dirt. Even just a quick splash of water to the face might held get her head back in gear.

Nodding quietly in approval, Phay allowed Jack to re handcuff her wrists together. It seemed even with this honest act of innocence, this type of treatment had to be met for someone convected of murder. Phay said nothing only continued to hold her head down in sorrow. They led her to the bathroom, unlocking the cuffs so she could use her hands in peace. Phay stepped into the bathroom, locking the door. She walked over to the sink and leaned over it looking into the whitewash base before turning the tap and splashing water into her face. She wiped it off with her hands, dirt dribbled off her skin into the sink but it was only a thin layer of the caked on amount that she had acquired over the years without a proper bathroom.

She left the tap running planning on using the toilet as well when something caught her eye...the window. Sure it was small but big enough for her to squeeze through, stepping up onto the toilet seat she peeked through the open window, it wasn't a hard fall and not much of one at that. She could jump that with ease, escape into the night and travel through the shadows and be out of this city by morning. Nodding to herself Phay brought her knee up to the edge a small smile on her face. She was about to jump when something stopped her...though not revenge, she wanted to know the truth. She wanted to know if she really was the one who had killed her family or if maybe someone else had done it. Though if it was her, then she felt that she should take her punishment...whatever way this turned out at least Phay was gonna get want she wanted...the truth.

Stepping back off the toilet, Phay opened the door where the two police men stood waiting. Jack gave a small smile. "Feel any better?" Phay nodded quietly her usually cheery self was gone for the moment, as sadness ate her up completely. Re cuffed Phay was brought back to the room she had been in. Her wrist cuffed to the table once again. Jack brought her a coffee to held her stay awake, Phay took a small sip looking over her random doodles thought she no longer felt like drawing let alone much of anything...now, Phay was tired and lonely her eyes holding nothing but saddest as she stared into the blackness of her coffee while she waited for Lucas to return.

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

Tears were a regular sight in this job. Some clients wept in fake remorse. Other shed them for real while being handcuffed and taken away. Family members cried on the stand, in the audience and during entire depositions. It was the first time in his life Luke had had to inform his defendant of the crime they’d committed and even without the help of a CT scan he was beginning to buy into her amnesia defense.

The judge’s wife sounded even more irritated than Luke about “being called so many time at this ungodly hour – fuck off” but luckily the judge had taken the call in spite of her. He didn’t sound any more pleased than his wife, but Luke absolutely refused to allow him to postpone making a decision. They probably spent over fifteen minutes on the phone arguing. The judge had been filled in on the basics but insisted that they needed to have a proper meeting before he could let the girl back on the streets and that he would be there first thing in the morning. Luke knew what that meant. It meant she would have to stay in a cell until everything was in order for the trial and, as Luke made sure the man on the other end knew, this girl wouldn’t last a day in. There was no evidence and no confession and she deserved her freedom until the investigation was over and a jury condemned her. Luke was beginning to get insubordinate and the judge wasn’t very appreciative.

“Look, Your Honor--”

“House arrest.” The voice on the speaker was definitive.

“House- she’s homeless! Shouldn’t she be put under custody of a marshal?”

“And where exactly do you suggest we keep her and the marshal, Pratt? You know what? I’m done with this, you got it, she walks until the trial. As for where you’re going to put her, figure it out. If she skips town, it’s your neck on the line. Now, I don’t wanna hear from you again until tomorrow afternoon.”

With that, he hung. Luke stared at the cell phone in his hand, his jaw very tight, and heaved a sigh. Well, shit. He’d really dug his own grave this time. Where was he going to take this girl tonight? How could he get a guarantee that she wouldn’t escape from a homeless shelter or that she was as innocent and honest as she had been acting so far? She might even actually be into puppies, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t feel the urge to off a human being within the next couple of weeks. Shit. Shit. Shit. Lastly, Luke ran a hand through his hair and headed back to where Phay was waiting for him.

“Judge says she’s free to go,” His tone was a little reluctant as he announced this to the cops who were guarding her. “Uncuff her.” And he stepped into the interrogation room again.

“Okay. We’re done for tonight, Phay. Walk with me, will you?”

He waited by the door for her to be released and immediately walked out expecting her to follow. This was a tricky situation. Looking over his shoulder to make sure she was there, he continued.

“Do you have anywhere to go right now?”

It was a stupid question. He already knew the answer. She had been caught stealing soap, for God’s sake. But there had to be somewhere.

“Is there a friend you can stay with?”

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Phay was surprised when the heavy weight of the metal was lifted off her tiny wrist. Rubbing them gently before running to catch up with Luke. She looked up at him shyly as she spoke, even now this momentary freedom was thanks to him. At the moment she was a little afraid to speak, The events of tonight were anything less than pleasant, she was tired and now miserable because of the news that had been given to her.

If only she could go back in time, she would never had stolen that soap. She would never have been caught...and she would most surely never found out the truth. Part of her wanted nothing more then to forget all about this, to go on living blissfully unaware. Searching for her parents in vain yes, but at least it was something to look forward too. Now she had nothing...it felt like everything from here was going to lead down a dark path to an electric chair...This thought chilled Phay to the bones. She could feel another set of tears threating to fall, she didn't want to die.

Part of her knew she was overreacting at the moment but she couldn't help it. To be accused of the murder of your own flesh and blood and who knows maybe others...it was just to much for her to take in at once. She quickly wiped her eyes not wanting to cry in front of Lucas. She needed to be strong to come to grips with reality...if she was the killer she knew where she belonged, but at the moment there seemed to be no proof. This gave a small twitter of hope in Phay's heart but her sorrow was to heavy at the moment for it to make a difference.

Lucas then asked her a question, not wanting to keep him waiting on her she spoke softly. "Not anywhere with real shelter, no." That answer had seemed obvious enough but she kept her mouth shut until he spoke again. This time it was if she had a friends...and sad to say Phay had none...well none that had homes themselves. She simply shook her head no to him, feeling bad that she was causing him so much grief... "I'm sorry..." Her lip began to quiver, she bowed her head so he couldn't see. She was so stupid! she couldn't come up with anything, why couldn't she stop being completely useless to everyone.

She wanted to say yes! yes there was someone that she could stay with but that would be lying something that Phay hated doing. Phay knew she would probably end up staying here...Truth be told this was the last place Phay wanted to stay...the inmates earlier had been giving her looks that made her more then a little nervous. She just didn't want cause Luke any trouble then she might have already.

Why was everything so messed up?

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

Luke kept striding towards the main entrance, all the while pointedly ignoring the fact that his client was still threatening to burst into tears. Not that he blamed her, but it wasn’t of his concern. All he was in charge of was building a good enough case that she’d be able to avoid prison and stay… on the streets. It crossed his mind for a second that jail was at least a roof to speak of. But no. It was no place to call home, especially not for someone like the girl currently hurrying up behind him.

“I’m sorry.”

Luke hesitated, almost stopped, for only for a second. He stole a glance at Phay from over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. Was she really apologizing? He would have scoffed if she hadn’t seemed so miserable already. Instead he continued leading her. As they reached the doors however, Luke began taking his jacket off. The temperature had dropped over the past few days and he knew the cold would bite them sharply as soon as he pulled the door open; so, he handed the piece of clothing to Phay.

“Put this on. If you die of pneumonia, I’ll never hear the end of it,” he said while reaching for the handle. He pulled the door open before checking if Phay was already covered and held it open for her. “It’s nicer than a cardboard box so don’t ruin it,” he commented sarcastically.

He probably shouldn’t have waited until they were outside to plan their next step. It was pretty cold and Luke had still no idea what he was going to do about her. Stupid judge. It’s not like he had many options. He could always pay for a hotel room, but how would he be able to keep an eye on her like that? What if she ran? Or worse, what if she actually murdered someone? Fuck. The weather wasn’t fit for standing around mulling over anything at that time of night. It wasn’t likely he would be able to go back to sleep at the moment so… maybe, it wouldn’t be such a bad idea…. temporarily speaking…

He looked down at Phay for a second as he took his car keys out of his pocket and beeped it open. The vehicle parked closest lit up back to life.

“Come on,” he told Phay as he rounded it.

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Phay blinked in surprise looking up Luke, eyes wide with small traces of tears holding themselves in the corners of her eyes. She looked down at the coat, a small hesitate hand reaching out to take it from. She was silent as she put the expensive piece of clothing around her. Her arms fitting into the sleeves that were twice her size, the hole jacket almost reached down to her knees. She let her fingers trace the some warm plush of the undercoat.

A small smile formed on her lips, but it quickly at his next comment as he gave a fruitful reminder of just how much of a pain she was to him. Any other night that would have rolled right off her back...but tonight everything stung, but rather than make a fuss Phay just kept her head bowed. Quietly thanking him for the coat wither he heard her or not. She pulled the coat tightly around her as they stepped out into the cold. Normally right around now Phay be huddled in a dumpster somewhere newspapers and what ever other material that could hold in heat.

Tonight though it was different, tonight Phay didn't know where she was going. All she knew was to follow behind this man as loyally as a puppy, to not anger him or cause anymore grief. It did worry her though just were exactly he was taking her...She knew now it wasn't jail, unless it was a different jail that is. Or where there worse places? Phay didn't know and it scared her, she was once again fighting the urge to run. She looked around the parking lot was huge and almost empty...She turned to look at the back of him as they neared a bunch of random huddled cars.

Deciding once again that running was not the best solution, Phay bowed her head once again, only to almost bump into him as he had apparently turned to face her. She seemed to not be able to fully look away from those eyes...they held so much authority over her and he always seemed to look at her with disgust, but she was use to that look she supposed. She got it from everyone, they judged her by first looks not by who she was, though Luke it was a little different he seemed to judge by her apparent murderous ways and as much as she wanted to prove to him that she really couldn't remember. There was just no way to do it...Sighing Phay decided that was enough thinking and worrying on what people thought about her for one night.

Phay was once again surprised when he told her to get into his car. She stood a little dumbfounded , cocking her head to the side. She found Lucas very confusing, but then again he might just be taking her to another prison...or somewhere else. Shoulders slumping Phay stepped into the car, her back instantly sinking into the black leather. Shutting the door she took a hefty smell, she supposed this is what a car smelled like or maybe it was the new car smell people would always talk about. Either was Phay found herself looking around in slight awe. "I've never been inside a car before..." She spoke more to herself then to Luke and if she had feeling more like her usual self she might have poked around a bit or asked Luke questions about cars. But tonight Phay just wanted to stay quiet and let Luke take her where ever it is he had planned.

[LUCAS EMMANUEL PRATT]

“That you can recall,” Luke corrected her in a low yet cutting tone as he turned the engine on and began backing out of the parking space, his eyes focusing on the rearview mirror. Well, it was true. She’d had a family before, a normal life. It was safe to assume she’d been inside a car at least once in her life, even if she hadn’t since running away from the mental hospital.

Which brought up another point Luke was eager to discuss. He had initially thought of waiting until the next, although that had been when he thought he wouldn’t see his client until the next day, when they finally got to meet alone. Circumstances being what they were, however, he could begin asking a few questions, even if they weren’t formally sitting down somewhere he could properly pay attention and take notes. There was also the issue of the girl having (presumably) just received and unsettling bit of information concerning her family and it would be better to let her rest for a little before beginning to work on the case.

They moved through the empty streets and strokes of light before coming to a halt at a red light. Luke turned to look at Phay, his right hand still on the wheel.

“Can you really not remember anything before being homeless in Switchblade? Not the asylum? Nothing?” Before allowing her to reply, he shifted a little in his seat toward her and let go of the wheel.

“Listen,” he continued a bit more slowly and softening the tone in his voice somewhat, “No matter what the truth is, you have to tell me.I’m the only one that can help you, whether you’re guilty or not, and I can’t work on a defense unless I know every fact. From you. And I won’t judge you, Phay,” he added. He wasn’t being nice when he said that; it was important she knew that she could care about the world knowing she was a murderer, but not about her lawyer knowing. “This is what I do.”

Luke had made a living of understanding criminals’ motives. He had seen the worst of crimes committed; some of their authors sincerely and excruciatingly remorseful, others not at all. And now he needed to know how much Phay Cortez was willing to trust him. It wasn’t as if she had much choice, but fear was a powerful thing.

[PHAY AMELIA CORTEZ]

Phay frowned how Luke spoke to her, though she understood where he was coming from the truth was she was tired of the same questions being asked to her. She didn't know how she could prove to him that she honestly didn't know. Phay pressed herself further into his seat still waiting for the light to turn red. She didn't answer his right away, she was still trying to figure out what to even say or what even to do about this new information that had been given to her.

Everything was just to messed up at the moment for her to really and try to remember a past that wasn't there, but still the fact remains..."Thank you." She suddenly looked over at Luke as it seemed that they had begun moving again. "...Even though it's your job, this means a lot to me." Phay didn't think any of her trivial words would have much affect on this man but she said them anyway. One thing Phay always did...was speak from the heart.

"You want the truth?" She finally spoke. "The honest truth is...I have no idea who I really am, who my parent were, where I came from right down to what was my favorite color. The oldest memory I have is waking up naked in a dumpster, cut up and bloody, feeling weak and like I was dying..." The memory haunted Phay it had been the scariest moment in her seemingly short life and she never wanted to go through something like that again. "I Know your hoping for answers that will make this easier on you, but I just don't have them..."

She held a look of defeated. "I don't even know what an asylum is...let alone if I came from one or not." Phay pressed her head against the window, staring at the blurry lights as they passed by. She then thought of something, something that was important...Something Lucas had to promise her. "Luke..." She turned to him, for once a very serious expression was on her face. "When this is all over, if we find out I'm the killer I want to promise to let me plead guilty." Her voice was unwavering as she held so much emotion behind her eyes but she quickly turned them away from Luke. Going back to stare at the nightlife of the city...She didn't want to be free if is was indeed the real killer...no she wanted her punishment...

...which was long overdue...


((sorry it's so short! D: ))