2020-06-01 - Kira's Counsel - Natalie, Kira, Marcus, Arthur and others

Natalie Sokal strides off the ferry with a medium sized simple rolling black suitcase, a small black purse slung across her body with a black neoprene laptop back slung the other way. She’s dressed impeccably in a tailored charcoal grey women’s pantsuit paired with a feminine gauzy mauve billowing blouse and classic single string of pearls. She wears matching pearl earrings. Her hair is short and sleek and black and her makeup is minimal but flattering and brings out her sea green eyes. She’s curvaceous and a little on the short side but she has on a pair of killer shiny black heels that she walks in as easily as if they were sneakers. The heels rap on the pavement as she hits the street. Someone was arranged to meet her, a police officer, and she hoped they had a car so she could unload her things. She takes in the beginnings of the town and looks unimpressed. But Natalie was not easily impressed. Natalie pulls up her suit jacket sleeve and looks at her watch with a frown. Her greeter was late and she was already annoyed. There were local smiling about having what looked like inane conversations. The weather, some radio show, where to go for lunch, someone’s account of a date. Fucking small talk. She looks at her watch again. She would have to engage with one of these chit chatters and she hated that.

Natalie walks up to the two older men talking about the weather “Pardon me but can you direct me to the police station?”

The man she addresses smiles at her in welcome “So good to have the ferry back isn’t it? And what a nice day for it…”

“Just the directions.” She barks, holding up a hand.

The man looks a little affronted but complies awkwardly and points as he explains.

Natalie nods “Thank you.” and then strides past them falling into her usual brisk walking pace in the direction of the station. Once inside she drums her fingers impatiently at the front desk as it seems the attending person has wandered away. Unacceptable and inefficient.

Ulick Reinhardt stood from the front desk and turned to walk to the copier..  Not the most exciting work, but he still did a fine job of it.  Once the copies were in hand, he returned to the desk and set the sheets down.  A lovely looking young woman in a business suit walks in and begins to drum her fingers on the desktop.  He opened his mouth and spoke softly … for him.  “Good morning ma’am.  Welcome to Alexandra.”  she wasn’t from here and even Ulick knew that by now with a decent degree of certainty  “Can I help you?”

Natalie was annoyed by the man’s voice, his friendliness. Really she was just annoyed from her day and her arrival. “I should hope so. I’m Natalie Sokal, barrister from Samuel and Sons to represent Kira Delmonaco. Someone was supposed to meet me at the ferry.” She looks at him intensely “They didn’t.”

Ulick keeps his face neutral.  “Barrister from Samuel and Sons?” he asks casually, although it's possible he was heard in the parking lot.  But he doesn’t reply for anything else she said because he knows his position in the force.  The phone rings before he can say more.  Lifting his finger to ask the woman to wait, he picks it up.  “Alexandra Police Department, how may I help you?”  he pauses and blinks.  “Someone … stole your … shoe?”  he sounds incredulous.  “Yes, sir,  I’ll transfer you to an officer right away.”  he puts the caller on hold, and pinches the bridge of his nose.

Josh Greene heads out of the office as soon as the word barrister comes from Ulicks mouth.  The lawyer.  Newcastle was supposed to pick her up and clearly had not.  “Miss Sokal.  Chief Green.  We’ve been expecting you and you’re all cleared to meet with Kira.”  He offers his hand as a courtesy.  “I’ll take care of the problem with the late officer.  Lawry, search her and take her in to Kira.”

Marcus Lawry had come out of the door separating he cells from the bullpen as soon as Ulick had said barrister.  He stood silently watching the chief talk to the lawyer and did not step forward until Chief Green mentioned him by name.  “Ma’am, I just need to search your bags.”  he falls silent just waiting on her to let him.  His last name was on his uniform nameplate.  No need for him to tell her.  The woman was a lawyer.

Natalie greeted the Chief with a brief but firm handshake “Chief Greene. Alright then.” Her tone was cool but not rude. She turns to the officer, knowing the drill and rolls the suitcase to him first as she works to pull the other two bags off her body. In the suitcase he’ll find business attire, skirts, a black pantsuit as well blouses that all mix and match. All the clothes are higher end brands and not brand new but kept in amazing shape. Everything matches everything, even the delicates. There’s a lacey black nightgown, some black  tights and a grey tank top that look like exercise wear, a simple one piece purple swimsuit, a few other pairs of shoes including simple runners and pair of flats, a case of standard toiletries one would expect, a small makeup bag containing both makeup and some jewelry and at the bottom a large bottle of London Dry Gin. Also in the case is an orange asthma inhaler and a spacer tube for the inhaler. The purse is small so all she can fit in it is a phone, some keys, a tube of lipstick a small wallet and a few tampons and a blue asthma inhaler. In her laptop bag is simply a laptop and the expected accessories, mouse, cord etc. She waits patiently but it looks like it’s work for her to be patient.

Marcus went through the bags as quickly as he could, noting there was nothing dangerous within.  “If you’ll leave the suitcase out here.”  he nods towards the desk and Ulick.  “He’ll tag it.”  is and when she does it, he nods at her.  “This way.”  and goes through the door, holding it for her and then closing it behind him.

Natalie appreciates the efficiency of it all and picks up her purse and laptop bag, walking through “Thank you Officer Lawry.” She had read and heard the name and she was good with names. She sees her client in the cell and the chair in front and heads to it. She doesn’t greet her immediately but sets herself up, slinging her purse over the chair diagonally and then taking off her suit jacket and hanging it over she sits down and just tries to make eye contact with Kira, not smiling or offering any false pleasantries. She had spent her life with victims of violence and she knew this young woman was well beyond the bullshit.

Lawry watches the lawyer set up in front of the cell.  “If you want more privacy, Miss Sokal, I can let you into the Interrogation Room.”  but he then stands himself up in the far corner, almost like a machines that's gone into Stand-By mode.

Kira Delmonaco saw Marcus bring in the woman.  The lawyer …  HER layer.  It isn’t that she isn't grateful, but she stands from her bunk and meets the woman in the eyes.  She can almost imagine how she looks to the lawyers eyes.  Too big orange jumpsuit, wild and matted brown hair, jailhouse slippers.  She hears Marcus speak but doesn't move a muscle, she just stares at the women.  Not challenging, but wary.

Natalie gives Marcus a little nod but keeps looking at Kira. She knows the look. She’s seen them all before and dealt with clients in varying states of mental health. Now she greets “Hi Kira, I’m Natalie.” She’ll let Kira lead as many of her own choices as she can since her goal is always to empower. “Do you wish to go into the interrogation room to speak with me? I’ve been told you have a tablet. You can bring it.”

Kira stares at Natalie for a long moment and then nods. Making a motion in the direction of Marcus, almost as if she was a Queen in a castle and not a prisoner in a lockup.  Then she turns to her cot and retrieves the tablet and turns back to the cell door.

Marcus catches Kira’s movement and immediately starts moving.  At the cell doors he nods to kira, who backs up and opens the cell doors.  He offers Kiira his arm, as if he were asking her to dance.  She takes it and, without handcuffing or shackling her as may happen in other lockups, he walks her to the IR door and opens it.  “If you need me, knock.”  although he doesn’t add that he’ll be listening to the sounds of struggle, which sometimes happened in the IR.

Natalie prepares to move rooms, gathering up her belongings, slinging her bags and carrying the jacket over her arm. She looks up from arranging it and notices Marcus’s respectful approach to Kira and tilts her head. That was a rare sight. She tucked the vision into her brain and stepped into the interrogation room, her heels rapping on the hard floor all the way there and in until she put her belongings onto the new chair and sat down. Now she pulled out and opened her laptop so she could make notes. Her hands were small and neatly but not elaborate manicured. Short nails, clear polish, no rings. She looked up at Kira from across the table. “Are you being well treated in here? I don’t love the fact that you have to live in a cell. We’ll work on that.”

Kira moves into the interrogation room and moves to the other side of the table, so her back is to the corner and she can face both the only door but the only window leading to the Chief’s office.  Setting the tablet down she sits and listens to the lawyer.  She nods and pulls the tablet near herself.  “They treat me fine.  I live in here because I can’t pay bail and have no home to go to if I COULD pay bail.”

Natalie takes the tablet from her and reads “Understood. Well it’s safe at least, and clean enough.” She slides the tablet back “Kira I’m going to have to ask you some triggering questions to represent you. We can do this over several meetings and we can stop at any time. Your well being is my top priority.” She plainly states and then tries to set her at ease “I’ve spend my career representing young women who have survived sexual violence. It is my goal to help you.” Then she takes a deep breath “If you feel up to it, can you tell me about your connection to Jack Rose, starting with the earliest thing you can remember. Before he raped you. Was there conversation? Did he stalk you or threaten you?” She makes no bones about the fat that she already knows about the rape. There was no point in dancing around the facts.

Kira hears and understands about being asked triggering questions.  They had told her early and she expected it from a lawyer.  She takes her tablet and begins to thumb type.  ‘We were kids together.  Natives.  He was a normal kid I guess.After we grew up … I don’t think he stalked me.  He asked me out a couple of times but I just wasn’t interested,  I had studying and grades.”  she freezes and swallows  hard.  “Then Brayden asked me out and I still said no but he kept asking and talked me into it and it was beautiful.”  she stops and drops the tablet, sliding it over to Natalie with slow measured breaths.

Natalie watches her type patiently. The only thing she had endless patience for was her clients. They were her reason for being and she gave Kira her entire focus. She takes the tablet back and reads, nodding at bits, letting her finger track the text. She keeps her face impassive but inwardly feels compassion about the contrast between Brayden being beautiful and the horror that Kira endured after. But then she has to ask “Is there a connection between your relationship with this...Brayden….and what happened with Jack?” She slides the tablet back.

Kira has calmed herself.  This is important.  She can’t fall apart or the lawyer doesn't get the information.  “Connection between me, Brayden and Jack Rose?  NO!  But Jack needed help tutoring.  He offered to pay me, and I had a dress I wanted for Grad…”  she closes her eyes for almost a solid minute.  “On The walk to his house he wanted to cut through the Forest.  He grabbed me and tried to kiss me..”  her typing became erratic with many pauses.  “I said no, but he kept trying.  I slapped him and then …”  she paused for nearly two minutes.  “He threw me on my belly and analy raped me.”

Natalie watches the struggle with typing and presses her middle finger into her palm so her short nail just makes an indent and causes tiny poke. This was her composure trick. She hated dragging out trauma from clients but she had to. She takes the tablet and reads, dropping her hand to her lap and digging the nail in again. Inhaling she looked up at Kira “Thank you for telling me. And I’m sure it’s a cliche by now...but you know it’s not your fault. Did you have contact with Jack Rose after that day at all? What happened in the years between the rape and you attacking him...his body at the fire?”

Kira takes in a deep breath as she hands the tablet over and then takes it back.  “I know now.  Mom and dad called me slut and whore and I deserved it.  Then I believed it.  Now no.”  she begins breathing deeply to compose herself.  “Jack Rose lives in the town with me.  I saw him and he would put a finger to his lips, but then make a fist.”  she gives the example, putting the finger to her lips then making a tight fist.  “Every time I saw him.”  she blinks and a tear escapes.  She cleared her throat.  “I saw Brayden.  He told me Jack Rose raped him too.  I decided to kill Jack Rose.  Maybe my parents were right … maybe I deserve it.  Brayden did NOT.  But the house caught fire.  I thought he was alive when I attacked him.  I thought I was killing him.”  she defiantly pushes the tablet at Natalie.

Natalie watches her type and sees the finger to her lips and the fist part way through. Even before reading she’s getting a sense of where the story might go, or so she thinks. She sees the tear and again keeps her face impassive but for a moment her eyes betray a deep sorrow before she blinks and straightens up, pressing her nail into her palm lightly. She  gingerly takes the tablet after Kira shoves it in what looks like anger. She nods a little at the dispelling of the parent’s awful labels and then raises a brow at the information about Brayden and the subsequent slip back into the self labelling that had seemed to be shaken off. She zeroes in on the fact that Kira wanted to kill Jack and had a lack of awareness that Jack was dead. This could be useful. Horrible, but useful. Natalie stops to get out her phone and snap a picture of this statement “For my records only..” she qualifies. “What made you think Jack was still alive when you attacked him?” She slides back the tablet.

Kira considers the question and goes back to that night in her head.  She takes the tablet.  “The first bag was too big and closed.  The second bag wasn’t closed.  I saw his face.  He could have been alive.  I don’t know.  He could have been unconscious.  Come to in the clinic.  Killed Dr McKinney.  Found more to kill like me.”  she sets the tablet down and leans back, folding her arms, then unfolding them and taking the tablet again.  “I dream he's not dead.  Someday he’ll finish me like he should have 6 years ago.” she sets the tablet down again and slides it forward.

Natalie has both arms on the table now from taking the photo and making some notes. She opens her hand and stretches it. It’s very subtle but in the center of her right palm is a little callous from her little composure trick. As Kia pases the tablet back and she reads, she snaps another photo for her own references and quietly types a bit into a document. Looking over her own text she nods at it and turns back to Kira “I can see your pain in this. And your fear. I need you to use this though….I need you to be able to say these words..” She points at the tablet “In court. How do you feel about that idea?” She passes the tablet back.

Kira gets the message immediately.  She’s been able to talk to those she trusts.  But even then.  She taps the tablet.  “Good.”  She speaks aloud.  Then she puts a hand around her throat, but snatches it away quickly, as if afraid her on hand will choke her.  “Bad.  Tablet helps speed communication.”  she speaks slowly.  She bites her lip.  “Court.  Plea?” 

Natalie actually smiles at the word good. That was huge. And then it fades at the hand at the throat a little but nods at the next part encouragingly “You might be at a different place with your speech by the time we go to court. And yes you seem to understand where I’m going with this. Diminished capacity.” She just states it. “If you’re still unable to verbalize we can petition for accommodations to be made for your tablet. Kira, it’s my job to help you get your life back, in whatever form it takes after this. We are building a wall of evidence…..brick by brick. You give me the bricks, I build you the wall.” Natalie’s tone and delivery make it sounds like she believes in this process and plans to deliver.

Kira considers and sighs deeply.  “Like J ,....  J ….  Like he broke my mind.”  she can’t say his name and her words are still slow.  Then she shakes her head.  “Life … back?  Some day I think I can … other days no.”

Natalie nodded slowly. As an outspoken advocate for survivors of sexual violence she sometimes knew it was helpful to shed a little light from her own experience. Her own trial had been in the news after all. She didn’t tell every client about it but Kira needed something ahead of her. “I understand you Kira. I know people say it, but I actually do. I do this job because I’m a survivor of rape too. I’ve been through the hell you’re in...and now I do this. I try to help other people, mostly women. I know you can’t see it, but there’s another side someday, there’s somewhere to go from where you are now.”

Kira looked at this omen … perfect hair … beautiful skin … expensive briefcase.  It was hard to believe they’d even been in the same town, never mind circumstances.  But there is something in this woman's eyes.  After all .. who would lie about being a victim?  Tapping her tablet, she knows she has to practice talking.  “Over … whelmed.”  she gets out.  “In jail.  No money.  House almost condemned.  Scared.  I don’t know where to start.”  she she blows out a breath between frustration and exhaustion.

Natalie saw the look from Kira. She knew it. She was a very different woman now than the terrified girl she had once been. She watches Kira tap and talk. Tapping. That might be a thing.Her vocabulary was excellent considering her speech struggles. Natalie nods at her “It’s a lot.” She gestures to the table between them , their meeting “This is a good start. We’ll keep working on the rest. I have some people to talk to about your supports. The social worker, your psychologist, the police chief and other officers familiar with the case.” She thinks about the rapport she observed between Kira and Officer Lawry. “For today, this is good work. You’ve done well, Kira, very well.”

Kira nods.  In a way she is more social now than she was in high school.  There really were people fighting for her.  “Thank.  You.”  she replies.  “Tired.  Sorry.”

Natalie was wrapping up as well “I understand.” She walked to the door and knocked “Rest up. We’ll speak again tomorrow Kira. It’s good to finally meet you.”

Kira nods and follows Natalie to the door.  “You.  Too.”

Marcus heard the knock and opened the door.  Waling Kira back to her cell.  Turning to Natalie he says.  “Miss Sokal, I’ve been assigned as your guide.  I get off work at 3.  I can meet you at the Parthenon at 3:30 and give you a bit of a tour if you’d like … or we can start at Perkatory.”  He gives her a couple of choices.

Natalie eyes Marcus as if she’s assessing him and remarks “I suppose that would be helpful indeed. I don’t know where the Perkatory is so if you could collect me at my hotel that would be acceptable. “ She opens Google maps and types in the Parthenon, Alexandra, BC. “You know I can find the Perkatory on here I’m sure. Sometimes it’s inaccurate with small towns…” She holds up the phone “Does this look correct to you?”

Marcus looks at the phone for about 2 seconds.  “Alexandra’s …. Inaccurate.”  he tells her.  Then he points to the door she initially entered from.  “Leave the station, turn right, turn right again at the cop shot parking lot and cut through the park.  The Parthenon is the boulding on the right by the parking lot.” and then he turns to Kira.  “Your gyros is here, speaking of Zabat’s.  I’ll bring it as soon as your lawyer is gone.”

Natalie looks appreciatively at Marcus for the honesty and efficient directions. She commits them to memory and then gives Kira a little smile “Gyros. Don’t let me keep you from those. I’ll be off now. Take care Kira. See you shortly Officer Lawry.” And she heads out, slips her suit jacket back on and then shoulders the purse and the laptop bag and grabs her rolling case and her heels click as she briskly walks out of the station.

<>

3:23 p.m

Marcus got off work at 3p.m and went straight home.  He showered and changed into blue jeans, an APD sweatshirt and runners. Then he walked out of his ground floor studio apartment, locked the door behind him, then left the building.  He turned left and walked to the edge of his building, then left again between his apartment building and Perkatory.  Jogging up the sloped embankment to Central Park, he turned left yet again and walked past the vet clinic to the Parthenon beyond it.  Stepping inside he walked up to the front desk and the pretty blond manning it.  He looked at his phone and noted the time, then looked at the clerk, a pretty strawberry blonde whose name tag read E. Hanlon.  The time on his phone was 3:23.  He was 7 minutes early.  Putting his attention back to the clerk he told her.  “Marcus Lawry for Natalie Sokal.  Tell her I’m downstairs waiting.”

Emely Agnor smiled at the handsome dark man she’d seen in uniform before but never spoken to.  “Yes sir.”  she looked down to grab the phone and dial.  “Nice evening isn….”  she looked up to find the man was across the lobby at the Parthenon's windows, looking out over the park.  With a sigh, she dialed Room 2, where, once it was answered she delivered the message.  “Marcus Lawry is in the lobby waiting for you.”

Natalie was at the desk in her room, reading over her case notes when the call came in “Thank you.” Was all she replied and hung up. She was still in her suit but had taken off the heels. Aware of the potential walking distances she went to her closet, which she had meticulously unpacked her things into and slipped on a pair of black leather flats. She pulled the suit jacket back on, grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder and took a small notebook and a pen and was downstairs within minutes. The desk clerk was chatty. Too chatty.

“Beautiful day for a walk. Have you been to the beach yet?”

Natalie just gave her a look and immediately found Marcus, dressed casually by the window. “You’re early.” was her greeting as she simply walked out the doors.

Marcus knew that Natalie had come down when the desk clerk started chatting her up.  He got to the door at the same time she did and opened it for her.  Not replying to the obvious fact that he was early, he scanned the park, as if considering how to begin.  “This way.”  he starts walking through the pretty Central park, not at a slow walk, but not briskly either.  He moves past the cop shop, crosses the street and takes the sidewalk until they are in front of a place called Sprouts.  “I didn’t work here at the time of the crime against Kira, but the area hasn’t changed much.”  he tells her.  “Do you need to see things in a particular order, or can you see them all and put them together on your own?”

Natalie nods and keeps pace with him, looking around as they go. She can’t deny the island is picturesque. She raises a brow at the fact that he’s not a native of Alexandra but doesn’t comment, just lodges the information. When he asks about order she answers almost dismissively but she’s actually just stating her reply plainly “I’m capable of reordering locations in their proper chronology.”

Marcus nods and heads for the sidewalk along the side of Sprouts heading for the cemetery.  “When Kira was attacked in 2016, this sidewalk wasn’t here.  Neither was the cemetery, so imagine nothing but trees to the water's edge.”  he tells her.  About halfway he stops and turns to face east.  “This area is called the Forest.  It’s where Jack Rose brought several of his victims, including Kira, according to the information she gave Dr Singh.”

Natalie looks around and walks around a bit. She takes out her phone and snaps a few pictures and then her notebook and pen and makes a note. “How many attacks happened here?” She takes her middle finger off the pen and unconsciously presses the nail into her palm.

Marcus notes the movement, even though he immediately moves his eyes and she isn’t likely to notice that he noticed.  He’s just that good and he knows it.  “Officially only 2 and one attempt.”  he tells her and then falls silent.

“Officially?” She repeats as a query “Do you know of any rumoured attacks?” She had now heard Kira speak of Brayden and since read about his charges against Jack Rose. She moves her hand so it’s fully on the pen again, poised to write.

Marcus nods.  “Officially we now know about Brayden Kim, who pressed charges and Noelle Snow who was an attempt before the police intervened.  And we now know that Kira was raped here.”  he pauses.  “I have reason to believe there was another female victim that was raped here as well.  However there have been no charges brought.”

Natalie gives her palm the briefest press with her nail and then nods “There are always more than reported.” And she writes down her abbreviated version of what he just said. “Alright.” she breathes out as if she’s ready to move along.

Marcus nods and turns, heading back towards Sprouts with her.  He turns and walks along Central to 4th then turns left.  Motioning to his right, he tells her.  “In 2016 all of this was tesse.  The houses were built during a building boom in the spring and summer of 2017, before the earthquake.”  He walks along the block of row houses to the community garden.  “This garden was planted during what the locals call the Fog.  But in 2016 this was another wooded area.”  he crosses the garden to the other block of row houses and stops at the first one.  “This is the Rose house.”

She stops, listens and observes and has to comment “You know a lot for someone who moved here recently. Is it just a very thorough police department?” It’s almost a joke, almost. She inhales and takes in the Rose house and then takes a few photos of it from different angles “This was where Kira committed her crime?” She steps into the space of the doorstep and feels a shift in her own energy.

Marcus arches his brows and the faintest hint of a grin plays at his full lips.  “I’m a history buff, Miss Sokal.”  he tells her.  “And Alexandra history has fascinated me since I was a kid.  I always wanted to live here.  And now I do.”  the grin becomes a bit more distinct.  “But the Alexandra Police Department IS very thorough.  I’ve been Kira’s guard and she and I have become relatively close, so I wanted to know as much about her case as I could, so I don't accidentally trigger her.”  and then he looks at the house.  The smile vanishes.  “Yes.  This is the crime scene.  On the sidewalk here.”

Natalie listens to him curiously and then looks like she’s actually trying not to smile back. She purses her lips and nods curtly and then her gaze lingers on Marcus as he expresses his awareness and senstiivty about Kira’s vulnerability as a victim. She tilts her head slightly and then walks to the spot on the sidewalk and her fingernail absently presses into her palm before she makes a note and steps back to take another photograph.

Marcus stands out of her way while she investigates.  “I don’t know if you want to see Alexandra Academy.  It’s where both Kira and Jack Rose went to school.”  he pauses.  “If not my next stop was going to be Kira’s house, Miss Sokal.”

Natalie slides her phone into her purse “I would like to see the school Officer Lawry. Will they let us into the building?” She has an idea brewing.

Marcus nods.  “We have permission as part of the ongoing investigation.  The town is coming together to support Kira.  There’ll be a fundraiser this weekend to raise money to clean her house.”  he motions down the street and begins to walk with her.  “So I have the keys to any place we may have to enter.”

Natalie looks pleased about the support and even more pleased about the fundraiser “That’s commendable. I hope they have success.” She nods about his access to spaces they need to go into. She takes in the street the cookie cutter houses and the greenery. It was like the set of a film, idyllic, almost eerily so. As the school comes into view she admires the old building for it’s design.

Marcus walks with her until they come to the school.  He considers its history and telling the lawyer about it, but it is irrelevant to Kira’s case, so he doesn’t share.  Climbing the stairs, he opens the door for her and, passing the “All Visitors Please Report To School Office” sign, he turns right, heading for the principal’s office.

Natalie notes the door opening again “Thank you.” she comments briefly and follows him after also reading the sign. She  looks over the hallways, the shiny floors, schools evoked a lot from everyone’s childhood.

Marcus heads down the administrative ing.  Nurses office, staff lounge, etc.  Along the walls were pictures of graduating classes going back to the repurposing of the school.  No such thing existed for the original Indiginous students.  The pictures there were had been effectively buried in the Municipal Buildings sub-basement.

Natalie scans the graduating classes as they pass and counts up the years as the ascend 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, …...2014. She stops in front of it and runs her finger over the surnames below the photos and stops on Kira Delmonaco. She can’t help but do a little double take “She looked so ...pretty.”  She reaches for her phone and then hesitates, aware that she should ask permission.

Marcus looks at the class of 2014.  When Natalie says she looked pretty, he murmurs.  “It’s still there.  When one of her friends visits, and they can get on a subject that has nothing to do with anything.  But … six years as a vagrant … takes its toll.”  he sees her hesitate and tells her.  “If you want a picture, there are still many yearbooks I am sure someone would be happy to share with you.”

Natalie nods, acknowledging that Kira was still pretty, just changed by her experience. She lets her eyes rove over the class and catches the name Brayden Kim. She quints in on him and his big charming looking smile. “Sadly I will have to show the courts how she’s gone from this to...where she’s at now to defend her...you say old school friends come to see her or just friends from town?”  She looks at all the faces trying to guess who they might be. The youth that was stolen from Kira and Brayden is tragic and relatable to Natalie.

Marcus looks at the picture.  “Understood.  And yes.  Both kinds of friends visit.  The Academy isn’t a graded school, technically.  But …”  he hesitates.  “Kira’s parents apparently told anyone who would listen that Kira came down with some kind of brain disease and could not have visitors.”  he tells her.  “They abandoned her two weeks after her attack and she remained in her house for another month.  So two months after her attack she came out of the house .. a lot like she is today.”  he clears his throat, as his theories on why would be very different than most.  “Her friends didn’t recognise her.”  he explains.  “And vagrants …. Are the invisible…”  he shrugs.  “But now … they see her and are trying to make it up to her.”

Natalie takes this all in and sighs. Here she had told this girl she understood her. She didn’t really know the half of it. Natalie’s parents had been her pillars of strength. She looks at Marcus and ponders his fairly sound theory. She’s happy Kira’s support is becoming more solid in recent days. “Let’s report to this office before they give us a detention.” She deadpans. Her humour is dry and since she’s often so severe, it gets missed.

Marcus’s brows twitch when she makes something that might have been a joke.  He gives a slight sort of grunt of a laugh and moves on, opening the door to the principal's office.

Arthur VanBuren is coming out of his office as they are entering.  “Hello Officer Lawry.”  he looks at Natalie.  “Miss Sobal, is it?  I’m Arthur VanBuren, the principal here.”

“Sokal.” She corrects cooly but politely. “Mr. Van Burren.” She notices a group of students passing by in some kind of sports uniforms “May I ask you a few questions in your office perhaps?”

Arthur nods.  “Sokal.  Forgive me.”  He motions to his office and when they are all inside, he motions for them to sit and then sits himself.  “Josh called ahead …  Chief Greene.  I’m to help you however I can.”

Marcus walks in and sits.  He isn't’ likely to be of much help, he suspects.

Natalie smooths her dress pants and then sits, crossing her legs “Very well. Were you principal when Kira Delmonaco attended school here? And if so, what kind of a student was she?” she opens her notebook and poises with her pen to write.

Arthur keeps his face neutral, for the most part.  “Dolores Spanner was the principal in 2014 … but I have been the vice principal since 2000, so I did know Kira.  She was both smart and popular.  She was in a bit of a competition to be valedictorian.  Then … she stopped coming to school and her grades slipped, but she still graduated.”

Marcus listens, having gotten this information from other avenues.

Natalie makes a note of the word valedictorian whispering it aloud as she writes it down. “So her grades were high enough that she graduated without finishing the year?”

Arthur nodded.  “Yes.  Of course we tried to get in touch but …”  he tightens his jaw.  “We were told that she had a brain infection, then that they were taking her to a specialist for it.  That of course … was not the case.  Any of it.”

Natalie nods “So I’m coming to understand. And you are also familiar with Jack Rose as a  student? Was there any sign of harassment, allegations, instances of violent behaviour?” She made a mental note to ask Marcus if they had a current location and contact info for Kira’s parents.

Arthur looks pained.  “I checked his records for every year he was a student.  He was a fair student with no administrative problems.  Very middle of the road.”

Natalie writes some more notes and then looks up between Arthur and Marcus, aware that Marcus is being blessedly silent and not butting in as many men were prone to do “Is there anything else about either Kira or Jack that stood out to you when you had them in your student body?”

Arthur blows out a breath.  “No, I’m afraid not.”  he tells her.  “Believe me, I’ve racked my brain about both of them since the … fire.  Nothing that I can think of.  I wish I had some benefit of hindsight.”  he looks frustrated.  “Is there anything else I can help you with, Miss Sokal?”

Natalie closes her notebook and shakes her head “No. Thank you Mr. VanBurren.” She stands up and nods at Marcus.

Marcus stands and offers his hand to Arthur.  “Thank you.”  is all he says, then walking out of the office with Natalie.  He says nothing, but crosses to 3rd street and heads down the row houses. 




Arthur shakes Marcus’s hand and smiles until the door to his office closes.  Then he sits and drops his head into his hands, taking a shuddering breath.

Natalie doesn’t offer to shake hands. She will shake briefly if others initiate but she doesn’t initiate herself. Now she  follows Marcus, easily keeping pace. She takes in this part of the town now and observes.

Marcus walks with purpose.  He’s knocked a bit when a young girl runs past, holding the hand of an even younger boy.

Elle Copper hadn’t been able to correct herself, but does wave as she and her little brother pass.  “Sorry, Officer Lowry.  Sorry lady.  Hi, Officer Lawry.  Bye Officer Lawry.”

Stone copper is dragged in his sister's wake.  “Sorry, hi, bye….”  and the kids race across the street and up the stairs to a large blue house.

Marcus sees the kids and raises his hand to them as they race.  “Hey and be careful!”  he calls out, but is chuckling.  There’s no cars coming, but he pauses to see them go in the house.  Then he moves a couple doors down to the brownstone directly behind the Rose house.  “Kira Delmonaco’s house.”  he announces and goes into his pocket or the keys, but doesn’t use them just yet.

Natalie watches the kids go past and actually gives them  little smile and wave. It may seem odd, but she likes children better than adults. She waits with Marcus patiently to make sure they’re safe as well “Cute.” She comments briefly and then follows along again. She takes in the Delmonaco house and just looks at it “This was her family home?” She pulls out her phone and takes a picture.

Marcus notes her reaction to the kids and gives his attention to the house.  “Yes.  her parents left papers signing it over to her when they left or something.  It was very confusing … legall.y now it’s hers.”  he takes the keys and heads up the stairs to open the door.  “The detectives had to disable the traps, and the fire chief as well as an architect slash structural engineer have also been in the house.”  he steps inside, leaving the door opened.  “They ruled the house structurally sound and not quite condemnable, but there are a lot of health code violations…”  he takes a step inside.  “It also appears that the house has not had electricity or running water since shortly after the Delmonaco’s left town.”

The space is dimly lit, as ragged curtains cover the windows, some of which are cracked.  Under their feet, the floor is filthy.  Most of the furniture is gone, save a couch in the living room, a single bar stool at the kitchen island and a bucket in the dining room.

“Kira was apparently using the bucket as a toilet and occasionally dumping it into the soil in front of the house.”  Marcus divulges.

Natalie steps in and is assaulted by the smell. She’s not generally overly sensitive but it was strong. She looks gravely around at the squalor her client had to live in and listens to Marcus. Her breathing gets a little audible but from her facial expressions it could just be shock. She coughs a bit “This is completely unacceptable. How’s the upstairs?”

Marcus follows her around the first floor and hears her cough.  The place is hard for him to deal with … for anyone to deal with.  “It’s bad.”  he tells her.  “How about we go out on the steps.  I need a fresh air break.”  he nods towards the door, hoping she will go.  SOmething is wrong with her and he doesn’t lie … he does need fresh air before conquering the second floor.

Natalie nods and it dawns on her she probably shouldn’t have come in here at all. She can fel her lung capacity diminishing rapidly. She walks back across the living room floor and in her haste drags her foot through an old takeout food bag with a furry covering of mold on the leftover contents inside. The spores from that as well as the lingering old ones from years hit her full on and she’s suddenly coughing non stop and in between coughs her breath is wheezing. She scrambles for her puffer in her purse “Shit….shit..” She coughs out as she heads for the door again.

Marcus follows her out onto the concrete stairs and raises his hand as if to pat her back or something, but does not help her.  He watches and if she can get the inhaler, he’ll look relieved.  If she can’t he will offer his help.

Natalie does grab hold of her inhaler and gives it a hard squeeze as she inhales. Then she holds it in front of her face but nods her head in tiny motions like she’s counting out seconds up to 20. She exhales and sits down and then does it again, seated, closing her eyes the second time as she waits for the ventolin to take effect. Her second exhale looks like she’s found a bit of relief but there’s still a lingering struggle “I should have known better…..I need some coffee, black coffee. It helps this go faster….” She breathes very intentionally.

Marcus stands over her while she takes a dose from her inhaler.  “Closest place for coffee is … well The Breakfast Nook, but I bet Sprouts has it on their secret menu.”  he considers and steps down to the sidewalk.  “You good for a walk?  I can run and get some for you if you’d rather stay here.”  he pauses and then adds.  “You were doing your job … and thoroughly.  But there are pictures on file at the shop.” he finally tells her.  He’d put her health first.

Natalie is stubborn, which may be a sign of feeling a bit better “I can walk. You don’t need to baby me Mar….. Officer Lawry…” She almost calls him Marcus but flips back to the comfort of formality. She takes another slow careful breath and stands “Whatever’s closest...I’m not particular. Although I do like decent coffee.” She admits.

Marcus almost raises a brow at the almost use of his first name.  “If I was going to baby you, Miss Sokal, I’d be carrying you down the street like we just got married.”  he quips, knowing it may be risking her ire, but he just couldn’t help himself sometimes.  “Well, Sprouts is … a maybe on coffee at all.  Breakfast Nook is okay.  The best coffee in town is Perkatory, but that's past the Parthenon.”  he considers, carefully, as this was more of a medical emergency than coffee snobbery.  “Let’s go to the Daily Deli.  Happy medium.”  he starts walking, expecting for her to keep up, and he doesn’t rush.

Natalie makes a little derisive noise like she’s about to object but then starts laughing, and coughs “OK…” She clears her throat and catches up “Where did you work before here Officer Lawry?” It’s almost small talk but it gives her context.

Marcus grins when she laughs.  So she wasn’t a block of ice, which made him feel better about her representing Kira … not that his opinion meant anything.  “White Rock Police Department.”  he tells her.  “Almost straight out of High School.  I went to school part time.  History major, which doesn’t help me for shit in the police department, but I’m technically a teacher and, come September I’m going to be the local History teacher .. focusing on Alexandra.”  he shrugs as he nears the end of the street, seeing Kagiso Jackson on the steps of Michelle Kim’s row house, slipping an envelope in the mailbox.  Turning, Kagiso jogs down the steps towards Marcus and Natalie.  “Hey!  My man Marcus.”  and the two man exchange an interesting handshake before Kagiso jogs across the street towards his studio.  “Like I said, I’m not a native … I wasn’t actually born here.”  he suddenly focuses on the middle distance, turning them onto Central street.

Natalie listens and gives a few little nods. She’s still coughing now and then but not wheezing anymore. She sees the shorter black man interact with Marcus and lets her gaze follow the man’s exit “Well the locals seem to like you well enough.” She cues into the vaguery of his saying he wasn’t actually born there and then his gaze shifting but she doesn’t press, she just lodges it somewhere like she’s inclined to. “People should know their history. It’s a good thing.” She concurs.

Marcus turns on 2nd and passes the Municipal Building.  “Oh.”  he chuckles.  “K isn’t a local either.  He’s American, actually.  But … he said to me once ‘black is black even if you only half black’.“  he quotes with a grin.  He crosses with her and starts walking past the 10 Alarm.  He doesn’t get into Kagiso's history, nor that India Tor also lives on the island.  Those facts are currently irrelevant.  He arrives at the Daily deli door and opens it for her.  “Alexandra is part of my history.”  he nods to a booth and will sit across from her.

Natalie shrugs “Fair enough.” She smiles just a bit and walks. And then he holds the door to the deli and she says a polite “Thank you.” and walks through. She takes a seat in the booth and can’t help her own curiosity “How are you connected to this island then?”

Marcus nods at her thank you and settles into his seat.  “Long story short.”  he almost teases, knowing she is all about the short and sweet.  “I found out that I was conceived here.”  the waitress comes over and he orders only for himself.  “Coffee.”

Natalie looks surprised and it generally takes a lot to do that. “Coffee.” She also requests. The waitress looks like she’s about to smile and get chatty and Natalie silences her with a look “Just the coffee.” She has the true power of resting bitch face.

Marcus notes her surprise but the waitress arrives and tries to get chatty.  Noelle puts her in her place and Marcus swallows hard.  Straight to the point, no unnecessary chitter chatter.  He can tell from the waitress' look, she thinks Natalie is a cold blooded bitch but Marcus gets it.  Once the waitress is gone, he is curious if they will pick up their conversation or not.

Natalie pulls out her notes and reads them over. She looks like she is moving back into work mode but then huffs and looks up “Your parents actually told you where you were conceived?” It’s been rolling around in her head “I can’t imagine mine doing anything of the sort….very modest uptight traditional Jewish family.” She reveals a part of her life she doesn’t normally share with people she’s just met.

Marcus watches her and considers.  He’s usually a very private man, but … “My mother’s black.”  he told her.  “But…”  he runs his fingers through his hair, the curls of which are far looser than the usual Afro.  “When I got teased enough in school, and I begged enough she started to tell me things.  A little at a time.  First I was just.”  He makes air quotes.  “Mixed.”  he drops his hands.  “It wasn't until high school and my demands to come to Alexandra because I was totally obsessed with this island .. always had been and never knew why … that she told me my father was a Haida boy she met at camp.”  he taps the table lightly.  “After she died, I took a DNA test and she was right.  Except for around 6% Ashkenazi Jew and 4% Irish, I’m nearly a 50/50 mix of African and Haida.”  he shrugs.  “And so …  my connection to Alexandra.”

Natalie looks truly intrigued. It wasn’t small talk and Marcus’s tale was interesting “Hmmm ….. .that’s actually quite fascinating. We might be 6% related as the Sokal side of my Jewish family are from the Czech republic. So you found out your parents metm and made you here and had to come see it? Were they both very young? Sorry, not assuming but you said camp…”

The waitress drops off the coffee and smiles at Marcus and gives Natalie a brief cold stare before stalking away. It’s not barbara today but someone younger, a part timer of which there were a few.



Marcus ignores the smile from the waitress, only murmuring a distracted.  “Thanks.” and not even looking in her direction.  Adding sugar and creamer once the waitress stalks away he murmurs low.  “I hope we’re not related.”  before looking up as he stirs and replying to the rest.  “I .. don’t know.  My mother thought I already knew as a young boy because I’ve always been obsessed with Alexandra.  I know she said ‘camp’ but I don’t know how old my father was.  He may have been another camper .. or a counselor .. or .. any of the Haida on the island that summer.”  he pauses.  “But Alexandra has always called me.  I know it sounds insane and it’s screwed up all kinds of relationships all my life.  Probably just me screening them up, but …”  he shrugs, picks up his coffee and sips.

Natalie drinks half her coffee and feels her lungs thank her. She takes a deep breath and puts a hand at her upper chest in relief just as she hears his murmur of hoping they’re not related. She gives him a little raised eyebrow look but it has a hint of a smile. She’s mildly flattered but had no plans to flirt  with anyone and let it interfere with the work she has to do for Kira. She tunes into the rest of his story and frowns “Why would anyone question you wanting to know all this? I mean I’m a bitch….don’t try to argue. I know it, and use it. But that seems unreasonable to me.” She sips some more coffee.

Marcus motes the almost smile and hopes they can explore this when they aren’t basically not both working on the Kira Delmonaco case.  He’s a professional.  She’s a professional and Kira needs them to not be distracted in each other.  He shrugs.  “I wish I knew.  My mother sort of makes sense.  She felt abandoned by my father but to be fair she didn’t give him a chance to abandon us .. she never told him she was pregnant.  But .. since I got interested in girls … it’s like I mention Alexandra and you can hear a steel security door slam shut on the relationship.”  he huffs.  “It’s not scientific but the longest relationship I was in was a year.  I met her in college and we were studying Indiginous history.  Not Hadia at first but other smaller tribes.  Hell we even moved in together.  We signed up for the next round of the class which studied Hadia …  i mentioned the Hadia on Alexandra … and .. the whole relationship fell apart.  Two weeks later she had moved out and put in for a transfer.”  he shrugs.  “By then I figured it was just … Alexandra.”  he bites his lip and looks at this lawyer.  “It helps if you can believe in the supernatural and assorted strange things you can’t explain with logic.”  his tone isn’t dismissive, but it's clear he doesn’t expect her to believe him.

Natalie finishes her coffee, listens and considers his words and holds up a finger like she has plans to reply but needs something first. Almost lazily she turns around and holds up her cup at the waitress who rolls her eyes obviously but walks over and refills it.

The waitress will also offer to the cop she’s seen around, making eyes at him a bit, perhaps even intentionally to piss off what she perceives as his bitchy date.

Natalie just stares at the young woman, almost amused now, and watches Marcus to see his reaction.


Marcus sees her silently tell him to hold on and summon the waitress.  He slides his cup near hers and suddenly notices the waitress looking at him.  Raising his eyebrows he nods.  Motioned with his finger into his own cup, he tells the waitress he also wants a warmer.  His eyes aren’t cold. But he also is not as interested in the waitress as she seems to be in his.  And when she leans over a little more, showing off a little cleavage and sort of snorts a laugh.  “I’m good.  Thanks.”  he now dismisses her with a flick of the wrist.  Coffee in his cup, he sweetens and creamers and gives all of his attention very obviously back to Natalie

Natalie looks like she’s working not to burst out laughing and when he flicks his wrist she has to turn her head and casually make it look like she’s just rubbing at her nose. When the waitress walks away she silently chuckles and commends him “Classic. And you do make friends more easily than I do…” she jokes. And then she gets back to what she was going to say “It sounds like your mother has a complicated relationship with your making…” There are some questions she doesn’t voice but she’s not sure it’s relevant to where Marcus is at now. “Relationships are maddening at the best of times. I’ve had a string of unmitigated disasters, mostly of my own making I’m sure. But nonetheless…..” She doesn’t elaborate but comes back to the supernatural “I was raised on Slavic folklore. I’m pragmatic but not a total skeptic. My Baba would have me checking the water before swimming in case the Rusalka was waiting to pull me under, even more so after my second divorce….because apparently that water spirit is all about the jilted lovers.” She actually laughs, although a little sardonically. “I’m suspecting you mean something more along the lines of ghosts?”

Marcus chuckles.  Possibly for the first time since they’ve met.  “Maybe but the old cleavage trick?  I’m 33 not 13.”  he listens to her talk.  He nods both about his mother as well as on the subject of the unmitigated disasters of her own relationships.  But ignoring both of those he hones in on her talk of the supernatural.  “Maybe you need an unjiltable lover.”  he deadpans and then he shrugs, sipping on his coffee.  “Not so much ghosts … as spirits.”  he sighs.  “The Olin hotel is mentioned in those files.”  he nods at them.  “But it’s … a strange place, ith many odd and violent things happening there .. in particular two rooms .. well no they are just one room.”  he clears his throat.  “One of my best friends in high school came here on a vacation and stayed in the wrong room … he came home and committed suicide, leaving me a note telling me never to stay in that room.  When I DID come here for my interview, I stayed in a different room, but even though I was excited for my interview and seeing this island I always wanted to see I got in that room and crashed for about 24 hours.  When I woke up, the ferry had been cut off to keep the coronavirus off the island.  I was stuck.”  he sips his coffee again.  “Chief Greene interviewed me anyway … I got the job .. and was able to move out of the Olin in a couple days thanks to electronic transfers.”

Natalie smiles, actually smiles about the 13 not 33 remark and then scoffs a bit at the unjiltable lover, not unkindly, just like she’ll believe it when she sees it. She’s quite attentive about the stuff about the Olin hotel and his friend. Marcus is talking a lot but she’s not dismissing him. “You still stayed in the hotel even AFTER that note?!” She’s a little shocked and then just thoughtful “Curious. One of my clients took her life after her trial...even through I put away her attacker. She left the note to me….a thank you...but still a suicide note. She overdosed on sleeping pills on the bench where I first met her….after she died I went back and sat there. After a few minutes I felt like someone sat down on the other end….it bowed even. I kept telling myself I was just upset…..but I swear it bowed.” She shrugs “Anything’s possible. I’m sorry about your friend Marcus.” She did it. She dropped the formality and called him by his first name.

Marcus sees her look, but decides he won’t yet mention the idea of any kind of lover.  Not now.  “It was Room 2.  His note … it said 9 … and the history of the hotel is that the worst things happen in rooms 4 and 9 ….  Which, because of how the hotel is laid out is now just Room 4.”  he shrugs.  “My room still knocked me out for a solid day or more.”  he listens to her story as he drinks more coffee and doesn’t look in the least bit surprised.  “That was probably her.  Maybe saying thanks before she moved on.  And thanks for the condolences … Natalie.”  he looks at her for a long time and opens his mouth to cut off the words in his brain.  “If you look at the records, you’ll see Kira has been to the Olin a lot of times.  Always with men .. and something happened to her most of the times.  Maybe all of the times, but police and EMT’s only got involved sometimes.”  he looks at her evenly.  “Always stay at the Parthenon.”  he advises.

Natalie feels the formality drop between them but doesn’t look bothered by it. She is curious about the Olin in terms of the odd occurrences and the room numbers and actually makes a note in her notebook. Her writing is small and tidy “Not that I can use anything supernatural in court….” She looks up with a small sad smile about her client “Could be…..” She smiles a bit more at her name and this smile reaches her eyes, making her cold beauty become suddenly warm. Then she looks serious about Kira “I wonder if I can prosecute any of these men for her exploitation….mind you if she solicited them...maybe not. There are so many levels in Kira’s victimization it makes my head spin.” She nods vaguely about the Parthenon but her mind is on Kira.

Marcus’s jaw drops for a moment at what he sees as a flash of warmth, but then he refocuses.  “It’s not IMpossible.  But the men she associated with would give her food or money in exchange for sex … however that’s not so easy to prove.  You know .. ‘We’re friends.  I had her over for dinner and we had sex.’ or ‘We had sex and I loaned her ten or twenty bucks.’ or whatever.  When they got out of hand they were … prosecuted.  It was a bit different while the island was gone .. but ultimately … she’d go back to them.  I think it was the same thing that made her attack certain officers.  The largest ones.”  he sighs deeply.  “I think she has tried to commit suicide by cop … or by asshole male … for years.”

Natalie sees his looks at her and retreats into herself a bit, shrinking back into the seat. She enjoyed the look and it took her off guard. She puts her pen back to the paper, buckling down into work mode and nods with a detached expression at what he’s putting forth. His ideas are sound. “Suicide by cop or asshole….oh Kira.” She pines “I’m not going to read another note. She’s young and she has so much potential. She just doesn’t know it anymore.” Now she brings the conversation to a close, having gotten too open and too comfortable, but she has crossed the name barrier so she doesn’t retreat from that part “Thank you Marcus. You’ve been most helpful. I should get back so I can compile my notes.”

Marcus nods as she closes the conversation.  He offers her a nod.  “You’re welcome, Natalie.”  he motions the waitress over, absently.  “Dutch?”  he offers to pay his way and let her pay hers.  “And I can walk with you to the west end of the park and the Parthenon.”  he offers.  “It’s on my way home.”

Natalie pulls out her bank card “It’s just 2 coffees...let me get it. You helped me not collapse in the street with this...plus she’ll be way more heartbroken if you don’t tip than if I don’t…” She jokes as the waitress walks up with a smile all ready for Marcus. “Oh no sorry dear, it’s me you have to deal with.” She seems to be enjoying this round.

The waitress sours and pulls out her portable debit machine and  almost thrusts it at Natalie.

Natalie takes her time and slowly keys in her payment instead of tapping and then gives the girl a little nod as she’s given her slip without eye contact. Natalie stands up after she has walked away and shrugs “Since it’s on your way…” She agrees to the walk back together and heads for the door, pushing it open and holding it casually for Marcus.

Marcus hides his smirk from the waitress and then stands and leaves with Natalie.  “Thank you.”  he says as they leave, but he waits until the door is closed and they are walking to finally say.  “You embrace your inner bitch and I love it.”  he chuckles and will fall into a comfortable silence as they head down Water Street.