"How are you feeling?" the officer asked, first looking at the wounds on my head before staring me in the eyes. I could see there was sympathy there.
"I'm ok" I replied in a soft voice, any noise in the room hurt too much, and I wanted it quiet to stop the chorus in my head.
"Lucky to be alive," he responded "the video was clear. The audio was clear. Ill be honest, I've been out here for thirty years now, and the sight of what happened made me cringe." He finished, turning away again as if he could still see the images.
"I'm not pressing charges," I said immediately, which he cut off promptly.
"It doesn't matter if you do or not. Using a weapon like that in a public place is a felony, pursued by the state itself. Therefor Conner, him being charged is out of your hands." He said.
"And the gas station?" I asked, "Do you feel like they were right for locking us in? That can't be legal"
"I can't give any legal advice outside of the assault itself, but what the gas station workers did was pretty stupid." He replied.
That was the moment I knew that I was going to attack them for what they did, locking me in with that monster. The value of wine versus the life of my wife…. the life of my own. They had to at least take responsibility for what happened to me….to us….
Two years, seven months later….
"Does the defense have anything to add before the verdict is given on this incident?" judge murphy asked, his voice filling the entire chamber.
"The defense rests." Said the little pip squeak lawyer. I had wanted to rip his glasses off and throw them for the last four mornings. Too bad we were already in court.
"Then I will give verdict on the case of Conner Mac versus the owners of Hot Shots gas station." The judge said. "After the evidence has been presented, with testimony and evidence from both sides, it is my ruling for the plaintiff in the amount of three hundred and thirty million dollars. To be paid in full," he continued on through the murmurs of surprise, "within ninety days from today, or a new court date will be set to ensure the compliance of Hot Shot Gas."
His gavel hitting the table was the only thing that made my heart start beating again. I won! It was truly a dream come true, yet I felt dull somehow. Must have been shock from the verdict and this whole incident finally being over with.
My wife was hugging me and ushering me through the doors without saying a word. She was my rock. We walked together outside to flashes of cameras from a few reporters, and a small gathering of people who had been inside. I did not recognize most of them.
"I'm so proud of you." I heard my mothers voice coming up from behind me.
She was getting older, but her beauty still held, through all that life had handed her. She said she was proud of me, but she had no idea how honored I was to be her son. Her blonde hair refused to fade all the way white, and her eyes still held the glow of a mischievous child. I knew I was in for it.
"Conner you know I am quitting my job, now right?" she said laughing hysterically and coughing a bit. Too much smoking when she was younger, but she was getting better. Now that I had money, she was one of my first concerns, but for now I would let her think it would all be trips to the beach. She didn't know I was buying her the best doctor I could find.
"Mom I know you, you're just going to find another thing to throw yourself at until your bored again." I said to her hugging her tight to me. I was always conscious of hugs, you never knew when it was the last.
"That's why I play Ark Mobile!" she said referring to a video game I had gotten us all caught up in a long time ago. We still played as family, it was our hangout spot online.
"Well we will definitely have enough amber for everyone now." I said referring to the in-game currency on Ark. You could pay cash to get items everyone was hungry to get their hands on.
"I could buy the entire game at this point." I laughed to myself.
I noticed a crowd starting to form at the entrance where we had left the court house, so I walked a bit closer to look at what the commotion was. There was a small girl laying on the ground holding an envelope. People were asking her what her name was, and if she was ok. I waited where I was, but my wife, my hero, was at the child's side in a moment. She had her sitting up looking around in moments like magic.
"You have to drink more water" Simone was telling the girl as I approached them through the crowd that was now thinning out.
The little girl said nothing but stared in my direction…. hard. It was a bit unsettling, but I asked her anyways,
"Are you ok? What happened?"
I closed the distance between us, and the little girls face wasn't one of hatred or anger, but fear. Somehow this little girl thought she knew me but was clearly upset at me getting close.
"I have this for you" she said standing to her feet and brushing Simone's helpful hands away, "I was supposed to bring it on your table inside, but I passed out when I got here." She was starting to panic again, it was in her eyes. "I hope I'm not too late, he knows I haven't eaten in days!" she shrieked, until my wife held her again while she cried quietly.
I looked her over again. She was a mess. Her shirt was torn and dirty, her shoes heavily worn down. She clearly had no socks on, her ankles were red around the ring of her shoe where it had been rubbing while she walked. She was handing me an envelope, small and brown, with her left hand. I took it from her questioningly and opened it.
"Take the Money" the note said on one side. I flipped it over to discover a picture. There was a crying woman tied up, rope in her mouth and bleeding. The note said nothing else.
"What is this?" I asked in shock. My blood had turned cold, and the world seemed frozen.
"Don't say anything here" the little girl said. Her face was all business now, and she had a glare of fight in her eyes. She reminded me of Simone, but I didn't know why. She tried to walk away.
"Wait!" I said loudly, looking around and quieting my tone, "How do you know me?" I asked, "and where the hell are you going?"
"Come with me, we won't be going far. I can't say anything, but I promise I just want to help." She finished, with a desperate look in her eyes.
"Help with what?" I asked to which she turned away and began to walk.
I was frustrated. I was rich now, and this was my first moment to breath after two and a half years, in and out of courts and doctors' offices. Here this little girl was, with a story and a picture, trying to drag my wife and I away from the only place we had felt truly safe since the incident. I had had enough.
"Look, whatever it is your doing, I'm done. I'm tired, my wife is tired. I have no idea what your problem is, but if your ok now we are leaving." I said turning away, my wife Simone in tow.
"Please don't" I heard behind me, but I wasn't turning back. She clearly needed help from police, or a shrink, and I was far from a cop and didn't need a job anymore. She was on her own. I felt sorry, but I had almost given my life fighting for complete strangers, and I wasn't about to risk myself again.
I never saw her stomp her foot. Nor did I see the man waiting for her to come back to the car which had secretly dropped her off. I thought I was free to go as I pleased, lawsuit money in hand. I f I had any idea what the money was going to do to me or my wife, I would have burned it in front of the court house and pissed on the ashes. My problems were just getting started.