Chapter 42: Insanity

"Well, if we can enter a plea of insanity, you would be much better off. Right now you might be accused of attempted murder and charges could be added"

"The question is: I am the one who pulled the trigger? Don't they have a forensic team working to figure out what happened?"

"Ms. Lane, please, you have to listen to me. You could be facing one count of attempted murder on the person of Alice McCarth. You could be facing more charges for Nathan Long. If the preliminary hearing doesn't go well for us; and I doubt it will, I believe you should enter a plea of insanity.."

"Obviously, you are the one not listening to me. Alice doesn't deserve to live I don't need your services anymore. I know a far better lawyer."



"You must be joking, right?"

"Victoria, please forget my number. Forget I ever existed. I never ever wish to hear from you. Oh, no, sorry, that's not what I meant. I'm actually hoping the last I ever hear from you is when I find out you've been locked up and they've thrown away the key."

"Gary, gary! I need a lawyer."

"Yes, and a good one, I'll add."


Gary hung up. The nerves of that woman. He had just been interviewed by the detective and was heading to the hospital.



"How's Nathan?"

"He was badly injured. The doctors don't know if he'll make it. Keshia is in the room with him now. Mandy is with Alice. She's feeling guilty because she thinks Victoria came because she provoked her. I don't know how to convince her otherwise."

"What a mess. How is Keshia holding on?"

"She's a little out of it. Trying to be strong but it's getting harder to keep up the act. Also I have to keep Alice from telling Keshia she talked to Victoria. Timing isn't quite perfect."

"Speaking of which, Victoria called me asking if I could be her lawyer."

"Is she out of her mind?"

"Frankly, I think she is. Any good lawyer will tell her to plead insanity; although she just fired her lawyer for telling her to plead insanity."

"She's not getting out for a while then, is she?"

"She'd need much more than a lawyer to get out of this one. A miracle worker probably couldn't help her. Graham, I know this is not the time or the place, but you should look for counsel just in case..."

"I don't understand, why?"

"I can't assure your defense because I am a potential witness. If the police investigation proves you fired the gun that injured Nathan; they could prosecute you."

"Would they?"

"I highly doubt it but it's very much a possibility."


Graham was about to ask Gary another question when he heard a code blue call to the ICU. Keshia stepped back in the waiting room.


"They told me to step out. Please God, he has to be alright."

Chapter 41: Confession

"Graham! I arrived as soon as I could. Mandy was just starting her interrogation when I left. How is Nathan?"

"I don't know, Alice, he got out of surgery just a moment ago. Keshia is talking to the doctor as we speak. I'm worried about her."

"Yes, it must be very hard to know you might lose the one you love."

For a moment Graham wondered if Alice had any idea how it felt. He could remember so clearly when she was laying on her hospital bed after her car accident or when Victoria pointed the gun towards Alice. He knew what it felt like; he could feel Keshia's pain.

"The detective asked a lot of questions..."

"I know, I guess he wants to be able to picture as accurately as possible tonight's events."

"Yes, probably. He'll want to speak to Keshia as well."

"Naturally...I'm sorry, Alice, this small talk is just not doing it for me. Let's just hold each other."


Graham held Alice tightly. If he could have it his way, he thought, he would never let her go.

"There is something I need to tell you, Graham..."

"Honey, it'll have to wait. Keshia seems distraught. She needs us now."


Graham walked quickly towards Keshia.

"[..]next few hours will tell it all."

"But he's alive isn't he?"

"Like I said before, he's hanging by a thread but yes."

"But you'll save him, right?"


Graham put his hand over Keshia's shoulder and asked the doctor to stay. He walked her to Alice so she wouldn't be alone and went back to the doctor.

"Doctor, I don't think she is in a state of mind where she will pay attention to any of what you are saying. How bad is it?"

"The bullet caused a lot of damage. Even if he does survive, we don't know the extend of brain damage. The chances he will make it through the night are very slim. I know Mrs. Long wants to hold on to the to the hope a miracle will happen but frankly, I doubt it. She will be able to see her husband for a few minutes in a moment. If you'll excuse me, I have to leave. I'll be back a little later."

"Thanks, doctor."



"He's alive, Graham, he's alive! It's all that matters; Nathan is alive."

"Yes, he's alive Keshia."

Graham looked at Alice, They both were not sure how to react. Keshia would clearly not accept Nathan's death if he didn't make it. They had both run out of comforting words when a nurse came by to bring Keshia to Nathan's bed head.


"Graham, now that we're alone, I really need to tell you something. I don't want you to find out from anyone else."

He had never seen that look in Alice's eyes before, he didn't know what to think.

"I am responsible for all that happened tonight. I am to blame. I should be lying on that bed, not Nathan Long. That bullet was meant for me."

"Don't ever say that Alice. It's not your fault. Although you asked me to let Victoria on stage, I didn't have to. I don't know what I would've done if I had lost you. Nathan is strong. He'll make it. You cannot be held responsible for Victoria's actions."

"Even if I provoked it?"

"What do you mean, provoked it?"

"She called a few hours before we left. Desperately wanted to speak with you. I told her we were getting ready for our engagement party and to never call the house again. That if there was anything she could or should do would be to right her wrongs. She knew about the engagement because I told her. She was there because I "invited" her."

Chapter 40: The Hardest Part

Keshia hated hospitals. She hated the colors, the smell, the constant coming and going. She was all alone in a small waiting room trying to be strong; hoping if she didn't cry, it didn't make it real, that she'd wake up somewhere else. Anywhere so long as she'd be in Nathan's arms.

Two hours. She had been waiting two long excruciating hours when the door to the operating room finally opened. A young nurse stepped out. Keshia ran towards her.

"How is he? How's my husband?"

"I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to give you any information on the patient's condition, it's the hospital's policy. You'll have to wait for the doctor."

"Which doctor? I don't see any. This is a hospital and yet, I don't see any doctors. I barely see nurses! Please help me!"

Keshia was screaming. She was partly mad but mostly scared and just emotionally unstable. The nurse could feel her distress. She took her hand and invited her to take a seat.

"Listen, as soon as the surgery's over, I can assure you the doctor will come speak with you. In the meantime, you should get some sleep. You look exhausted. It may take another hour or more. I'll get you a glass of water and see if I can find a room where you can rest.

"No, thanks. You are very kind. I'd rather wait here."


Keshia opened her eyes. She didn't recall falling asleep. Graham was standing in the waiting room, his back against a wall.


"I arrived as soon as I could. I've been here about 10 minutes. I haven't heard anything yet. How is he?"

"I don't know. He's still in surgery. Why won't they tell me anything?"


Graham sat next to Keshia; she leaned her head on his shoulder as he gently stroked her hair. Keshia thought of how Nathan would do that whenever she was feeling low. Half asleep, half awake, she locked lips with Graham. Within a second; realizing what had just happened, Keshia jumped out of her seat.


"Sorry, Graham, I...sorry."


She ran outside, it was raining but she didn't care. She badly needed some air. She didn't mean to kiss Graham, for a moment she thought he was Nathan and everything was alright; her wish had come true. Keshia quietly fell on her knees and cried. Did it count with all the rain? She couldn't even tell her tears apart from the raindrops. She had promised to be strong, but that was the hardest part of it all. She got herself back together just as Graham arrived.

"I thought you were Nathan; I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it Keshia. Here, put on my jacket and come inside. You are freezing, Nathan wouldn't forgive me if I didn't look after you. The doctor asked for you; he is out of surgery."