We Belong Together

Chapter 19

Daryl sat in the interrogation room staring at the floor. What the fuck was going on? He couldn't figure out why he had been arrested nor why the cops thought he had anything to do with Zach's death. He didn't want to be in the same room with that snot nosed kid, let alone kill him. His main concern was Beth. He knew she was getting close to delivering and was hoping that this added stress would not affect her or the baby. Daryl started chewing on the inside of his bottom lip. The cop that was interrogating him sat in front of him, trying to get some kind of confession out of him that he couldn't give because he wasn't the one who did it. "C'mon Dixon, just fess' up and we can get out of here." The cop known as Gorman said as he locked eyes with the suspect that sat in the chair opposite from him. Daryl didn't answer but just stared at the floor. He knew that he shouldn't say anything without an attorney present. Bastards could turn it around on him and use it against him. There was a knock on the door as Gorman got out of his seat and went to the door to open it. "Hey, Gorman, this woman here says she's Dixon's attorney. You can't talk to him anymore. She wants to talk to her client." The cop named Gorman nodded and looked back over at the suspect. "You attorney is here. She wants to talk to you. Get up." Daryl didn't protest but stood up, still in handcuffs. "We're going to take you into another room so you and your attorney can talk," the cop said, as he lead him into another room and shut the door. Daryl sat there. Attorney? He didn't call an attorney and he knew that Beth didn't call one. They had no money to afford one. Just then, the door opened and in walked an attractive blonde lady in a suit carrying a thick brown leather briefcase. "Hi, Mr. Dixon, I'm Andrea Adams. Your sister-in-law called me to handle your case," the woman said as she extended her hand out to shake his. Daryl just looked at the lady. She didn't look like an attorney. She looked like she was an actress or should be on television or something but not practicing law. She was too attractive. Daryl took her hand and shook it giving her a nod. "So why don't we start with what evidence they have against you," she said as she waved her hand over to the chair across the desk as she sat down. "Wait, are you still handcuffed?" she asked. Daryl nodded. "Hold on," she said as she opened the door to get an officer. "My client is still handcuffed. He isn't a threat to me. Please be so kind as to undo them so I can talk to my client," she said as the officer came in and undid his handcuffs. Rubbing his wrists, Daryl sat back down and looked at the lady in front of him as the officer left the room. "Ok," she said, as he put on her glasses and opened her briefcase, taking out a small manila file. "It looks like they found your shop rag at the scene, with your fingerprints on it, your fingerprints were all over the house as well. Then we have the witnesses that said they saw you at Dale's Diner yesterday and that you got into an altercation with the murder victim." She glanced over at Daryl. "Do you know why they have your shop rag and your fingerprints?" Daryl stared blankly at the wall behind the woman. Then his gaze went to the blonde in the chair opposite him. "That house was my girlfriend's at one time. She lived there and her husband was away out of town. I stayed there for a few days. As far as my rag I have no idea. I know I haven't been in that house in 8 months or more," Daryl explained. The blonde attorney was still writing when she asked another question. "And Mr. Dixon, what about the altercation at the diner. Can you tell me about that?" she asked. "Yeah, kid was behind me in line, he was making some statements about my girlfriend, trying to provoke me. Then he pushed me and when I tried to get him off of me he swung at me." "My understanding from some witnesses is you threatened your girlfriend's husband. Is that true?" the attorney asked. "I guess in a way. He was saying some things about her. I told him if he laid a hand on her that I would stomp his ass." Andrea stopped her writing and looked up at her client. Clearing her throat she began to speak. "Ok, Mr. Dixon, I have to ask you this and I need for you to be completely honest with me. Did you kill your girlfriend's husband?" Daryl met her eye to eye and let out a "Hell, no!" Andrea looked at him for a moment and then nodded her head. "Ok, I believe you. So let me just be honest with you. The evidence they have against you is purely circumstantial. They don't have any indication that there was forced entry nor is there anything directly linking you to the crime except for your rag. Which you could have left there while you stayed at the house a while back. My only concern is that your girlfriend was still married to her husband and living with him at the time you were staying with her and that her husband seemed to be upset with your relationship with his wife. While that's not a crime, it doesn't make you look very good but I'm going to try my best to get these charges dropped at the preliminary hearing but there are no guarantees." Daryl met her gaze again. If there was even a slight chance he could get the charges dropped and go home to Beth it was worth it. "Fine. Just let me know what you need from me," he said. "I'll be in touch," Andrea said as she gathered up her files and put them back into her briefcase. "Hey, what...how are we going to pay you for this?" he asked looking up at the slim blonde. "Mr. Dixon, it's on me. This is a favor for your sister-in-law. Please do not worry about my fee. It's been taken care of." "Sister-in-law?" he asked a confused look on his face. "Yes, Maggie Rhee. She said she was Beth's sister." "Oh yeah, right." He said. "I'm going to get back to my office and begin working on your case. Your bond hearing will be in a day or so. I'll be with you for that as well. Sit tight. I'll try my best to get you out of here by the end of the week." Andrea got up and gathered up her briefcase as she went to the door she was let out. As she left, another officer came in the room along with Rick. "Hey Daryl, how you holding up?" he asked his friend. "Ok I guess, just worried about Beth s'all," Daryl said. "Yeah, about that. I have some news for you. Beth went into labor after you were arrested. She's fine. She's in the hospital. Oh, and congratulations are in order. You have a healthy baby boy." Rick took his phone out and showed Daryl a pic of the infant, laying in Beth's arms. Daryl just stared at the picture. He couldn't believe it. He was a father. Daryl let out a sigh. "I wanted to be there with her when she had the baby, Rick," he said as he lamented the events of the past 24 hours. "I know you did. I'm sorry. I had my doubts that you had anything to do with this but it wasn't up to me," Rick continued, "you know we got that new DA and he's hell bent on stamping out crime. He wants to run for Governer next term so he's being very aggressive with violent crime cases." Daryl looked at his friend. "I know it's not your fault, Rick. Just miss her. I know it was hard for her without me. I'd do anything for her. " Rick smilled. "We're all pulling for you, I'll keep you posted on Beth and the little one as much as I can and Maggie and Andrea are trying all they can to find out who really did this and get you out of here. Just hang in there." Rick said as he tried to assure Daryl. "Thanks, Rick. Can you give Beth a message for me?" he asked. "Sure." "Tell her I love her and I'm working on coming home to be with her and little one." Rick nodded. "Consider it done." Rick patted his friend's back and then turned to go as the other officer re-handcuffed Daryl and lead him back to his cell.