Costa Crew 2: They Walk Among Us

Chapter 20 - Hang In There, Hidgens

"So law isn't just about presenting the facts," Lisa yelled over the roar of the plane landing. "You need to present your client as an innocent person to properly convince the jury and make them believe that everything your client says is true."

"So things like keeping your temper on the witness stand?" asked Hannah.

Lisa nodded. "And discrediting the evidence against your client. Normally that does involve discrediting the police officer leading the investigation though, so not the most honourable."

Hannah frowned. "Unless that police officer is corrupt," she mused as the plane touched down.

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "You think Rebecca had evidence planted against her?"

Hannah nodded. "I did a few months in Anti Corruption after I left MI5 and before I started voice acting. The trail of evidence is all too convenient, especially given that Becky didn't kill Amelia."

Lisa thought this over as they went to collect their luggage. Once they were clear of customs, she said, "Unless she did."

"Some defence attorney you are," muttered Hannah. 

"I haven't agreed to represent her," Lisa reminded her. "And they may hate each other to the core, but like it or not, Rebecca Hidgens and Amelia Murphy aren't so different."

Before Hannah could reply, Bruce came running towards them looking flustered. "Hannah, you need to come quickly," he said. "It's Becky. She's in Intensive Care."

"What happened?" asked Hannah.

Bruce shrugged. "Nobody's telling me anything, they aren't letting civilians in. All I know is that something happened at the prison. The hospital's crawling with cops and prison officers."

***

12 hours earlier

"You haven't answered me, DCI Drake," Hunt said coldly. "What's taking so long with this case?"

Drake stiffened. "DSU Houston's been searching for a lawyer for Miss Hidgens."

"If she can't find an attorney, you appoint one for her," Hunt growled.

"I know, sir, but I don't think her defence should be handled by just anyone," Drake said, choosing every word carefully. "In the unlikely event that Hidgens is being framed, we can't risk the attorney missing that and making a mess of things. Sir, I don't like to imagine that corrupt officers were involved in this, but…"

"There was a corrupt officer involved," interrupted Hunt. "Hidgens. Murphy was the Godfather, and when she threatened to get her revenge, Hidgens panicked and killed her. That's all there is to it. I'm giving you twenty four hours to get Hidgens a lawyer or I assign one myself. You see, Miss Beck and I are keen to get this trial out of the way and get the name Rebecca Hidgens out of the news."

"Sir, Hidgens is in intensive care because she was beaten up by her entire cell block," Drake replied. "For all we know she isn't going to make it out of there alive."

"That wouldn't have been a problem if you hadn't messed up the request for protective custody," snarled Hunt. "You want to tread carefully, Drake, or it's not just DSU Houston that'll have to hand in his badge."

Drake nodded. "Yes sir," he said before leaving Hunt's office, where he sighed and shook his head. Perhaps Paul was right. Things weren't what they used to be. 

***

Now

"What do you mean, there's no security footage?" spluttered Paul. He was pacing up and down the corridor outside Becky's room at the hospital, in full uniform along with Charlotte and Ted, anxiously awaiting news of Becky while taking out all his rage on Ewan Connelly.

A passing nurse shot him an icy glare. "Sir, you need to control yourself," she snapped. "This is a hospital."

"I have a masters in computer science, I know what a bloody hospital is," Paul replied coldly. He turned his attention back to Connelly. "So, the security cameras?"

"I'm sorry, DSU Houston, but the cameras stopped working before Hidgens entered the exercise yard," Connelly replied. "There's no way of knowing what happened in there."

"You want evidence, try the woman in there on life support!" fumed Charlotte, pointing towards the door of the ward. "She didn't end up like that by falling off the exercise bike!"

Connelly sighed. "I will try and recover the footage, but it's unlikely."

Paul slowed his pacing. "Becky could have recovered it."

"We can't give a murderer access to prison security," Connelly said.

"Innocent until proven guilty."

Paul, Charlotte, Ted and Connelly turned to the source of the voice. Hannah, Bruce and Lisa strode down the corridor towards them.

"You must be Mr Connelly," Lisa continued. "I don't approve of you referring to my client as a murderer, given that she has not yet been convicted, or indeed interrogated."

Connelly raised an eyebrow. "And who exactly are you?"

"As of the last few seconds I'm Hidgens' lawyer," Lisa replied smoothly. "I thought perhaps referring to her as my client might have given it away. I couldn't help noticing a few people in the waiting room?"

"That's her parents and my officers, DS Foster and DC Davis," Paul replied as a doctor left Becky's room. "Excuse me, is there any way we could go in now?"

"I don't have a problem with it, but the officers in there say no visitors," the doctor said, with an expression that said nothing I can do.

"At least let her parents in," pleaded Hannah. Connelly shook his head.

"She's still under arrest," he said stubbornly. "No visitors."

Seeing that Paul was about to lose his temper completely, Lisa stepped in front of Connelly. "Your guards will be there," she reasoned. "All they want to do is sit with her. She won't even be conscious. You'd be doing a favour to them, not to her. There'll be guards out here and provided you keep the window closed I don't think you need to worry about my client breaking out."

Connelly checked his watch. "Ten minutes. Go and get them."

Paul ran to the waiting room and returned with Faith and David, who shot Connelly a glare as they entered Becky's room. "Wow, they're so mad at you they didn't even notice me," muttered Lisa.

Ted forced a smile. "Having an annoying defence attorney on your side has its benefits. Provided you are on our side."

Lisa nodded. "I understand if you don't trust me, but I will fight Rebecca's corner and I am on your side."

Paul sat down and rubbed his eyes. "How long since you last slept?" asked Hannah.

Paul shrugged. "No clue."

"Over a day," said Charlotte.

"Get some sleep," Lisa instructed. "I slept on the plane, I'll stay here. Tomorrow you can tell me more about the case."

"It's fine, I don't sleep anyway," yawned Paul.

"Please go home," replied Hannah. "I'll stay here with Lisa. You need to get some rest so you can work on Becky's case tomorrow."

Paul sighed. "All right." He turned to Lisa. "Thank you."

Paul, Charlotte and Ted stood up and left the hospital, leaving Hannah and Lisa alone to begin the longest wait of their lives. "Hang in there, Hidgens," whispered Lisa. "For all our sakes."