The Evil Inside

7. The Morning Comes

     Max had fallen asleep in the chair that was located next to Max's bed. He wasn't asleep very long when there was a soft kick that jolted him awake. Max looked up and it was the district attorney from the meeting at the judge's office, Aaron Willis. He was wearing an even sharper looking suit, and had a golden smile that suggested he would be running for his bosses job sooner rather than later.

     "Good morning, Sheppard." Aaron said.

     Max sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"

     "It's close to eight in the morning." Aaron answered, "How's he doing?"

     "Not bad," Max said as he checked on his client who was still out like a light. "Let's go talk in the hallway."

     "Alright," Willis said as he watched Max get out of the chair and lead the way out.

     Once in the hallway, Max could tell by the look on the DA's face that word of what happened at the hospital the night before had gotten back to him.

     "What exactly happened here last night?" Aaron demanded.

     "The hot tempered Sheriff came here with a bad chip on his shoulder and started harassing my client." Max answered. "He roughed the guy up and tired to get him to admit to something he doesn't even remember."

     "God damn it," Aaron cussed. "This is all going to blow up in our faces if we're not careful."

     "Oh, it gets better." Max replied. "The Sheriff threatened to leak everything to the press and expose what's going on."

     Max could tell this was something he hadn't heard about yet as Willis' eyes widened a bit at the thought of this getting out.

     "We need to speak with the judge about this." Aaron declared.

     "Funny you should say that," Max replied, "I was thinking the exact same thing."

     "I'll set something up," The DA said, sighing deeply as he wasn't in the mood for this shit. "Here's my card, and my cell number is on the back. If anything like this happens again, please give me a call and I'll take care of it."

     Max took the card from Aaron. "Thanks."

     Willis paused for a moment as he looked inside the room through the small window. "It's amazing how close we are and yet so far away."

     "What do you mean?" Max asked.

     "The FBI has been hunting for the Reaper for the better part of five years." Willis answered, "There's a fifty-fifty chance the man inside that room is our guy."

     "I can understand their frustration," Max said, "But what is the reason for yours?"

     "I don't have skin in this game," Aaron replied, "I just want to make sure that none of the political fall out lands around here. The last thing we want to do is be the town that let him slip through our fingers."

     "We still have to be so careful," Max reminded the ambitious DA, "We have to be sure we really have the right guy here."

     "You don't have to lecture me about that." Aaron agreed, "I've seen my fair share of incorrect arrests and prosecutions. The whole reason law enforcement withholds certain details from the media is so that we can actually authenticate a confession. It prevents disturbed people from trying to distract us from our investigation because they want to fame and glory."

     "Right now we have no way to authenticate if this is really him." Max said, as he knew where things stood. "The last thing you want is this guy to walk away from it all free and clear."