Chapter 12 — Alair Taylor

Laurens was ushered into the meeting room and made to sit at a table where a fairly young man in a grey suit, white shirt, and black tie was already seated. He was slim, with brown hair and eyes, and his features were delicate, almost feminine. Laurens suspected it must have been some young trainee sent here as a replacement, because he couldn't believe the real attorney could look like that. When the man stood up for a moment to greet him, Laurens noticed that he was also not very tall, and certainly shorter than him for at least half a head.

"Hello, Mr. Vermeulen. My name is Alair Taylor and I will be your defence attorney." the young man said in a surprisingly very masculine, low voice, not matching his appearance at all. "I have photocopies of the most important file documents here..." he continued, opening the leather briefcase, already lying down on the table.

"I'm sorry, maybe that's a stupid question... And no offence, Mr. Taylor..." Laurens interrupted. "But how old are you? And what is your experience defending someone? Because you look like a trainee that the attorney sent as a substitute because he didn't want to deal with already lost case," he added, looking at him.

"Mr. Vermeulen... I know I look inconspicuous, but I'm over 30 years old and, including my attorney apprenticeship, almost 10 years of experience working as a public defender." answered Alair Taylor, not seeming at all offended by his words. "Many times I defended people like you and they all got light sentences, because I take my work seriously and know that not all of you are psychopaths without feelings. There are many tragic stories and I don't think that someone who commits a crime because of a trauma should be punished in the same way as people who commit crimes 'just because they felt like doing it'. Therefore, don't be afraid, I will do my best to help you." he assured, and then took out a pile of documents from his briefcase. "I read the files for a long time and thoroughly, that's why I'm here today." he explained at the end.

"Are you not afraid to defend me in court?" asked Laurens. "People have already judged me and called a monster... If you defend me, it will negatively affect your opinion..." he began to say, looking at him in surprise.

"And so what?" this time Alair interrupted him. "I have been doing this for almost 10 years, if someone knows my name, will also know what I do, which is defend heavy criminals who are clearly guilty." he explained, smiling slightly. "If I cared about people's opinion, I would have changed my job long time ago." the man added with a little amusement.

"Okay, I get it." Laurens replied shortly, looking at him.

"So yeah... I read your testimony from the police station and I was especially interested in your childhood story. Although 'interested' is probably a bad word..." the lawyer broke off, but unable to find a better word, he only sighed slightly. "In any case, I think we could use that as a defence. Childhood trauma, then also betrayal of a beloved woman in adult life... Which resulted in a deep resentment towards women, especially the promiscuous ones." he exchanged one by one, turning the pages. "And since you could not show what you really feel to your mother and unfaithful girlfriend, those feelings grew and eventually the cup of bitterness was overflowed." Alair added at the end.

"You arranged it all beautifully, but will anyone buy it?" Laurens asked sourly.

"Believe me, it always works. We will tell your tragic story, put some of the blame on the whole society, we will ask where they have been when the innocent child was raped by his mother's boyfriends. Where were the neighbours or a social welfare? Sooner or later some will feel the guilt, maybe even a little sympathy." Alair replied, smiling slightly. "And to prove that you are traumatized, we will request a psychiatric examination. If the story you told the policemen is true, everything will come out in results." he concluded, clearly pleased with himself.

"Wow." that was all Laurens could answer. Seriously, he really underestimated this guy.

"Besides, I think a psychiatric examination will really come in handy." Alair continued in a slightly more serious tone. "I also read in files that you mentioned some... creatures that attacked you... and interrupted in committing your last murder." he added, looking at him significantly.

"But I really saw them... They called themselves Scarlet Angels..." Laurens began to explain, but the lawyer interrupted him with one movement of his hand.

"Yeah, yeah... Whatever. That's not important." Alair said a little impatiently. "The psychiatrists will explain whether it was a stress hallucination or a mental illness... I don't need to know the details about it, Mr. Vermeulen." he added, again focusing his eyes on the papers spread out on the table, and began collecting them together, then putting into the briefcase.

Laurens lowered his head completely, staring at the floor. Great, another person thought he was crazy.

"All I need is your signature here." Alair slid the document and pen across the tabletop toward him. "You have the right to request the replacement of your legal defender, but I would like to remind you, Mr. Vermeulen, that you will not find a better one than me." he pointed out, looking at him.

Laurens looked first at the man, then at the document, and read it several times. Finally he picked up a pen and, with the slight difficulty of being handcuffed, put his signature on the paper in the right place.

"Thank you for making the right decision, Mr. Vermeulen." Alair said cheerfully, taking the document and pen, and tucked everything in his briefcase. "See you in the courtroom," he added, rising from the chair and gesturing to the guard.

The guard walked over to the table and helped Laurens up. Alair Taylor, with briefcase in hand, adjusting his tie, walked first to the door, holding it for the guard and Laurens. When they all were in the corridor, the lawyer turned the other way, waving goodbye to them.

"He acts like some kind of psycho himself." the guard spoke up, looking at Alair as he walked away.

Laurens just smiled as he walked with this man towards his cell.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the day, Esther and Leo were taking care of their new case, but in the meantime, Leo told his partner about the incident at night in the pre-trial detention building. He quickly regretted it. Esther was much more interested in those damn Scarlet Angels Laurens Vermeulen mentioned than Leo's suspicions that this guy was clearly planning to pretend to be crazy to lighten his punishment. Unfortunately, their conversation ended in an argument once again.

Leo really didn't recognize Esther. She acted like was obsessed with this stupid legend. It was the first time he had seen her so aggressive. Even while chasing criminals, she was gentler. And now, as soon as Leo had mentioned what he really thought about the Scarlet Angels and was trying to get some sense into her head, Esther was almost throwing herself to his throat. Leo really didn't like her behaviour, but most of all, he was extremely worried, and the worst part was that didn't know how to help her. He felt powerless, and really hated this feeling, especially if it was about Esther's good. Leo was older than her, and like the real older brother, felt that if he won't help her, would be completely useless. But most of all, if something bad will happen to Esther later, it would be his fault for not helping her in time.

By the end of the day, Esther had finished paper work faster again, picking up her things quickly and leaving the office without a word. Leo sighed, resting his elbows on the desk and hiding his face in his hands. He could feel the tears coming to his eyes, but at all costs wanted to keep them from flowing. After all, Leo was a man, damn it, couldn't just break down like this. Especially since he had to be even stronger than usual now if wanted to help Esther.

Leo quickly got himself together, finished writing the report, gathered his things, got up from the desk and closed the office, turning off the lights. Then he started walking down the hall, past the cleaning lady who was in other offices.

"Hello, detective Evans. Your office is already empty? Can I clean up?" the woman asked.

Leo just nodded and walked to the lobby and then the front door.