She felt her body tingle all over as she stared at the new couple. It was odd. She didn't' realize just how much she wanted to be with him until it seemed as though she would never be with him again. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she turned and gave Nora a tight smile.

"How are you doing kid?"

She simply shrugged. "I know that I should be over this. I mean this isn't anything new. I knew that John and I were over... at least in theory I knew... but I guess seeing them together... announcing their engagement... it's just... it's final."

"I know that it's hard but you know you're better off." Nora was trying to be helpful. She wanted to be there for her friend. And in all truth she really did believe that Evangeline was too good for the introversive detective. But the heart didn't always understand the mind. Sometimes the heart just wanted what it wanted and there was no reasoning with it.

"Yeah... so much better off... if that's true then why do I feel so empty without him in my life?" She asked honestly. She didn't understand how you could be better off without someone when the time that you were with that person was one of the happiest times of your life.

"You just need time." Was Nora's answer.

She watched the couple from across the room. Natalie basking in the afterglow of finally getting what she wanted and John by her side like the white knight he so desperately wanted and needed to be. She exhaled a deep breath, feeling her mind and body grow tired with just looking at them. Downing the rest of the complimentary champagne that was being thrown around like water she set her glass down on the table, grabbed her purse and headed out onto the terrace. "I need air." Was her only response before she exited.

Across the room...

He could feel her eyes on him and it took everything in himself not to acknowledge her presence. Would it always be this way? Would he always be able to know where she was like it was second nature? He swallowed hard as he smiled at something Vicki said but he wasn't really paying attention. It was Natalie's hand in his that kept him rooted to the spot beside her. Looking up he saw her exit out into the night and felt the pull to go to her.

Turning to Natalie he motioned that he would be right back. She gave him a look of concern but he quickly dispelled it with a kiss on her cheek and then he was gone.

Meanwhile...

She felt the cool winter breeze blow across her skin and wished she had brought her jacket with her. But she had been in flight mode when she left and wasn't thinking straight. But now that she was faced with the harsh weather she felt this uncontrollable urge to go back for it and yet she couldn't look at the happy couple anymore.

The feel of satin on her bare shoulders made her slightly jump. Turning she smiled at Todd as he gave her arms a gentle rub before coming to stand beside her.

"Hey... I didn't think you would be at this farce!" He remarked resting his arms on the railing.

"I was actually having dinner with a friend when they came in and blocked the exit. I thought it would look bad if I just ran for the nearest escape route... So I stayed. What about you? What are you doing here?" She asked.

He shrugged. "I wasn't going to... but it's important to Vicki and well..." He let the sentence trail off both of them knowing that he would do anything for her.

"Walk over hot coals..." She stated absently.

"Yeah... whatever. Don't let her know that. She might use it against me." He sighed as he rubbed his hands together. "So... are you going to do that catty woman thing that you women do?" He asked.

"What?" She asked.

"Oh don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. You know that thing that you women do! Don't act naive!"

"First off... I do know what you're talking about but the fact that you thought I would resort to something like that... well it's sad and beneath me!"

"I agree... I also have no idea what that guy was thinking! But then again I don't think much of detectives in the first place. Why you ever thought he could keep up with someone like you is beyond me. I mean first off you're way too smart for him."

"You think the bottom of my shoe is way too smart for him."

He shrugged. "I'm not denying it."

"Todd you know you don't have to bash him just because things didn't work out between us... although I do appreciate it."

"Hey don't try and make me out to be a nice guy. I would insult the guy even if he were your betrothed!"

"Well it's always nice to know that you're consistent." She stated with a smirk.

"I do my best."

There was a moment of general silence before he spoke again. "You know if you want... I can have him taken care of... no one would have to know." He stated.

She sighed. "First off I'm a lawyer and that would be illegal, second Natalie would be crushed. I don't think her losing someone she loves twice would be good and third... having said that... I am thankful that you care so much." Leaning in she knocked her shoulder into his and gave him a genuine smile.

Reaching out he brushed his fingers through her hair and sighed looking over her face. "You know... If I didn't have Blair and two kids..."

"Yeah... yeah... yeah... that's what all the great guys that are unavailable say to me." She laughed trying to lighten the mood. The sound of John clearing his throat made them both look up.

She tensed up on instinct and Todd simply sighed in agitation. But John ignored him and continued to stare at her... and her back at him almost as if without consent. When Todd went to move she reached out and grabbed his hand. Looking down he nodded. "If you want... I can stay." He stated.

She stood there for a moment and then turned to look at him. Staring him in the eyes she sighed. "No... no I'm okay... I want to congratulate him... I owe him that."

"No you don't." He stated firmly looking her in the eyes and meaning it.

She sighed... "I owe it to myself to be able to do this... I want to."

"Whatever." He remarked before walking away. Went he got to John he simply sighed. "No backsies!" Was all he said before going back inside.

They stood there for a moment staring at each other from opposite sides of the terrace before Evangeline broke the silence. "I guess congratulations are in order... I don't have anymore champagne though... left my glass inside."

Walking over to her he put his hands in his pockets and stood stationary in front of her.

She felt her stomach do flip flops as he approached her and wanted desperately to call Todd back. She wondered if she screamed if someone would come for her. But that would be too damn dramatic.

"How are you?" He asked and instantly felt like an idiot. "Wait... I didn't mean to ask..."

"I feel good... don't I look good?" She questioned.

He nodded. "You look beautiful."

"Not like someone who got her heart broken." She stated with a small smile.

"Evangeline..." He began but she shook her head.

"Don't... I don't want to do that... I really don't." She remarked tiredly. "I really am happy for you. I never thought that you would get married again... I mean I thought that you would but... I mean... well... okay you really should stop me from putting my foot further down my throat." She stated with a soft laugh.

"I know what you mean." He remarked.

"Do you?" She asked seriously. "I mean do you really know what I was going to say?"

He hesitated only for a moment. Not because he didn't know but because he wasn't sure that he should go there. "You thought that you and I might..."

She nodded. "Is it really that hard to say?"

"No... not at all. There was a time when I thought that you and I might take that route."

"No you didn't."

"Yes...I did. You know I think a lot of the reason why we didn't make it was because of all the things that weren't said."

"Whose fault is that?" She muttered.

"Mine... I suppose... but yours too."

"I was always honest with you. I always told you how I felt and what I was thinking."

"Liar."

She stood there for a moment in shock. The way he just called her a liar as if it were okay to do so. As though he were right to do so.

"Excuse me? I think you need to back up detective!"

"Oh don't try and deny it. You think that I didn't have feelings for you? You think that the only reason why I came to your woman of the year awards ceremony was for Natalie..."

"I never said..." She began but he kept talking.

"I came there for you! I came that night to support you and be there for you because I loved you!"

"You what?"

"And the fact that you thought I would do that to you. That I could be that way to you... Do you know how that made me feel?"

"Wait a damn minute! Where are you getting this? How do you even know about what I was thinking that night?" She questioned.

"Do you deny it?" He retorted. When she didn't reply he nodded. "You see... you always want what you want when you want it. I had so many things that I wanted to tell you that night... so many things that I wanted to share with you. Even after you were kidnapped and we found you... I know that I didn't do what you thought I should but..."

"NO! I know you did what you had to do."

"Do you? I mean you say that but do you believe that?" He asked honestly. "Because I don't think you mean it. You say it but I think you put more weight on what happened that night then you want to admit."

"What... what do you want me to say?"

"The truth! I want the truth! I mean what else is there to lose? Talk to me and tell me. Stop trying to be the noble, honorable one and be angry and upset if that's what you want damnit because if that's the truth then be that! But stop walking around here trying to be a damn martyr it's not working for you! I mean look where it's got you!"

"Go to hell! I don't want to martyr myself. That's not what this is about!"

"Then spell it out for me! Talk to me."

"I... I... was hurt and angry... and..."

"and disappointed." He offered.

She shook her head trying to dry her eyes. "No... no I wasn't that. I wasn't disappointed... I was... I was... scared."

"Scared.... of what?"

"Of... everything. I was scared of losing you... I was scared of the way you could make my heart stop just by looking at me. Or the way I could feel you in the room before I saw you. I was scared of the way every time I looked into my future you were always right there... you were in my future John and I never knew if I was in yours... or if you even thought about your future..."

"Why didn't you just ask me?"

"When? When should I have asked you? We were either ripping each other's clothes off or in this transitional phase and I didn't want to press any issues."

"That's not an excuse... that's not a reason not to talk to me... not when you always wanted me to talk to you. You can't have it all be one sided... just because you say 'I love you' first doesn't mean that you get to stand on the sidelines for everything that happens after that."

Leaning her back into the railing she stared at him. Exhaling deeply she stared down at her feet trying to concentrate on anything other than the feeling in her stomach. "You're right." Inhaling a deep breath she raised her chin to the sky and let out a small humorless laugh. "God why... why is this happening to me?" She felt him come to stand beside her resting his hands on the railing and looking over at her profile. Feeling his eyes on her she turned to him. "I really want to blame you for everything.... I mean do you know how much easier it is to be able to feel the way I do if I can just say that you are the sole reason why we aren't together anymore?"

Laughing slightly on an exhalation of breath he nodded. "Is it wrong for me to say that I'm glad you can't blame me for everything?"

She felt a small smile tug at her lips. "You are still at fault."

"I know that."

"BUT! I know that I did my share of mistakes... more than I want to admit right now... but I do know."

There was a silence that followed as they each thought back on their relationship and how it could have been changed.

"When you were hypnotized.... you were saying all the things that you were thinking that night of the Women Award's Dinner..." She looked over at him not understanding. "We started from the moment right before you were grabbed... I guess you were in the wings on stage.... looking over your speech and you were nervous."

"I know... I remember."

"Yeah well... while you were in that trance or whatever you told the doctor what you felt that night... what you were thinking... about everything... about me... Natalie... that warped thing of a triangle that we were in." When he saw recognition light up in her eyes he nodded and then turned to look out into the vast night. "Do you have any idea how that made me feel? Hearing you doubt me like that... I mean to hear you think that..."

"What was I suppose to think? I mean you're not into things like that... and she was being threatened and you just offered to go with me. What was I to think?"

"You were to think that it was your night... It was your night and I was your man! I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to share in your joy!"

"You went there to protect Natalie! Don't lie to me!"

"I'm a cop, Evangeline! I'm on duty every hour of every day! I may have been looking out for danger but the reason why I was there was for you! I went there because I wanted to listen to your speech. I wanted to see you smile and I wanted to be the one that you came to when you walked off that stage. I wanted to tell you that I loved you... that Loved where we were going... and what it could lead to! I wanted to share those things with you."

"It's so easy to say those things now! Now that it doesn't matter anymore." She remarked softly.

"That's a lie and you know it." He sighed. "Do you know why I'm with Natalie?"

"Because she needs you to save her and you love doing it?" She offered.

"No... because she allows me to take care of her."

"I don't need to be rescued."

"That's not what I said."

"It's the same thing!"

"No it's not damnit! That's it! That's what I'm talking about. You think that allowing me to do things for you, is allowing me to take over your life. I'm not trying to ride in on my white horse and save you. I just want you to let me be there for you every once in a while. I want to know that you need me but you can't allow yourself to need anyone! You think that you have to face everything on your own and in a relationship that's not the way it works. You're always telling me that you need to know how I feel... that you need to hear the words well this is what I need. I don't need to rescue you Evangeline, I just need to know that I'm needed by you."

"You were needed... you were so needed. But you can't expect me to just count on you... not when every time I turn around you're running behind Natalie... telling her things like 'I love you'."

"I never told Natalie..."

"Exact phrasing isn't the issue. I don't want to go around with you about that. What I do want is to get this straight once and for all so we both can walk away from it with no misunderstandings between us." She stated so tired of being stuck in this limbo that they were in. She hated it. It was like walking a damn tight rope! "I just want to know... was there ever a time that you didn't doubt our relationship?"

He stared at her for a long time... "The day that you were leaving to make that speech at your old college... we were standing on the platform waiting for your train, and we were talking... you looked up at me and smiled and there was so much light in your eyes... and for that moment... I knew in my heart that you and I were going to make it."

She didn't even feel the tears on her cheeks until he reached out and wiped one away. She exhaled deeply as she felt his hand massage she flesh of her cheek. Closing her eyes she just allowed herself to be in the moment. "Why can't I stop loving you?" She asked softly.

The words were so soft and so sudden... and they came as such a surprise to him. He wasn't even sure why they were a surprise. It wasn't as if he didn't know that she loved him, she said it more than once. And yet for some reason he believed that she had stopped.. As though she could just turn her emotions on and off just at whim. As if once something was decided then that was the way it would be. Perhaps that was because that was the way she handled life. It was always all or nothing with her and although that was what turned him on it was also their downfall... he wasn't a man that could do all or nothing... not anymore... not like this.

"Maybe for the same reason why I can't stop thinking about what could have happened for us." He whispered hoarsely before grabbing her chin and directing her lips towards his mouth. The kiss was insistent and urgent much like their relationship. There was this desperate need to be close... as close as possible. And both of them could feel the heat between them... the passion that would never go away.

She felt as he moved his hand from her chin to the back of her neck as the other hand encircled her waist and pulled her body to his. Running his fingers through the back of her hair he took in her breath... her scent... her very being.

And then just as quickly as it began it was over. She pushed him away placing her fingertips to her lips. They still tingled. She looked up at him with sad eyes. "Don't..." The word felt like it was being ripped from her body.

"I don't know why... I shouldn't have..."

"No you shouldn't have... We have to... we have to stop this." She gestured between them to emphasize her point. "This thing between us... as strong as it is... it's not going to change anything... I'm not ready to... and you... you can't." She remarked with a sad smile.

Placing his hands on his hips he looked down at his own feet shaking his head slightly. "You're right... I'm sorry... I really am."

"Me too." She whispered.

"I'm going to uh...I'm going to go back inside." He gestured with his hand already taking a step towards the door.

"I'll be there... in a minute." She mumbled practically incoherently turning away from him. Bracing herself on the railing she held onto for dear life. She listened for his  retreat and could only bow her head once he was gone. The tears were on her cheeks, the sobs filling up her throat. There she remained...

Be Not Nobody 

Chapter Two: A Cell Confession 

A few weeks later…

“…so I’ve been having this dream lately where I’m driving down this long stretch of road and it goes on forever you know. Which is weird because somehow I know that there is an end but I just can’t see it; and then the car just stops… right there in the middle of the road. I get out, you know to check under the hood, when a car comes out of nowhere and just passes my right by. I mean the guy must be going at least 90 and I can feel the wind on my face so his car must have been right by me. I look around to see if anyone else saw the guy and here comes another car and then another! Suddenly there is just a never ending stream of them just whizzing by. When it stops it’s suddenly really dark and I’m alone in the middle of nowhere. I get to the front of the car to pop the hood but it won’t open… it’s just… stuck.” She finished quietly looking over her shoulder at the woman sitting in a plush deep burgundy armchair steadily writing something down. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m analyzing… I’m judging you!” The other woman smiled good-naturedly as she felt a soft pillow hit her in the back of the head. “What; you’re obviously here because you want me to otherwise you wouldn’t have just shown up on my doorstep in the middle of a work day rattling on about dreams and whatnot!” She reasoned.

“I came here to talk with my cousin, Lainey, not to be picked apart by her alter-ego the psychiatrist!” She shot back crossing her arms over her chest. There was beat before she spoke again. “So what does it mean?” She asked trying to hold back her smile.

Shaking her head slightly she motioned for the chair across from her own. “Take a seat… this could take a while.” She quipped.

Evangeline sat down in front of her feeling as though she were going under a microscope. She wasn’t even sure what possessed her to seek out Lainey. It had been quite a few months since they had spoken and even longer since they had seen each other. It was the consequence of the lives they had chosen for themselves. Sure they were successful at what they did but it often meant that the overabundance of achievements in their work life meant that the personal one was deprived. In fact, if Evangeline had to guess her cousin hadn’t been on a date since she started her freshman year of college.

“Okay… now first I have a few questions for you; you said that you were driving… how fast were you going?”

She raised her brow in confusion. “I don’t know. I wasn’t looking at the speedometer!” She remarked. “Why?”

“Take a guess.” She insisted. “You mentioned that the other cars were going at least 90… now you were ahead of them… at least at first right… so that means you must have been going faster than that right?” She reasoned.

“Yeah I suppose.” Her brow was furrowed in confusion.

“Okay… now when your car stalled and you got out you said that you wanted to check under the hood… did you have any idea what you were looking for?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know…”

“I mean I’ve known you all your life and never once have you been mechanically inclined. So why would you think for a moment that you would know anything about your own vehicle?”

“It was a dream! My dream-self may have known something about cars!” She shot back.

“Your ‘dream-self’ couldn’t even pop the hood!” She pointed out not to be deterred by Evangeline’s growing agitation. “Now shut-up and let me finish!”

“Do you talk this way with all your patients?”

“When those patients are relatives; yes. It’s my right.”

“You’re right?” She asked.

“Yes… it’s written in the degree I received.” She pointed over her shoulder at the paper framed right above her desk. “It’s in the fine print… most people don’t notice. It works out best that way!” She smiled.

Shaking her head slightly she let her elbows come to rest on her knees as she waited. “Okay doctor… let me have it.”

“Well, dreams can mean a multitude of things… representation is subjective but if I had to take a guess… I would say that the car was a representation of your life… the track that you’ve taken and your speed if you will signifies you being on the fast track. I mean you were flying weren’t you?” When Evangeline nodded as response she continued. “Now when you came to a stop or a halt if you will this represents something in your own life that has come to a halt… a blockade if you will. No rhyme or reason just an unexplainable halt. You obviously are aware that there is a problem and if the car is a representation of you… and you were trying to look under your hood then that means…” She trailed off.

“… that there’s something wrong with me,” she remarked softly.

“Not necessarily… it just means that you ‘feel’ that there is something wrong with you.” She clarified. “I mean have there been any drastic changes in your life recently that would prompt you to feel this way?”

Evangeline hesitated about to make a confession when there was a sharp knock at Lainey’s door before it was opened. A tall blonde woman appeared looking disheveled and somewhat irritable.

“Lainey I really need to speak with you.”

Taking a stand she sighed. “Mrs. Corinthos I told you that I would be more than happy to meet with you at 2.”

“I know… I know but I really need to talk to you before I go off and do something crazy!” Carly stated already walking over the threshold.

“Well I’m with a patient at the moment so you’ll have to wait.” Lainey stated.

Carly looked over her shoulder at Evangeline for the first time seeming to just notice her present. “What… her?” She asked. “She doesn’t look like she needs a shrink!”

“I don’t know if I should be insulted or flattered.” She muttered taking a stand.

“No offense… I’m just saying you look pretty well put together.” Turning to Lainey she sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. “I on the other hand need your help!” She remarked somewhat desperately already beginning to shed her coat.

Before another word could be said Evangeline found that her phone was ringing. “Evangeline Williamson… he’s been what?! Just slow down Blair and listen to me… don’t let him say anything… I’m on my way!” She clipped into the phone ignoring the curious stares from both women in the room. “I have to go.”

“Evangeline… we’re not done here.”

“I’ll come back… Besides I think I may have just found the answer to what’s going on under my hood.” She smiled throwing her coat over her forearm. “It was a pleasure meeting you Mrs. Corinthos.” She waved already out the door.

Sighing absently she made her way to the elevator… perhaps this could be the answer that she was looking for… the jump start to her life… in more ways than one.

A few hours later…

He heard the click of heels across the cemented floor before he saw her. Looking up he stared her expression was impassive.

“They sent you?” Todd asked after a moment.

She raised an eyebrow at his demeanor. He looked worn down and exhausted. She almost felt sorry for him… almost.

“They tell me that you’re here on murder charges… Margaret Cochran… and her unborn child.”

“That’s what they say.” He quipped. “So what… you’re here to defend me?”

“That depends… I don’t defend baby killers.” She snapped back. When she had first gotten the phone call from Blair stating that Todd had been arrested she was more than concerned. Hell she dropped everything and came flying back to come to his defense. Not that his wife would have had it any other way.  It wasn’t until she had gotten on the plane and started reading through emails that she saw exactly what was being reported. He was being brought up on 2 accounts of murder… one for Margaret… the other for her unborn baby and that did not sit right with her.

“So then you think that I’m guilty? Then get out!” He snapped shrugging her off walking back to the bunk-beds and leaning against them.

“Did you do it?”

“Do you really think I could?” He asked.

She shrugged slightly. “I’m not sure but I’m not taking the case unless you can prove to me that you didn’t!” She snapped back.

“I thought that’s why people hired lawyers… isn’t that your job?” He smirked seeing that she wasn’t amused.

“Don’t toy with me Todd. I mean you’re facing the death penalty! Do you understand that? Do you get that if they convict you… you’re not going to Statesville, you’re going to be put to death! Now stop messing around and answer the damn question!” She demanded.

“What if I did huh?! Then what? You going to drop me and go side with the prosecution?” He challenged. “Maybe you might be able to give Nora some pointers!”

“Did you do this?” She insisted

“Why do you care?” He shot back. “You never cared before if someone was guilty! You defended Mitch Lawrence and that guy was as bad as they come! He raped Viki and you still went to bat for him! So why is my innocence so important to you Evangeline? Why do you give a damn?! Margaret was a lying, manipulative bitch who deserved to die. So what do you care if she’s out of the way?” He shouted losing his self-control.

“Because I’m pregnant you jackass!” She shot back unable to help herself. It was the first time she had ever said the words out loud and even now they shocked her… but not as much as his next response.

He stared at her for a moment looking from her stomach to her eyes and then back to her stomach before responding.  “Is it mine?”

Be Not Nobody 

Chapter Three: Unspoken Truth 

She stared at him for a moment her eyes unblinking, as if perhaps she heard him wrong… “I’m sorry… is what yours?” She asked. There was a slight quirk at the corners of her lips that she fought against as she stared him in the eyes.

“You said that you’re pregnant… I’m asking if…”

“Unless there was some kind of twisted divine intervention how in the hell could this baby be yours Todd?!” She asked feeling the slight laugh stick in her throat. “I mean I know you’ve been locked up but have they been slipping you something through these bars that you’re not telling me about?”

He gave her that trademark smirk as he took a stand and walked up to the metal bars separating them. Reaching out he wrapped his fingers around hers in such a tender fashion that it caught her off guard. “I guess what I should have asked is… do you want this baby to be mine?” His stare was intense and his intention was unquestionable. What he was offering… what he was willing to do for her in the midst of everything that was going on, was very clear.

“You would claim my baby if I asked you to?” She asked softly looking down at his hand covering her own. She already knew the answer. “You don’t even know who this baby belongs to.” She remarked.

“It belongs to you. This is your baby…” He replied adamantly. The conviction in his voice was so strong that it caught her off guard. “This is your child…everything else is just semantics.” He shrugged off with that smile.

“I’m not even sure what I’m going to do yet… I mean I haven’t even decided if…”

His eyes shifted to her midsection and she found herself rubbing her stomach almost instantly. There was a ghost of a smile already on his lips. “You’ve already decided… you’ll have it. You want it.” The statement was so simple… so true. The nonchalance in his voice was throwing her for a loop. He was so sure…

“I can’t be a single mother… I work all the time and…”

“I’ve already said I’ll help you.”

She shook her head. “Todd… this could… this would destroy your family.”

“My family is indestructible. Look at all the things we’ve been through. Having a baby won’t change much… I mean Blair will probably give you the cold shoulder for a while. You might want to sleep with one eye open too.” He stated with a dark chuckle not realizing just how wrong he was about his own family.

“Even if I keep her husband off of death row,” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

He stared at her for a moment. “I’m not doing this so you will take my case.” He responded seriously.

“I know that.” She sighed. “You didn’t kill Margaret. I don’t think you could… I know that you couldn’t. You may have wanted to… you may have thought about it and even seriously contemplated doing it… but I don’t think you would have… not while she was pregnant.” Running her free hand through her hair she sighed looking away from him for a moment. “You are a lot of things Todd Manning… but you’re not a baby killer.”

He took a moment before replying. “Not that I’m complaining… but what convinced you?”

“I always knew that you didn’t do it… I guess I just wanted to hear you say it.”

“But I didn’t say it.”

“Yes you did… not out loud but your eyes… your eyes told me the truth.”

“Well that’s a first!” he quipped.

“Why would you do this for me?” She asked suddenly.

He shrugged. “Because you’re my lawyer… because you’re my friend. And let’s be honest… I’m in short supply of both when you think about it. I really can’t afford to lose either.”

She smiled albeit teary and emotional. “Do you even want to know who the father is?” She questioned.

“I am the father.” He stated.

She shook her head. “Let’s not… Let’s not go there. I mean… I just… let’s not think about going there just yet… okay?” She exhaled a deep breath. She really didn’t want to have to go that route if she could prevent it. It was bound to get complicated and she really wasn’t up for taking on Blair Manning along with an entire legal system trying to get Todd out of this mess. One problem at a time. “Let’s focus on you right now… and first thing is first… I’m going upstairs to negotiate your bail. Once that’s been taken care of we can work on getting you cleared of these charges and if we’re lucky… find out who really murdered Margaret and her baby.”

“Good luck with that… haven’t you heard?” He asked seeing the questionable look in her eyes.

“No… what?”

“Oh man… you don’t know do you? They’re claiming I murdered her… but the astute detectives can’t even find a body. A few bloody tatters found in a stream and suddenly I’m just a convicted baby killer… there’s no body Evangeline. Who knows… there may not be a murder!”

Be Not Nobody 

Chapter Four: Round for Round 

“How do you lock someone up for murder when there isn’t an actual body?!” 

Bo and John both looked up from the paperwork in front of them and stared at the woman in the doorway. She stared back and forth between them and gave them a slight shake of her head as she crossed the threshold. “Evangeline... I see you’ve been speaking with Todd.” Bo sighed walking behind his desk and placing the papers down. 

She gave him a tight smile before turning her eyes on John. “I can only assume you have something to do with this.” 

“If you mean bringing in Manning… then yes; I was the one that brought him in.” 

“On what grounds?” 

“We just wanted to ask him a few questions and…” John began when Evangeline cut him off. 

“…without legal representation.” 

He raised an eyebrow. “We just wanted him to answer a few questions. We weren’t arresting him!” 

“Then why is he locked up in a cell?” 

“Because he decided to threaten an officer of the law!” He shot back. 

“Oh that’s such a cop out and you know it!” 

“Hey! Calm down!” Bo yelled to the both of them. “Now if you both are done acting like children perhaps we can get back to what’s important.” Bo sighed. “Now to answer your question Evangeline; no Todd is not under arrest. We put him in lock up when he refused to cooperate with an ongoing investigation. We went to the penthouse to ask him a couple of questions… without legal representation and things got a little out of hand.” 

“A little… he threw a printer at one of the officers… I’m sure he failed to mention that didn’t he?” 

She rolled her eyes not to be deterred from the real issue. “The fact still remains that you attempted to retrieve information from my client without his lawyer present! What right did you have to speak with him in the first place?” 

“What right?! Are you kidding me?!!!”  

“JOHN!” Bo warned but the detective was on a roll. 

“The guy has been walking around with the words ‘I’m going to kill Margaret Cochran’ tattooed to his forehead and then suddenly she comes up missing and the only we can recover are some blood stained clothing in the dumpster behind the building at the Sun! That’s what right we had!”

“Do you even hear yourself when you talk?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You just said she came up missing… missing gentlemen! No physical body has been recovered not to mention you don’t think it’s a bit odd that you recover these bloodstained clothes in the dumpster behind my client’s place of business? None of this seems a little, oh I don’t know, coincidental, even for the both of you?”

“Which is why we just went to ask him a few questions; he was the one that escalated the situation into World War III.”

She nodded conceding his point. “Okay I will agree with that… but may I ask, who else at The Sun have you questioned since these clothes have been recovered?” She asked.

Bo raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I mean who else have you asked questions to other than Todd? There are at least a hundred people that work at the Sun not to mention cleaning staff, vending employees… I mean we’re talking a lot of different people… you said this was an ongoing investigation so who else have you talked to other than my client?” When she was met with silence she once again graced them with that tight smile that had John’s eyes rolling. “Exactly what I thought; this ongoing investigation is starting to look a lot like a witch hunt and I don’t like it! So I highly advise someone gets downstairs and releases Todd before I tie this whole department up in legal tape!” She snapped.

“Just hold on a sec!” John shouted.

“No you hold on a sec detective!” She shot back. She was just about to go into round two when the floor felt as if it bottomed out from her feet, there was a sudden flash of bright light and then everything went dark…