A Paw-sible Theory

“Happy owner, happy cat. Indifferent owner, reclusive cat.”

––Chinese Proverb

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Guilty Until Proven Innocent

“You’re joking, right?”

“I wish I was, but no; I’m not joking”

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. That’s unbelievable. How did they arrive at that conclusion?”

“His lawyer, David Hunter, says the evidence against him is substantial.”

“I’m sorry; I’m having trouble processing what you’re saying. Did you say Ethan has been arrested for trying to kill me?”

They stopped talking when Maggie entered the room in a whirlwind and went straight to Alyx’s bedside. “He told you, didn’t he?”

The animosity was palpable between Bob and Maggie, as always. Bob said he had an appointment with Ethan’s lawyer and that he’d be back later to check on her and left in a hurry, almost stepping on my tail which was dangling a bit under the screen, as he stormed out of the room.

“He’s got a lot of nerve,” snarled Maggie.

“Maggie, it’s okay,” replied Alyx. “He said Ethan asked him to keep an eye on me.”

“I know; Ethan told me he was going to do that. He’s worried that since the police think they have their man, they’ve stopped looking and whoever wanted to hurt you is still out there.”

“Well, then give him a break, Maggie. I know you don’t like him. I know you think he’s a jackass for his emotional abandonment of Ethan, and I agree, but he’s trying to make up for it. After all, he did hire the attorney for Ethan’s defense. The ‘best in the county,’ meaning he didn’t come cheap.”

“Yeah, well…that wasn’t exactly his idea,” Maggie said in a hushed tone. “I knew you’d be mad when you found out,” then louder, “but that man has had an easy ride for too long.”

“He didn’t know I was struggling to make ends meet while Ethan finished college. I never asked him for financial support. And I’m not mad. You had no choice; you got stuck with the store, the clients, and the cats.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “I don’t want to talk about Bob anymore.”

“Okay, let’s not talk about Bob. What’s important is how you are?”

“They tell me I’m going to be all right; vision, hearing, and motor skills are a little sluggish, but are all working properly. I do have a horrible headache that they tell me will go away, eventually. Dr. Casey wants to keep me in the hospital for a few more days but I’m going to try to get him to discharge me tomorrow.”

Maggie didn’t comment.

“I had the strangest experience just before I opened my eyes.”

“You remember it? That’s incredible.”

“I found myself in a strange state of being. It was as if I was dreaming, but not exactly. There were split second occurrences when I felt my eyelids flicker as if given an electric charge. At first, it was just sparks of awareness, sparks that gradually spread to other areas of the brain. The sensation was that of falling asleep, that instant when consciousness gives way to unconsciousness, that place that I sometimes feel pulled to and fight to come back from, waking with a start––heart pounding.

I heard a voice and felt the warmth of a touch. Focusing on that sensation seemed to boost my ability to pull out of the darkness. Then, it ended, thrusting me into an odd twilight zone where I struggled to understand the nebulous images forming in my mind.

I saw myself as a young woman in my parents’ living room. There were colored lights and pleasant sounds. The sounds were familiar voices. The colored lights swimming in front of me organized into a continuous string wrapped around a Christmas tree.

The dream was pleasant and I didn’t want to wake up. I saw my brother with a movie camera; his wife was directing the action. She told everyone to get up and dance. “Try to look like you’re having fun,” she said. Everyone got up and pretended to dance, pretended because there was no music, and laughed for real.

That scene faded into darkness, and another picture emerged. It didn’t take as long to recognize the house that Bob and I lovingly renovated right after we got married. I was looking down at the beautiful, angelic face of a baby boy––our baby. Bob had his arm loosely draped around my shoulders, and cold as steel, his empty blue eyes cut through me to the core. I could feel my heart thudding. I fought to wake up from the nightmare, but descended into a deeper darkness instead. Suddenly, another scene emerged. This time, I was sitting on the couch with an arm around a ten-year-old boy who was crying softly while his father was trying to explain why he was moving somewhere else. Overcome with unbelievable sadness for the boy, I felt real tears streaming down my cheeks, the sadness turned to anger, and that’s when I woke-up.”

“You should write it all down before you forget it.”

“That’s why I told you. I learned that if I tell someone my dreams as soon as I wake up, I don’t forget them, and since you recorded it, I won’t forget for sure.”

“You gave us quite a scare, sweetie. I’m glad you’re going to be all right. I know Ethan will be happy to hear the news; he’s been worried about you.”

“And I’m worried about him. I didn’t see anyone or hear anything before I was hit in the head, Saturday morning,” she said, trying hard not to sound hopeless. “All I know is that I was sitting at the kitchen table waiting for you and Ethan, and the next thing, I’m in a hospital bed.” Her voice broke and she pulled a tissue from the box on her side table.

“Maggie,” Alyx said, “I’m sure Ethan didn’t do this. It’s so unfair. By keeping him in prison, they are punishing him without a trial. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

“I know what you mean. I guess the judge looked at the evidence and decided Ethan could be a threat to you, or could leave town or both.”

“Ethan wouldn’t have done either of those things because he’s innocent,” Alyx asserted in frustration.

Just then, a young man about Ethan’s age, wearing khakis, a black shirt and a striped blue, yellow and navy tie walked in.

“Ms. Hille, my name is Tony…Tony Mallory. I’m an investigator from the State Attorney’s office. I’d like to ask you some questions.”

Maggie got up to leave. Alyx put her hand out signaling her to stay. “Is it okay if my friend stays?”

“No problem, if that’s what you want.”

Maggie sat back down while Alyx told the young investigator the same story she had told Smarts and Maggie.

Then, the young man showed Alyx pictures of the pieces of pottery found on the kitchen floor. I stretched my head out from behind the screen, trying to catch a glimpse of the photos. “Just one more question, Ms. Hille. Here is a photograph of the presumed weapon used, the earthenware pot; do you recognize it? Do you remember where it was?”

“I’m sorry,” replied Alyx, “I still feel a little disoriented. I can’t quite picture it or where it might have been displayed.” She lay back on the hospital bed.

“Is this necessary? Can’t you come back tomorrow?” questioned Maggie.

“It’s all right, Maggie,” said Alyx, sitting up, “just let me focus for a moment. Ethan made several pots and I have them all over the house. Right now, I have no idea. All I see is pieces of a broken pot.” She shook her head in discouragement.