By reason of insanity

74

Quinn and Sierra were less than ten minutes away from the jail when a collect call came on his cell phone. The jail number. Catherine O'Rourke was going to be a high-maintenance client.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I know you're just trying to help."

She sounded better, so Quinn decided to keep it light. "I'm used to it. I represent crazy people, remember?"

"I should fit right in."

Quinn let the comment pass.

"Are you still going to bring Sierra back tonight?" Catherine asked. "I promise not to flip out on her."

At this point, Quinn wasn't so sure that tonight's visit would be a good idea. But he also felt a little guilty for what he had just put Catherine through. Maybe Sierra could help mend that rapport.

"We'll be there," he said.

That evening, Quinn registered Sierra at the front desk of the jail and took her into the visitors' room. The room looked like a dingy call center for an infomercial company-it had dozens of small kiosks in three long rows. Each kiosk had a phone and a computer screen, and tonight most of the spaces were full.

Sierra sat down at the designated kiosk and picked up the phone. Quinn stood behind her. They stared at the image of a small booth in the bowels of the jail for a few minutes until Catherine entered the booth and picked up the phone.

Catherine introduced herself and asked Sierra a few polite questions. Catherine still looked haggard to Quinn with blotchy skin and red eyes, but she was more upbeat than she had been earlier that day. She was trying hard to win Sierra's confidence.

She leaned toward the screen and kept her eyes locked on Quinn's niece. "I was at your mom's trial, Sierra. A lot of us who watched think your mom's a hero. What she did wasn't wrong. She was trying to protect you, and that's a mother's most important job."

Sierra nodded, and Quinn inched a little closer; it was difficult to hear because Sierra had the phone pressed against her ear. Quinn felt a growing queasiness from this conversation. How much of this was Catherine just trying to encourage a confused young teenager, and how much of it was the Avenger? Did Catherine's alter ego envision herself and Annie as fellow blood avengers-the furies of Greek mythology exacting vengeance on modern-day America?

"Some of the jurors voted against your mom because they felt like they had no choice-they had to follow the law. But there's a difference between law and justice. Do you understand that?"

Again, Sierra gave Catherine a small nod of the head. She seemed intensely interested in Catherine's take on the matter.

"Just because something's legal doesn't make it right. And just because something's illegal doesn't always make it wrong."

Catherine lowered her voice, making it even harder for Quinn to hear. He studied her lips as she talked, filling in the words he couldn't hear.

"I was raped in college, Sierra. Did your uncle tell you that?"

"No," Sierra murmured.

"To make it worse, the guy who raped me used to be my boyfriend. A guy I trusted."

Catherine hesitated, and Quinn could see the pain on her face.

"For a while, Sierra, I couldn't trust any men. But I eventually learned that not all men are the same. There are some really good men in this world… and your uncle's one of them."

"I know," said Sierra.

"I guess what I'm saying is that your stepdad was an awful man, Sierra. And I know he did some awful things. But don't let him keep hurting you now by making you hate other people. I'm not asking you to forgive him, because honestly, I don't think I'll ever forgive the man who raped me. But you can't let your stepfather control your life by making you hate other people. That was my mistake for too many years." Catherine paused, swallowing hard. "Does that make any sense, Sierra?"

"I think so."

"Good," Catherine said, speaking a little louder and more confidently. "Some people think I'm some kind of medium because I have these visions. Well… that's pretty ridiculous if you know me. But I am a good judge of character. I see strength in your eyes and a great deal of love for your mom. She needs you to be strong now; do you know that?"

Sierra nodded, keeping her eyes on the screen.

"Your Uncle Quinn's going to win that case, Sierra, and your mom is doing better in jail than I am. She's a lot stronger. A lot more together. But she's counting on you to do your part and be strong too. Can you do that?"

Sierra shrugged. "I guess so."

The response seemed noncommittal, but Quinn sensed a whole lot more going on. He could almost see willpower flowing from Catherine to Sierra, from one victim to another. While listening to Catherine talk so convincingly about forgiveness and strength of character, it was hard to continue thinking of her as a deranged psychotic. At the start of the conversation, she had seemed to fit the mold. But now, she just looked like a wounded victim. Maybe that was the whole point-two personalities in one body.

"I'm sorry I sound so dramatic," Catherine said. "Next time, we can just talk about American Idol or something. I get to watch a lot of TV in here."

"I hope my uncle wins your case," Sierra said.

"I'm sure he will," Catherine said, stealing a quick glance at Quinn. "If he can keep his client under control."