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.”

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     “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.”

     “Have you talked to him about the deal?” Willis asked.

     “I skimmed over it with him.” Max informed him, “John asked for time to think about it. I was going to get into more details about it after breakfast.”

     “I appreciate your efforts.” Willis said as he never took his eyes off the small window, “As much as I’d love to see the feds take this guy away and lock him up for the rest of his life, I’m sure they can settle for him just being off the street and not killing anymore. If the slate is really clean and he doesn’t remember anything, than the killer they’ve been looking for might truly gone.”

     Max paused for a moment. “There hasn’t been a single killing since the accident, has there?”

     “Not one.” Willis answered. “As far as we know, the three in his trunk were the last people reported missing. According to that Agent Wilson fellow, they fit the M.O. perfectly, right down to their hair colour.”

     “They probably know more about this guy than anyone in the country.” Max assumed.

     “They do,” Aaron replied with a grin. “Wilson was one of the agents that constructed his profile. He said they actually almost had him in Portland, but he slipped away. After that the closest we got to him was when we got a report of a blue car leaving Florida, the same one we found here. It’s pretty damn compelling.”

     “But all circumstantial.” Max pointed out.

     “I know,” Willis conceded. “Like I said before, the killing has stopped. He might not spend a day behind bars, but women around the country are a lot safer today then they were a few months ago.”

     “I heard he had a type.” Max said as he recalled some of the research he did the day before.

     “He does,” Aaron confirmed, “Tell me councilor, do you see any blondes in this hospital?”

     Max had to really think about it. The two times he had visited this hospital this week, he couldn’t remember seeing a single one. “No… now that you mention it, I haven’t.”

     “That’s because the feds ordered every blonde haired woman on staff here to dye their hair.” Willis answered. “I thought he was being unreasonable, but Wilson said it was for their safety. When you put it that way, offer to pay all expenses, and have it done at a professional saloon along with manicures and lunch on the agency, how could they refuse?”

     “How could any woman?” A voice called out from behind them.

     Max turned to see that Hugh had arrived. He was wearing a suit but didn’t have a tie and the dress shirt was unbuttoned at the top. Max had asked Hugh to take a cab to the hospital since he didn’t have a car to bring him in.

     “Thanks for coming in,” Max said, turning back to face Agent Wilson, “Mr. Willis, this is my partner in this case; Hugh Kessel.”

     “The very same Hugh Kessel that defended Ryan Jackson?” Aaron asked, surprised to hear the name.

     “The very same,” Hugh replied as he shook the agent’s hand.

     “I thought you were disbarred.” Aaron then added.

     Hugh smiled. “I’m just a legal consultant. I don’t work in the courtroom anymore. Max asked for my help considering the legal paradox we’re dealing with here.”

     “And what is your opinion?” Willis then asked.

     “I think our client, Mr. Doe, should take this deal and run before anyone changes their damn mind.” Hugh answered. “It’s the deal of the century, especially if this really is …”

     “Not out loud,” Max said as he interrupted, “Especially if he can hear us.”

     “You guys haven’t told him anything?” Hugh asked.

     “What’s the point?” The young DA asked. “Like you said, he’s getting the deal of the century. The last thing we want to do is provoke a recall. The less he knows about his past, the better.”

     “The fact that he might be innocent is also the reason.” Max added. “There’s no point telling him anything unless we can prove it. For all we know he might have stolen that car and had no idea of what was in the trunk. There are too many holes in this case, or what I like to call it: reasonable doubt.”

     “I get it.” Willis said as he backed away. “I hope the client takes your advice. I’d like to clean this up and get him out of town to a proper mental facility as soon as possible, preferably one out of mine and that Sheriff’s jurisdiction.”

     “Amen to that.” Hugh agreed as he opened the door. “Shall we?”

     “Alright,” Max said as he walked in behind his friend.