“I’m well aware of what the time is. Even though they took my watch from me, I know the time without a clock better than most. I’m not going to sit through a trial with you. I told you, I’m guilty. I just want to get on with the sentencing and be done with you. This is a total waste of my tax dollars.” She gave him her best “I’m not fucking around with you” stare, but he only laughed. “And what, pray, do you find so funny?”
“You. Especially if you think this display of temper or whatever it is you’re trying to convey to me by your look is going to get you anywhere. I’m married to a beautiful Irish woman who has the temper to match her fine red hair and freckles. If you think to even get close to what I’ve put up with over the last thirty some years, then you’re sadly mistaken.” He laughed a little more before continuing. “Now, have a seat, Ms. Holloway, before I have you removed to be shackled. I’ve suddenly decided that having you here for this entire trial might be the most fun I’ve had in some time. Sit down.”
She was sitting before she could think about it. He had used the mojo stuff on her, which meant he wasn’t a good Christian human, such as she was. What was this world coming to when every Tom, Dick, and Harry could simply take over the jobs of humans that needed it?
They droned on about all the things she’d done. It wasn’t as if anyone in this room didn’t know she’d been caught. Most of these idiots thought she was wrong for doing something to provide for her family. People needed to get their heads out of their asses and think about the things she’d had to give up while she’d been doing the job of keeping kids off the street.
You don’t honestly think you did the right thing in this, do you? She looked around for who was speaking to her. I’m in the room with you, Hanna, but I’m not close enough to speak to you directly. I do believe that sitting next to you would be dangerous—for you, not me. I’d strangle you where you sit and not have a single thought about it.
“Who is this?” Everyone stopped talking to look at her. “There is someone here speaking to me, and I want to know who it is.”
No one can hear me, but you. You’re only making a fool of yourself—or I should say, a bigger fool of yourself—by talking about me. She asked the person again who dared to speak to her. Dares? I suppose you would find it as a cut on your personality to have someone like me speaking to you. You don’t like shifters, do you?
“They’re an abomination to the world. Where are you? I want to know who this is.” He told her not to speak aloud, or she’d never find out what they had to say. “I’ll do as I want, you bastard. Where are you?”
As I said, here in the room with you. Go ahead and speak to me aloud. They’ll only think you’re insane and lock you up in an institution someplace. I, however, don’t think you’d enjoy that overly much. The people there, the criminally insane, would have it in their heads that you’re a monster. More so than they might be. People, shifters or not, they don’t take kindly to having children killed. Especially ones so young as a month. She thought of all the things she could say to him on that score. Ah, so you’ve thought about it, have you? Well, think of this. When they put you into a room with equal criminals such as yourself, they’ll latch onto you like you’re fresh meat—a new face. You won’t be able to get away from them. Then one night, when you’re trying your best to ignore them, the staff will turn their back on the room, and you’ll end up dead. Did I tell you how much people hate your sort of murderer?
Hanna had to think about how to answer without speaking when it occurred to her to just think her answers. I don’t care what they call me. I will not be put into an insane place either. I’m not crazy. He asked her why she thought she wasn’t. I’m as sane as anyone. I needed more money than they were paying me.
I don’t think they could have paid you nearly enough for you to have stopped what you were doing. You seemed to enjoy it too much, I’d say. She didn’t have to answer—she had enjoyed some aspects of the movie-making. Why was it necessary for you to kill them off when you were finished with them? Why not allow them to be adopted instead of killing them, then burying them in the back yard as you did?
Children have no concept of keeping their mouths shut. If they’d mentioned me at all and what we were doing, then I would have been caught decades ago. He told her it sounded as if she had enjoyed that as well. Killing them? I suppose I did in some way. They were forever wanting this or that. What did they expect me to do, shit a toy out for them? As it was then, I’d have to take all the gifts they were given and sell them off. Do you have any idea how much it costs daily to feed them? More than you make in a month, I’m betting.
I’m sure you thought so. But it’s doubtful you were spending all
