THE MYSTERIOUS PROTÉGE

SIX

“What in God’s name is this?” I asked the sleepy Liane once she opened the door.

“This couldn’t wait till tomorrow morning?” Liane asked me without looking at the photo.

I barged into her house, “No it couldn’t.” I said angrily, “this alone could ruin our entire case.” I said with a sigh, this lady didn’t know the night I had. I thought I would be in bed by now after having a little work out or a warm bath but instead here I was trying to help some ungrateful, rich broad get all the money she could from her cheating husband.

Liane grabbed the picture from my hands and looked at it making her eyes grow wide, “this isn’t me. I never cheat on my husband!” She said defensively looking at me then back at the photo.

I grabbed the photo from her, “I’ll take care of this.” I said walking out of the house.

“How?” Liane asked as she followed me, “how will you take care of it?!” She yelled after me but I didn’t have time to explain, I was going to be having a long night.

I knew a person who would help me know whether the photo was real or doctored, what I wasn’t sure about was whether or not he would be able to do it in time before I had to go to court with unsure of what to expect from Neil. I’m sure he’ll definitely be using that against Liane but I wasn’t going to let him.

I called Barry, the tech expert, “I need your expertise.” I said when he picked up.

“You know where to find me.” He said then hanged up. That was Barry indeed, he had this paranoid thing where he thought that the government was watching him or that they were out to get him. I wouldn’t blame him though, the kind of people he helps, the government would definitely be wanting to have a conversation with him. But at the moment that wasn’t important, I needed him to prove to me that the photo was authentic.

I got to his little hide out and he had a pretty high-tech security system, “Barry, long time no see.” I said when I finally managed to get to him.

“I haven’t seen you since you decided to stop keeping tabs on your parents.” Barry said, “but they’re doing great, I keep an eye out for you on them.”

“Of course, you do. Thank you, Barry.” I said I couldn’t initiate any physical contact with him because he didn’t like to be touched.

“What brings you back here?” Barry asked as he walked back to his station, “it must be something really important to risk being arrested and thrown into a black site somewhere.”

“It’s just my career on the line.” I said taking out the photo, “I would like to know how authentic this photo is.” I handed it to him.

“Really?” Barry asked with a raised eyebrow.

“You really under estimate my capabilities Dahlia and that offends me.” Barry said sitting down with the picture.

“How long would it take?” I asked.

“Give me 10 minutes. Make yourself comfortable.” Barry said but I didn’t want to sit down. I wanted to be doing anything else but this.

“Or not.” Barry said and I quickly moved to stand beside him.

“What did you find?” I asked eagerly, “is it authentic?” I asked.

“No, it’s not.” Barry said.

I shrieked, scaring him, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I apologized, “how do you know it’s not authentic and is there a way of proving it?” I asked.

“Well, whoever did the photo alteration was really good. They used a photo that was hard to track and it was hidden in the deep web but I managed to find it.” He said displaying the actual photo, as though my stars were aligned, was date and time stamped.

“I could kiss you Barry.” I said as I looked at my phone, “please forward me the other photo please.” I said, “thank you Barry, you are the best.” I said as I left. Now I have nothing to worry about, though I felt annoyed that Neil thought I was too gullible that he actually brought an altered picture into play. I went straight home and changed into my workout clothes and jogged to the gym, I really needed to hit something and I was willing to settle for a punching bag. I was a regular at the gym so I would go anytime I wanted to. “Hey Billy.” I greeted the man who was on his way out.

“Blossom!” He said excitedly, “I haven’t seen you in years.” He said.

“It’s been a week Billy.” I said with a smile.

“It felt like years to me.” He said holding his chest as though trying to be sentimental.

“I know how you feel.” I said going along with it. “Is Jerry around?” I asked looking around.

“Jerry had to go home now it’s the new guy who is a little flirty with the ladies. He’s definitely going to flirt with you with how those shorts make your ass look.” Billy said.

I chuckled, “get out of here Billy before I use you for a punching bag.” I said and he chuckled, raised his hands up in defeat and walked out of the gym.

There wasn’t a lot of people in the gym at this time of night but I needed to blow of some steam for a few hours then I’ll be good to go. “Hello beautiful.” I heard someone say.

“Beat it creep.” I said sternly but I guess he didn’t really get the hint.

“No need to be hostile baby, I’m a lover not a fighter.” He said and I assumed that he’s the guy Billy warned me about.

I turned around and looked at him, he didn’t look that bad. The brown long hair that fell on his shoulders, his body wasn’t too jacked up just enough but I had seen better, “then maybe you shouldn’t be working at a gym.” I said looking at him with scrutiny.

“I was trying to help sweetheart.” He said with a smirk.

“Name is Blossom, don’t call me sweetheart.” I said, “but if you want to help I would like to have a round in the ring.” I added.

He snickered, “I wouldn’t want to hurt you little lady.” He said.

“I thought you wanted to help?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

He looked around then back at me, “don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He said as he walked towards the ring. Once we stepped in the little people in the gym gathered around, I guess they were hoping he’d win or the other way around.

“Let’s begin.” I said. And he immediately ran towards me, but I dodged him and he fell back, “I thought you knew what you were doing.” I said taunting him.

“I do sweetheart. Do you?” He asked as he threw a punch but I missed and I threw a punch that landed on his stomach, making him take a few steps back.

“Doesn’t seem like you know what you’re doing.” I said with a smirk.

He charged towards me backing me on the corner of the ring as he threw punches, but I head locked him then I threw him back and I took all the stress and anger of the night in my fist and punched him in the face and he fell back. I was waiting for him to wake up but he didn’t, went and felt for his pulse.

“He’s fine just passed out. He’ll be up after a while.” I said to the people around the ring who thought I killed him. I guess that would teach him never to underestimate anyone for the rest of his miserable life.

I had just entered the courthouse when Liane came rushing to me, “did you take care of it?” She asked.

“And good morning to you too Liane.” I said as I walked and she followed.

“Please answer me. I’m really nervous about this trial.” She said and I made an abrupt stop making her bump on to me, “I’m sorry. Please tell me whether or not you fixed it?” She asked.

“I fixed everything. I will take care of you Liane, just trust me.” I said with a smile. She nodded. “Now I want you to be calm as I try to win this for you.” I said as I held her hand. She sighed and smiled. She took a deep breath and fixed her hair and suit then we were good to go.

“No amount of motivation would make you win this case.” Neil said as he passed by us.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?” I said offering him a smile.

We entered the court and we settled down, Mr. Basil Kane was here too. He was a bit too involved in this case I think. The judge gave Neil the floor to call his first witness who so happened to be a private investigator.

“Mr. Bach would you mind telling this court who hired you?” Neil asked.

“I was hired by Mr. Wright to follow His wife whom he suspected she was cheating.” Mr. Bach answered.

“What were your findings?”

“I found out that indeed she was cheating and I even took a photo which I submitted to Mr. Wright.”

Neil walked to his desk and took out a few photos, which he then handed to me, the judge and one he showed to Mr. Bach, “is this the photo you took?” Neil asked.

“Yes, sir it was.” Mr. Bach said and I knew he had given me leverage to discredit Neil’s entire case which I could tell was built solely around this photo. Barry sent me the information of Mr. Bach which from what I was reading he had been suspend from work for providing false photos to a client because he didn’t find anything.

“Miss Summers?” The judge called me out. I looked at him, “your witness.” He said.

“Thank you, your honor.” I said and I looked at Neil who was smiling.

“Mr. Bach, you know you’re under oath and you are supposed to tell the truth, right?” I asked.

“Yes ma’am.” He said.

I raised the photo I was given with Neil, “are you sure you’re the one who took this photo?” I asked.

He snickered, “I already said I was.” He said arrogantly.

“Mr. Bach weren’t you suspended from your job because you doctored photos for a client? You had the man believing the wife cheated when in actuality she hadn’t?” I asked.

Bach looked from the judge to Neil.

“Remember Mr. Bach you’re under oath.” I reminded him.

“Ye… yes.” He said with a stammer.

“Is it right to say that you did the same with this photo?” I asked.

“Objection your honor, speculative.” Neil said and I looked at him with a smirk. I walked to my desk and brought out the picture Barry gave me, I gave one to the judge, then one to Neil then one I showed the other one to the court.

“Isn’t this the same photograph, with a different date and time stamped on it?” I asked, “do you know it’s a crime to doctor evidence Mr. Bach?”

“I plead the 5th.” Mr. Bach said.

“No further questions your honor.” I said as I looked at Neil whose mouth was agape and his eyes following me to my seat. Whose laughing now, I thought with a smirk.