Chapter 30 Chapter Twenty Nine

Pierson asks if Jackson will accompany Ben to juvenile court, and Jackson shakes his head. "It's not in my jurisdiction," she said. "If you or Mrs. Sykes have any concerns when you're there, you'll have to go through the court system. You'll be fine. The judges are aware of Ben's medical condition and they Agree to hold a hearing as soon as possible." Mrs Sykes looked somber. "They shouldn't have been allowed to do that. The child is ill." "Not as badly ill as Mr. Tadin," Jackson said. "My kids were just defending themselves."

Jackson and the lawyer exchanged glances. "Look on the bright side, Mrs. Sykes," she said lightly. "At least Ben agreed to bail on your address. If the judge allowed it—because of his condition they would certainly allow it." ——By the time of the trial, he should already be able to take responsibility for himself well. With your help, of course." The woman's mouth curled into an upside-down horseshoe. "They shouldn't be allowed to do that," she said again.But whether she was referring to her son being charged with grievous bodily harm or the fact that, as a mother, she will be responsible for his health and whereabouts, neither doctors nor lawyers are clear.

Jones is in the surveillance room.Seeing Jackson walk in, Jones leaned forward and turned off the monitor. "Can you convict?" Jackson asked Jones. "Unlikely. Too many 'ifs'. If Walter is able to make the case...if he admits to being turned on by a teenage whore...if his daughter allows it...if he contradicts Ben's self-defense pleadings," He paused. "I'm a big believer in natural justice. Every time this kid injects himself with insulin, he remembers Walter." Jackson shook his head. "I wouldn't count on that. I read in the newspaper one day that scientists in Brazil were working on a stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes. If Ben is lucky, he won't need injections in ten years." insulin."

"You are a ray of sunshine, doctor. How is the lieutenant?" "Be content with the long wait." Jones nodded. "Did he tell you anything you thought you could tell me?" "I'm happy to repeat the whole conversation, but it won't add anything to what you already know." She paused. "I've figured out why he's so averse to being touched." The sheriff looked at her thoughtfully. "I think we all get it." "I don't think he's going to talk about it," Jackson warned. "Everything he's had has been stripped away in the past few months. Self-esteem is the only thing he's left with."

Jones shook his head. "My guess is that his silence was more about buying time than about hurt feelings, doctor. He wanted to know what Jen would say before he told us anything." "Or he thinks he's partly responsible. Nick says he's had an argument with Jen every time before those men were killed, and that's a heavy burden on anyone's conscience." "Are you telling me to feel sorry for him?" Jackson shrugged slightly, "At least realize that all of this is not easy for him." "I wish I could be so magnanimous," Jones said bluntly, "but I need evidence from Charles. I wonder why he would go after the bag when he claims he doesn't know what's in it or who it belongs to." Jackson smiled sympathetically, "He knew what was in there before last night, doctor."

She said nothing. "If Jen can put the blame on Charles, she will, she is perfectly capable of passing herself off as an abused woman. Charles needs to understand that." Jackson sighed, "Imagine what it's like to be a narcissist who needs to be constantly on cocaine. It's a powerful combination. A woman who needs to be constantly admired...she's obsessed with the fantasy of how special she is... ...crazy about how important she is. She reacts badly to anyone who rejects her, not just Charles." Psychoanalyst James Steele had said more or less the same thing on the phone earlier.

"If I had the chance to see her, I could give you better advice, Brian, but in the meantime, I suggest that you focus on her apparent belief that she has the right to behave the way she is accustomed to. She is I was intrigued by the policewoman's reaction. Leaving the stun gun on and attempting to slap her suggested contempt for others, which is not normal." Jones looked up at Jackson. "Have you seen Miss Morley?" he asked. "No." He reached for the monitor screen and turned it back on. "She's waiting for her lawyer," he said. "Do you think she looks innocent?"

Jackson studied her exquisitely detailed face, the innocent expression in her large eyes, and her slightly puzzled smile. "Just because she has baby-like features," she says matter-of-factly, "big eyes are more likely to be responded to lovingly, which is why we call a woman like her beautiful. There are so many things to talk about on this topic. " "Don't you find her attractive?" "Nothing special," Jackson said honestly. "Too thin for my liking. I'd be afraid to break her." She paused, watching Jane smooth her skirt with her hands. "She's all alone there." ?"

"There is a policewoman at the door." "But does she know she's being watched?" Jones nodded. "She had already attacked a policewoman, so she was told that she was being monitored by CCTV to prevent her from doing this again, and she has been impeccable since entering the observation room." "What does she look like when she loses her temper?" "Not much different as far as Nick is concerned, no obvious alarming signs of a tantrum." He turned off the screen again. "That's why we need Charles' testimony, doctor. If we know what triggers her anger, we will know how to work."

"Are you asking me to advise him?" "He will listen to you." Jackson shook his head. "I doubt it. The last time I brought up the subject of Jen, he crashed my car into a pedestrian island."