The Psychic and the Vampire

Chapter One

“Your menacing definitely-not-friendly stalker is staring at you as if you were lunch,” Bridget whispered, nudging Ant’s shoulder.

“I know, but given that he’s a vampire, I’m not worrying about it. I’m not going to be worth more to him than a morning snack, and he looks like he prefers a full steak meal,” Ant murmured back, resting his hand on Able’s furry head. His German shepherd nudged up seeking a harder pat, barely missing the underneath of the table where he was sitting. “Besides, he’s probably watching you more than me. You two share a similar dress sense.”

Bridget snorted. A very unladylike sound coming from such an elegantly dressed person. Bridget was older than Ant by four years, and while they shared the same mom and dad, Ant often wondered if he was found under a hedge and adopted by his caring parents.

Where Bridget was tall, statuesque, with long dark hair always swept up in a tidy bun on the top of her head, Ant had never reached average height, and he kept his wavy blond hair short. His jeans weren’t ripped, but they were his one concession to his court appearance, oh, and his shirt had all it’s buttons. That was the extent of him caring about his looks. The vampire, on the other hand…

“Snappy dresser or not, he hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you walked into the courtroom.”

Bridget was right about that, too, although Ant didn’t say so. The man’s vibe had tingled his senses the day before when the large man had slipped into the courtroom midway through Ant’s testimony. That vibe was stronger today and Ant felt it wash over him before he’d taken his seat.

The stranger had to be at least six-and-a-half feet tall, and he gave the impression that his suit, which probably cost more than Ant spent on clothes in a year, was caging in a mound of barely restrained muscular strength. With his finely defined facial hair and long dark hair caught at the nape of his neck, he was Ant’s walking dream in other words. Not someone he would date, because Ant didn’t bother with that sort of behavior, but definitely someone he could have a few fun fantasies about when he was alone at night.

“I still don’t understand why the prosecution pulled you into this case in the first place.” Bridget had given up analyzing the stranger at the back of the room and was checking out the papers she had in front of her. “You told Hammond the guy was innocent the moment you saw that Duncan fella. You’d have thought Hammond wouldn’t want you within ten miles of his case if he wants a win under his belt.”

Bridget wasn’t the only one who wasn’t sure what was going on. “He’s paid me already. I was surprised when the court payment came through. And did you notice when Hammond was walking me through my testimony yesterday, it was like he was trying not to laugh. Was he trying not to laugh at me? Did I have food on my teeth or something?” Bridget understood nuance better than Ant did most days.

But Bridget was shaking her head. “I didn’t notice anything like that. It was almost as though he was acting for the defense. This whole case has been weird.”

Ant agreed. “I’m not making any sense of this either. It’s not like anyone’s approached me for a bribe, or asked me to change my testimony…” He glanced at his sister. “No one has done that regarding this case, have they?”

He’d been approached with offers like that before, and while he always refused them, often the asking party wasn’t polite or kind in the face of his refusal.

It was one of the reasons why Bridget took care of all the legal and administrative side of his business, including acting as his personal legal representation when he had to make court appearances.

Able took care of any negative actions against him, usually with a well-placed bite. Ant was one of the few people in town who’s dog was both a security animal and a registered weapon.

Another headshake from Bridget. “We wouldn’t be here if anyone had tried anything like that.”

“Okay, so we’re agreed that none of this makes sense which means there’s something else going on. I have no idea what that is right now, but I’m sure if it concerns me at all at a later date, someone will let me know.” If Bridget agreed with him, then Ant could take comfort that he was on the right track.

“In the meantime I’m just doing my job – what the prosecution team has paid me to do. Who knows, perhaps the prosecution is trying to work out why Duncan confessed to the murder in the first place.” The defendant had been another one sending Ant death threats with his eyes when Ant testified the day before.

“Guess we’ll hear soon enough.” Bridget sighed, getting to her feet. Ant, realizing the judge had arrived, did the same thing, his hand down by his side, a sign Able recognized as him having to stay put.

“We’ll be out of here by lunchtime,” Ant promised as he sat back down again. “Fancy going to Barnaby’s for a meal?”

“You’re wacky. You know that, don’t you?” But Bridget was smiling. “They’ve scheduled your cross-examination for the whole day. That would give us barely thirty minutes to grab a bite to eat for lunch.”

“Make a reservation at Barnaby’s for one.” It was already well after ten o’clock, but Ant didn’t doubt they’d be out of the courtroom before then. He made sure his face was showing no expression as Colin Banks, the defendant’s lawyer, stood up, hooked his hands into his jacket pocket, and addressed him directly.

“Mr. Anthony Channon, I believe you testified yesterday that you’re a level two mage?”

“That’s Doctor Anthony Channon, thank you,” Ant corrected quietly. The microphone was right in front of his face, so he didn’t need to yell. “As I testified yesterday, I’m a level twelve mage with three master’s degrees and a doctorate in the evolution and measurement of psychic and medium abilities.”

“Level twelve? My apologies.” Banks let out a hearty laugh, looking for approval from the audience who packed the courtroom. Ant didn’t miss the twinge of nerves running through it, though. “I can’t imagine what you’re doing in the court if you’re a level twelve mage. I’d be winning the lottery once a month and living the high life if I had that sort of power.”

Oh, hardy ha-ha. “That’s a common misconception about a mage’s abilities among non-para beings,” Ant agreed calmly. “However, my specialty is on events that have already happened, which would be no help with your hypothetical lottery numbers. I have the ability to discern what has happened at a place where a traumatic event has occurred as if it was happening right in front of my eyes. I also have the ability to communicate with lingering spirits that are often tied to those areas or events because of what they’ve been through, helping them move on if needed. As I testified yesterday.”

“Exactly, Mr. Banks,” the judge intervened. “Doctor Channon’s expertise has already been verified and accepted by the court, both for this case and the dozens of others in which he’s been called as an expert witness. Move on.”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Banks sketched a quick nod in the judge’s direction, before turning back to Ant, who could see Banks was not pleased. “ Doctor Channon, wouldn’t you agree, in your learned opinion, that a spirit’s recollection of any event might be distorted in some way due to the nature of the trauma during the event that caused their death?”

“No.” Ant didn’t even need to consider the question. “Indeed, after death many spirits have far more clarity about their situation and the reasons for it.

“Someone who has survived a traumatic event and is asked to speak about it is the one who might struggle with an accurate recollection, depending on the trauma they’ve lived through.

“This might be because of the nature of their injuries sustained, any impairment they suffer due to intoxication or drugs, or there are times when the memory simply prefers to shut out the time surrounding that event. The dead don’t have those limitations.”

“I see.” Colin Banks was already sweating as he looked down at the papers on the desk in front of him, and Ant didn’t understand why. The courthouse wasn’t cold, but it was hardly tropical, and it wasn’t like Ant’s testimony was saying anything negative about Bank’s defense of his client.

Surely it was the man’s job to clear his defendant and Ant’s testimony basically did that. In fact, Banks didn’t have any reason to cross examine him at all, and yet, here we are . The man tapped his desk. “I have an issue with part of your testimony yesterday. You claimed the victim’s spirit said the person who stabbed him was taller than he was.”

“That’s right. He said his assailant was taller than average, had short dark hair, and bright green eyes.” It was as if every person in the courtroom looked to where the defendant was standing, flanked by two guards. Ant already knew from the arrest report that Duncan was five foot eight, had muddy blond hair, and brown eyes.

“How can this spirit know that? He was hit from behind.” Banks rocked on his feet as though he’d just scored a point. “He couldn’t even see the assailant. When the police were called they found him face down on the ground.”

“The police found his body face down on the ground, yes.” Ant nodded. “However, the spirit that leaves the body on the point of death was able to see his assailant perfectly clearly when the man bent over him to check he was actually deceased. When the man straightened, the spirit got an excellent look at the man’s features, including his approximate height, hair, and eye color. I was able to confirm that description when I ran a reading on the area myself, at the behest of the prosecution office.”

“So you know who killed the victim?” Banks pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and mopped his face.

Ant shook his head. “I know what he looks like, but I don’t know who he is. It’s not my business to go and find him. That’s what the police will do in the course of their investigation. I am here today to confirm that the man currently in custody for murder, Mr. Duncan, was not responsible for the death of Mr. Fallows at Gully Park last Wednesday.”

“But Duncan confessed!” Was Mr. Banks having a meltdown? Ant wasn’t sure but it was starting to look like it. “The police didn’t have to investigate anything because Duncan, overcome with remorse for what he’d done - in accidentally causing the death of a friend - handed himself into the police station the same morning the body was found.”

“That death was not an accident!” Ant felt Bridget’s hand on his knee and felt his dog nudge against his other leg and realized he was allowing emotion to impact his testimony, which was never a good idea. Taking a calming breath, Ant continued. “According to the spirit’s communication with me, and from what I could pick up from the scene, Mr. Fallows was actively chased through the trees at Gully Park by the murderer, who was waving a large knife similar in length to a machete, although the blade was thinner.

“Mr. Fallows fell, tripped over a tree branch, and when he tried to crawl away, the murderer stabbed him six times in the back and then kicked him in the head. Mr. Fallows was already dead when the boot connected with his head. The man responsible for the death bent over him, checked the pulse on the side of the victim’s neck, and then stood up and wiped his blade on his shirt before buttoning his jacket and walking away. I fail to see how any of that could be accidental.”

Banks sat down with a thump, still patting his face with his handkerchief. Ant noticed the judge quirking an eyebrow at him. “Mr. Banks. Do you have any further questions for Dr. Channon?”

“I need a recess, your honor.” Banks was shaking his head. “This testimony can’t be right, I just have to find what’s missing. Duncan confessed. That confession has been entered into evidence as fact, and now…now…on the basis of some fairy story cooked up by a pipsqueak toyboy witness for the prosecution no less, he gets to go free.”

“You will apologize for your disrespect to Doctor Channon,” the judge said sharply before Bridget could even get to her feet. “It would appear Doctor Channon has given you a win, and personally I commend the prosecution department for agreeing to include Doctor Channon’s testimony despite the fact their case has been totally derailed by the expert testimony. Mr. Hammond, are you agreeable to a recess?”

Ant leaned back in his chair. He already knew what Hammond would say.

“Your honor, I have to admit our office was suspicious of Mr. Duncan’s confession from the start. It sounded too glib and too rehearsed and combined with the fact Mr. Duncan didn’t seem to be able to offer any details about the victim and their life, despite claiming they were close friends, we had our doubts about its authenticity.”

Mr. Hammond opened his hands in that classic “we’re all friends here” gesture. “However, the laws of our fair city demand that if a person does confess to a crime, the police have to accept that confession on the basis it was offered, unless they have a clear indication of why the confession was bogus. It’s an integral part of our legal system.

“I am pleased that we can now, with the evidence provided by Doctor Channon’s testimony, investigate who truly was responsible for the murder. We respectfully ask the court to drop the case against Mr. Duncan. We plan to charge him separately with wasting police time and resources. It is our suspicion that Mr. Duncan is known, or has a contact to the actual murderer, and it is hoped that once we delve into his known acquaintances more leads may come to light.”

“You can’t do that.” Banks jumped to his feet. “If you release Mr. Duncan from these murder charges then he can walk free, and because of the double jeopardy clause he can’t be retried. I don’t understand why you’re not listening to me. I’ve talked to my client extensively. He confessed to killing Mr. Fallows.”

“I find your argument particularly unusual, given you are paid to act in your client’s best interests.” The judge did sound surprised. “Surely, it would have been part of your service, Mr. Banks, to advise your client of the penalties and laws we have in place to discourage people from wasting police time.”

“I believed in my client’s confession, your honor, the way any decent lawyer would. I’ve been preparing to present his mitigating circumstances for when he was due to be sentenced. It never crossed my mind that his confession wasn’t valid, and nothing I’ve heard from any so-called expert over the past two days has changed my mind.”

Ant lowered his head, unwilling to let his smirk be seen. Bridget wouldn’t believe a smirk would be seemly. The only person “so-called” in his opinion was the defense lawyer.

“I am satisfied, due to Doctor Channon’s testimony, that Mr. Duncan has confessed to a murder he did not commit. The act of confession in itself, especially in keeping with the timeline presented by the prosecution, and in light of the fact he was not identified as an immediate suspect in the preliminary investigation into the murder, suggests that confession is either delusional or deceptive.”

The judge’s voice firmed. “In the meantime, Mr. Fallows, the true victim in this case, has a loving family who has had to sit through this farce, purely and simply because of Mr. Duncan’s lies. That is not acceptable, and I offer the court’s sincere apology to the Fallows family in this difficult time.

“I hereby order Mr. Duncan to be taken from this place, charged with obstructing a police investigation into a serious crime. He shall be held in custody until the police have completed the work they should’ve been allowed to finish in the first place. My ruling is made and is final. Mr. Hammond, do you have anything further to add?”

Hammond nodded at the judge. “We add our apologies to the Fallows family and trust they can take some comfort that the police have continued working on this case behind the scenes. We are confident the actual murderer will be before your honor in due course.”

“Perhaps we’ll see you again real soon, Doctor Channon.” The judge offered a smile in Ant’s direction, which he only saw because Bridget nudged his arm, and he looked up and nodded.

“I doubt my story regarding the Fallows case will change, your honor,” Ant said quietly. “But if the court requires me to provide testimony at a second trial, I will of course, make myself available.”

“Then this court is adjourned. I thank everyone for their time.” The judge banged his gravel and beside him, Bridget started gathering her papers and bag.

It was in that moment, as Ant stood up, already looking forward to his lunch, that he felt rather than heard a sub vocal growl. His eyes immediately went to the stranger still standing at the back of the room. His face was a mask of fury.

And that’s not unusual at all, Ant reminded himself, and yes, he was being sarcastic with himself. It was very rare that anyone appreciated the things he had to say – something he’d lived with his whole life. It’s a shame I never got to see him smile. Then he checked himself. Where the hell had that thought come from? He was still pondering his random whimsy as Bridget dragged him and Able out for lunch.