Part 27 (2/2)

A distinguished looking black man stood. Apparently he would be serving in the role of prosecuting attorney. He turned to Ryan. ”So you admit killing Victor Alexander.”

Edward stepped forward. ”Objection, my client admits nothing.”

The prosecutor turned to Abigail, speaking over Edward's continued objections. ”If the defendant wishes to stipulate to certain details of the crime to-”

Ryan interrupted. ”So stipulated,” she said impatiently, silencing them both. Her gaze drifted to Marilyn. ”It is well-known I killed Victor.”

The prosecuting attorney seemed surprised at his own victory, and settled back into his chair. Edward sat down, unperturbed at this turn of events. Abigail continued.

”In order to judge the validity of your defense, we must examine the events surrounding the incident. I will allow the prosecution to begin its case.”

The prosecuting attorney stood. ”Very well, your honor, I would like to call to the stand my first witness, Dr. Susan Ryerson.”

Ryan's head jerked up in surprise. Edward sighed. Susan looked over at Ryan, then stood uncertainly. Marilyn gestured Susan towards a seat next to the judge's stand.

Susan settled into the cus.h.i.+oned seat, very aware of Abigail's proximity. Abigail gazed down at Susan with a sort of motherly sympathy. ”There's no need to swear you in, Dr. Ryerson. We will know instantly if you're lying.”

Sympathetic or not, Susan did not miss the threat lurking in Abigail's words. She nodded her understanding, remaining remarkably poised. She turned her attention to the prosecuting attorney.

”Dr. Ryerson, can you describe the circ.u.mstances under which you first came to meet Ryan Alexander?”

Susan was silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Were they asking her if she stole the body from the morgue? She didn't think so. ”Ryan came to the hospital as a patient.” She stopped. ”No, that's not entirely correct. She came to the hospital as a corpse. The coroner discovered her in the morgue and determined she was not dead, but rather comatose.”

The prosecutor nodded, willing to let this version of the truth stand. ”And can you describe the defendant's physical condition at that time?”

Edward leaned forward and began to take notes as Susan continued.

”Ryan was in a deep vegetative state. She had no vital signs, no blood pressure, no heartbeat, no respirations. She had sustained several *mortal' injuries, including fractures to both her skull and femur. Even so, she exhibited an extraordinary amount of brainwave activity, which is why I put her in intensive care.”

Ryan smiled as Susan's heartbeat jumped up, indicating the lie. Abigail turned to look down on her as Susan desperately tried to calm herself.

Edward fingered his pen, scratched something on his pad, then abruptly stood. ”Your honor,” he began, ”I object to this line of questioning based upon relevance, or rather lack of relevance, to the case at hand.”

Abigail appeared entertained by this early conflict. She turned to the prosecutor expectantly. ”Well counselor?”

The handsome black man was unperturbed. ”Your honor, I'm simply laying a foundation for my future argument, which will reveal itself as I continue.”

Abigail turned back to Edward. ”I will allow it for the time being, counsel.” She smiled down at Susan. ”You'll have to be patient, we're rarely if ever in a hurry.”

Edward returned to his seat and the prosecutor turned his attention back to Susan.

”Please continue, doctor. How did Ryan's healing progress?”

Susan looked over at Ryan as she spoke. ”Ryan's healing was remarkable. Once she received a blood transfusion-”

The prosecutor interrupted her. ”A blood transfusion? Human blood?”

Susan nodded and a slight murmur went through the courtroom. Susan felt the need to explain. ”It was human blood at first, but it quickly took on properties I'd never seen before, properties I came to a.s.sociate with Ryan.”

The prosecutor was helpful. ”Properties such as-?”

Susan shrugged. ”Heightened immunity, predatory blood cells, an extraordinary adaptive system...”

The prosecutor nodded his understanding as Susan trailed off. ”And how long did it take Ryan to heal completely?”

Susan was thoughtful for a moment. ”I would say it took about three weeks.”

This time the murmur in the courtroom was more p.r.o.nounced. Edward himself was caught off guard, if such a thing were possible. Three weeks was unexpectedly short. He stood.

”Your honor, the prosecution has failed to show the relevance of this line of questioning. I'm going to have to object once more.”

The prosecutor started to interject his counter-argument, but Abigail waved him off, her eyes on Ryan. ”I see little objection coming from your client, counsel, which leads me to believe she herself understands the relevance of this line of questioning.”

Edward turned to Ryan. Ryan's reply was casual. ”I have a feeling I know where this is going.”

Abigail nodded, her eyes gleaming. ”I'm going to allow him to continue.”

Edward sat down, the beginnings of a suspicion forming. Two hundred years to prepare for this moment, and apparently his client hadn't told him everything.

The prosecutor turned his attention back to Susan. ”I believe you had the opportunity to examine another one of our Kind,” he said, pausing for effect, ”a Young One.”

Susan's eyes s.h.i.+fted to Ryan and her sudden uncertainty was evident to all in the room. Ryan waved her off. ”By all means, Dr. Ryerson, please be truthful.” She turned her head, addressing no one in particular. ”Yes, yes, I killed him, too.”

Susan looked around. Neither the prosecutor or the judge seemed startled at this admission, nor did they give any indication it was significant. She glanced over at Marilyn, who seemed to be presiding in some sort of bailiff position. Marilyn actually appeared amused at the admission.

The prosecutor gently prompted Susan. ”Doctor?”

Susan began slowly. ”Yes, I examined another one of your Kind. I performed a complete post-mortem examination, as well as an autopsy.”

The prosecutor nodded, his words thoughtful. ”And how would you compare his anatomy to Ryan's? And please keep it in layman's terms, Dr. Ryerson,” he interjected before Susan could begin. ”Very few of our Kind are doctors because we have little need of them.”

This brought a few chuckles from about the room, allowing Susan to gather her thoughts. Even with the additional time, however, she could think of only one thing to say.

”They're different.”

Silence abruptly settled on the room once more. Ryan herself leaned forward, for the first time demonstrating any interest at all in the proceedings. The autopsy had been so recent, they had not discussed Susan's findings.

Susan looked at Ryan, gathering strength from her. ”The anatomy of the Young One was very different from Ryan's.”

The prosecutor shrugged. ”You say different. How different, doctor? Significantly different?”

Susan seemed oddly hesitant. ”I don't know much about the anatomy of your Kind...”

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