Author's Note: This fits with chapters fifty five and fifty six of Witness.
Diary of a Protected Witness Part 46
The First Hurdle
Things moved pretty fast after my announcement, and I found myself being hauled down the corridor by the D.A., with Heero trailing behind. I'd kinda lost track of Wufei, but I think he was fielding questions from their boss or something.
We were almost to Noventa's office when a door opened and a blonde chick stepped out into the corridor. Next thing I knew, she'd run and flung herself into Heero's arms. My Heero's arms.
I yanked free of the attorney's grasp and stormed over to tell the bitch off. I didn't care who she was or how she knew Heero--he was mine.
"What the fuck is your problem, lady?"
Then she turned to look at me, and I realized it was the same woman who'd been in Zechs' arms that night at the penthouse--the one he said was his sister. "You!"
She cringed against 'Ro and grabbed his hand.
"You have got to stop fucking stealing my boyfriends!"
I made a grab for her and she ducked behind my lover, which made me suddenly wonder what the deal was. She obviously knew him--but how?
I didn't get to find out right then, because Noventa caught up to me and hauled me the rest of the way to his office, shoving me into a chair and stalking around to the other side of his desk.
"We haven't got much time," he said brusquely. "I've read the report by Detective Yuy concerning the statement you gave him at Sisters of Mercy Hospital." He looked up and pinned me with a shrewd stare. "I take it you still stand by that account?"
"Y-yes sir," I managed, still glancing towards the door and wondering what was going on out there with Heero and that woman.
"Then I need to you tell me once again, in your own words, what happened the night of Zechs Merquise's murder."
I frowned at him. "Why? It's all there. Nothing's changed."
His scowl deepened. "That's for me to decide. Just tell me the story again--I need to check for accuracy."
I narrowed my eyes. "You think I made somethin' up?"
"No. But if your account on the witness stand differs from your original statement, the defense will try to pick it apart. So start talking!"
And I did.
I sat there in that chair--tired, footsore, a little hungry, and worried about what that scene in the hall meant to Heero's and my relationship--and relived Zechs' murder again.
I swear, lawyers are fuckin' sadists.
I went on about how Zechs and I got to his place, had wild, passionate sex, and then calmed down and made an intimate dinner for two, before round two of wild, passionate sex. And talking about that probably choked me up more than telling about the murder.
It made me remember the good times with Zechs, and how great he'd made me feel--and even though I loved Heero with all my heart, I really missed the hell out of Zechs right about then.
I might've dwelled on that, but Noventa commenced grilling me harder than I'd ever been grilled in my whole life. And considering how many times I'd been arrested, that said something about his interrogation technique.
The man was relentless.
I was almost glad of the break when a woman with a badge that said "Captain S. Po" and a guy in a plain black suit (classic FBI issue) came in.
"Noventa, I'll want Maxwell's security turned over to my people at once," said the man, not even looking at me.
"That's preposterous," the woman countered. "He's in police custody, testifying in a murder case. This is outside the realm of federal jurisdiction."
"Not for long. Once my boss hears that we've got Maxwell, he'll want to level federal charges against Khushrenada for racketeering, money laundering, murder, fraud, drug trafficking--"
"He'll have his chance after the conclusion of this trial," the woman snapped back.
"Not good enough. With the publicity surrounding this trial, there's too much chance of exposure--"
Noventa looked pissed--just plain pissed. "Look, I haven't got time for your petty jurisdictional dispute. I have less than an hour to prepare Maxwell to take the stand. Frankly I don't care who's responsible for his protection--"
"Well I do," I spoke up, suddenly finding my voice. I glared at the FBI agent warily. "I mean, fuck! You two are bickering over me like I'm some kinda bone and you're a coupla junkyard dogs. Well I'm not! I'm a flesh and blood person--and I've got some fuckin' constitutional rights! I am not putting myself in the hands of the FBI." I looked appealingly at Noventa. "A bunch of Feds tried to kill me, 'Ro and Chang just a few days ago. And before that, too. Khushrenada's got moles all through the Bureau. Zechs told me so." I crossed my arms. "Unless Yuy and Chang keep watchin' my back, I ain't gonna testify for anybody!"
"You have no choice," began the FBI dude.
I shook my head. "Sure I do. I can sit there on that witness stand with my fuckin' mouth glued shut--take the fifth. I know my goddamned rights, fuckhead!"
"Mister Maxwell, there's no need for that," the woman assured me. "Chang and Yuy worked hard to get you here, and they told me you genuinely want to testify. Don't let an overstuffed shirt like Agent Alexander screw that up!"
I met her gaze steadily. "Then give me what I want," I said flatly. "Let Yuy and Chang stay on as my bodyguards until the verdict comes in. After that, I'm willing to go into relocation--as long as the Feds aren't involved."
Noventa took over again at that point. "You heard him Alexander. Captain Po's people will continue to provide protection throughout this trial. Then we'll discuss Maxwell's relocation, and the possibility that he'd be willing to come forward should your people build a federal case against Khushrenada." He looked back at me. "Is that acceptable?"
I mulled it over for a minute or two. I had no intention of having to testify in a federal case; I planned to duck out of relocation and look Heero up as soon as possible. But Alexander didn't need to know that.
"Okay," I conceded. "I mean, I'm gonna testify in just a little while--and then Khushrenada really won't have much of a reason to keep tryin' to kill me. The damage will be done. Maybe I won't even have to hide out. So as long as the Feds keep their fucked up noses out of it, I'm cool with Yuy and Chang as my babysitters until this is all wrapped up."
"It's settled then," Noventa said firmly.
I sighed, licking dry lips and wondering how much longer my interrogation was going to continue. "Hey--you got any water or anything?" I asked him, ignoring the muttered disagreement the police captain and Alexander were still having.
"I'll have someone bring you something from a vending machine." Noventa pointedly cleared his throat. "Captain Po, Agent Alexander--you can go now. And have someone bring a soda for Mister Maxwell."
Both of the bristling combatants looked insulted--though I didn't know if it was from his dismissal, or because they'd been told to fetch for me. I was a good boy. I didn't even smirk.
They left a moment later, though I heard Alexander still trying to convince Po to let his people help with guard duty. I hoped he didn't succeed, because I'd meant what I said about refusing to cooperate if that happened.
Personal feelings aside, I trusted Heero and Wufei with my life. They'd proven time and again that they'd do anything to keep me safe, and I felt genuinely protected in their presence. It was soothing and reassuring--and right then I needed all the reassurance I could get.
"Crap," Noventa muttered, looking at the clock. "I called for someone to bring up your criminal file over fifteen minutes ago--we're running out of time." He pushed away from his desk and went out the door, leaving me to slump back in the chair and close my eyes wearily.
I just wanted it all to be over. I wanted to collapse in Heero's arms and let him soothe away all my worries.
Though, after seeing him with the blonde, I had a few new ones--
Then, as if hearing my jumbled thoughts, 'Ro stepped into the office, his deep eyes fixing me with a warm, concerned look.
I pushed myself upright, a million doubts suddenly crowding into my head. "So--was Chang right?" I asked, dreading the answer.
"About--?"
"That chick in the hallway. She your girlfriend?"
"Hell no!"
His reaction was so quick and unguarded that my heart leapt with relief. But I still had to ask why the girl ran to him--why she hugged him.
"Because she's a freakin' psycho bitch stalker."
Hell--he was beginning to sound like me. And when I hesitated, he leaned in and kissed me deeply and thoroughly. "I love you, Duo Maxwell. Only you. Forever."
The last of my fears drained away, and I was finally able to smile at him.
Then he asked me how I knew Relena Darlian and I found myself floundering again. "Her name's Peacecraft--isn't it?"
That was what Zechs had told me. That she was his sister. And he'd grown up as Milliardo Peacecraft.
I couldn't believe he'd lied to me.
I mean, fuck! It'd taken him a week to get me to talk to him after I saw him hugging the blonde woman at the penthouse. And it had taken him hours to convince me she was family, and not a quick fling on the side to occupy his time between visits with me.
And now Heero seemed to be telling me I'd bought into a lie after all.
"Relena's his half-sister. His mother remarried."
God--what a relief! Considering the emotional roller coaster I'd spent the last few weeks on, I wasn't sure my heart could take many more shocks. I was seriously craving some peace and quiet--missing the lake house and the hot tub, or the sandy shore by the circus property.
I wanted to just settle into a life with Heero at my side--no more running and hiding--no more surprises--no more upheaval of my routine. I wanted to be at peace.
"God, I can't wait for this all to be over."
I didn't have much time to sit there feeling sorry for myself. Chang showed up with a soda for me, and Noventa returned with my rap sheet. We went over it pretty quickly, and the D.A. reminded me to keep it clean up on the stand--cut out the swearing and the slang and try to give a calm and reliable account of the murder.
I could do that. I knew I could--if for no other reason than that Heero and Wufei had gone through Hell to keep me alive, and I owed it to them to finish what they'd begun.
Then, as we were heading into the courtroom, we came face to face with Treize Fucking Khushrenada, and I about died. The bastard had the audacity to offer his condolences, his smug smirk firmly in place as we made eye contact.
He knew damned well what he'd done, and that I'd seen it; I wouldn't be there if I hadn't. And yet he had the balls to play dumb for the audience.
"Don't stand there and patronize me, you bastard!" I snarled. "I watched you kill him!"
He chuckled and went on his way, content to have rattled me, and Noventa chewed me out a bit. But that didn't matter. All that mattered was that the final taunt from the arrogant crime lord gave me the last bit of resolve I needed.
I was going to see his sorry ass in jail if it was the last thing I ever did!
TBC...
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