Double Jeopardy Chapter 6 (standard:mystery, 8702 words) [6/13] show all parts
Author: Sarah Spenser	Added: Jul 03 2005	Views/Reads: 2401/1848	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This chapter picks up from where Allie tells Connor she witnessed a murder!

6. On the Stand 

“Allie, calm down, sweetheart. Just tell me what happened.” Connor
looked into her eyes, she looked so frightened, he wanted to take her 
fear away. “I ... I forgot that I had witnessed it until now! When that 
car backfired, it reminded me of the ...” she couldn't go on, she was 
wracked by sobs. Connor held her and stroked her hair. “It's okay, 
sweetness. I won't let anything happen to you. What did you see?” “I 
was driving home about two weeks ago, and I saw him. A man wearing 
glasses and a mask came out of the shadows. The other man, his target 
was coming out of Martha's coffee shop. Before I knew it, the man in 
the shadows shot him, I watched as ... as ...” sobs overtook her and 
she couldn't stop crying. “It's okay, Allie. It's all right.” “He fell 
to the ground, he was bleeding profusely! There was nothing I could do! 
I knew he was dead! I sped away, I just froze I don't even remember how 
I got home that night!” “Who was murdered?” “Slim Hawkins.” “Are you 
sure?” Connor thought back, Slim had mysteriously disappeared after 
getting into a fight with Chad. For the last couple of weeks, his 
disappearance had been front page news. It was also the subject of 
Connor's ongoing investigation into Chad Batano. Some speculated that 
Chad had killed him, while others suspected a contract hit. But 
whatever the case, Connor knew that Allison was a witness and she 
needed protection. He also knew that he had to report what she had 
seen. “I'm positive! I'd know Slim anywhere. I saw those beady little 
eyes of his from my window and knew it was him. Connor, I don't know 
how I just sat there and watched!” “Allie, if anyone was in your 
position they would've done the same thing. You were in shock, 
sweetness. But you do need protection. If word gets around about this, 
you could be the target of a hit.” “I know!” “I have to report this, 
honey.” He said steering the car towards the police station. “No! 
please don't!” “I have to, it's my duty as a police officer!” “What 
about your duty to me? I could get killed because of you! Not to 
mention our unborn baby! Please, Connor I'm begging you don't! Charlie 
will have  a field day with me.” He put his arm around her as they 
drove. “Allie, I promise that I won't let anything happen to you. We'll 
do this together.” “I'm so scared!” she said beginning to sob. Connor 
was afraid that all the stress would send her into early labor and 
tried to calm her down. “Calm down, Allison. I know you're scared, but 
you have nothing to worry about. I'm going to have Charlie put an 
officer on you at all times and no not Bryan.” “Okay.” She said 
sullenly. She watched the scenery fly by as they drove to the station. 
Connor held her hand tightly as they mounted the stairs. 

Once they were in Charlie's office, he sat across from them, Connor
noted his official posture and knew they were in for a long night. 
Connor held Allison's hand as he began to speak. “Chief, we're here 
because Allison witnessed a murder.” “A murder? When?” “About two weeks 
ago. She blocked it out until now. We were in traffic and a car 
backfired, it triggered her memory. She witnessed the murder of Slim 
Hawkins.” “Slim Hawkins? He's dead?” “Yes, sir.” Charlie's dark eyes 
focused on Allison, she began to tremble, but tried to maintain her 
composure. “Allison is this true?” “Yes. I witnessed Slim's murder.” 
“Okay, tell me everything you saw. Mind if I tape record?” she shook 
her head, Charlie pulled out his trusty tape recorder and pressed 
record. “I saw Slim coming out of Martha's coffee shop. There was a man 
who was wearing glasses and a mask lurking in the shadows. He had a gun 
in his hand. He spotted Slim through his gun and shot him. I knew by 
the blood loss that Slim was dead. I didn't  know what to do! I sped 
away before the man could discover that I had witnessed the murder.” 
She began to sob, Connor stroked her hair and she seemed calmer. He 
held her hand, stroking it lightly. “It's all right, Allie.” He 
whispered. “Connor, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.” Charlie 
said turning off the recorder. “Why?” “Because you may be coaching your 
wife.” “What the hell does that mean? I want to be with her! She's 
scared out of her mind. She needs me!” Allison looked frightened and 
sat on the edge of her chair. “Connor, this is already a conflict of 
interest since Allison witnessed Slim's murder! Either you leave now, 
or I will have you forcibly removed.” “Don't leave me!” Allison said 
weakly. Her blue eyes were filled with panic, and Connor reached out 
and touched her hand. “I'll be right outside this door, sweetheart. I 
promise. The faster I get out of here, the faster we can go home.” She 
watched helplessly as Connor exited the room. Charlie closed the door 
behind him and returned to his seat across from Allison. He turned on 
the recorder and continued his barrage of questions. It went on for an 
hour before Connor began pounding on the door. “Charlie! Let me in!” he 


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