Page 27 of Mace

Chapter Nine

Mace

“What hospital did she take you to?”

Imogen shifted in her chair. “Uh, I can’t remember.”

Pam leveled her gaze on Imogen. “You can’t remember the name of the hospital your grandma worked at where she also took you for a rape kit?”

“Easy,” I interrupted. Imogen had been uncomfortable this whole time, but it ramped up when Pam started asking more questions about where the testing and pictures had been taken.

“I understand this is very upsetting for you, Imogen, but if you want to help Jonathon, I will need more than you just corroborating his story. The state has physical evidence that puts Jonathon at the crime scene. We need physical evidence proving that Kent raped you and that you killed him in self-defense. Jonathon might do some time for being an accessory, but hopefully, we can fight that, too. You didn’t use excessive force to kill Kent; anyone can see it was self-defense.” Pam sat back. “As long as we can prove he raped you and your life was in danger.”

“He did, and it was,” Imogen insisted.

“And I believe you, Imogen. I really do. I looked up this Kent guy. He was not a good guy. The problem is that we need concrete proof. That is where going to the hospital your grandma took you and talking to your grandma is our next step.”

“She’s old. I don’t want to burden her with this,” Imogen sighed. “And, she doesn’t know anything about Kent…” she cleared her throat, “no longer being here.”

Pam turned to me. “You guys are giving me the absolute bare minimum here, Jonathon. You two need to cut the shit and let me do my job.”

“We are telling you exactly what happened,” I insisted.

“I don’t know Imogen’s last name. I don’t know her Grandma’s name. I don’t know what hospital she was taken to. All you’ve given me is the same story you had but coming from her mouth. I. Need. More.” Pam swept her arm over the table. “I need it all. Don’t make me have to go digging around. I will find everything you are trying to hide and more.”

“No,” Imogen interrupted. “I will get you everything you need. Just let me talk to my grandma before you go after her.”

“I’m not going after her, Imogen. She is in no way in trouble,” Pam promised.

“She might have destroyed hospital paperwork and not reported a crime,” Imogen pointed out.

“All things that don’t matter fifteen years after she did them. The statute of limitations is way up for any of those things. All I want is for her to point us to where the paperwork might be.” Pam tapped her fingers on the table. “I can make this all go away, but I need more from you.”

Imogen closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “Fine.” She opened her eyes. “When do you need to have everything?”

“The sooner, the better, so we can wrap this up with a bow and present it to the court. The trial is in four and a half weeks. I can give you no more than two weeks, but that will be putting pressure on me. I can do some of the work beforehand, but if you don’t get me those papers and proof Kent raped you, then nothing is going to save Mace from prison.” Pam stacked her papers in a pile and took off her glasses. “I believe everything you two are telling me; I just need more. One piece of paper stating that Imogen was raped. A DNA sample that we can connect to Kent. Hell, even having your therapist stating you were raped and were in therapy with him around the time of Kent’s death could be helpful.”

“Okay,” Imogen whispered. “I can do that.”

“That DNA though and rape kit is going to be the things that will be a slam dunk.” Pam reached out and squeezed Imogen’s hand. “I know I’m asking for a lot, but trust me when I say it will be worth it in the end.”

Imogen nodded.

“Thank you, Pam.” I stood and pulled back Imogen’s chair as she shakily stood. “As soon as we have what you want, we’ll be in touch.”

“If you need help getting paperwork from the hospital, let me know. I will help however you need me to.” Pam led us out of the conference room, and we walked outside.

Monk was perched on his bike and popped up when he saw us. “Well?”

I glanced at Imogen. Her head was turned to the side, staring into the distance.

“Well,” I drawled. “We’ve got some digging and work to do, but things look better than before.”

“Anything we can do to help?” Monk asked.

“No,” Imogen spouted. “I can take care of this myself.”

“Uh, I think we got it right now, brother. It’s just finding some paperwork.”

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