Chapter 14: Unlikely Advocates
Three days later, the rain was beating a steady rhythm against the thick glass windows of the county detention center. Arthur sat in the visitor's booth, the phone receiver pressed to his ear, staring through the reinforced plexiglass.
The heavy metal door on the other side clicked open, and Dr. Brenda Collins walked in. She was wearing a standard-issue orange jumpsuit, her blonde hair no longer in its immaculate bun, but hanging loosely around her shoulders. She looked pale and deeply fatigued, yet there was a quiet dignity in her posture as she sat down and picked up her receiver.
"I heard about the bridge," Brenda said, her voice crackling through the line. A faint, wry smile touched her lips. "I told you to be careful, Arthur."
"I was careful," Arthur replied evenly. "I made sure he hit the guardrail and not the river. The police recovered everything, Brenda. The Thallium, the custom ledgers, the shell company documents. The DA is bringing federal charges against Aris. He's never seeing the outside of a cell again."
Brenda closed her eyes, a heavy breath escaping her lungs. It was the sound of a three-year burden finally being lifted. "And Leo?"
"His heavy metal panels are dropping significantly every day," Arthur said, his tone softening with profound gratitude. "He's eating solid food again. He laughed yesterday, Brenda. For the first time in months. You gave me my son back."
"I did what I had to do," she replied quietly. "But the fact remains that I practiced medicine without a license, forged credentials, and administered an unapproved, highly dangerous chemical treatment to a minor. The district attorney isn't going to let that slide. I’m looking at five to ten years."
"No, you're not," Arthur said, his voice hardening with absolute resolve.
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek, black business card, pressing it flat against the plexiglass so she could read the silver embossed lettering. Marcus Vance, Senior Partner, Vance & Sterling Criminal Defense.
"Marcus is the best defense attorney on the East Coast, and he is now on retainer for you, fully paid for by my family," Arthur said, looking her directly in the eyes. "We are going to the press. We are sitting down with every major news network to tell them exactly what Dr. Aris did, and exactly who saved our son's life. We are going to make you a hero, Brenda. No jury in this state will ever convict you, and no DA will want the PR nightmare of prosecuting the woman who stopped a monster."
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Brenda stared at the card, her eyes welling with tears. Her hand came up, trembling slightly, to rest against the glass on her side. "Arthur... you don't have to do this. I made my choices."
"And Eleanor and I are making ours," Arthur insisted softly. "You risked everything for a family you didn't even know. You're not fighting this alone. We're going to get you out."
