The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Early Day 27
Time to look at events behind the news and catch up with what's happening to the real villain who passed through this tale.
This piece runs to 717 words, and I hope that you enjoy it.
Index Page.
Lady Maikhas dh'Lhong clutched at the locket that nestled at the base of her throat. "How many murder charges?" Outside, in the sunlit garden beyond the curtained windows, three small birds hopped along a flowering border.
Her husband's solicitor, Mr Ghrus Mhahaiba, cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Conspiracy to commit murder, my lady," he corrected respectfully. "Eighteen charges."
"Eighteen." Lady Maikhas looked over at her husband who was seated in the comfortable chair a third of the way around the small round table from her. "A conspiracy charge spreads the blame, doesn't it?"
"It does," agreed her husband with a warning look at his solicitor who occupied the third point of their seating arrangement at the secondary table in his study, "but conspiracy to commit a crime worsens it in the eyes of the law. Because it speaks to premeditation, planning, and malice aforethought."
"Then there are the other, lesser charges included in the Warrant," added Mr Mhahaiba. "Three conspiracy resulting in attempted murder charges, and the grievous indecent assault charges."
Lord Maikhas dh'Lhong asked, "Are the latter likely to be played up in the papers? I expect that the Imperial Clarion will have bigger issues to report, but what about the local papers?"
"My lord," the solicitor cleared his throat again, "I would be much more comfortable discussing those matters with you privately."
"I'm sure we all would be more comfortable if you did that," said Lady Maikhas tartly, "but he's my son too and I want to know how much trouble he's in."
Mr Mhahaiba cleared his throat, looked at the ceiling, and said, "It seems that Mr Caitus dh'Lhong has been in the habit of forcing himself on his female domestics, his female factory workers, and the attractive daughters of his factory workers. In one case he abused a young woman within hours of having had her father killed for trying to organise a workers' union in the factory where he was employed. That young woman is also the mother of one of the six children your son is identified as having sired during the course of his activities." He cleared his throat again. "Several gentleman investigators working on this matter have been heard expressing their disgust that your son had not been providing for any of these children or their mothers."
"Six children?" Her ladyship looked stunned.
Lord Maikhas asked, "When you say, 'gentleman investigators,' what do you mean, exactly?"
"Gentlemen of noble or genteel families employed by the Imperial Adjutant or the Inspectorate to look into matters of interest," replied the solicitor. "Several have courtesy titles, and I understand that they belong to various gentlemen's clubs in the capital."
"Ah," said Lord Maikhas. "My other sons and I can only hope that we aren't asked to resign our own memberships due to the familial association."
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TTeyetteye Ameyettair placed the Warrant copy on the desk between him and his client. "Mr dh'Lhong, I am afraid that your problems, and consequently mine, have multiplied. Yes, this Warrant means that you can be reincarcerated, and then transferred to your home province for trial on these charges. I can continue to represent you for these matters as they are criminal matters covered by Imperial law and not provincial regulation, but the number of charges suggests that there will be an extensive amount of briefing material to read through and comprehend."
Caitus dh'Lhong looked at him, surprised. "But being transferred home is good. That's where my contacts are. My family is well known there. I will have the advantage there, and this," he smiled as he waved his hand over the extensive arrest Warrant, "will all disappear."
"Mr dh'Lhong,"said TTeyetteye Ameyettair gravely, "this is the first time in my legal career that a prosecuting officer of any ilk has handed me a Warrant, or any other document, and said that I should know that the Emperor is taking a personal interest in this matter."
"It will be settled soon then," replied Caitus dh'Lhong confidently. "Rank has its privileges and all that."
"He was quite clear that the Imperial interest meant that extensive resources are available to the investigation into your affairs," replied Mr Ameyettair. "Is there anything you think I should know before I discover that it's covered by an Imperial Warrant, Mr dh'Lhong?"