Pop: Chapter 20c

    "About three years ago.  I had just started back working after my paternity leave with Darrin.  I met a lawyer at the court house I hadn't seen in a few months, Douglas Anderson.  At first, I thought he just wanted to catch up, but he needed to see me about a case of his.  See, Dr. Mendel's daughters had hired him about something that happened to him in prison." Rick goes on.

    "Are you sure you should be mentioning this?  Privilege and all."

    "It's fine Chris," Rick pauses.  "You see, a few months after he was incarcerated, Dr. Mendel castrated himself, or so he said."

    "What?! Why did he do that?" Pete cries out.

    "He might not have.  The daughters think in was some of the other prisoners who went and did that.  Maybe even some of the guards.  Mendel wasn't speaking about it, even after he was transferred to another prison.  Everything was cut off.  He couldn't even go to the bathroom until a special prosthetic was put in.  The doc kept saying it was because he felt ashamed for what he did.  Doug was going around asking some of his former patients if he actually did do anything with them, beyond encouraging them to have their pictures taken.  The daughters felt that someone had been spreading rumors at the prison, possibly management, so that their father would be attacked.  Mendel wasn't cooperating, so the daughters were going out on their own to sue.  I told Doug what I remembered, and he asked if I could be deposed when the time cam."   

    "Ouch.  What happened next?  Some of this sounds familiar for some reason."

    "I'm getting there," Rick continues.  "I had trouble sleeping the next few nights.  I couldn't help thinking that I was the cause for all of this.  I was the one who came forward and brought Mendel to justice.  I didn't even tell my wife until she caught me sleeping that weekend in the middle of drinking.  I wasn't drunk, technically, but I was tired and it wasn't going to take much to get there.  For the next few months, I would drink one weekend a month to help clear my mind, but it wasn't helping. Almost a year after that, reporters had gotten wind of Mendel and other problems at the prison."

    "That's why it was so familiar.  I read it in the paper awhile back.  Maybe on television too."

    "I don't read the newspaper any more.  Not my taste, but I may have seen it on tv."  Pete chimes in.

    "Well, with the publicity, the prison struck a deal.  No trial, so I wouldn't have to testify, but I still felt that I was to blame for Mendel's injury.  Sure, he deserved to be sent up the river, but not the pain he suffered.  I started going to a counselor soon after.  Sorry I didn't ask you for a consult, Will, but I didn't want you to know."

    "None taken," Will says after a few seconds.  He has spoken in a few minutes.  Almost as quiet as the thunder.

    "Yeah, she has been saying I should open up more, but it didn't feel right, until tonight.  Last night actually.  When I went to get some of my last special edition brews and they were gone, I thought I had been drinking them without remembering.  Didn't even think that Jim took them.  My counsellor thinks I should quit alcohol, at least for awhile, until I get my head in a better place.  She's probably right.  I've just been so confused lately.  I've even been thinking about leaving law and going back to writing.  True crime stuff, like I was going to report on before I got enamored and sidetracked.  Maybe when I take off for the new baby. I could really use ..." Rick stops.

    A loud crash roars through the hall.  This is the loudest the thunder has been for a few minutes.  And here I thought we were through the worst of it.

    Will starts laughing as the roar dies down. He just keeps getting louder as the echoes of the thunder subside.

    "Dude, what's wrong with you?  Rick just spilled his guts and now you are laughing at him."  Pete yells.

    Will stops as the last slam of the thunder suddenly ends.

    "It's not you or Rick, it's me.  I finally found out why your were gone when I needed you the most." Will gets serious, his laughing over.

    "Will, what's do you mean?" Rick asks.

    "Well, while you were getting operated on that summer, my brother's best friend tried to assault me."

    This night just keeps getting weirder.