Part I-Chapter 10: THE DARK SIDE OF GOOD PEOPLE

Chapter 10

The Dark Side of Good People
(Ó 2007)

Later that day in the early evening hours, David and Noel found themselves standing at the entryway door of the tri-level building where Stephanie Morris and her family resided. Accompanying them at their last minute request was Officer Emelda Rosario. She was dressed in her civilian clothing. She was at home at the time when Noel had phoned her earlier. He and David had to see Stephanie and thought it would be best if Emelda joined them to help make easier what may be a sensitive matter. When informed of the situation, she was more than happy to assist them.

Noel had pressed the buzzer for the Morris residence and within a few seconds, Mrs. Morris’s voice came on the speaker above the button. “Yes? Who is it?”

Noel answered, “Mrs. Morris? It’s Sergeant Jaworski, Chicago Police. I’m with my partner, Sergeant Todd, and Officer Rosario. Is your husband and daughter at home with you? We would like to discuss what happened today concerning your daughters case.”

“Why yes, yes Sergeant, please come right up.” She answered, immediately followed by the buzzing sound of the lock release for the front door. They all entered and made their way upstairs to the second floor. Mrs. Morris opened the door before any of them had the chance to knock. The first thing Noel noticed was how different she looked. The past few times that he saw her, first at the hospital, then afterwards with her husband and Stephanie when she identified Raul and Billy’s photographs. Also during last time when Stephanie came to the hospital and pointed out her attackers in person through special one-way glass that had been set up. For the first time Noel was seeing the more natural Mrs. Morris. She looked relaxed, even happy.

“Please come in and sit down,” she told them, Noel now noticed that even her whole demeanor was the complete opposite of what he had come to know. Just then, Mr. Morris came into the room.

“Hello Officers,” He said to them, Noel noticed the same changes in him also, “how have you all been?”

“Just fine thank you sir,” Noel answered, “is Stephanie here? We would like to tell you all about the interrogation today. Some things came up, and we just need to clear something up.”

“Yes,” Mr. Morris said, Noel couldn’t get over the good mood everyone seemed to be in, “Stepphy! We have company!”

In a moment, Stephanie came into the room. She as well was the complete opposite of what Noel and David had come to know. She was dressed in her jeans with a long sleeved Notre Dame t-shirt. Her face still had her make-up on from going to school; all of her bruises had healed. However, it was her smile. A smile as if she had not a care in the world. If you didn’t know it, you would never have known that she was a victim of a double rape just a month before.

“Hi!” She said cheerfully, when she saw Officer Rosario she became very happy, “Emelda!” she cried and ran to hug her.

“How’ve you been sweetie?” Emelda asked as she hugged back.

“As well as to be expected I guess,” She answered, “just taking it day to day.”

“Please,” Mr. Morris then said, “everyone sit down.”

Soon everyone settled; Stephanie sat on the sofa next to Emelda who kept her arm around the young girls shoulder. Noel began the conversation. “Well, we began interrogation of both suspects today, and we started with your daughters’ case. The good news is that there is not going to be a trial.”

There was a short silent moment as the Morris family looked at each other. “And just how is that good news Sergeant?” Mr. Morris asked in a skeptical tone.

“It’s good news sir because,” Noel said, “they have confessed to everything. Not only to Stephanie’s attack, but to all the others as well.”

There was a collective sigh from Stephanie and her parents.

Noel continued, “It’s good news also because it saves your daughter from the ordeal of testifying at the trial also.”

David then added, “It appears that as soon as we clear up our other cases with these suspects that they are going to plead guilty. All that Stephanie and you both will have to do is show up at the sentencing, and that’s voluntary.”

“Oh,” Mrs. Morris then said assuredly, “we will be there alright. We want to see that.” Then she looked back to Noel and said, “You said that this was the good news Sergeant. By chance is there any bad news?”

David then took over, “Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it bad news.” He said, he paused for a second then continued. “Let me start off by saying that I hope you will all understand that my partner and I? Well, we’ve been placed into a very unique situation.”

“That being?” Mrs. Morris asked, now crossing her arms.

“Being that, well, it’s like this,” David answered, “during the crime that was committed against your daughter, another crime had been committed.”

“And,” Noel intervened, “I don’t know if any of you have seen or heard about this, but, the mayor? Well, he isn’t really thrilled with the idea of vigilantism being done in his town.”

“This brings us to you sweetie.” Emelda said gently to Stephanie.

Stephanie seemed to freeze; she had her hands folded on her lap. She looked to all, she had the expression on her face as if she had just been caught doing something wrong. “M-me?” She answered somewhat quietly.

Noel then leaned to her and said in a gentle tone, “Yes, Stephanie. Do you remember when I interviewed you in the hospital? My last question to you was about which way the ‘Dark Man’ went when he left you. You told me he walked to the left.”

“Y-yes.” She answered timidly.

David then said to her parents, “While interrogating Raul Ortega, the Hispanic man, he informed us, and this took some time because he was speaking while on a ventilator, that after his spine was broken, he was lying down with his face looking to the back of the alley. He tells us that the ‘Dark Man’ walked away by going to the right. He could only see his feet.”

There was a silence that overcame to the room, and all eyes were on Stephanie. She sat there now with Emelda’s arm around her, looking down at her hands. “Am, am I in trouble?” She then asked whispering.

David saw that she was scared, so he decided to switch from the strategy he and Noel were going to use. “No.” He said. “No, Stephanie, you’re not in trouble.” He knew well that she had given false information during an investigation. “We’re just here to clear some things up. I figure that, well let’s face it, you had just gone through a horrific ordeal, and you were still traumatized, and I don’t think anyone could tell their right from their left at that time. Wouldn’t you all agree?”

Noel and Emelda nodded “yes”.

“We just came to advise you all what’s going on, and if we have to, to correct our report on this other investigation if need be.”

“Yes,” Noel then said, “You see, we got kind of volunteered to look into the ‘Dark Man’ part of all of this also. So, we just needed to clear that up.” He was going along with what David was doing.

“So,” David said, “Stephanie, I hate to do this to you, but I need for you to re-think about that night. See if you can remember, did he go to the left, or the right?”

Everyone could tell by the expression on her face, and by the way she was avoiding any eye contact, that she had been caught in her lie. She remained silent for some seconds, fidgeting with her fingers and looking around to everything else but the people in the room. Finally she looked down to her hands again and said, “He,- - - he walked to the right.”

There again was tense silence. Mr. And Mrs. Morris saw David glancing to Noel, and Noel returning his glance. They were expecting one of them to ask Stephanie why she had lied to them, or to start reprimanding her about the law or something of that nature. To their surprise David calmly said, “Well, then that should help us in starting our investigation into this matter. I hope you understand that we had to collaborate what the suspect said to what you witnessed also. Like I said, it’s a unique situation. We have to look for the attacker of your attackers you could say. I hope you can understand. We can now revise our report and take it from there.”

Stephanie then looked relieved as well as her parents did.

David then asked, “And, you still can not give us any description of the ‘Dark Man’ at all? I mean, you never saw his face, right?”

“No. No, I didn’t see his face at all.” She answered shyly. “Really, I swear.”

“Then I suppose this is going to be a short visit.” David said, and then stood up. Noel then stood as well as Emelda. “We will inform you when the two suspects give their plea and when the sentencing will be.”

“Thank you for coming in person.” Mrs. Morris said as she stood up along with her husband. Emelda then stood and Stephanie followed.

Emelda hugged Stephanie one more time and said to her, “Now you take care of yourself sweetie. Everything’s gonna turn out alright.”

“Bye Emelda.” She said, and then she whispered into Emelda’s ear as she hugged her, “I’m sorry for what I did.”

Emelda whispered back, “I know honey, don’t worry, I’ll let them know you are.”

“Thanks.”

Everyone then shook hands and said their goodbyes. Moments later David, Noel, and Emelda were walking down the stairs back to the main entry of the tri-level home. Soon they were back on the sidewalk returning to their car. They remained silent until they reached the car and all three got inside. Noel was going to drive; he put the keys in the ignition and brought the car to life. Emelda sat in the back seat.

Noel then asked, “Well, that was short and sweet. Why did you let it go so quick?”

David answered, “I wasn’t about to start up with her. Come on, she’s gone through enough. It’s not her fault they’re making us look for this guy. Besides, I believe that is about as much help as we are going to get from anyone concerning this.”

“What do you mean?”

David answered solemnly, “My friends, what you just witnessed was the dark side of good people.”

“I understand what you mean David.” Emelda said.

Noel then turned the car onto the street and began to make his way to Emelda’s home, and then back to their office.

“I’ve seen it since it happened to those two scumbags,” David said, “with each of their victims. Each one changed right in front of me when we told them what happened to those guys. And, especially when they came to the hospital. They weren’t there just to identify them; they were there mostly to see for themselves how they are suffering.”

Noel then said, “I seen it too. All of them, they are all like, to put it simply, back to normal.”

“And, I’m gonna tell you now,” David continued, “even if someone saw this guy, nobody is going to help us find him. These women and girls? Do you know why they changed for the better?”

“I know why.” Emelda said.

“I know you do,” David said to her, “because you’re a woman. These ladies are back to normal again, because they have been avenged.”

“Precisely.” Emelda answered in agreement.

“This is what I mean about the dark side of good people.” David said. “Good people have been taught suppress their primal feelings. These women and their families? They would never be satisfied with these guys just going to jail for life. No. Deep down they want more, they want these guys hurt, they want them gang raped in prison, they want them castrated and tortured. However, good people cannot ever show that. But, in this situation? They got what they really wanted, deep inside. They wanted revenge, and somebody gave it to them.” 

“Somebody right out of the blue.” Noel said.

“Yep, and somebody who will never be caught.” David said looking to the others. “Because all the good people around will never help us to find him. Look at Stephanie, she helped him right there that night. She lied right to your face buddy, to help the man that avenged her get away.”

“And she’s only fifteen.” Noel said.

“A fifteen year old girl.” Emelda said. “A fifteen year old girl who was just raped by to jag offs. From a woman’s point of view? I would have done the same thing. Any woman would of.”

“So, what now?” Noel asked.

“Now?” David answered. “Now, we get Emelda back to her home and kids. Then you and I go back to the office, make a small report on what we know about the ‘Dark Man’, which should take about less than an hour, slip it into a file folder, then put the aforementioned folder into the file cabinet.” He then looked right at Noel and finished with, “Then, we go home.”