Bart Deveroux [1]

24 May 2008 -Arizona, Prison Tucson

Bart never thought in his life he would assist in a prison at a wedding. The law was very strict in every state, but not all allowed to wed in prison. Slater found his luck then, with father Mathias and Maria all together. Most of the states allowed also conjugal visits just for the convicts who were not in a Federal Prison or if they been stated as not a menace in freedom, also incarcerated, or their sentences wasn't murder or as such nature like to be a menace for someone.

Slater was convicted for being a menace for the companies, not for the people around him. Wasn't one for the business industry, because he actually was named a solitary wolf in the branch, what meant that he devoured dead corps or already wounded or weak once. He cleared the market from the floating dead companies and paid as much as he could to the owners. So he wasn't actually any menace for anybody.

Bart knew that Slater was a good person, from the first time he met him. It was in a hospital, where he was recovering, after a mirror fall upon his body, and crushed and cut all his body . The doctors informed him, Slater was the luckiest man on Earth, because he suffered like four surgeries and lived.

He supported one at his throat were a piece of mirror pierced his neck, making a hole, but was like a miracle that the piece never reached any vocal cords or vital veins. One surgery he had was at his left arm, one at his left leg, but both were a success like he never was wounded, and one he got at his left eye were a piece of mirror got stuck in the corner of his eye. His face and body was all covered by bandages like a mummy, but he was fine.

Not that type of fine, like he was also happy, because he wasn't at all, and even after years he still wanted to die, but was as fine as could be a lost being. When Bart sought him for the first time, Slater was already in the custody of the Sheriffs, and in front of his hospital room stood one police officer. Even if he couldn't walk or run away, he was already taken in, for the charge of fraud, and they wanted to be sure he will reach a judge, and after the jail for his deeds.

Slater wasn't a talker. He just blinked for yes or no, or nodded slowly for what was needed. Bart was a young lawyer, and was named in the name of law, officially for Slater to have his defence in court. A named lawyer, meant that Slater didn't had one or try'd to find one. So Bart had the luck to met him and after a few times they worked together as a team in court. Instead, not that much from Slater's part, because he admitted all, stated he was guilty by all the allegations and gave the details asked.

What was very odd, was the fact that his brother, his last family relative, couldn't be reached in his vacation over the Asian continent, so Slater was all alone. When he met him, when he was in court, or incarcerated, Slater had once a visitor in a person, which he declared was the administrator of the Camden's family mansion. That man announced him that the mansion wasn't confiscated by the state, just the items inside were sold. Then he asked if it needed to remain in charge as administrator for that empty building.

Slater asked that the mansion to be sealed, and every room lock well with Keys. Then he gave to that man the blessing to go on his way and business. Slater thanked him for his loyalty and help.

No one came for Slater to see him or to know about him a bit. At that time, once in a while, Bart felt that if he would be in his shoes, he would feel the same as Slater, and even the desire to die would be more alive than ever. After the sentence, Bart always felt sorry for Slater, and continued to visit him and to represent him without any charge his name and his situation.

Bart considered after a while that they were friends, but wasn't sure about what thought Slater. Wasn't sure if the next day when he would go to see him, Slater would be alive or he needed to bury him.

Slater was going at the meetings with the psychiatrist of the prison, but every time he saw Slater, Bart knew that the sessions, didn't helped one bit. That not assured Slater life, and Bart to find his so called friend alive again. He was deeply worried.

Like in the very next week after Slater's marriage. Bart went to see Slater with some papers to sign, but the prison officials announced he was at the isolation room, because he started a fight after being accused of rape. That wasn't proven, but Slater got mad again and started a fight with his guardian officer, Paul. So he was punished in the isolation room, until he will chill down.

Bart told them to be notified when Slater would be released from there, and the very next day he went to see him. But Slater declined the visit, and also the next two of them. Wasn't for the first time, and Bart was already used with Slater moods and with his rejections. Slater said sometimes that Bart wants something from him and that's why searched for him, and sometimes said he was alone in that shit, so he doesn't want nobody to check him, or near him. Of course that was when his wish to die was very pregnant, and his depressive times hit his mind.

Then, one Day, Slater asked for the visit. Bart was noticed and came to see him. In that room where they were parted by the tick perspex, Bart sat in front of a broken Slater. He took the receiver for they could talk in sock.

Slater face was all blue and purple, and his cheeks were swallowed as his both eyes. His left eye were he had the surgery was much worse. Was clear as crystal that with that eye he couldn't see. Then his lips were dry, and had cuts and splits which Slater was trying from time to time to moisten with his tongue, and also wipe out the bitter feel of his wounds. His left arm was bandaged and his digits also coated in plaster.

"Hey Slater! Why are you looking like an alien again?" Asked Bart with his voice quivering.

"Because I am one... " Slater blows suddenly and looks him like with hatred. Wasn't Bart to blame for his state and soon Slater sigh tired. He knew from Bart expression that his face was as bad as when he made the mirror fall upon. Felt like that, and were already ten days past the day he earned again a remember of it.

Bart sigh too and tried to not look too much at his face, but that was really hard to avoid. After a few seconds when he overthought what to bring up to talk more normally with Slater, and when finally he opened his mouth to say, Slater cut him off.

"I want to know about Maria!" he breathed out, and Bart looked at Slater stunned.

"You know Slater, I know as much as Trump knows about her... I know just logistically, or legally if it's something..."

"They never let me know how is she after she fainted in the matrimonial room, and they beat me up until I didn't ask anymore." Said Slater swallowing hard. His right eye cold as the stones looking like hollowed, but piercing Barts frame.

Bart swallowed quickly after, seeing Slater how hard could keep his energy and his altogether. The big question stood on his tongue, but was like he knew he didn't even touched the girl. Slater never could rape an innocent girl, even drugged. He nodded slowly as confirm he understands the situation, but also was a little jealous. Slater saw Maria once in his life, and was already asking about her state, and he, like being friendly and search him so many times without a reason, never was asked if is okay. Slater never asked him personal questions. Never approached him, just like for the legal issues, and for being a lawyer.

Bart felt a little sting in his chest, but sigh again and passed over. He couldn't forsake Slater never. His cold soul and loneliness could be melt one day and then, maybe, his kind way of being, will accept him as a friend.

"I know just that she asked for your medical insurance, and she used it like for a surgery. Not hers, but someone signed up that like the insurance was just used for a local hospital, and for a Reyes person could have been hospitalized there for few weeks. The surgery was put after the analyses, and under the expertise and classified as test. Then the surgeons signed all under an ONG medical company, like for do a medical surgery, and that all wasn't charged or needed the insurance. Not even for equipment, for meds used, or the surgery made. Just for the place were was hospitalized the Reyes person. Male, over fifty, the surgery we were informed went well... Stated Bart slowly and with patience.

About Maria even if he didn't knew nothing, he didn't want to let know Slater about. If he knew something about, he would not tell because she was the one to blame for Slater bad state. Bart looked over Slater expression which was more soften than before. He was content with the information given. The sadness still there. Somehow he was unhappy that didn't hear about Maria. But all that was telling that she was well, because all the surgery thing needed a lot of stuffs and marching.

Slater nodded slowly approving, and then he keeps a little quiet for thinking what to say further. Bart was happy to do also, he needed a little time to put his feelings and thoughts in order.

"I'm happy to hear so." Said Slater, his expression still like soften. "That means I can go to work and all, cuz my sentence will have his cut after a few years, I think...?" was that a question for Bart.

"If you keep your state, and don't provoke other problems or fights, Slate." Said Bart little sarcastic now, but happy because the Maria subject was already put aside. "You need to compose yourself and behave. They note your behavior in the prison as well, and then, they decide if you're ready to walk free." He continued to pamper Slater.

"I will!" Said strongly Slater. "I don't wanna miss Varun face, when I go out through the gates." Said Slater spitting the words. "And my brother's as well ..." Stated Slater, and Bart shook his head quickly for Slater's purple face.

"What's your brother here to have something to do?" Asked Bart frowning.

"Oh... Like Varun's new outfit, his new car, or maybe even his new house." Said Slater laying back, also tired like overwhelmed.

Bart squeezed his teeth and his fist. That brother of Slater was a devil in person. Why couldn't let Slater just to be? Over that, that information slipped him somehow.

"I will investigate." Assured him Bart and nodded once.

"I was waking up in his office." Said Slater remembering. "He was leaning over a new desk, and had some new decorations in his office. Also a new car mark and ring for the keys, was on his desk. He also said: "What I want is to see you root in this prison, Slate!" and that is like my kind bro sweet gift for me..." Said Slater looking somewhere in the space.

That information was quite hard to acknowledge. But they knew both was a possibility. His brother was trying too hard in the past to lock him away, and get all the money. Also his wealth could justify Varun's new change of looks and benefits. Varun was a simply budgetary employee, so he couldn't afford much, or a new expensive car or house.

After a few more talks about the papers, Slater said he was tired and he wanted to rest, so the visit was about to end. They said the farewell already, but Slater looked firmly in Barts eyes.

"I want you to look over them, Bart. If is hard to do so, I better quit over your visits in exchange of their little needs. You can help them like through a third person for not being discovered. If they need legal advice or so, money or whatever, please help them!" Said Slater and waited with a sour expression for the answer.

Bart's emotions sunk rapidly, but he nodded for Slater he will do so. Slater nodded too, then he retired limping slowly.

Bart couldn't cope with Slater's care about these strângere, and not for the ordinary girl who was Maria. She was young and mesmerizing as a woman, but also was too ordinary, not like Slater was. His aristocrat roots were flowing all over his looks, his physical details and manners. Even when he was cursing like hell and behaved like a madman, his blood couldn't let him be otherwise. That was all in his last sentence and demand. His well trimmed manners, made Slater care for whatever, even for a bug.

Thinking hard about how to manage all that stuff for Slater, he just walked out through the many gates over the many halls that were inside the prison, and that kept the order and the prisoners away from the outside free world.

Bart thought then he was a fool instead, cuz he actually forgot and didn't asked in exchange Slater, to never ask again about Maria and her family. That he will look over them, if he lets him do what he thought was better, and if he never ask again about them. He wanted so much that Slater to not mention them again, and to cut off all the possible remembers or talks about the Reyes family. Thinking that he would ask him the next time when he will go to see Slater, Bart went through the scan iron frame, and then he sign for leaving in the agenda were was asked for.

He looks up after taking back his items like his wallet or his car keys, and then he saw somewhere aside, a person who took suddenly his attention. Maria was there in line, to ask a visit for sure with Slater.