Autumn's new level.

Before she could fly off into a blind rage, Lynn was sedated.  Her dreams were like fast moving clips from changing television channels and then all turned black. Silence and until a loud fuzzy screech blasted  into the new day. A fist reached from beneath the covers and slammed the top of the clock radio. More silence and then a sudden awakening..."FUCK! I'm late!" ...Sitting up and throwing aside the covers Autumn sprung from her bed and ran into the bathroom. The tepid shower water hitting her face as she cupped the water in her hands and splashed herself clean trying her best to wake up. It was 8 am in Los Angeles and Autumn was due in court by 9.
Ten years since her big move. She'd gotten word that she was presumed dead but didn't bother speak to the contrary. Sadly, she was still under the impression that Lynn had passed on. Something that may have actually helped Autumn. She started her life from scratch months after arriving in L.A. She kept occupied by taking liberal arts courses at a junior college and doing so well she transferred to Stanford and got a law degree. Several years of working as a public defense attorney she had gotten fed up with dealing with the scum of the earth and began working for the district attorney's office. She was tired of defending people who had committed awful crimes. Many of which reminded her of the things done to her growing up. The rapists, the abusers, the junkies. She wanted to protect women and children so they wouldn't become jaded as she. She wanted to make sure that no one would experience the horrors that she was forced to witness for over 24 years.
She was in due in court today for a bail hearing on a man who was accused of raping his girlfriends daughter.  Her quick wit and high intelligence had her moving up the rankings within the district attorneys office. She hadn't neglected her art though. Her apartment decorated with paintings she made. The centerpiece was a painting of her and Lynn holding each other peacefully, overlooking the horizon on Salem Harbor during a late summer sunset. The clouds cast shadows of 2 angels looking down on Autumn and Lynn, protecting them with the light reflecting from the waves. This gave Autumn peace and strength. She would need it for this hearing.
The accused was a well liked man throughout the community . Early 40's, a chef and restaurateur of 2 very high class places in Malibu. A lot of big Hollywood names dined there. He was accused of raping his girlfriend's 14 year old daughter but his attorney was claiming that SHE came on to him and took advantage of him while he as intoxicated. They put the blame on the girl and the mother saying this was just a ploy for money and revenge because he had left her for another woman. His attorney wanted the charges dropped altogether but there was enough evidence to go to trail.
Autumn's job today was to see that he wasn't allowed bail because of alleged threats he had made to his victim and mother if they were to testify. His attorney claimed that as a prominent member of the community he should be released on his own recognizance because these accusations were " far fetched". The Judge, a a middle age female set bail at $5000 citing  that although there was evidence that the defendant ( Jacob Hartwell) may have committed a crime, he had no prior record and cooperated with law enforcement to his fullest. The Judge didn't see fit to hold him in a cell until trial  as she said the district attorney's charges were weak at best.
Being a victim the upset Autumn. She tried to argue this may not have been his only offense, that they are looking into other open cases. The judge answered " You will have your chance to present everything 2 weeks from now at trial. Next case". " With all due respect you're honor..." " Next case!"  Mr. Hartwell gave a smile and wink to Autumn as he was taken from court. Within an hour he was bailed out and back on the streets. She was very upset over this as all she could picture was the fear, and sadness in the young girls eyes as she first told the story to Autumn. The quivering lip and look of shame brought Autumn back to when she was younger. She felt that girls pain and helplessness.  She went back to the office and buried herself in books and notes looking for ways to close every hole in the defense's case. When she lifted her head up from all the books, scattered papers and evidence it was already the day of trial.
Autumn led off with a scathing opening statement ripping apart the defendant's character. Painting him as a predator who gave his victim (s) something far worse than any life sentence for his crimes could give him. Saying that he took something from this poor, scared girl that she can never have back. She was very passionate and firm in her message. Witnesses for both sides were paraded in and out for several days. The focus of the defense was on the victim's mother. Portraying her as a jaded, money hungry woman who used her own daughter for financial and emotional gain. By the end, the girl's mother looked more like the defendant. And the jury bought it hook like and sinker. He was found not guilty on  every charge. Autumn didn't lose often and wasn't worried about her own personal record. This case hit home with her and she felt that she and the system let down this poor victim. Money trumped justice again. Autumn went for a walk...

Dejected she went home and got her dog Rusty. They ran on the beach together as she cleared her thoughts. Rusty was a rescue Pit she had gotten 3 years ago. He survived living in a crate and being forced to fight. They found each other at the perfect time as they healed each other's wounds. It was a beautiful night for a run. Walking back she passed by a handsome man laughing and enjoying the company of a much younger woman. As she got closer she noticed it was Jacob Hartwell. Not 10 hours after being acquitted he was out and about as if nothing happened. She began to think of the young girl laying their helpless as he scarred her for life. She followed at a safe distance and got into her car with Rusty as she kept pursuit. He walked down a side road with the girl behind an old movie theater and a restaurant. Barely a working street light to shine up them. Autumn left Rusty with the car and moved slowly toward the shadows. Images she hadn't seen in ages had begun flickering in her mind. Voices she thought silent had come back. Whispers of young girls from all around asking for help. The sight and feeling of a hand around a victim's throat, too afraid to scream because there's a knife to their stomach. The smell of a man's sweat, the feeling of a soul leaving her body once again encompassed Autumn. Into the shadows she walked. Hood on her head just the whites of her eyes appeared behind Mr. Hartwell. The young girl panicked and ran off down the road. He turned saw nothing.  Looking up he called out " Who's there?!, Don't play hard to get with me sweetie!" Still, he saw nothing. Autumn's eyes opened from the shadows and were red with rage. From her waist she pulled Rusty's chain and wrapped it around Mr Hartwell's throat. He jumped in fear and surprise and he still couldn't see who was their. She yanked the chain until he fell at her feet. Down on one knee she clamped down so the chain or him couldn't move. As he choked and bled from his mouth, she eased up for a second so he could look her in the eyes. She tightened the grip as the air, and life left his body she whispered in his ear, "Case Closed".
Their was a sense of relief in her as she walked back toward the car and her awaiting dog. She thought she escaped but realized this was her calling. To rid the streets of filth one way or another. Autumn had found a new level, of confidence and power.