“Quinn Kumms, I am placing you under arrest for the murders of David Kumms and his research staff, as well as the attempted murder of Susan Kumms,” Liam said, pulling Quinn to his feet and handcuffing him. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?”
“Your Honor, I would ask that everyone present take notice that I have informed Mr. Kumms of his Miranda Rights,” Liam said when Quinn remained silent.
“So noted, Agent O’Shea,” Judge Crenshaw said.
“What will happen to him?” Krista asked.
“We have received an extradition request from the Brazilian government for Mr. Kumms to stand trial in Brazil for the murders and the arson at the research facility,” Liam replied. “The Department of Justice has agreed, providing that after Mr. Kumms has completed his journey through the Brazilian legal system, that he will be returned to the United States where he will then stand trial for conspiracy to commit murder, among other things.”
“What will they do to him in Brazil?” Krista asked.
“It is my understanding that Brazil did away with the death penalty when they re-wrote their Constitution in 1988,” Liam replied, “though there are some notable exceptions, one of which they have indicated that they will charge Mr. Kumms with, crimes against humanity. They feel that the egregious killing of so many scientists who were doing research into ways to help humanity qualifies for the elevated charge over and above the multiple murder charges.”
“I hope that they kill you nice and slow, cutting you into little pieces until you beg for them to put you out of your misery, you pathetic, sorry piece of shit,” Krista hissed with intense venom. “You are a waste of space.”
“You should have learned from your father, Quinn,” Susan said quietly. “Being gay with a small cock isn’t the end of the world.”
“I am not gay,” Quinn said, weeping. “I am not gay.”
“Are we finished, Mr. Smithers?” Judge Crenshaw asked. “We’re already deep into Perry Mason territory with this hearing.”
“Not quite, Your Honor,” Mr. Smithers replied. “I have one more issue that I’d like to cover.”
“I’m not so sure that I can take any more of your surprises, Mr. Smithers,” Judge Crenshaw said with a sigh. “You may proceed.”
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Mr. Smithers said. “Miss Hill, you said that you were born on August 16, 1993 in Fresno, California; is that correct?”
“Yes,” Krista replied.
“And you, Mr. Gary, were born on August 18, 1993 in San Jose, California; is that correct?” Mr. Smithers asked.
“Yes,” Zach replied.
“Mrs. Kumms, you testified that you had only ever had one child, Quinn; is that correct?” Mr. Smithers asked.
“Yes, as you know very well, Gerard,” Susan replied. “We’ve known each other almost 30 years, since before Quinn was born.”
“Mrs. Kumms, other than with Quinn, have you ever been pregnant?” Mr. Smithers asked.
“I beg your pardon?!” Susan replied, flushing.
“Other than with Quinn, have you ever been pregnant?” Mr. Smithers asked.
“Yes, once,” Susan replied after a long hesitation.
“And what was the result of that pregnancy?” Mr. Smithers asked.
“I-I lost the baby,” Susan replied, her mouth going dry.
“Mrs. Kumms, Susan, you are under oath,” Mr. Smithers reminded her. “How did you lose the baby?”
“Oh, my god,” Susan sobbed, her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. “Gerard, how could you!?”
“Please answer the question, Mrs. Kumms,” Mr. Smithers said, agony on his face.
“It was four years after Quinn had been born,” Susan said dully when she had composed herself. “I wasn’t supposed to be able to get pregnant. I was on the pill. Then suddenly I was pregnant. David and I were both aghast. The father could have been any of several dozen men, all black, that I had had sex with during the time that conception could have taken place.”
“Did you get an abortion?” Mr. Smithers asked.
“No! I could never do anything like that,” Susan replied, sniffling. “David convinced me that the best thing was to give the baby up for adoption. He took me to a private clinic in San Francisco for the last four months of the pregnancy. I never even saw the baby after giving birth. It was taking away. As far as I was concerned, that was the end of it.”
“I am truly sorry to put you through this,” Mr. Smithers said, “but I hope that you will understand and forgive me when I am finished.”
“Your Honor, you will remember that I asked you to notice Mr. Kumms’ reaction to Mr. Gary entering the hearing room,” Mr. Smithers said.
“Yes,” Judge Crenshaw said. “He was extremely shocked.”
“Yes, as well he might be to see the man who he had just paid for supposedly killing his mother showing up to testify against him,” Mr. Smithers said. “I would like to ask Agent Rose to please play the part of the video we got from the wire that Mr. Gary was wearing where he entered Mr. Kumms’ office for the very first time. Please freeze the picture when it shows Mr. Kumms’ face.”
“Your Honor, notice the shock on Mr. Kumms’ face when he saw Mr. Gary,” Mr. Smithers pointed out. “He had never met him before, yet that was his reaction upon seeing him.”
“Your point, Mr. Smithers?” Judge Crenshaw asked.
“I’m getting to it, Your Honor,” Mr. Smithers replied. “When Miss Hill entered the hearing room for the first time, I noticed that Mr. Kumms face turned white. They had never met before, so I found his reaction… disturbing. You see, I had had the very same reaction the first time I met Miss Hill and Mr. Gary. As Mrs. Kumms mentioned, I have known the Kumms family for some 30 years. I therefore surreptitiously had the wine glasses that Mrs. Kumms, Miss Hill, and Mr. Gary had used taken to the FBI lab for a forensic DNA analysis. We had two other independent labs do the same. Here are the results of their reports,” he said, sliding a folder of papers over to him.