Behind The Lies by Mark Beckner (top ebook reader .TXT) 📕

Aaron plans to do this sometime after his mom visits him at 10:00 am. He wants to see his mom one more time and apologize for all the trouble he has caused. As expected, Mrs. Livingston arrives promptly at 10:00 and is led to the visiting area. Aaron soon joins her.

“How are you doing Aaron?”

“I’m okay mom, just pretty depressed about all that has happened. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course. Everything will be alright. I talked to your public defender and he says once we have all the information and test results, we will know more about how to proceed,” she assures him.

“Can you get me out of here?” Aaron asks as he starts to tear up.

“I’m sorry Aaron, our house is not worth enough for the collateral to post the bond.”

“Mom?”

“Yes dear.”

“You know I love you very much, right?”

“Of course I do!” she replies. “And I love you with all my heart Aaron.”

“And you know I wouldn’t do anything to intentionally hurt you, right?”

Mrs. Livingston looks at her son with a puzzled look, “yes Aaron, why are you talking this way?”

“I’m just sorry for all this trouble I’ve caused.”

“Nonsense Aaron,” she says. “But why didn’t you tell me what happened?”

“I was too embarrassed.”

They continue to talk for another 20 minutes or so about some happier times, including when Aaron’s father was still alive. Aaron doesn’t have a lot of memories of his father as he was only four when he passed away. However, Aaron enjoys hearing stories about his father, as it helps bring back some of those memories. Finally, a jail attendant comes to the door to advise Mrs. Livingston it is time to go. Aaron is at peace now that he has been able to have this conversation with his mom and while she does not know it, he is saying goodbye. The attendant leads Aaron back to his cell.

Driving back from Grand Rapids, Walker and Baker continue to evaluate the case and evidence they have collected thus far. “It’s too bad McGivens wouldn’t talk to us,” says Walker. “I wanted to press him about the video and ask about those gloves. Did you see the look on his face when I mentioned we had new information?”

“Oh yeah,” replies Baker. “He did not look comfortable after you mentioned that. Mom still believes he was home all night though. But, maybe the DNA will clear things up a bit more.”

“When we get back,” says Walker, “I’m going to ask Wiggins if he can work on cleaning up those videos some. If we can get a clearer picture, we might be able to positively identify McGivens.”

It is about 10:50 am when Walker receives a phone call from Jerry Freeman with the state crime lab. Freeman says he has some further DNA results from items dropped off over the weekend. There is no foreign DNA found on the swabs from Wendy’s neck. However, Wendy’s DNA, as well as foreign male and female DNA was found on the yellow scarf. He says it is difficult to type the DNA on the scarf due to the mixtures. Freeman says this is not uncommon if other friends had touched the scarf over the last few days. However, he cannot eliminate Livingston as one of the contributors to the mixture on the scarf. Only Wendy’s DNA is found both on the inside and outside of the tennis shoe.

As for the DNA from inside the black gloves, Freeman only finds one type of unknown male DNA. This DNA does not match Aaron Livingston. Only two of Wendy’s nail scrapings test positive for male DNA. The first and second fingers of her right hand contain her DNA, as well as unknown male DNA. The interesting fact is that the male DNA from inside the glove and under her nails come from the same male.

So most likely, our victim was able to scratch her assailant, who was wearing the gloves found in Aaron’s car, ponders Walker. “Thank you Jerry, that is indeed some good news. When do you think you can test the DNA we dropped off this morning?”

“Won’t be until this afternoon,” advises Freeman.

11:15 am

Aaron Livingston waits until all the 11:00 room checks have been completed. He probably has about 45 minutes until the next room check occurs. He will probably be discovered when they come to let him out for lunch. Of course, people periodically walk by his door throughout the day, so he’s not certain no one will notice. However, this time frame gives him his best chance. Aaron pulls out the cotton strip of sheet he has torn from under his blanket. The first task is to tie the noose around his neck in such a fashion that it tightens further as he goes limp, putting additional weight onto the homemade noose. He rolls up the sheet to make it rope-like. The thinner the better. If he makes it too wide, it might not adequately cut off his blood supply. Aaron practices making a slip knot until he is satisfied it will work as expected.

Aaron then ties the other end of his cord to the door handle, pulling it hard to make sure it will hold. Aaron positions himself along the wall just to the right of the door. This will allow him to stretch his legs out parallel to the door and then let his body weight hang from the cord. It will also keep anyone walking by from seeing his legs. Aaron thinks about Wendy and how she died from being choked to death. This will be a fitting way for me to die as well, thinks Aaron. Aaron slips the noose around his neck, adjusts it so that it is sure to apply pressure to his carotid artery, says a little prayer, then lets his body go limp. It takes a few minutes longer than Aaron expects, but he eventually starts to feel lightheaded. His legs start to jerk, but he concentrates on not using