Agnodice
The couple jumped in their seats, both looking at each other then at the hallway, as if whoever that was knocking on the door had walked in their home and to the room.
“What the hell-?” Sebastian was cut off by another round of loud banging.
Agnodice set her empty plate down and peeked out the window. Below her room, she could see a police car, with two officers standing on their stoop. “It’s the police!” She hissed, panic starting to rise in her chest. “What could they want?”
Though it wasn't illegal for her to practice medicine, it was definitely frowned upon in this town. She had recived many odd looks when she had a job as a pharmacist's assistant when she came back from medical school. No one really understanding that a woman could be as smart as a man, especially when it came to something as complex as medicine. She worked in silence, going only by word of mouth in the circle of women, but surly, none of them would have betrayed her by telling the police.
“Someone's cows probably left the yard, don't worry. No, you stay here, I’ll go sort it out.” Her father kissed her head and then disappeared into the hallway, Sebastian shouting that he was coming, becoming annoyed with their rudeness.
Agnodice couldn't bare the anticipation and went to the top of the stairs, careful not to be seen but trying hard to listen to the conversation below.
Sebastian opened the door, a smile on his face. “Good afternoon, officers. What can I do ya for?”
The officer in front of Sebastian looked him up and down. He was a portly man, the buttons on the uniform shirt looked as if it were struggling to keep it closed, the two on the bottom by this overused belt doing the most work. He was red in the face, already dabbing his forehead with a dirty handkerchief, even thought it was a cool 70 degrees out.
The officer behind him was tall and lanky, like a newly sprung tree. He had on crooked black glasses and a thin-lipped grimace on his face as if whatever he had for lunch was beginning to turn against him. Sebastian knew these two officers: Sheirff Richard Esley, the bigger man, and Donald Pryor, his deputy. He didn't know the pair personally but he had talked to them at Church and a few times when they caught each other out on the town.
“Afternoon, Magna." Esley said. He sounded unsure of his words, a frown on his face coming forth. He seemed as if he would rather be anywhere on earth but Sebastian's door step.
“Woah, Richard, what's with the formalities? Am I under arrest or something?”
The silence from the two office was the loudest confirmation Sebastian needed.
“You can't be serious. Arrest for what?”
Esley spoke now. "It's not looking good. The men of the town are accusing you of relations of the sexual kind with they wives. Now I don't know nothing about that but I have to do my job."
"Like hell you do! Who is acussing me?! I want names, now!"
Hearing her father's shouts, Agnodice rushed down to his side. “Daddy, what’s going on?”
“They say that they're here to arrest me! I’m being accused of some sort of sexual deviancy!”
“I don't want to make this a bigger scene than it needs to be,” Esley said, matter of factly. “You're a reasonable man, Sebastian, if you would just quietly come with us, I'm sure we can get this all figured out in now time.”
Agnodice cut the officer off before he could speak anymore. “Like hell, he will!” She placed herself between her father and the law, her small build like a twig to a boulder. “He didn’t do any of what you’re accusing him of!”
It was the deputy's turn to raise his voice. He grabbed his handcuffs and held them in front of the daughter and father. “Now listen here, little lady, we got a job to do and we’re going to do it! You’re pappy here is under arrest and we will take him in!”
“No! He’s innocent and I won’t let you take him!”
“Agnodice.” Sebastian’s voice broke through to her, his voice tight but firm. He placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her to him. “Agnodice.” He wiped the tears pouring down his daughter's face with the palms of his hands.
“Daddy no. I won’t let them take you…” The hot tears wouldn’t stop on her face. She wrapped her arms around him, unwilling to let him go. She couldn’t lose another parent to an unjust world. Not like this.
Sebastian hugged her back, pressing his face against her neck. “Don’t worry, my peace. I will prevail. I have to.”
“Come on Mr. Magna…” The deputy spoke again, his tone different. His voice was soft now, almost apologetic.
Sebastian pulled Agnodice away, the two of them watching each other Sebastian was handcuffed and walked to the police car. Agnodice pressed her hands against the back window, her father staring back at her. She felt the car pull off, her hands slowly sliding against the window and then the car's hot metal body. Then she was alone. She stood there, her hands in fists, watching her father be taken away from her.
Seconds later, another car sped up to the curb of where Agnodice stood. It was Warren. He was dressed in the same clothes he had on yesterday. He stopped right in front of the stoop, in front of Agnodice. She wasn’t looking at him but past him. Down after the police car that was driving off. The car that held her father.
“Agnie…as soon as I heard, I tried to get here as fast as I could.”
“Take me to the courthouse.” Was all Agnodice said, her voice sharp and taunt, a crying begging to escape her.
“Agnie-”
“Now!” She turned her head, her curls flying about her head. Her voice was loud now, filled with hate and contempt for the world. “Take me to my father, now!” Her eyes were set, her brown tight and downward, all traces of the joyous smile that Warren had just seen the night gone.
Warren had jumped at Agnodice’s sudden tonal change; he had never seen her this way before. Not when fathers and brothers got in the way during her studies, not when she was trapped during a delivery during a snowstorm, or when she had to fight Old Man Jacob on his daughter's care. This was a level of scorn he had never seen from her, or anyone, before in his life.
He did his best to compose himself, taking a step towards her. “Listen: I can’t! I just came from the station. Deputy Halmill told me that his trial will be tomorrow morning, until then we can’t see him! I’m sorry. I tried to get here before them to warn you but I got held up by farmer John doing a cattle run. I’m so sorry, Agnie.”
“I have to do something. I can’t just stand here while he sits in jail like that! Why is this even happening?! Who did this?” She demanded. The fear and sadness were replaced with harsh anger.
Warren hesitated, looking away from the woman in front of him.
She descended the top of the stoop steps, standing in front of him. “You know something! Tell me what you know!”
A deep breath. Another. One more. “It’s because of you. Some of the women you helped, their fathers, brothers, whathaveyou, think you’re seducing them and that you’re having sex with them during check-ups and deliveries.” An incredulous look froze on her face. “What."
"The women didn't want to worry you. They can see how much shit you get from the men in town and well, they thought they could handle it on their own. I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner."
It took Agnodice some time to find the power to speak. Her mouth felt dry, she felt weak, sick like she had never been before. "What's going to happen now?"
"We wait. That's all we can do."