Читать книгу Poor Banished Children of Eve - Welby T Cox - Страница 6

In all of my adult life, I had never dreamed ... I could be punished for following an order. The soldier’s first obligation in response to command. Regardless of the fact, I was a career officer in the military of a world power. The order to kill, the prerogative of those on the moral high ground with no meaningful role for those we kill. The offense, well, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It had been a long day and now I reclined in my room with a bucket of ice and a bottle of Scotch whiskey against the orders of my legal counsel. I was in dire need of something to calm my nerves and help me sleep. And sleep I would, in bed before revelry, I began to dream…it was in color with a cast of characters you might imagine for a Broadway musical, like The Music Man. Except in my dream I am the only character who isn’t animated. The judge is played by a reconstituted version of Frankenstein, wearing a much too small black robe, which showed the electrodes in the side of the neck. The prosecutor is a Danny DeVito jackal voiced character who laughs after each and every sentence. The jury is comprised of eleven black women and a single Hispanic male. The defense counsel is a giant rooster, the court reporter a weasel and the bailiff an ape who carries a bunch of bananas beneath his long arm.

The bailiff intones…” hear ye, hear ye, all rise for the honorable John Frankenstein” Of course we all stand as the judge makes his way to the stand and finds his chair, located high above the others in the court room on a perch like some pet canary.

“Be seated.” He says and points to the bailiff.

“Sir in the matter of the United States of America versus Davey Crockett who has been charged with the murder of a Canadian citizen, Seg Maze…how says you?”

The jury stands and says in unison, “Guilty.”

“Objection.”

“Fo what?”

“Sir, I believe the bailiff was speaking to the defendant, not the jury.”

“So he was.” Turning to the jury, “The jury is admonished to wait until you have heard the case against the defendant.” A tiny black woman in the back row with a toy monkey on her shoulder, jumps up and down, trying to be seen and heard. “Yes what is it?” The judge ax.

“Sir, what is this ammunition word mean?”

“Sorry it is elementary…’ad-mon-ish’ is a verb, means to reprove mildly…kindly but seriously, to warn against something…like speaking when you are not spoken to…got it?”

The judge continued, “Ok ... settled…will the defendant plead?”

“Not guilty.” And with no further ado the defense began to present its case, somewhat out of order but such was the protocol of this court, the defense goes first and the prosecution then has the last word. In the horse, racing game this is what is called a reversal of form.

“Bailiff, call the first witness.”

“William Cover, please come forward and raise your right hand,”

“But sir I am left handed.”

“It don’t matter Cover, nobody’s going to believe you anyways. So, please state your name and your connection to this matter.”

“William Cover.” Holding his left hand high and his right hand on the bible, “I am a Sheriff’s deputy for the county and was directed to investigate the death of Seg Maze.”

“Now deputy you questioned the defendant and you investigated the crime scene…and with the professional assistance of other law enforcement professionals you also looked at the scene were the death took place?”

“Yes, sir, you are correct. And get the booby prize”

“And you found no body?”

“No sir, we did not locate Seg Maze.”

“Just answer yes or no….and now, did you locate what you consider to be the murder weapon?”

With this the prosecutor was on his feet, causing a stir before he spoke. Objection, your honor…Motion for Mistrial.”

“Sit down you idiot, you don’t want a mistrial and the motion is overruled…but I will sustain your objection and caution the defense not to use the word murder again.”

“Deputy, let me restate my question, did you find anything suspicious about the site?”

“No, sir.”

“Then why did you recommend ... the government bind the defendant over to the Grand Jury?”

“Sir, I did just the opposite.”

“How so?”

“I informed the government there was no sign of a dead body, nor foul play, and I found the defendant credible.”

Once again, the prosecutor was on his feet, “Mistrial, your honor.”

The jury looked at each other, the crowded courtroom spectators began to whisper among themselves causing the judge to slam the gavel on its block causing the dust to rise noticeably. The court reporter worked her fingers to record the action. The courtroom artist caught the judge with his mouth open and the bailiff went for his weapon of choice, a large banana.

“Well I, of course,” the judge stammered, “I’m calling a fifteen-minute recess and ask the prosecutor and defense to my quarters.”

“Objection, your honor.” From the defense this time.

“Well, what now?” He stared at the defense.

“The law sir is quite clear, if you intend to discuss the prosecutions motion, it must be done in open court, under the scrutiny of the jury.”

“So bailiff, clear the court-room of all spectators.”

There was a good deal of mumbling and grumbling as the spectators gathered their belongings while openly discussing the bizarre nature of the proceedings. The bailiff, between bites of the large banana, ushered his neighbors out of the spacious courtroom taking about fifteen minutes. After clearing the courtroom of the spectators, the bailiff went to the judge’s chambers and advised him ... the courtroom was ready for his return.

The judge entered through a trap door under his desk and walked to the wooden rail, which separated the spectators from the working court. He looked directly at his jury.

“My apologizes to the jury…it may seem rather chaotic but such is the nature of justice in action. Now we appear to be in something of a fix, or as they say between a rock and a hard spot.

The prosecution has made a motion for mistrial and I am inclined to grant the motion as a matter of law, but before I rule I am going to use the court’s discretion to call for an Evidentiary Hearing after the receipt of the Motion for Mistrial by the prosecution and a response by the defense. I expect to hold this hearing forty-eight hours after the receipt of the answer by the defense. Thank you ladies and gentleman for your cooperation and I regret ... you must now be sequestered in your hotel rooms were we intend to make you extra comfortable. If you need anything, please inform the Marshall. Except if you need water or the toilet because it is well known they only use those themselves.

The jury sat stunned, defense counsel grabbed his briefcase and papers and looked at me like a student going out to recess. Was this the end of the nightmare, was the prosecution brain dead to be calling for a mistrial, only time would tell and I had plenty of it on my hands.

************

It was still quite early but I knew the lodge dining room would be open, and my head told me… clearly, I had consumed far too many whiskies and branch water. I needed strong black coffee and lots of it. I hadn’t had a decent cup of coffee since my beloved live-in Bonnie had died. I don’t believe it was the coffee so much as the loving and charming manner in which she served it, her smile crushed my heart. When I lost Bonnie, my life began the slow decline into a dark oblivion; every woman thereafter was nothing more than a play toy.

As I walked to the lodge dining room I could not get Bonnie off my mind, perhaps it was the recurring dream… I was there when she died. The army had brought her in to use her skill as a surgeon to help out with the more complex wounds. She wore a mask over her mouth and a cap covered her reddish/blonde hair and any soldier looking into her steel gray eyes immediately fell in love, there was no pain, even when the bomb hit. At thirty-six, her life taken from her, a life and love which had not yet begun for the two of us with duty on our minds.

In my dream, I forgave myself for not pushing the issue to have a family. I had second thoughts. She had worked hard and she was so dedicated. She deserved to practice her art…and so we delayed for four years our intention of having our first child when she was forty years of age, right on the edge, and maybe beyond the child baring years for the first-born. This decision haunted me now, knowing full well there would be no little offspring to enjoy into old age.

As I approached the dining room, I saw a beautiful sight, there sat Heinz, the brownish-black German Pointer. Though I did not really know the dog at all, having only met him the day of the accident, for some reason we had bonded. Dogs, I am told have a natural affinity for making the right choices with people. Before I got to the door, Heinz was up, barking and pawing at my leg and hip. I knelt beside his husky, athletic body and scratched his noble head. “Were have you been big fellow?” He licked my face and hands as I continued the soothing recognition of him.

“Let’s go get some warm milk and biscuits.” But, Heinz was having none of it. He was a dog on a mission…he would bark and leap toward the river. He had something on his mind and he was trying to communicate it to me. He ran down the road and then returned…it was obvious he wanted me to follow him. I forgot the coffee and my headache and headed toward the river behind the hunting dog.

It was a good two miles to the riverbank and Heinz had run all the way. He had not broken a sweat, wasn’t even breathing hard… but I was a wheezing wreck from too many whiskies and cigars. When I arrived Heinz was standing, pointing, at a huge fallen ash with the main part of the trunk and its branches actually in the river as the cold icy water gathered around it. The trunk of the tree was a good five feet in circumference and at least fifty feet tall. Its large branches spread out into the river creating a natural habitat for marine life and small animals.

The dog jumped easily onto the fallen trunk, which remained partially rooted to the riverbank. There was no way I could climb onto the trunk without the aid of a stepladder. I had every hope ... my attention to the dog’s insistence on following him would be sufficient and placate him. I called to him to come to me. He did so immediately! I knelt beside him and rubbed his head and reassured him, “there now big fellow…I see you have spotted something here I am unable to see, so let me get help from those who have been trained in this type exercise…do you understand what I am saying Heinz?” He barked and licked my hand.

I never liked dogs, cats or any animal except for horses, but this dog was growing on me.

I walked away toward the lodge, calling to the dog and snapping my fingers. Smartest damn dog, he knew exactly what I was trying to communicate. We walked back to the lodge were I found an attendant sipping coffee, which smelled freshly brewed. There were cups so I helped myself. “Good morning, I am…

“Yes sir Colonel, we all know who you are…what can I help you with this morning, aside from the coffee!” He smiled gesturing to the cup in my hand.

“This is Heinz, the dog who was in the boat with the guide, who has been missing for several days. I just saw him at the dining room and he was so insistent for me to follow him to the riverbank about two miles from here were a giant ash has fallen into the river. There is something down there, I am certain because this dog is so smart and sensitive. I believe it warrants a call to the sheriff’s office to bring a diver out here in a wet suit to go into the icy water and check it out.

“Got you Colonel, I’m on it this moment…you go have some breakfast and I’ll come get you when they arrive.”

“At this moment I need to make a collect call on your land line, if you have an extra phone?”

“Well, I’m not supposed to but, if you don’t say anything I’ll let you in the manager’s office and you can use his phone in private.”

“Scout’s honor and from a Colonel.” I smiled and handed the boy a sawbuck, which he fetched like a hungry dog. Though it was still early, I thought the incident important enough to inform my attorney and bring him up to date on the return of the dog Heinz and the possible discovery of Seg’s body…moreover I wanted to share my dream with Max. Just what the lawyer needed at eight in the morning, a crazy client who wanted to share a dream.

At any rate, it was good news to find a hard working lawyer doing something besides picking a client’s wallet.

“Good morning Brandon, I hope you are not calling from jail?”

“You, sir, are an ugly man.”

“Then, did you sleep well?”

“Fell off the wagon Max, but I wasn’t hit by the wheel, and you’ll be pleased to know I didn’t leave my room. However, there are a couple of developments here ... I thought you should know. First, the dog Heinz has returned seems he has been guarding a large ash tree, which has fallen into the river. The dog was frantic for me to follow him; were he showed me the tree and Heinz was so insistent ... made me confident something was down there. I now have the office calling the sheriff to come out to investigate.”

“Good.” The lawyer said but I noted a concern in his voice in only a word.

“Is there a problem?”

“Probably not, just the mind of a quirky lawyer considering all the traps.”

As Max continued, I glanced around the top of the manager’s desk which I suspect is something everyone does in a strange office…a natural tendency to snoop. To my surprise, there on top of a stack of folders was a file containing my name in bold letters, and it was underlined. I opened it and there was a memorandum regarding the events surrounding the accident, which I read as my attorney continued talking into the phone.

“What traps?” I asked.

“Well, someone with an evil intent might wonder how all the experts missed the body and you found it…did you know where it was? Did you move it? Brandon you must start thinking like the other side. This is no game, this is not about justice…this is about big business. It is about convicting the first person to come along, who happens to be a Colonel in the United States Army, to fill a quota for next year’s budget and for this year’s bonus…you know how it works.”

“Not at the sake of taking an innocent person’s freedom for god’s sake.”

“All right Brandon, there it is…maybe nothing, maybe something…but you have to know ... you have hired a wart as a lawyer, as well as your friend.”

“A wart?”

“A worry wart who knows all the tricks and this case is further complicated by this fact. You are currently under the authority of another government. So I caution you, walk softly…now what else is there?”

“I had a dream last night…I believe it contained a message from the spiritual world.”

“Come on Brandon, I love you but I have work to do trying to save your ass.”

“I know it sounds crazy Max, but please hear me out on this one, and I promise never to bring you another bizarre twist.”

“Ok shoot, it’s your retainer and it is clicking away.”

“I dreamt ... we are into this trial and the young sheriff’s deputy who questioned me and investigated the scene is on the stand and the prosecuting attorney asked him why he had submitted a report recommending that I be bound over to the Grand Jury for murder.

The deputy responded that he had not made such a recommendation, in point of fact he said that his report was just the opposite, he stated ... he had found nothing to indicate that a crime had been committed and he had found my statement very credible.”

“This is what I am trying to tell you Brandon, these are the kind of events which take place, ... they are planned but you can easily get caught up in a trial of ineffective, unprofessional, inept officials who build a case to fit preconceived notions of what manner of man you are, based on first impressions.”

“Yes, well in the dream, the strange thing is ... the prosecutor calls for a mistrial and the judge calls for a recess, calling you and the prosecutor into his chambers. You object, citing the law against this private meeting. The judge then calls for briefs from both parties on the question and, an Evidentiary Hearing in forty-eight hours.”

“Damn Brandon, you’ve grown in the law overnight…I am impressed.”

“Yes, but more to the point, I am certain your research team has carefully reviewed all the documents, including the indictment to make certain there is no possibility I am being framed?”

“Good point, and yes we have done the research, but I will do so again to make certain we haven’t missed something and to calm your nerves.”

“Now there is one last thing.” Just as I began to speak, I heard the voice of the manager coming toward his office with the deputy in tow. I knew I could not be found in this office, so I did the most prudent thing…I hung up on Max and slipped out the back door into the rest room, and then I came out around the front entrance.

“Been looking for you Colonel.” Deputy Cover said.

“Sorry, had a meeting in the toilet.”

“Yes, Colonel…... happens, sometimes when you least expect. I see the dog Heinz is back and I understand he darn near forced you to a spot on the river…can you show us, now?”

“Certainly.”

“We’ll take the jeep to save time.”

“Yes, I don’t need the two-mile jog again!” I opened the door, Heinz jumped into the back seat, and I climbed into the front beside Bill Cover. “This dog is a joy. Someone has spent a great deal of time with him and I’d swear he is nearly human.”

“I heard about this dog and know the fellow who owns the bitch.”

“When things quite down, I’d sure like to meet him and get on the puppy list.”

“They won’t be cheap.”

“Perhaps he has a lay-away plan.” We both laughed at the suggestion.

It only took a moment to get to the tree in the water, and as we approached, I could see Cover’s people were already hustling about and there was a diver in the water. A man on top of the trunk had a chain saw and another had an ax.

“He’s down there alright Bill, but caught up in the limbs, wedged in there by the current…have you called the coroner? Better do so and ask him to bring the ambulance.” The diver yelled.

“Yes, I’ll do it on the secure radio.” Cover responded.

I breathed a sigh of relief and sat down next to Heinz. “You’re the best there is.” I rubbed behind his ears and he smiled and licked my hand in an appreciative gesture. “I know you stayed out here with your master for two days, guarding the body of Seg, didn’t you?” The dog’s clear dark eyes responded with kindness. “Now I have a greater chore for you, I have got to find a way to get back into the manager’s office to copy my file before it gets locked away…do you have a plan?” I asked as though the big dog could speak.

It took all the men an hour to get the body out of the water and by then the coroner had arrived with the ambulance into which the men loaded Seg’s body. I walked back to the lodge to check out the logistics and discovered my little friend Don had gone for the day. The new clerk on duty was a little woman, looked like a student, whose name was Kiah…she was bright, attentive and seemed eager to help any deserving guest.

“Hello Kiah…such a lovely name, are you native to the area?” I asked pleasantly to break the ice.

“Oh, heavens no, I am an African/American student here to study the culture of the natives.”

“Do you happen to know who is responsible for taking care of Heinz, the dog owned by the guide Seg who had an unfortunate accident?”

“Good question Colonel, now ... Seg has passed, my guess is one of the other guides will take over.” She said with a smile.

“Is it possible for you to confirm this to be the case and while you do so, do you think it will be ok for me to care for the dog?”

“Well it is quite obvious, Heinz is attached to you Colonel…and you have paid for his service and so, let me make a quick call.” She dialed a number from her file, waited for an answer and got the answer machine.

“Colonel, according to the message the man I need to speak with is gone for the weekend, so I’m going out on the limb and say, at least until Monday morning Heinz can stay with you, and of course we know were you will be staying…and oh yes sir, there was an urgent call for you.”

Kiah handed me the call slip and I saw the name, Max Watkins…Urgent call.

“Kiah is there a dedicated line for a collect call to my attorney?”

“The only other line besides the switch board is in the manager’s office…and since you are making a collect call to your attorney, I see no reason why you shouldn’t have some privacy.”

“Thank you Kiah.” I said as I handed her a clean, crisp ten-dollar bill and she smiled as she switched on the light as I picked up the receiver and called Max collect. As I waited for the answer, I scanned the desktop for the familiar file with my name…and there it was.

“Max, I can’t stay on the phone long, but I need to tell you, I am in the manager’s office…there is a file here ... confirms the dirty deed you and I expected… they are trying to frame me for a cash payment from the military…its true and all here. I am going to copy this file now and I will call you from another phone.”

“Brandon, dreams are one thing but this...this is another.”

“Max, would a memorandum from the manager to his boss be sufficient to prove to you this isn’t a pipe dream from some whacko?”

“Don’t get your feelings hurt Brandon.”

“No, Max…it is more than that, it is my entire life and I ask you to hold on the line while I copy this file. I ask you to do so because I fear the young lady would see the light on the phone line go out and think I had finished my call.”

I found the copier and was pleased to see it was ready…just resting. It was a large industrial HP copier with an automatic feeder and collated the copies. I selected two copies and hit the print button. The memorandum was only ten pages so it was finished quickly. I replaced the file on top of the desk as I had found it and went back to the phone to relieve Max.

“Ok Max, I’ve copied the document and I must go, I promise to call you back before the day is over.”

I placed the duplicate copy in my shirt and went out to the lobby. I smiled at Kiah and thanked her for being so kind to me. Heinz was waiting expectantly and we went to the commissary were I purchased several cans of tuna, doggie biscuits, a quart of milk, a six-pack of cold beer and some chips. My new buddy and I headed to my room for an afternoon treat.

In the room I fixed Heinz’s lunch, setting the bowl in front of him and popped the tab on a can of Miller High Life and sat down to carefully review the file. There it was in black and white…” this man is a colonel in the US army and likely to become a General officer. This is a valuable man, like a plane, a weapon on whose design a fortune has been invested. He is an asset to the military and has within his memory bank all the secrets of the world’s greatest power.

The United States government will not be permit a member of its elite forces to be tried by any country whether he is guilty or not. The government of the United States will pay any price to clear his name and to free him. We hold the key to his freedom, and I believe we are entitled to a concession for the effort we will make on behalf of the world’s richest country.

“Kiah, please get me the Sheriff’s office.”

The call went through and was answered, “Sheriff’s office.”

“May I speak with Deputy Bill Cover?”

“One moment.”

“Bill Cover here.”

“Deputy Cover, this is Brandon Simpson.”

“Yes Colonel, a good piece of work, saving the county several thousand.”

“Well maybe you could find a big ham bone for Heinz, he is the hero you know deputy. I am convinced the dog sat at the site for two days…such loyalty is simply unthinkable in the world we live in…is there news?”

“Sorry we have nothing for you, the coroner has to do his thing but I am certain by Tuesday we should have his results.”

“Great, in the meantime, I have some things I must get in the mail and I wanted your permission to post them.”

“Be my guest Colonel, see you Tuesday.”

Wow, I thought, nearly back to normal.

The town of Powell River was a little over five miles from the camp and there were three modes of travel, take a golf cart, take a bike or take the ole’ Tom McCann’s. I chose the golf cart and soon had Heinz relaxed proudly in the shotgun seat were he enjoyed the sunny afternoon with the wind in his face. I too felt a certain joy and remembered as well the sight of my latest sweetheart, Princepe’ whom I had cause to leave in Venice, Italy were I was living before taking this side-bar.

The cause for leaving my beautiful Princepe’ took the form of a mother and father seeking to protect this lovely child of nineteen years of age from an elderly man of fifty…a scandal of scandals. For my part it had nothing to do with the need to salvage a vanishing sexual ego, I truly believe it was more about this unique human being who thrilled me, dazzled me, questioned me and made each and every moment I was with her a joy.

She was so unlike Bonnie, who was a brilliant woman, at all times deeply rooted in her medical profession…and in saving lives. Bonnie had the perfect temperament for a wife at that time in my life. We were both military, used a certain discipline, a code of ethics, hard work and little time or need, to have fun.

Then I lost Bonnie, and after four years of mourning, along comes the spider, a child really but somehow wise from the distillation of several generations of Venetians running through her precious veins.

At least five generations and more than five hundred years connected to the ruling class Medici family in Italy. The most influential family in the history of Italy. Its patriarch, Giovanni di Bic-ci de’ Medici who lived from 1360-1429. He was a Florentine merchant who amassed a fortune by skill in trading; a major supporter of the arts and was the virtual leader/ruler of Florence from 1421-1429. From his two sons, Cosimo (1389-1464) and Lorenzo (1395-1440) derived the two great branches of the Medici’s whose family tree included Pope Clement VII who was Giovanni’s great-grandson in addition to producing a Cardinal.

The Medici legend beginning in the mid-fourteenth century included the development of thirteen spectacular villas built throughout the Tuscany Valley. One of those built in the mid thirteen hundreds and was utilized as a hunting lodge for the Medici and his party. The property contained 220 hectors with bountiful vineyards for making wine, olive groves, a major garden for vegetables, a villa with more than 8,000 square feet with twenty rooms and two ancillary buildings to house the staff and guest. It had a classically designed chapel which included burial crept for the Medici family.

Unknown to Princepe’ I had managed to purchase an option on this property located in a small village near Pistoria at Quaratta. The villa itself was known as LaMagia which I found to be as magic as was Princepe’ and it was my hope and plan to take her there as my bride.

Heinz and I soon found our way to the Post Office and I sent a copy of the memorandum to Max Watkins via special delivery. I decided to walk about the village in the hope of finding a store to purchase a few things to tide me over. After all, I had not expected to stay more than three days originally, and I was now into a week. I found a store and a shady spot for Heinz to rest with the golf cart while I shopped.

The little shop was perfect and the prices were quite reasonable. I purchased slack, shirts, socks, underwear, a couple of sweaters and sport coat and tie for the dining room or for court. On the way back to the camp, there was a small grocery. Once again, I lucked into a shady spot for Heinz and promised I would take no more than fifteen minutes. I picked up some dog food, some vitamins for Heinz, and a dog bone, a bowl for water and one for food and a rubber ball. I got some cheese, crackers, mustard, pretzels, peanuts and a twelve pack of beer.

Heinz was happy to see me and I knew he smelled the goodies. Since I had promised Max ... I would call before the end of the day, I went to the only pay phone at the camp and called Max collect. I was glad to hear Max pick up and I informed him the body of Seg Maze had been found and Deputy Colvin had promised to let me hear the results of the coroner’s report by Tuesday. I also told him Colvin had permitted me to go into the village to mail the memorandum and did some personal shopping since I had never done laundry.

“Marvelous work Brandon, I’m planning to come to Powell River sometime late next week. In the meantime, I want you to promise you’ll sit tight, stay out of the saloons and away from the whores until I get you freed of this mess.