Exigent Circumstances Ch. 03

This story is part of an ongoing series. The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography.

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This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racism, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.

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Part 8 - The Party Never Stops...

"Smallwood?!" Cindy exclaimed. "For sure?"

"Yes ma'am." said Martha. "The same certainty with which the DNA around Nicole Brown Simpson was matched to her ex-husband, though he was acquitted anyway."

"If the condom don't fit, you must acquit." Cindy said, then added "What I meant was: Isn't he in prison? Or Witness Protection?"

"Nope. Not anymore." I said. "Father, forgive me for I have sinned: I disobeyed my own edict, and looked it up this weekend---"

"Say a thousand Hail Marys and beg forgiveness for your hideous sinnzzzz." intoned Chief Moynahan, making everyone laugh. Then he said "But what did you fiiiinddd?"

"That Jesse Smallwood is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I apologize to the box of rocks for the insult to them." I replied.

"We knew that already." Cindy said witheringly. "But how did you get onto him to the point to have Martha check his DNA, and be right?"

I said "Well, I confirmed this weekend what I learned before. First let me give some background, to catch everyone up. Jesse Smallwood is the guy who turned State's Evidence and testified against Peter Blassingame in the Henry-Withers double murder case, which has Blassingame on Death Row. In exchange, Jesse got a plea deal, in my opinion a very generous plea deal of a 10-year sentence, but suspended, followed by 20 years probation." (Author's note: 'Unresolved', Ch.04)

Me: "He also got Witness Protection, as did his parents. Edward Blassingame, Peter's father, tried every trick in the book, legal and otherwise, to spirit Peter out of the State's custody, both here in our County Jail and Jacksonville State Prison. Peter's appeals are running out; he's due to be executed soon. And Edward's hatred of Jesse Smallwood is immeasurable, matched only by his hatred of me."

Me: "And so is the hatred of the Taus and the Pi Omegas for Sma; llwood. Smallwood's testimony put a lot of them in prison, and they absolutely consider him to be a traitor. His life is not worth a cup of warm spit if they get ahold of him. I've long known this, of course, and while I don't feel any obligation to help him or protect him... quite the opposite, in fact... I do have a problem with people who try to commit murder in my County, and I have a special loathing for Peter Blassingame and his father Edward. So I've been glancing in Smallwood's direction every so often."

Me: "Soooo, when I learned of Bob Gold's associations with the Taus and Kappas, when his name came up as we investigated the Sandstone-Gerard and then the Huntington-Luna crimes (Author's note: 'Sausage And The Law'.), I did a spot check to see what Jesse Smallwood was doing. I was able to, seeing that he's technically on parole in this County for the next 30 years. At that time he was still in Witness Protection, working for the Railroad somewhere out West."

Me: "When Gold's name popped up more recently, I again checked Smallwood's name... and got some surprising results. First, he had left Witness Protection, and he actually reported to his Parole Officer via telephone, saying he was living with friends in Coltrane County. All technically legit to that point."

Me: "But then, things started getting sideways. They checked the address he reported to be at. It was an apartment just south of the Town & County Line. They went inside, which they can do because the parolee has no rights. There were belongings there, some mail with his name and that address. But he was never there himself, not even at 3:00am when they went in on a surprise inspection."

Me: "He did show up and met them there when they called him to demand it, and he's met every check-in, so far. Their only problem was verifying how he was making green dollar bills. He said he was doing odd jobs for cash, no names nor questions asked. Just a little too clean, n'est pas? Long story short---"

"Too late." Cindy Ross and Sheriff Griswold interjected quickly and simultaneously.

I made a 'not amused' face, then said "Bottom line: I knew he was out there, in the area, and getting paid in cash on the sly. With that data, I simply suggested the name to Martha, and it turned out to be a match."

"No holding the red crowbar today!" Julia Rodriguez said with a grin, making everyone laugh. "But... wow, do you really keep up with all the people in all your past cases like that, sir?"

"Many of them, yes." I replied. "And that's a good point, and a teachable moment. All of you should keep tabs on people you bust, and any others, that might want revenge and would be a threat to you. Get to know the POs (parole officers), give them tips and you'll get tips from them, and so on. In this case, because the Taus and the Blassingames are a threat to me and mine, I watch them like a hawk."

Cindy was shaking her platinum blonde head. She said "I just don't understand why Smallwood would do this. Rape, murder in some degree, and at best for him, his suspended sentence is ovah. Why would he do this to himself?"

"And we're back to 'dumb as a box of rocks'." said Julia Rodriguez. Everyone laughed.

"True, but let's parse it." I replied. "He may be using the same logic he was using at the time he took the plea deal. We had him dead to rights as being in that car when Henry and Withers were murdered. He was facing life in prison, and you know what happens to rapists in prison. So he makes the plea deal. He testifies against his fellow Taus, probably not really thinking about the hatred for him and the potential threats to him that would result."

Me: "But Witness Protection is rarely a really good life. Here was a guy, hobnobbing with future Elitists, setting up his own political career with the dinners, the influence, and all that money swirling around. So I think one of three things happened: one, he calculated he could safely come out of Witness Protection, get right with his PO, and try to make money; two, Witness Protection became unsafe for him, so he abandoned it..."

Me: "... and third, someone found him, offered him a way to make a lot more money than he had been making, and he took it. And yes, that brings us back to insulting our poor box of rocks... because I believe it was a trap to smoke him out. And it worked."

Understanding began spreading through everyone's minds. "That actually explains a lot." Cindy said. "Especially using petroleum jelly as a lubricant; it was given to him that way."

"Yep." I said. "And that's why I'm not really concerned that he might disappear, because he'll be cajoled or forced to stay in place. But he's also in danger, so now that Martha has confirmed that he's committed a crime, we need two warrants for Smallwood: one for the parole violation, the other for the rape and suspicion of murder charge."

"Coming right up, sir." Lieutenant Mary Milton said as she typed on her laptop.

"Okay, Tanya, lets get Jack Muscone and Clark Webster on in here." I said.

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

Just a few moments later, FBI Special Agents in Charge Clark Webster and Jack Muscone came in. There was no physical contact, but it felt like Muscone was pushing Webster into the room. They sat down on the far side of the table, facing me and Cindy.

"So, Mr. Webster." Chief Molly Evans said. "Do I need to call the Nextdoor County City Attorney?"

"That's the least of Mr. Webster's problems right now. Isn't that right Mr. Webster?" I said, no one the wiser that this was a carefully scripted repartée between Molly and myself.

"As much as you don't want to be here," I said, "it was more important for you to come in and see just how much I know, so you and the FBI Brass in Washington can cover up the story. Well, allow me to disabuse you of any hope on that score: I know everything."

When Webster just looked blankly at me, I said "I know that something happened at the secret Energy Dynamics facility in

Rivers County sometime last year. Something that caused the seismograph at the nuclear power plant to register a small earthquake." (Author's note: And you thought I mentioned the LSU-Auburn earthquake game just for the heck of it? No, dear Readers, it was a cluuuue...)

Me: "It may have been an accident, or maybe caused on purpose as an act of sabotage. Either way, after that incident, Energy Dynamics quietly shut down almost all of their projects there and moved them to their front offices in the Town & County, leaving only the most secret and most dangerous projects in Rivers County. And they've been trying even harder to cover up and keep secret the death that occurred in that disaster."

I continued: "One of the two bodies recently found in Nextdoor County, which you Feds plain stole from Nextdoor County's jurisdiction, was Lana Lane, who met with Geiger and Madden on the day Madden was murdered." (Author's note: 'Deliver Us From Evil', Ch. 01-02) "The other body... is the person who died in the Energy Dynamics explosion!"

There were gasps in the room... some at my deduction, and some at the look on Clark Webster's face: he did not look surprised, but utterly defeated. Finally, he said "If you know all that, then you know the accident was classified by the Military---"

"Stoppit. Don't even try." I said. "It's classified Secret. Everyone in here is cleared to hear it, even these rowdy Canadian sisters. But more importantly, Mr. Webster, I'm actually trying to help you here, help you make the correct decision as well as help you out of the Swamp Frogs's clutches. Let me explain."

Me: "Not long before the incident... which I'll call that for lack of a better term... a Company operative was sent into Energy Dynamics. Two people came to my mind: May Cialis, on behalf of the Swamp Frogs; and Gayle Roberts, trying to catch Swamp Frogs or, worse, traitors like she found at DataDynamics. And last night, my wife, Dr. Laura Fredricson, helped me determine which one it was... and it was Gayle Roberts that died and was ignominiously buried in Nextdoor County."

Me: "What you need to know, Mr. Webster, is that Gayle Roberts was my wife's longtime assistant as well as fellow CIA Officer, and they also were very close personal friends. And you need to understand how much it will behoove you to come correct and tell me everything you know... not what they will let you, but everything you know, before my wife finds out some other way."

Me: "If she does, there will truly be hell to pay. The worst she will do to me is make me sleep on the couch with the dogs. But if she finds out you actively participated in the coverup of her friend's death?... then there's nothing neither I nor my dogs can do for you."

In the silence of the room, Clark Webster looked over at Jack Muscone, who just said "The FBI is corrupted and not worth it anymore. Do the right and honest thing. For Gayle Roberts, if for no other reason."

Webster nodded and said "Okay." He exhaled, then said "Yes, Commander, it's almost exactly and completely as you said. It was Gayle Roberts, and yes, she's been confirmed as the other body they recently found."

Webster: "As to what exactly killed her, we're not sure if there was an explosion, a large energy release, or something else. We also don't know if foul play was involved. It's been speculated it could be intentional because she was the only person that died... that we know of."

Webster: "Anyhoo, you are right: they began shutting stuff down at the Rivers County facility, and doctoring paperwork to make it look like they'd been shutting things down a lot sooner. I came in on the tail end of it. My Missing Persons Office was notified that a woman named Gayle Roberts had disappeared. They gave an accurate description of her, and said she worked at Energy Dynamics."

Webster: "We began the routine inquiries. The next day, I was personally visited by someone.... and I can't tell you who, so don't ask... who told me that Gayle Roberts was a CIA Officer, and that she'd gone undercover. Naturally, I stopped the inquiry and closed the case. And I heard nothing more until the other day, when the bodies in Nextdoor County were found."

Webster: "A DNA check request went through my office. We found out that one of them was likely Roberts only after other Federal Agents had taken the bodies to the City. And then I got the word from higher-ups that she was no longer missing nor unidentified, that national security was an issue, and for me to stay out of it and say nothing more about it."

"Let me add something at this point." said Jack Muscone. "I knew Gayle, too... and please give Laura my condolences... so I began getting phone calls about it from all over the place, asking if it was true that Gayle was dead. And that's when FBI triphammers began crushing Clark and me like little nuts. But I did tell them that if the Iron Crowbar asked specifically about it, then I would hold nothing back from him, that being you. So now you know what we know... probably more, knowing you."

"One thing I don't know," I said, "is who sent Nat K. Cole into Energy Dynamics, why they did so, and why was she murdered in a way to make it look like an abduction and rape?"

"I have no idea." said Clark Webster.

"Me neither." said Jack Muscone. The other Federal Agents in the room also denied knowledge of any of it.

Roark Coleman asked "Sir, do you believe Ms. Cole was sent in to find out what happened to Ms. Roberts?" Ah, he was getting there, I thought to myself.

"Good question." I said. "And it's either that, or she accidentally found out and was rubbed out herself to try to keep the coverup going. I'm hoping that if we get Smallwood alive and get him talking, we'll get some answers---"

I began getting a vibe... that Cindy was having a big vibe. As I looked at her, she said "What are you leaving out, Mr. Webster? For example---"

I literally grasped her forearm as I interrupted with "Mr. Webster has told us everything we need to know. For now, let's catch up with Smallwood, and go from there."

If looks could kill, I'd look just like Wile E. Coyote after being struck by lightning: burnt to a crisp. Fortunately, I was saved by the ringing of Cindy's cellphone.

"It's Deputy Strait from Coltrane County." Cindy said. Answering, she said "Deputy Strait, you're on speaker with all our Detectives and their bosses."

"Hi, Commander Ross! Hi, everyone!" Strait said in his characteristic enthusiastic voice. "We just saw that you issued warrants for Jesse Smallwood."

"Yes, we did." Cindy said. "We're looking for him. Any idea where we might find him?"

"Yes ma'am." Strait said. "He's here, at our Sheriff's Department building! Smallwood came in 20 minutes ago with his attorney, to turn himself in..."

Part 9 - The Smallwood Connection

"It's been like the good old days," Cindy said, "when I was your sidekick and went everywhere with you. Now I'm here only because Teresa is on vacation."

We were driving towards Buford in Coltrane County in my Police SUV to interview Jesse Smallwood. "And I'm glad to have you with me for the fun." I replied. "It's kind of like Carole being on vacation gave Tasha some exclusive time with me."

"I heard Tasha is getting that when she's helping you re-write the State Constitution." Cindy said.

I nodded, then Cindy said witheringly: "Of course, just like the old days, you're also exasperating the hell out of me. I wanted to ask Webster who stopped his inquiry into Gayle's disappearance, who sent him the DNA request, exactly who was calling Muscone and asking if Gayle was dead... and who told or asked them.... and you stopped me."

"Yes, I did," I admitted, "and thank you for not pushing it. All that was part of the coverup, and at the Federal level. And ultimately, I'd rather have Webster on our side and not the Swamp Frogs's side. Last but not least, I'm much more interested in who was with Smallwood when they killed Mark Cooper and abducted, raped, and killed Nat Cole. And also, I cant't wait to see who is Smallwood's attorney. That alone will tell us volumes..."

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

"Okay guys," I said, "get a good look at them. Make observations and deductions, and we'll compare notes later."

Our entourage looked through the one-way glass of the Interrogation Room at the Coltrane County Sheriff Department headquarters. So as not to completely overrun them, I had allowed only Captain Claire Michaels, and 'Team Teddy' (Lt. Teddy Parker, Det. Sgt. Julia Rodriguez, and Det. Roark Coleman) to come down with me. I had not 'allowed' Cindy Ross to come; she does whatever the hell she pleases.

"Who is the legal beagle?" Cindy asked. I shrugged; I'd never seen him before. He was elderly, tall and lanky, with relatively heavy jowls. His eyes bespoke a mean disposition.

Coltrane County Sheriff Sorrells said "Said his name was Mortimer D. Randolph, and that he was representing Smallwood. We'd just gotten the APB of your warrant literally only three minutes before when they walked in." He handed me a card.

"Bedford, Benning & Bell, P. C." I said, reading the lawyer's card out loud. "Wow." Seeing the looks on everyone's faces, I said "Bedford, Benning & Bell is a law firm in the City. They are insanely expensive. Their main business is large construction and development projects, and they handle some Union work. "

Me: "They are rumored to be (air quotes) 'connected', as in Mob ties, and in more recent times there have been whispers of affiliations with White Supremacy groups. They have absolutely no love for the Federal Government; in fact, one of their attorneys, William J. Rutledge, represented Geiger against the Feds after Keith Madden was killed." (Author's note: 'Deliver Us From Evil', Ch. 02)

Sheriff Sorrells said "If you want first crack at him, Commander Troy, have at it."

"Thank you, Sheriff." I said. "Who's going in with me?"

"Don't even bother replying, anyone." Cindy said. "Unless you think you can whip my ass, of course."

"No, Julia, now is not the time." I said with a grin, having seen the sparkle in my Detective Sergeant's eyes. There was chuckling in the room as Cindy followed me into the Interrogation Room...

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

Jesse Smallwood and his lawyer were on the right side of the table as one observed through the one-way glass. Cindy and I took seats opposite them. As we sat down, Cindy said "Mr. Randolph, are you related to Kevin Randolph? He's one of my best paramedics."

"Probably not." Mortimer Randolph muttered dismissively, his voice an outright snarl.

"No, he's not." I said quietly. Then I turned to Smallwood, who'd put on weight since I'd last seen him. He didn't seem nervous, as his soft pudgy hands didn't do anything that would give away nervousness. I said "As you know, Jesse, I'm Commander Troy, and this is Commander Ross. I just have one question for you: why?

"If you have any questions for my client," said Mortimer Randolph, "address them to me, and I will answer on his behalf."

"That's not how it works." I said witheringly. "You can advise him not to answer, but I'll address the questions to him if I damn well please."

Mortimer treated me to the most malignant stare his face could muster. "Then I question your right to even speak to my client. You're out of jurisdiction."

"Okay, we can play that one of several ways." I said. "First, your client is being accused of capital crimes in my County, and carried over into this county. Second, I'm also a State Agent, so that alone is enough. Third, the Coltrane County Sheriff invited me to come in and talk with your client. So jurisdiction is an issue only to those who are scared that I might find out something you don't want me to know." Cindy nodded vigorously in agreement.

Mortimer gave us a withering look of dismissal. But he said nothing further, so I continued. "So why, Jesse? I'm trying to understand. Make me understand." I asked again. "I mean, you had it good. You got one of the sweetest plea deals in the history of the State, when by rights you should've been in prison for life. And on top of that, you got Witness Protection."

"Now," I continued, "we got you dead to rights for rape, and by association, murder and kidnapping... unless that somehow wasn't your semen in that girl's dead body. But it was yours, absolute match. And at the least, it's a violation of your suspended sentence and the conditions of your parole. Thirty years in prison, at least. So why?"

"None of your damn business, Troy." Mortimer said, his voice soft but full of venom.

"No?" I replied. "I'll tell you what is my business, then. Kidnapping, rape, and two counts of murder. Felony murder if you didn't actually butcher them yourself, Jesse. Last time, you were in the car, Jesse, and you made a life-saving decision to take the plea deal and put Peter Blassingame on Death Row. He's running out of appeals; he will be dead soon."

Me: "Now we know you were with someone last weekend. And this time, if you don't do the right thing and finger him, it's all gonna fall on you. Alone. And you'll be joining Peter Blassingame in Hell after your appeals run out."

"Stop with the empty threats, and badgering my client." said Mortimer D. Randolph, sounding a little more like a lawyer and a little less like a thug. "He has nothing to say to you. Now, if you're done blowing hot air, get out of here so I can get the Judge to expedite his hearing and get him freed."

"Freed?!" Cindy exclaimed. "Did you not hear what Commander Troy just said? Two counts of murder!"

"Watch me, little girl." Mortimer said, and though there was no smoking, it felt like he'd just blown smoke in Cindy's face.

I clapped my hand onto her shoulder and said. "He's just goading you. Let's go." As we got up, I said "Last chance to give me a name, Jesse." Smallwood said nothing, just keeping that dumb look on his pudgy face...

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

Once back in the conference room, Deputy Strait said "Hey guys, we impounded Smallwood's pickup truck. It matches the truck you saw on video the night of the murder, including the partial plate."

Captain Claire Michaels said "Per our contract, the TCPD Crime Lab is going through it now. I asked them to concentrate on fingerprints, blood and tissue residue in the back, and tire impressions."

"Okay, good job." I said. "Any ideas for lunch when we get back?"

"Since we're here," said Cindy, "I'm a member of the Lake Ocheekobee Golf & Country Club, and they just finished renovating the Clubhouse. It's really nice..."

Part 10 - The Road Home

12:45pm, Tuesday, July 5th. The Lake Ocheekobee Golf & Country Club, which I'll hereafter refer to as 'the Club', had not just been renovated. The old building, in which Jefferson Davis Jackson had died in the 'The Murdered Football Player' case, had been torn down and a spacious new Clubhouse built, with member locker rooms, meeting rooms, a much nicer post-round (and other times) bar and grill, called 'The Watering Hole', and an even nicer restaurant to the left side as we entered the building.

"Somebody has invested some serious coin into this place." I said as Cindy led us through the pro shop and onto the back porch, overlooking the 1st, 9th, 10th, and 18th holes.

"The Clubhouse is not the half of it." Cindy said. "It's now a full 27-hole course, and the whole thing is now professional grade. They're negotiating with the LPGA to get the tournament that used to be at The Heritage Cloisters in our County, but got pulled because they let their course get run down." (Author's note: 'Schoolhouse Rock')

"How are those talks going?" I asked.

"Very well!... er, from what I understand." Cindy replied. "Er, I heard that nearby hotel accommodations are the biggest issue, but with Hotel Row in our County pretty close, and with growth and development in Coltrane County starting to ramp up, that's not a real obstacle."

We went into the Dining Room, which was about half-full of people enjoying delicious lunches. "Hi, Timmy." Cindy said to the tall, nerdish guy behind the front lectern. "Six of us, and put it all on my bill. It's my treat today."

Everyone murmured their thanks as Timmy led us to the back right of the room and through a door into a smaller room. It was the VIP Room, and featured large windows that gave a great view of the 1st and 9th holes.

We were seated at a table for six, and almost instinctively fell into what my wife Laura would call 'proper' places. I was at one end, and Cindy at the other. To my right was Captain Claire Michaels, and to Cindy's right was Lt. Teddy Parker. Det. Sgt. Julia Rodriguez sat to my left, and Det. Roark Coleman to Cindy's left.

Lunch was tossed salad with dressing of choice (I had blue cheese), then either a chicken dish or 'lunch portion' steak, along with baked potato (all of us hungry Officers got them fully 'loaded').

"This is such a nice place." Julia said to me. "It reminds me of some of the Officers Clubs I might've happened to go into when I was in the Army."

"Yeah, I was thinking that, too." I said, looking around. "And that's the comparison I had on the tip of my tongue, but couldn't quite think of it. Good call, Julia."

"It's definitely an upgrade." Claire said. "I remember what it was like before I left for California. It was somewhere between an American Legion or VFW bar, and a dump." I nodded vigorously in agreement.

We avoided talking about the current case as we ate. Cindy asked if Sheriff Griswold still had the receipt for the round of golf we played and expensed during the Murdered Football Player case, and I said "Oh yeah! He framed it! He's got framed pictures of his wife, his son, and that receipt right next to them." I then had to tell them the full story...

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

I asked Claire Michaels to ride with me and Cindy on the drive home, for two reasons: first, so she could talk with us; and second, so Team Teddy could talk without feeling hindered (read: dominated) by their Captain being in the car with them.

Claire sat in the shotgun seat and was typing on my mobile SUV computer. Cindy was in the backseat behind her, and was watching. When she saw me take the side road, her eyes cut over to me, and then smiled. She knew as I did that this road led along Holes 10-27 of the club.

"Ah. Construction." I said, causing Claire to look up.

"Yep." Cindy replied. "The golf course originally was a public course. It was bought by a local consortium and expanded. The course is still open to the public... well, Holes 1 through 18 are... and the front nine still have the modest homes and condos, but the new part will have more high-end homes, and in a gated community."

"Like some of the gated communities not named 'Heritage Cloisters'?" Claire asked.

Cindy replied "I'd say it's more like the two housing divisions along Reservoir Lake. In our County, along Reservoir Road, they divided it up into a lot of smaller lots, and built modest but well-constructed homes at affordable prices. The money was in the volume, and the houses sold well."

Cindy: "On the Nextdoor County side, they had a plan where they'd have a gated community and HOA, in conjunction with the Lakeside Inn & Suites. The lots were twice as big as the ones in our County, and the homes were much larger and more expensive. The gated part, HOA, and full cooperation with the Lakeside Inn never panned out, but the homes sold very well, and the property values remain high."

Claire asked: "Who is the consortium developing Lake Ocheekobee? Is your father part of it?"

I saw Cindy's face in my rear view mirror, so I rescued her, saying "No. They wanted him to, but my uncle refused when they wanted him to put up 'The Vision' property as collateral. Even when they dropped it as a condition, he declined, knowing they would come after his land if they could. As to who the backers of the project are, that's something you should research yourself. You might be surprised whose name shows up."

Claire nodded, then said "I'll make Roark Coleman do it. He hates doing research."

"You really just don't like that guy, do you?" Cindy said witheringly.

"No ma'am, I do not." Claire said with alacrity.

"Well, everything else aside," I said in a serious tone, "you should be very careful about things like that. If you use Police resources to look at them, that's one thing; you can manufacture a reason for it, and I'm sure not going to notice. However, if you tell or even ask Roark to do it, you better have a real Police reason for the investigation; otherwise it's 'personal services', and that's illegal... and I can't overlook it, even if I wanted to."

To change the subject as quickly as possible, Claire said "So Dr. Eckhart thought the project would fail? How is it doing?"

"Oh no, he saw the potential in it." Cindy replied, taking the bait. "He just chose to not get involved. And the project is going well. The Clubhouse Restaurant is doing well, as is the Bar. Golf memberships are way up, and we've sold out the subscriptions for the new housing community."

A second later I saw Cindy's eyes cut to me to see if I'd caught her slip. I had, and I just smiled benignly and thought to myself 'you're my cousin and I love you' over and over...

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

2:15pm, Tuesday, July 5th. We arrived back at Police Headquarters just a few minutes after Team Teddy. We went into Classroom 'E', where they and Lieutenant Mary Milton awaited us.

"O-kayyyy," I said as we sat down, "while we're waiting for our Federal friends to return, let's go over what we saw today---"

"Sir," Julia said, "before we do... we were talking on the drive home, and Roark asked something that may be important."

"Don't keep me in suspense." I replied. "Go ahead, Mr. Roark."

"Well, sir, I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, and the CSIs might find something---" Roark started, but stopped when he saw me grin and chuckle.

"Yeah, you're onto it." I said. "Go ahead."

"Yes sir." Roark said. He drew a breath and then said "Sir, do we have anything to prove the identity of the second perp in this case? For that matter, do we have proof that there is even a second perp at all?"

"Are you kidding?" Claire Michaels exclaimed sharply. "There's plenty of evidence! Yolanda's simulation, video and eyewitness accounts..." Her voice ran down as she thought about it, then said "You're right, Coleman, and I apologize.. There really isn't all that much. Mary, bail me out of this."

Mary Milton said "Sorry, ma'am. It might just take the Iron Crowbar to bail this whole case out."

I said "So Perp Number 2 has not been kind enough to leave us some clear fingerprints nor solid DNA evidence?"

Mary said "No sir, and it may even be worse than that. Let me start at the beginning with the full report."

Mary started with the full report. "Jesse Smallwood's truck is the truck captured on various cameras leaving the scene of the Garden Spot Apartments and driving to Coltrane County. The tire patterns on the truck exactly match the tire tracks at the location where Nat K. Cole's body was found. And his fingerprints are all over the driver side of the truck, as we would expect anyway,"

Mary: "But it goes downhill from there. The passenger side of the cab is wiped down completely and vacuumed out thoroughly. Not a single fingerprint, not even Smallwood's. No dirt on the passenger side carpet. The glove compartment was also wiped down. Additionally, the bed of the truck, including the camper top, was washed down with water and then wiped down with Clorox. No real evidence the girl was in the back of the truck nor in the cab, much less the second perp."

Roark said speculatively "So even if Smallwood gave us the truthful name of the other perp, the perp could say that Jesse is lying to save his own ass, and we can't prove he was there at either crime scene."

I said "Based on what we have now, that's pretty much true. But you know what James Clavell said in his epic novel Shō-gun, 'it is easy to find the solution once given the answer'. If we have someone to investigate, we might get lucky and find some fibers on his clothes matching Jesse's truck. We might find some video of him with Jesse or, more likely, with someone like Edward Blassingame or his people, or maybe some Taus/Pi Omega connections."

Everyone nodded, but though they said no more, they knew as I did that we had a real uphill battle on our hands to bring the other killer to justice...

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

2:50pm, Tuesday, July 5th. Deputy Chief Tanya P. Muscone led a procession of Federal Agents into Classroom 'E', and joined us at the table. Sheriff Griswold came in behind them and also sat down. Chief Moynahan stayed in the doorway, then said "Mr. Crowbarrr, may I see you outside for a moment?"

"Yes sir." I said, getting up. "Y'all talk amongst yourselves." I followed the Chief out the door. As we went down the halls towards his office suite, I asked "Is everything all right, Chief?"

The Chief gave me a 'warning' look, then said "I'll let you decide." He went to the door of the Chief's Conference Room, opened it, and swept his hand forward in an unspoken invitation for me to go inside. As I did, I saw two persons sitting at the table. One of them was TCPD Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle. The other... was my wife, Dr. Laura Fredricson.

Knowing what I had to do, I turned to Teresa and said "Welcome back. If you consider yourself off vacation, why don't you head to Classroom 'E' and get caught up on what's been going on." Teresa nodded, then got up, patted Laura on the shoulder as she went by, and exited the room. Now alone with my wife, I sat down across the corner of the table from her, and reached out and took her hand in mine.

"It's confirmed." I said. "One of the bodies just found at Mystery Lake is Gayle Roberts."

Laura grimaced, then gripped my hand and bowed her head for a moment. When she looked back up, she said "What happened?"

I said "Well, actual details are sketchy, but we think she died in an accident at the Energy Dynamics Rivers County facility, a bad enough accident that they covered it up and moved just about everything to the Town & County offices. And I doubt that We The TCPD will ever get those classified details. You might, though."

"How much did Clark Webster and Jack Muscone know, and when did they know it?" Laura asked with just a wee bit of venom in her voice."

"I don't think Muscone knew at all." I replied. "Webster's team got a Missing Persons report on her, but were then contacted and told she was on a undercover mission, and to stand down. He was also unintentionally brought in when the Mystery Lake bodies were found, and was pretty much left holding the bag."

"All right." Laura said. Then she said as much to herself as to me: "There is going to be hell to pay for this. To just dump a CIA Officer's body in a shallow grave, and leave it to rot... hell, our enemies treat our spies's bodies better than that..."

"Why don't we go into the meeting." I suggested as I stood up. Laura nodded, and got up as well.

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

Classroom 'E' went silent when Laura entered the room ahead of me, and all the Federal Agents in the room looked fearful. I'll give Clark Webster credit for trying: he got up, went over to Laura, and said "I'm very sorry about your colleague, Ms. Roberts, and I'm going to do whatever I can to make things right by her."

"I'm holding you to that." Laura replied. "And you can start by telling us everything you know about it. Everything. And don't worry about what's classified. I'll handle the NDAs and the crap paperwork."

SAC Webster told the story again, and it was virtually verbatim what he'd told us earlier. But Laura did not let him off the hook as I had earlier. She said "Who came to you and told you to drop the case?"

Webster's face wilted, and his eyes looked side-to-side as if he were being crushed by two walls moving in on him. It was Jack Muscone who said "Come on, Clark. You don't owe Derrick B. Harland nor Robin Isley a damn thing, and they sure as hell won't repay any loyalty you show them."

Webster said "I know. But it wasn't either of them. It was someone worse, far worse."

Laura said, but without a shred of humor in her voice, "Like my husband always says... don't keep us in suspense."

Webster said "It was Brendan Chapel. He personally came to my office. The phone call after her body was found was not Chapel, though, and I don't know who it was; a man just said he was on Staff at the Homeland Security Office, and it was no longer Missing Persons's business."

"Chapel." I said. "Some things are starting to make sense, at least as far as the Energy Dynamics part of the case is concerned. Anyhoo, we've got the Smallwood case to continue solving. Anything new on that in the last few minutes?"

"Sir," asked Roark Coleman, "do you think Brendan Chapel is behind the second perp, the one that worked with Smallwood to kill Mr. Cooper and Ms. Cole?"

"Really good question, Mr. Roark." I said. "Anyone want to guess before I theorize without data?"

Alas, we did not get to have that instructive conversation, because ADA Paulina Patterson burst into the room and Cindy's beeper went off. Paulina all but shouted "Jesse Smallwood is getting a hearing in Judge J. B. Stone's Court at 4:00pm!"

Cindy said "This text is from Deputy Strait, saying the same thing."

"My God, it's 3:40 now!" I exclaimed. "Let's go, people! Lights and sirens authorized. We've got to make that hearing on time!"

Everyone scrambled and moved out smartly. As I ran down the hallway, my lovely assistant Helena French handed me my Duty Dress jacket, which I put on as I hurried on down the hall.

As I got into my Police SUV, the shotgun-side door opened and Cinfy got in. "Mind if I catch a ride, mon cousin?" she asked.

"Not at all." I replied as we pulled out. "But where's Teresa?"

"With Laura, giving aid, comfort, and emotional support." Cindy said. After a moment, as we tore through Town, she said "You know those people that called her 'Teresa Cunt', said she was a mean bitch? I wish those people could see her now... comforting sick kids, comforting your wife..."

"Yes, she's come a long way." I replied. "Okay, there's something I need you to do..."

Part 11 - Exigent Circumstances

(Author's note: For more on Judge J. B. Stone, see 'Case of the Black Badge' and stories in that timeframe.)

After racing like mad down the road to Buford, we made it just in time. Actually, the judge, J. B. Stone, came in just as we were taking seats, as if he'd waited for our arrival. As we re-seated ourselves after his entrance, I saw that Claire Michaels was glancing over at me.

"Duty Dress jacket, sir?" she asked when she saw I'd noticed her glances.

I shrugged and said simply "You never know when I need to be wearing it." Claire grew thoughtful, but said no more.

Jesse Smallwood and his attorney Mortimer Randolph were at the Defense table, but it was the other legal beagle there that piqued my curiosity: Nathan Masterson of Gresham & Mason, P. C. That's a lot of legal firepower for a simple hearing and an even more simple-minded client, I mused to myself.

The Prosecutor, a decent but milquetoast man, read the charges when called upon, including the warrant issued by the Town & County Court for plea deal and parole violations. Judge Stone looked bored until he looked over at us. When he saw Paulina, his wizened face hardened into a look of pure hatred.

I leaned over and whispered to Paulina "Whatever happens, don't say anything out loud. Nothing. At all." Paulina looked at me funny, then turned back to watch the proceeding.

"Defense, I understand you have a complaint?" Judge Stone said.

"Yes, Your Honor," said Nathan Masterson, and I noticed they were familiar with each other; no introductions, asking for credentials, etc. Masterson continued "My client's rights have been egregiously violated by the Town & County Police, which has often been accused of flouting the law and people's rights."

"I totally agree." said Judge Stone. "I used to b a judge up there. The corruption of the TCPD is well documented. Proceed, Mr. Masterson."

Masterson said "Thank you, Your Honor. The Town & County Police were led to my client by illegally entering the apartment of the alleged victim, Nat K. Cole, and learning her identity without first obtaining a warrant to do so. Therefore, I ask that all of the evidence surrounding the female alleged victim be suppressed, aand the baseless charges against my client be dropped."

I had to squeeze Paulina's thigh to stop her from standing and speaking, as she was furious with anger at the several ridiculous assertions Masterson had made.

"This absolutely must be investigated." Judge Stone said angrily. "Commander Donald Troy, you are responsible for that Police Force. Take the stand and be sworn in to testify on this matter."

As I rose to testify, the Prosecutor said "Your Honor, this is a preliminary hearing without witnesses---"

"Don't you tell me how to run my Courtroom, boy!" Judge Stone thundered. "I'll throw your ass in jail for contempt! Troy! What are you waiting for? Get up here, now!" I moved smartly out into the aisle and up to the front.

After the Bailiff, in this case Deputy Strait, swore me in, the defense attorney Mortimer Randolph led the questioning. "For the record, state your name and occupation, please."

"James Donald Troy, Police Commander, Town & County Police Force." I said.

Randolph: "And that position is like Assistant Chief, is that not right?"

Me: That is correct."

Mortimer: "Were you personally at the crime scene at the Garden Spot Apartments?"

Me: "Yes."

Randolph: "Do you always personally go to crime scenes? Do you not even trust your own Detectives?"

Me: "Of course I trust them, and they do an excellent job whether I'm there or not. To answer your other question: I don't always go to crime scenes, but I do like to see the more complex ones, like murder cases, with my own eyes whenever possible."

Mortimer: "So you were there that night?" After I reaffirmed what I'd said a minute before, he asked "Did you obtain a warrant before entering the Cole residence?"

Me: "No, I---"

"Why not?" interrupted Randolph. "You got a warrant later, didn't you?" When I answered in the affirmative, he acted all put out as he thundered "Then why didn't you wait for the warrant?"

Me: "Exigent circumstances. We didn't know who the girl was, nor if she was still alive, and we needed her name---"

Mortimer: "She was dead already, Commander---"

"But we didn't know that!" I replied sharply. "And we did what we could to find her in time, alive. And all we did after entering the apartment was obtain her identity. We did not search further until the warrant arrived."

Randolph: "Your Honor, based upon this incriminating testimony, I ask that you suppress all evidence concerning the girl Cole, and drop all charges against my client."

I looked out and saw Paulina's beautiful face showing anger and an impending explosion. I caught Cindy's ice-blue eyes and glanced towards Paulina. My cousin got the message and turned and whispered to Paulina to admonish her to not speak out.

Meanwhile, Judge Stone was going nuts: "My God." he said witheringly. "One day we're going to have a Fascist, authoritarian regime in Washington that tramples on citizens's rights, suppresses free speech, snd imprisons people for speaking their views. And it will be Commander Donald Troy and the TCPD that will dutifully and willingly impose the Fascists's agenda in the name of (air quotes) 'exigent circumstances'. The Fascists are just going to love Police like the TCPD!"

Judge Stone continued: "Yes, the motion is granted. All the evidence concerning Cole is excluded, and all charges against the Defendant are dropped... with prejudice!"

No doubt about that, I thought to myself, remembering Stone's racist views. Smallwood and his attorneys were congratulating themselves with handshakes and backslaps. Meanwhile, Paulina had sprung to her feet, and she began yelling "You can't do that!" Cindy and Claire Michaels bodily 'assisted' her down the aisle and out the back door.

"I didn't say you could leave!" Judge Stone shouted to their backs as they left. "Stop her! I'm going to hold her in Contempt of Court---"

*WHAM*

My red crowbar slammed down onto the judge's gavel base. "No, you're not." I said as I stood in the witness box, having not left it. "We're taking her out of here no matter what you say. And if you try to hold her in contempt, now or ever, you'll be dead within an hour."

Stone's wizened face contorted with rage. "Are you threatening me?" he thundered.

"Why, no." I said calmly. "I'm just explaining cause and effect. Like pressing the Azed-5 button caused Chernobyl to explode. Cause and effect... cause and effect."

"Get the fuck out of here, asshole." Stone snarled. As I left the witness stand, I heard him say "Get the audio. See if the mics picked up his threats." No, I thought to myself, they did not. Thanks to the finest anti-bugging technology the CIA has to offer.

I began herding the cats, i. e. Detectives, out the rear exit, telling them to meet back at TCPD Headquarters. As we left, Nathan Masterson came alongside me and said "Got your ass whipped on that one, didn't you, Jew-boy?" He continued his taunts as he followed me. I ignored him until we got out of the courtroom and into the Courthouse lobby. And then I turned on him with a vengeance.

*WHAM!* *WHACK*

My roundhouse swing of my crowbar caught Masterson righ5 in the gut. As he doubled over in pain, my second swing smashed into his back between the shoulder blades, and he fell like a stone, lying prone on the floor.

"Mock me again, Jew Hater," I said hoarsely as I pressed the rounded end of the crowbar against the side of his head, "and the next time I swing this thing, it will cleave your worthless head in two."

"You're nothing but a fucking thug, Troy." snarled Mortimer Randolph.

"And you're the expert on thugs, aren't you, Mortimer?" I fired back.

"Come on sir, let's go home." Lt. Teddy Parker said. He and Detective Julia Rodriguez guided me out the door and to the parking lot.

"How are you feeling, sir?" Julia asked.

"Angry." I said. "I'm ready to jump off a 250-foot tower. Care to join me?"

"Yes sir!" Julia said enthusiastically, understanding the Airborne reference. "Although I'd prefer jumping out of a C-17 at 1500 feet."

"You young whippersnapper!" I chided. "Give me that good ol' C-130, any day."

Then I noticed that my Police SUV was not where I'd parked it. "Where is my vehicle?" I wondered aloud.

"You're with me, Crowbar." Sheriff Griswold growled. "Commander Ross and Captain Michaels took ADA Patterson back to our County and out of here just as fast as they could. Paulina's mad as a hornet, though, and you have some 'splainin' to do"

"Story of my life." I said as we went to his SUV. "And on the way home, you want me to explain what just happened in there."

"You are reading my mind, Crowbar." the Sheriff said. "You are reading my mind...."

Part 12 - Exigent Explanations

5:15pm, Tuesday July 5th. I came into Police Headquarters and went straight to my office. I had told the Detectives and Jack Muscone (who had been in the courtroom with us) that I was ordering pizza for everyone, and for them to stick around to eat them. I remembered preferences, and each one of them would get his/her own delicious medium pizza.

Green Crowbar had followed Red Crowbar into the office. As she returned my keys, Cindy said "I don't think I've ever seen Paulina this mad before, and a lot of it is directed at you.. She doesn't understand, especially why you had us stop her from calling out the judge. I dob't understand either, but I know you'll explain... in order to avoid a green crowbar beatdown."

"Geez, she was here in the Harold Malone days, and when Stone was a judge up here." I said. "So she should've realized we were saving her ass, that's why. Where is she now?"

Paulina was in the office between the Chief's suite and the Main Conference Room. She was on the phone, angrily talking about the Court proceeding. Her eyes flashed anger at me as I knocked on the door and then came right on into the office without invitation. "Who is that?" I whispered.

"Miriam." she said, referring to District Attorney Miriam Walters. Her eyes widened in shock when I reached out my hand in an unspoken request for her to hand it to me. To my surprise, she did!

"Miriam?" I said into the phone. "Sorry to interrupt, but I need Paulina's undivided attention for a moment. Why don't you come over and join our pizza meeting? I ordered your favorite for you: peppers and onions."

"I'll be right over." Miriam said before the phone connection went dead.

I barely had time to replace the phone in its cradle before Paulina began ripping into me. "What in the hell do you think you're doing? I was talking with Miriam about what the hell to do with this fucking legal mess you've gotten us into! And why did you have Cindy drag me out of that Courtroom like that? I was---"

"To save your life!" I shouted, verbally striking her into dumfounded silence. "Okay, do you want me to let you rant and rave until I get tired, or save you some time and tell what was going on?"

"Besides the obvious corruption in that proceeding?" Paulina replied witheringly. "I was willing to risk jail to make a principled stand, just as you have many times."

"It's worse than that." I said. "Stone was about to order you jailed for Contempt of Court, not to silence your voice, but because you are Black! Stone is a deeply committed White Supremacist who enabled Harold Malone in this County for all those years---"

"Even if he did try to jail me for Contempt," Paulina said, "Sheriff Sorrells and Deputy Strait are good guys, are they not? They wouldn't let me come to harm, would they?"

I replied "They wouldn't know the danger, either. Stone isn'r allowed to be a trial judge; he only does hearings and cases involving Sovereign Citizens. Sorrells and Strait would have been genuinely surprised tomorrow morning to find you disappeared. You eventually would've been found... raped and murdered. And you'll just have to excuse both me and Cindy for wanting Tasha to have her mother alive and well for many years to come."

"If Stone is that bad, why can't we do something about him?" Paulina said. "Why aren't we doing something about him?" 'We' meaning you, of course."

Believing I'd quelled her fury, I said more softly "We will, in due time. I have a feeling that the White Supremacists's sins are about to catch up to them. But right now we have more immediate problems to deal with..."

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

"Eat. folks." I said to the glum assemblage in Classroom 'E' after I handed each person a box filled with a medium pizza. "Follow the Molinari-Cerone Doctrine, and don't let bad news affect your appetites." People started eating, and I observed that Claire Michaels's and Teresa Croyle's appetites were the least affected. But everyone ate, even Laura.

After a while, I said "You can take any leftovers you have home with you. Let's discuss where we are on this case, and our path forward."

"There is no path forward." Paulina said sullenly, and a bit angrily. No, the fury had not really abated, I realized as she said "Jesse Smallwood walks free."

"What about our warrant for the plea deal violations?" Roark Coleman asked.

"Let me put it this way." Miriam Walters replied. "What did he do to violate his probation? Remember, everything regarding Nat K. Cole has been thrown out."

Lt. Teddy Parker said "Mark Cooper's murder?"

"I see where this is going." I said. "We have no real proof Smallwood was there and one of the attackers at the apartment complex. Only spotty bits of circumstantial evidence of his truck leaving the scene."

"And that might not be admissible." Miriam said. "So there's really nothing to hold Smallwood on. Oh, and one more thing: Nathan Masterson got Smallwood an Order of Protection against the TCPD. None of you can come within 200 feet of him, much less arrest him or even visit him to question him."

"Order of Protection!?" Cindy Ross exclaimed. "What did we do to him to warrant that?"

"Nothing." I said. "It's to keep us from talking to him, or more accurately, keep him from talking to us. Part of their plan, part of their plan."

I could sense that several people wanted to ask 'What plan?', but Julia Rodriguez pre-empted them by asking "Can't you guys appeal that ruling, much less the entire corrupt proceeding?"

"Oh yes." Paulina said aggressively. "And you can bet your bottem dollar that we're going to. First thing in the morning."

I said " Of course, that Order of Protection stops us from taking him into protective custody from any threats, real or imagined. So while I'm sure the appeal will be totally successful, it may not matter, because Smallwood may have completely disappeared by then."

Paulina said "I'll ask for an injunction until the appeal is heard, and for a protective arrest warrant, as well."

"Sounds like we have a plan." I said. "So unless Sheriff Griswold wants to tell us some fishing stories, let's go home and get some rest. I imagine we'll be hearing about Smallwood again soon enough."

"Har." barked Our Sheriff as everyone laughed. "Crowbar, you owe me a bottle of bourbon for that one. And you're a great Detective, but you're still a lousy fisherman." More laughter ensued as the meeting broke up...

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

Laura followed me home, and we stepped into the Mountain Nest together. I expected to hear shouts of 'Mommy!' and 'Daddy!' and to be tackled at the legs, but no such celebration occurred. Even Bowser did not come up to greet us.

The mystery was solved as we went into the greatroom. Carole and Marie were on the floor, totally absorbed in the drawing book they were creating together. Marie"s mother, Professor Stephanie Steele, was reading a magazine article and writing notes and math calculations on a notepad. Bowser was supervising.

"Hi guys." said Stephanie, which did not deter the girls from their project.

"Howdy." I replied. "Something has these girls distracted." Carole did look up at that.

"They were telling me about their trip to Louisiana." Stephanie explained. "I suggested they make a booklet about it, and you can see that they are enthusiastic about it."

"And a lot quieter, if I don't miss my guess." I said softly. Stephanie grinned and nodded, knowing I'd realized her purpose was to stop the assault on her ears by the fluttering of young parakeets.

"Hi Daddy, hi Mommy." Carole said. "We're going to send one booklet to Aunt Clarissa as a 'thank you' for inviting us Loo-seana."

"That's very nice of you." Laura said. "And thank you, Stephanie, for keeping them."

"My pleasure." Stephanie said. "But now I need to get Marie home."

"Aw, Mom," Marie pled dejectedly. "Can't I stay the night and keep working on our book?"

"You can finish tomorrow." Stephanie said. "In fact, you've got all summer. We need to go home and fix supper for your dad. He'll be very happy to see you."

"Okay!" Marie said, then got up and petted the Redoubtable Bowser. "Bye Bowser. See you tomorrow, Carole. And thanks for taking me to Loseana."

"You're welcome. See you tomorrow." Carole said. The adults in the room were impressed with the girls's manners.

After Stephanie and Marie left, Laura sat down on the (far side) sofa against the wall, exhaustion and sadness on her face. I sat down in the high-backed rocking chair to her right. Carole came up with Bowser.

"I'm sorry about your friend dying." Carole said. "Will petting Bowser make you feel better?" Bowser looked up at Laura hopefully.

"Sure. Hey Bowser.' Laura said, giving him skritchins.

I said "I think your mom would feel even better if you gave her a hug, Carole." Carole responded by giving her mother a warm hug. Laura hugged her daughter back just as strongly...

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

12:30am, Wednesday, July 6th. I heard two sounds: my Police iPhone ringing, and Bowser barking furiously at it.

"Troy." I answered with surprising wakefulness.

"Sir, this is Lieutenant Parker." said Lt. Teddy Parker. "I'm sorry to bother you, but can you come down to the Tau Fraternity House property? You'll want to see this personally."

"Jesse Smallwood?" I asked.

"Yes sir." Parker replied. "He's dead..."

To be continued.

So what's going on, dear Readers? Who is behind these killings? Swamp Frogs? Locals? White Supremacists? Other Taus? The shocking solution is next, so stay tuned!