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Post by cutter on May 3, 2018 21:26:47 GMT -6
Campbellsville...Taylor county, about dead center of the state. I've been there, but I was off. I was thinking Bardstown for you.
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Post by freebirde on May 3, 2018 22:32:38 GMT -6
Do the Franklin PD wear body cams? Are they on inside of the jail? Are interrogations recorded? These recordings need to be subpoenaed before 'accidents' happen to them. Once subpoenaed, then become part of the public record.
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Post by 2t2crash on May 4, 2018 0:08:32 GMT -6
damn powerful chapter, thankyou.
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Post by accountant on May 4, 2018 13:18:33 GMT -6
Cutter,
Another excellent submission. Thanks very much.
A.
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Post by tckaija on May 4, 2018 14:00:20 GMT -6
Wow! What a chapter!
A lot of hard truths in there as well.You have Mark responding correctly even while he under really horrific stress, he is reacting properly.
His depression and sorrow are understandable but he has remembered the Prime Rule when dealing with the Cops: "You have the Right to remain silent" but unfortunately most people don't have the ability to do so!
Thank You!
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Post by kaijafon on May 4, 2018 17:28:23 GMT -6
dern allergies.... sniff sniff
thank you
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Post by biggkidd on May 4, 2018 18:23:45 GMT -6
WOWZER
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Post by crice118 on May 5, 2018 7:57:50 GMT -6
Cutter, yes and yes. and u may know my son electrician, some call him Dolph but different last name than mine, he loves his Louisville redbirds
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Post by cutter on May 5, 2018 14:36:46 GMT -6
I may have met him but the name does not ring a bell. If he likes what he does I would love to tool up with him
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Post by cutter on May 9, 2018 22:28:50 GMT -6
Here's the next chapter. It's a little short, but the best I could manage under the circumstances. I hope you enjoy it. I'll get the next one out as soon as I can. Thanks again to everybody for hanging with me on this trip and having patience with me.
Chapter 21
(Friday, May 7, Franklin Hospital, surgery waiting, 7 PM)
“Excuse me, Doctor. There’s a deputy here wanting to know Stacy Waters’ condition.”
“Mark, I can stall the deputy, but if he has a court order, I have to tell him.”
“T-tell him the t-truth. I-I’m already facing attempted m-murder for her. It...it doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Mark, you couldn’t have done that to Stacy.”
“I didn’t, but I know how to use a knife.”
“That’s my point. Mark, there was a lot of damage because her attacker was clumsy. Had you been her attacker, that knife would have been directly in her heart and she wouldn’t have had a chance. I have seen you guys train and I know personally what you have taught Tabby. She wouldn’t have been that inaccurate and you’re much better than she is. By the way, don’t clean up. I want to examine you as soon as I’m done with the deputy. Do not wash up. I need to document your condition. Nurse, take me to this deputy.”
(...)
“What may I do for you, deputy?”
“Todd Boyd, Doctor. Sheriff asked me to come by here and talk to you about what you found with Stacy Waters. This is semi-informal. Franklin PD is doing their own investigation, and the state as well, but the school resource officer asked our office to do independent verification.”
“Eric doesn’t think Franklin PD will get it right?”
“Considering that jackass George Dyer arrested Mark Marshall on murder charges, no; none of us do. Pete asked me to independently verify all evidence and we are doing our own investigation, independent of Franklin and State.”
“Then I’m very glad you’re here. Stacy is in critical, but stable condition. We had to repair a laceration to the heart wall that did not penetrate through to the ventricle chamber. We had to remove the bottom third of her left lung because there was just too much damage to save it. Deputy, whoever did that to her was a butcher, not a trained knife fighter. None of the damage was precise enough to be intentional. Do you have time to be a witness for an exam?”
“Of Stacy?”
“No. I want to do an examination of Mark Marshall. I know he was in a fight at school, but he’s in to bad a shape for what I heard happened. I heard he was fighting three opponents at once, but the look of him tells me that he had more than that done to him. We almost lost Stacy on the table once, but we video documented her surgery against the possibility it would be needed in court. We didn’t have her permission, so her face isn’t visible. I think her incisions will do to prove it was her in the video, assuming the knife we removed doesn’t. We have that bagged for you too.”
“What are you thinking, that Franklin PD roughed him up?”
“That’s exactly what I’m wanting to find out, Deputy Boyd.”
“Lead on, Doctor.”
“Nurse, would you bring Mark to the ER and get him in an exam room right away, please?”
“Right away, Doctor.”
(Friday, May 7, Franklin Hospital, surgery recovery, 8 PM)
“Nurse, how’s she doing?”
“Her vitals are stable. She’s having some drainage, but you said to expect that. Her heart rhythm is almost perfect and her O2 saturation is at 98%. Her blood pressure is normal and steady. Of course the respirator is controlling her breathing. Her temp is 97.6 degrees. We have a good, strong pulse at her ankles, wrists, and neck. She hasn’t shown any signs of coming around, but she hasn’t had any problems either.”
“Thank you. This is Mark Marshall. He’s Stacy’s fiance and will be staying here with her. I’m hoping he’s the first person she sees when she wakes up.”
“Yes, Doctor. Marshall? You aren’t related to Brian Marshall, are you?”
“He’s my brother.”
“He did my family a favor two years ago. We were at my parents’ house on Christmas morning and the furnace went out. He came out that morning and replaced a fuse in the box and got the heat on again. All he would take in payment was a cup of coffee and a piece of cherry pie. If you’re anything like your brother, you’re a great man.”
“I remember that. When he got home, he told us about it. I’m not the man my brother is.”
“Somehow, I don’t believe that. I’ll get you a chair. If you need anything, come get me.”
The nurse goes to find a chair.
“Mark, stay with Stacy. Hold her hand if you want. Maybe it will help. I need to go have a word with the nurse.”
Aaron catches up with the nurse.
“Nurse, a moment of your time, please.”
“Sure Doctor, what can I do for you?”
“Two things. I wanted to thank you for what you said to Mark. You have no idea how much he needs support right now. Second, try to keep an eye on him too. He is going through a very difficult time. Nobody is to disturb them. I mean nobody. If it isn’t me, Dr. Albright, or one of your nursing staff, nobody goes near those two. If the police show up and want to see either of them, call me. They are not to have access to our patient or Mark without me there. Even if they have a warrant, you will not allow access without me there. I examined Mark earlier, for evidence purposes. That makes him my patient too. I intentionally haven’t written his release orders.”
“Doctor, I’ll make sure of it. My parents were near tears because they could only offer a cold house to us. His brother fixed that and basically gave his services as a gift to them. You treat me more like a doctor than a nurse. Anything I can do to repay those kindnesses, I’ll do. No matter what happens, I’ll call you the minute she wakes up. I heard about your attitude in the OR. I don’t know the story, but that girl’s special to you too.”
“The whole family is special to me. They made my family a part of theirs. Your aren’t the only one who owes Brian Marshall. That young man is just exactly like his brother, no matter what he says.”
“I’ll look after them both.”
“Thank you.”
(Home of Principal Bob Martin, 9 PM)
“Rick, why are you here so late?”
“I just came from the hospital. Stacy Waters is in bad shape, but they think she’ll recover.”
“Thank the Lord! How bad is she?”
“She lost part of a lung and had damage to her heart. From what I heard, they had to cut her from spine to breastbone on the left side and down the middle of her chest. She died on the table once.”
“Good God! Rick, this is going to be the hardest thing I ever had to deal with.”
“I understand that about Malachi Davis, but what is so difficult about Stacy, other than her injuries?”
“District policy, Rick. I have to expel all of them, including Stacy.”
“Why!?!”
“They were involved in an altercation that resulted in serious injuries to a student and the death of another. The four with Malachi, Bobby, Kit, Mark, that black boy who’s been hanging around with the crew, and Stacy all have to be expelled.”
“Bob, I’ve been teaching in your school for eighteen years. This is the first time you and I are going to have a problem. You can’t expel them.”
“I can’t do anything else. Those are the rules.”
“To hell with the rules! You know those kids in the crew! The only one who was ever in any trouble before T came was Bobby, and they straightened him out good. They’re well on their way with T! That group of kids may well be the best kids who have ever graced the halls of Franklin High! I won’t let you do this to them.”
“What are you going to do?”
“If you won’t fight this, I will. I’m going straight to the board. You can come with me or you can buck me, but I’m not going to let these kids get screwed over. If you don’t fight for those kids, you may have a mutiny on your hands.”
Mr. Bauer, it is district policy and you will support it.”
“No sir, I will not. I won’t quit, so if you don’t like it, fire me. Either way, I’m fighting for those kids. I remember a time when you would have too. I seem to remember you making some very creative interpretations of policy for Stacy’s mother a few years ago so she could graduate. You have a good night and I’ll see you Monday. Let me know if I’m not welcome so I don’t waste the gas coming in.”
Mr. Rick Bauer, science teacher, gets in his car and drives away. Mr. Martin is still standing in the door with his mouth hanging open. Rick Bauer has never once lost his temper with anybody, especially him. If he’s this serious, there may be big problems to deal with. The results of those problems might be worth the trouble they cause. He goes back inside and makes a phone call.
“Hi Bob, what has you calling so late?”
“Kelly, I have a problem and I think you might be able to help me solve it.”
“The Davis boy?”
“Malachi Davis is dead. There’s nothing we can do to help him. Kelly, you know as well as I do that district policy says I have to expel every student involved in that incident. My hands are tied. If I fight it, they’ll remove me as principal and then I won’t be able to do anything. You’re the senior union steward for Franklin High. Kelly, Rick Bauer was just here and knows I have to expel those kids. He told me point blank that he’s going to fight it and to fire him if I didn’t like it. I can’t do it, so I want you to get on the phone and call your BA and every teacher and sub in the county. I want my school to be a ghost town come Monday morning. I don’t want to see a teacher, faculty member, or student when the bell rings. I don’t even want to see the janitor. Understand I’ll have to deny we ever spoke and that I had anything to do with this, but I need the leverage when I go to the board. They can’t expel every student in the school and fire every member of our staff. They can’t stand up to the parental uproar it will cause if they take a hard line on this. I know I’m asking a lot, but will you help me?”
“Bob, we can’t call a strike over this.”
“Well, you know, there’s been a nasty bug of some sort going around the school. It seems to be highly contagious and tends to put people out of commission for a few days. Kelly, you sound a little sick to me tonight. Are you sure you’re not coming down with it?”
“You know, I have noticed a case of school flu going around. I’m not feeling too good, now that you mention it. I better get off here and call the other staff and see if they have it. I hear it’s really contagious though. I hope it isn’t spread through phone contact. I guess I’ll have to risk it. Bob, I’ll let you know what I find out. By the way, how’s Stacy Waters?”
“Rick said she’s alive but in bad shape. He said he heard she lost part of a lung and had damage to her heart. When I know more, you’ll know more. I promise, I’ll keep you in the loop so we can keep the staff in the loop. Kelly, I can’t thank you enough for this, even though I can’t be a part of it.”
“Bob, Malachi Davis and those boys he hung around with were nothing but trouble. On the other hand, the crew has done great things for this school and it’s students. I have a dozen kids in my classes alone that would have failed if it hadn’t been for those kids tutoring them, and they did it for free! Bob, I need to get off here and make some phone calls; it’s late and I’m running out of time. This is going to take a lot of effort to get everybody’s story straight and make it happen. I don’t know how, but I’ll make for damn sure you are the only person in Franklin High on Monday morning.”
“Thanks, Kelly.”
“Bye.” (click)
“I think I just started a major shit storm. I hope we win.”
(Friday, May 7, Franklin hospital, Recovery, Midnight)
Mark is still sitting at Stacy’s bedside. He hasn’t moved from that spot or let go of Stacy’s hand since he sat down and took it around 8 o’clock. He ran out of tears sometime between then and now, but he hasn’t stopped praying and wishing he could trade places with Stacy since he first took her hand. He feels her grip tighten slightly around his hand and looks up. Stacy’s clearly uncomfortable and in pain. She can’t talk because of the breathing tube, but her eyes tell Mark everything she so desperately wants him to know. Through the pain and fatigue and the lingering effects of the anestesia, Mark sees joy and love.
“I thought I’d lost you. I’m so sorry, Stacy.”
Stacy shakes her head and weakly makes the hand signs for “full name”. It was available at Franklin High, so she chose American Sign Language as her language course. She has taught Mark a few words. He tested out of his language courses because he already can speak German and Spanish fluently.
“I don’t deserve to, Stacy.”
A little bit of mischief shows in her eyes as she weakly shakes her fist at him and signs her demand again.
“Anastasia, I love you.”
She doesn’t sign anymore, but squeezes his hand just a little tighter. She eases up on the pressure, not that it’s much, but doesn’t let go. They hold hands in silence until patient transport comes to take her to a room. Mark doesn’t let go. He holds her hand as they move her to a room. The orderlies don’t say a single word about it, but it brings smiles to their faces. Mark doesn’t leave her bedside for the rest of the night.
(Outside Stacy’s room)
“That kid wasn’t letting go of her for anything, was he?”
“You didn’t see the ring on her hand? Those two are engaged. From what I heard, they’ve both got good taste.”
“What did you hear?”
“I heard that knife she took was meant for his back and he killed the guy who stabbed her.”
“They’ll put him in prison for sure.”
“Don’t bet on it. His brother is Brian Marshall. I also heard he’s friends with the judge who put her with her adopted parents and they’re related to the county Sheriff. Those two have friends in high places.”
“If he killed a kid, he’s gonna’ need ‘em.”
(Saturday, May 8, Franklin Hospital, room 232, 9 AM)
(Mark’s cell, text)
How’s Stacy?
Asleep but alive. Kit, she still wants me.
Of course she does, dumbass. You won’t believe this. Fifteen classmates here at farm to help with chores. Showed up no warning. Said they owe you two. You have support. Worth it. Me Bobby up later. Hugs.
Bring Bible toothbrush please
Will do. Work to do. Later
Mark looks up from his phone to see Stacy staring at him. He can tell she has a question.
“Yes, I stayed all night. I don’t intend to leave. Kit said fifteen people showed up at the farm to help pick up the slack for us not being there. I can’t believe it. Why would anybody do that?
Stacy makes the signs for “You’re loved” and “I love you.” She sees the tears start to well up in Mark’s eyes. Stacy shakes her head “No.” and signs “I love you” again as she grips his hand as hard as she can.
“I did this to you and you still love me? How?”
Stacy mimes writing. Mark gives her a pen and a notepad.
(Writing) My love, you didn’t do anything to me, but save my life, like I saved yours. We did right thing. We helped T. We both knew risks. Couldn’t let him hurt you. You would have done for me. I’m alive and we’re together. All that matters. I love you.
Mark reads her words and stands. He leans over her and places the most gentle kiss she has ever had from him on her forehead. The tenderness brings a tear to her eye. She’s tired and weak, but she finds the strength to touch his cheek. She signs that she needs to sleep. Mark sits back down but does not let go of her hand.
“Rest, Anastasia. I’m here.”
(Franklin police station, noon)
“Why is that boy what killed my son on the streets!?! Why ain’t he in jail!?! My boy was a good boy and that bastard killed him!”
“Ma’am, your ‘good boy’ had over three thousand dollars worth of heroin and other assorted drugs on him when he died. He stabbed a girl in the chest.”
“He don’t do drugs! He didn’t do none of that stuff! You’re just a racist!”
“No Ma’am, I’m a law enforcement officer who has seen video of your son with drugs on his person. I saw the video of him trying to stab a man in the back and that girl jumping in the way to protect that man. I saw your son drive a six inch knife that he should never even have had on school property, nearly to the hilt into that girl; a knife we have in evidence that has only your son’s fingerprints on it, by the way. He nearly killed her. I saw ‘that bastard’ throw your son away from that girl as your son was going in for the kill. When your son went over the rail, I saw ‘that bastard’ try to save him and get pulled over himself. That man risked his own life to try to save the person who tried to kill him and did stab his fiance. Ma’am, I’m no racist. If I had a shred of evidence that Mr. Marshall actually wanted to take your son’s life, he would be in a cell right now and not even God could get him out. I don’t even know if the Prosecutor will charge him. I’m very sorry, Ma’am; but your son brought his fate on himself. Even a member of his gang said those two tried to talk them into walking away. Ms. Davis, I really am sorry for your loss. No parent should have to bury their own child, but Malachi did this to himself.”
“How dare you speak his name! This isn’t over.”
“Ma’am, I understand. Do what you have to do. Please leave before you say something to get yourself in trouble. Your family has enough of that already.”
Ms. Davis storms out.
“I better call the mayor. This isn’t going to end well. I’m going to have Black Lives Matter on one side and the Marshall clan on the other. Damn, this is going to be ugly! I knew I never should have hired George Dyer.”
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Post by supermag on May 9, 2018 22:47:53 GMT -6
Not that short and darn good. Just when i thought the climax of this volume was Stacy getting stabbed you foreshadow a BLM vs Marshall family showdown!
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Post by texican on May 9, 2018 23:12:26 GMT -6
Cutter,
Thanks for the chapters....
You spin the words to keep us coming back for moar....
Now the Marshall clan and the BLM will be interesting....
Texican....
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Post by 2t2crash on May 10, 2018 2:07:11 GMT -6
Thanks for another great chapter!
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Post by freebirde on May 10, 2018 17:49:27 GMT -6
They need to get warrants to search the Davis home and the home of the other gang members. They need to get in front of this with T publicly telling of Mark and Stacy protecting him from the gang after he was attacked.
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Post by udwe on May 10, 2018 21:11:44 GMT -6
Don't know what to say, except KEEP WRITING!
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Post by headlesshorseman on May 13, 2018 8:11:03 GMT -6
Thanks for the new chapter.
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Post by cutter on May 15, 2018 21:58:44 GMT -6
Here's the next one. I don't know what I'm going to do with Stacy! You'd think she was a lovesick teenager or something! A little drama comes out in this chapter and we find out why George Dyer was so hot to arrest Mark. Thank you all for your patience and please enjoy.
Chapter 22
(Saturday, May 8, Marshall’s Rest Farms, Marshall homestead, 10 AM)
“Please come in, Mr. Wainwright.”
“Thank you, Morgan. We need to talk about what’s going on.”
“Yes, we do. Mr. Wainwright, thank you for all the trouble you’re going to for my brother.”
“It’s far less trouble than you think. I despised Charles Baxter. More than once I considered arranging an accident for him. I never approved of how he treated Morgan and Erin, or his wife for that matter. He wanted to believe he was a criminal kingpin, but I have represented a few of those. He wasn’t one. Those men understand the importance of family. They deal in a business that can mean their deaths or imprisonment at any moment. They understand that their families are their best allies and can be their most dangerous enemies if sufficiently provoked. Charles Baxter never understood that. Frankly, I’m representing Mark for the same reason I did all I could to make sure Morgan and Erin recovered all of their inheritance they could. I am trying to atone for helping a fool stay free. Just so we’re on the same page, I am representing Mark for $1000. That is enough to cover my round trip airfare, rental car, and food and lodging. That’s all I’m willing to accept and I’ll be happy with payments of a dollar a month if necessary.”
“Mr. Wainwright, that isn’t right! You have to make a living.”
“I made enough off of your father to represent all of you until every last one of us is dead and buried. I don’t need the money; I need to soothe my soul. In the last three years, I have managed to divest our firm of our, shall we say, more colorful clients. I have found that my life is more enjoyable and I sleep much better at night, now that I’m representing only those who have been caught up by the law, instead of intentionally picking a fight with it.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. Now, I have seen the school’s surveillance video and spoken with a few of the students whose parents were willing to let me talk to them. I will resort to subpoenas for other students and staff if I must, but I don’t think I’ll need to. I know the prosecutor here; he went to law school with my son and daughter. He is reluctant, but we agreed that Mark should stand trial.”
“You mean he doesn’t want to charge Mark and you talked him into it!?!”
“Not exactly. The prosecutor is reluctant to put Mark through a trial that he knows can only end with Mark’s exoneration; he knows he can’t get a conviction, but there are other reasons to see that trial through. If Mark is found not guilty with prejudice, then he is immune from civil prosecution and he cannot be tried criminally again. That means the dead boy’s family can’t sue Mark, or you, for money in civil court. The prosecutor showed me the evidence collected so far, as well as statements made by the dead boy’s own accomplices. It is indisputable that those boys have gang affiliations, that they were trying to force a former gang member who is trying to turn his life around to distribute illicit drugs for them, that Mark and Stacy tried repeatedly to defuse the situation, that the dead boy began the fight by attacking first, that he attempted to stab Mark in the back, that he did in fact stab Stacy when she shielded Mark from that attack, that Mark was responding to an imminent threat of death to someone in his immediate vicinity, that Mark couldn’t have known his actions would result in that boy’s death, and that Mark risked his own life trying to save that boy’s life. The prosecutor and I agreed that a trial, while hard on everybody involved, is worth the protections a not guilty verdict will provide.”
“Are you sure it will end that way?”
“Brian, there are three separate law enforcement agencies investigating this incident and none of the three trust the others. All three are painstakingly working to get it right and all three are coming to the same conclusion, that Mark Marshall acted correctly, reasonably, and in pure defense of self and others. Did you know that Stacy Waters called the school resource officer shortly before it all started to ask him to respond and deal with the situation?”
“No.”
“She did. I have already filed a subpoena for the records of that phone call. He was too far away to get there in time, though I do believe he gave his best efforts. As I understand it, he is a friend of your family. To put your minds at ease, his liability in this is negligible. He is one man, tasked with providing a level of security that demands at least five officers to provide. One of Mr. Davis’ accomplices has admitted that they threw the knife over the fence and retrieved it and hid it when they went to school the next day. The metal detectors and random searches didn’t catch it because it wasn’t on anyone’s person or in their belongings to be caught. They smuggled the drugs onto campus the same way. Deputy Preston couldn’t have known about or found that weapon. The fact remains that Mark and Stacy enlisted the help of law enforcement to deal with the situation and the lone, overburdened officer available failed to respond in time. Had Mr. Davis and his accomplices not been intent on committing a crime, there would have been no situation in the first place and Mr. Davis would still be alive today.”
“But can you successfully argue that to a jury?”
“Far more easily than I could argue that a tax evader was not guilty of tax evasion or my client in a murder for hire had nothing to do with the murder. I successfully defended Charles Baxter in both of those cases. The video alone makes it indisputable that Mark and Stacy were acting in the defense of Terrell James. It is indisputable that Mark was acting in self defense and the defense of Stacy. His actions that nearly cost him his own life while trying to prevent Mr. Davis from falling to his death clearly show that Mark had no intent to kill Mr. Davis and every intent to protect all lives in the situation. Yes, he engaged three attackers, but his combat abilities are clearly so superior that he could have easily taken the lives of all three of his attackers without depending on clumsy luck. Frankly, it takes one hell of a man to come out on top against three opponents in hand to hand combat. That he did so without sustaining any significant injuries speaks volumes about his abilities. That he did not inflict serious injury on either of his other two attackers speaks volumes to both his skill and his deliberate restraint. Stacy too showed considerable combat skills. I didn’t think to mention it, but if she requires an attorney, I will gladly represent her as well. That girl showed an incredible amount of spirit, courage, and devotion. Very few teenagers today have sufficient loyalty and honor to be willing to sacrifice themselves for anyone, even a boyfriend.”
“Mr. Wainwright, they are to be married. They and their friends were supposed to be staying at a cabin on the back of this property this weekend to celebrate their engagement a few weeks ago. You should know, the group of family and friends they belong to are all very much like them. I believe that any of their friends would have done what Stacy did for any of them.”
“That’s good to know. It could be useful in court that Mark and Stacy’s attitudes and values are common amongst their friends.”
“Sir, Mark is the one who has fostered those attitudes and values amongst their friends. They call themselves the crew. Over time, everybody else has come to call them that too. As a group and individually, they are well thought of and highly respected by their peers, their respective families, other adults who know them, and their teachers. Mark leads them. He is a natural leader and has served them well in that position. He didn’t ask for it or seek it; he earned their respect and loyalty and they turned to him for leadership. Their friends chose to be more like him. Mr. Wainwright, I am fourteen years older than he is and a decorated combat veteran. I would follow my baby brother straight through Hell and back again. If you take the time to get to know him, you will too.”
Evan Wainwright takes a sip of his coffee and ponders things for a moment before he speaks.
“You know, my job here is getting easier with every new thing I learn. What I still can’t figure out is why that city police officer ever arrested Mark in the first place. He isn’t a flight risk. He’s a minor. He was unarmed and certainly not acting in a threatening manner when the officer arrived. I just don’t understand.”
“It started thirty-four years ago.”
“Officer Dyer isn’t that old.”
“No, it started with his father, and ours. Before George and I were born, our Dad was still in the military. He and Mom lived here, in this house. Dad’s duties rarely permitted him to have dependents where he was sent, so Mom lived here alone, sometimes for months. George’s father, Calvin, became enamored with Mom. He tried to steal her away from Dad when he was on deployments. Mom was lonely, but she wouldn’t budge. She loved Dad and wouldn’t betray him. Calvin became more and more insistent. Mom didn’t do anything improper, but she didn’t tell Dad about it either. She wanted him concentrating on his duties and not on her or some fool who wouldn’t take no for an answer. When Dad found out, he confronted Calvin. It came to blows. Calvin Dyer has held a grudge against our family ever since and passed it down to his children.”
“Brian, you just handed me pure gold. A law enforcement officer with an axe to grind, abusing his authority to get even for an imagined slight against his father, who did act improperly toward your mother.”
“He’s been this way toward our family for as long as I can remember. Morgan, my brothers, and I have all had problems with him before. Fortunately for us, there are enough people with enough pull who respect us and have the sense to know what’s going on that nothing has ever come of it before.”
“Brian, if I have my way, something is going to become of it now. If I have my way, Officer Dyer will be taught the error of his ways.”
“I don’t care about Dyer. One of these days, Karma is going to bite a chunk out of his ass for all he’s done wrong to us and several other people. She doesn’t need my help and all I care about is that my family doesn’t get screwed over in this.”
“That’s all I care about too, but unscrewing your brother may well screw Officer Dyer over royally. Call it a bonus. I came here to fill you in and to interview the three other teens who were involved on Mark and Stacy’s side. May I talk to them?”
“That’s up to them. T is old enough to make his own decisions and Bobby and Kit have been married for three years now.”
“They are seniors in high school. How can that be possible?”
“If you want to know the whole story, you’ll have to ask them. The short version is that Kit needed Bobby and he wanted to be there for her. Truthfully, he needed her too. They went to court for permission to marry. They also have our beautiful, three year old granddaughter. Before you ask, Bobby is the only father she has ever known, but he did not father her. They did not become intimate until well after they were engaged and Kit did not choose the events that resulted in her pregnancy.”
“And I thought I’d seen it all, keeping hardened criminals out of prison. Why do I get the feeling that your family are going to surprise me more often than not?”
“You won’t be the first and you won’t be the last. Let me give the kids a call.”
(Hospital, room 232)
“When will Stacy’s parents be here? Do you know?”
“No, but I can find out. Is it an emergency?”
“No, but we need to discuss her condition and treatment. We can only discuss those things with her parents.”
“Check your records. I am listed as next of kin and her emergency contact. You may discuss them with me and her.”
“But you’re just a kid!”
“Here’s my driving permit. Get on that computer and check the records. You will find that I am who you are authorized to discuss her condition with. She needs to be awake and a part of this discussion anyway. You can ask her.”
“She can’t answer questions while she’s intubated.”
“She can write the answers. She also speaks some ASL, if you have an interpreter.”
“She can sign!?!”
“She’s studying it as her language course in school. She isn’t completely fluent, but she is functional.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m sixteen.”
“How is it that you are listed as next of kin and authorized contact?”
“I don’t know. I assume her parents did it. Anastasia and I are engaged to be married. I guess they just figured I should be the one.”
“I’m going to have to get confirmation on this.”
“Do what you have to do, but be quick about it please. I want to know what’s going on.”
“It may take some time to verify her information.”
“Call Dr. Aaron Micheals. He was her surgeon and would only talk to me.”
“I’ll do that. Give me a little while.”
Mark is frustrated as the nurse leaves the room. He looks over at Stacy and gets a pleasant surprise. She’s awake and looking at him. She is giving the universal hand sign for crazy. She then rolls her eyes and gives the door the nurse just walked out of the finger.
“Geez Stacy, that was rude!”
Stacy just rolls her eyes again and squeezes Mark’s hand. She can’t really smile, but he can see the mischief in her eyes.
“I guess you’re feeling a little better?”
Stacy nods slightly. She then mimes pulling out the breathing tube and makes the hand sign for talk.
“I’m looking forward to that too, but I can wait till you’re ready. It’s enough that you’re alive and don’t hate me.
(Signing) “Never hate you. Love you too much. Hope this doesn’t screw up the sex.”
“I didn’t understand all of that, but only you would think of sex at a time like this. I promise, we’ll take it easy when we can again.”
(Signing) “No easy, want passion!”
“Then I’ll do my best to give you what you want.”
(Signing) “You always do. I love you.”
“I love you too. Rest a little. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll take you off the respirator tonight.”
(Signing) “We play?”
“No Love, you’re not ready for that yet.”
(Signing) “Damn!”
“Have some patience. When we get married, we still have to have a honeymoon. Speaking of which, where do you want to go?”
(Signing) “Special place. Just want you me alone.”
“So do I. It’ll happen. Just worry about getting better now. Go back to sleep.”
(Signing) “Yes. Sleep. I love you.”
“I love you too. Rest. I’ll wake you when they come back to tell us something.”
Stacy closes her eyes. She is soon asleep and dreaming of when she can hold Mark in her arms again.
“Stacy.”
“Kat?”
“I know. I’ve never come to visit you in your dreams before. We don’t have much time. Mark’s going to have a hard time. He’s going to face trial. Stacy, he needs you. It’s going to be ok, but it’s going to be hard on him and things are going to get interesting. It’s going to take a while before he gets past it and gets back to himself again. He’s feeling guilty about Malachi but he’s hiding it so you won’t be upset. Be patient with him and don’t ever let him forget you love him. He’ll fight for you. It’s going to be ok. I have to go. Stacy, you were a great sister to me and you’ve been a great sister to Kit. I love you.”
“I love you too, Kat. Thanks, and don’t be a stranger.”
“I do as He asks, but I’ll stop by to visit again if I can. Until our paths cross again, Sister.”
“Bye, Kat.”
And with that short exchange in a dream, Stacy slips off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. Kat’s right, it’ll all be ok. She and Mark are both alive and together; everything will be ok.
(Prosecuting Attorney’s office)
“John Brindle.”
“John, it’s the Mayor. We need to talk.”
“What can I do for you, Mr. Mayor?”
“You can get a conviction against Mark Marshall.”
“Mayor, I don’t think I can or want to do that. He was protecting an innocent girl’s life as well as his own and another young man’s. He didn’t want to kill that boy. He had no intention of killing that boy. Hell Mayor, he tried to save his life! While we’re on the topic, that other boy’s death kept over three grand worth of drugs off the streets. An argument can be made that we have a couple dozen fewer teen drug addicts because that kid died. I know Mark’s attorney. He talked me into charging Mark in the first place; I wasn’t going to. If I actually try for a conviction, that lawyer is going to turn us and this town inside out.”
“If you don’t get a conviction, BLM is liable to burn this town to the ground. They’re already coming into town now. I just got out of a meeting with one of the leaders from Louisville. He had the brass to promise me that we’d have no end of trouble if Mark Marshall doesn’t go to prison for murdering that black boy. John, I’m thinking of the town here. This town is more important than one man.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Mayor, bullshit! You don’t care about Mark Marshall, the dead kid, or this town. You care about keeping your nice, cushy job. I care about Justice. I’m only trying Mark Marshall at all so the dead boy’s family can’t sue him in civil court. He acted in self defense only after Malachi Davis refused to listen to reason and walk away without a fight. He tried to give that boy a way out that didn’t get anybody hurt and the little gang banger wouldn’t take it. In case you didn’t hear, Mark Marshall and Stacy Waters were both unarmed; it was Malachi Davis who brought a deadly weapon into play. Tell me, if he had lived, would you be calling me to pressure me into convicting him on two counts of attempted murder of white people?”
“If that boy had lived, this town wouldn’t be a powderkeg just waiting to explode!”
“You can’t have it both ways, Gary. We’re both politicians, but I stand for the law. The people of this county elected me to be a fair and honest prosecutor. They expect me to apply the law fairly and honorably. That’s what I’m going to do. I want you to think about something for a moment. BLM is here now and is threatening trouble. When this blows over, they’ll leave. The people of this county, half of whom owe the Marshall family at least one favor, will still be here and they will still vote in the next election. Do you want to bow and beg before a bunch of troublemakers from all over the country who will leave you high and dry whether or not they get what they want, or do you want to satisfy the voters who put you in office and can put you out again if you piss them off enough?”
“Is that a threat?”
“No Gary, that’s one politician trying to give another politician some good advice if you aren’t too stupid to take it. I’m putting Mark Marshall on trial. I’m not going to just roll over, but I’m not pulling out all the stops either. If that boy’s convicted, I won’t have to do it; he’ll do it to himself. Now, is there anything reasonable I can do for you?”
“John, you put that kid away or I’ll personally see to it you don’t win the next election.”
“You do that, Gary. I’m going to do what’s right and we’ll just see who still has a job next year. Goodbye, Mr. Mayor.” (Click)
(Marshall Homestead, back porch)
“Mr. Terrell James, gang member, much convicted juvenile offender, drug dealer, and all around trouble maker. As I understand it, Mark and Stacy were fighting to protect you. Is that true?”
“Yeah, that’s true! What’s your problem anyway!?! I ain’t doin’ none of that gang shit no more and I’m goin’ respectable! Who the Hell died and made you God!?!”
“Righteous fury; that’s good Mr. James. I can use that in court. Tell me what happened. Tell me the whole truth and nothing else. If I’m to prove Mark didn’t commit a crime, I need to know what really happened.”
“Why should I trust you!?! I’m trying to get away from all that shit you just said, and you throwin’ it all up in my face! I ain’t helpin’ no asshole send Mark to prison!”
“Mr. James, I may be an asshole, but I have no intention of letting Mark spend even one night in prison. I intend to gain him a not guilty verdict with prejudice and win his complete freedom back for him. Mr. James, I need your help to do that. The surveillance recordings from the school show the events, but they have no sound. I need to know what was said so I can explain to a jury why Mark did what he did and why it was not just the right thing to do, but the only thing he could do.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You have no reason to trust me, except that I’m Mark’s best hope to stay free. Mr. James, I believe you when you say you want to leave your past behind and begin anew. I’m smarter than the average juror. If they were that smart, they could find a way to avoid jury duty. I saw Mr. Davis offer you drugs and you back away from him. I may not know what was said, but I saw you shaking your head no and speaking to him in a very agitated manner. I have never met or even spoken to Mark, but from the things I have heard of him, I do not believe he would fight for someone he didn’t believe deserved it.”
“T, when my and Erin’s parents died, Mr. Wainwright worked very hard for us to recover as much our our inheritance as he could. Our father was a murderer, drug dealer, and all around criminal. The only thing Mr. Wainwright was unable to defend him from was the bullet he fired into his own brain. Our father tried to kill me, Erin, Larry, and Brian. He did kill our first son and Erin’s first child, his own grandchildren. He killed our mother. Mr. Wainwright successfully defended a man like that, more times than I can count. Mark’s a better man on his worst day than my father ever was. Just so you know, the man you just called an asshole is only charging us for his expenses, and not all of them. I asked him to defend Mark because I believe he is the best choice. Please, help him defend Mark.”
“You really think you can beat that damn Popo and some asshole judge?”
“If I have the facts and the truth, yes I do.”
“What you want to know?”
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Post by texican on May 15, 2018 23:58:19 GMT -6
Cutter,
The dirty laundry will be washed in public....
Will be interesting....
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by bluefox2 on May 16, 2018 5:53:44 GMT -6
Mr Mayor better pay close attention to his prosecutor's words. It sounds like T is definitely on the right track to becoming a full member of the crew.
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Post by 9idrr on May 16, 2018 16:48:33 GMT -6
Sure would be nice if the Mayor's and agitator's words could've been captured on tape.
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Post by udwe on May 16, 2018 17:09:36 GMT -6
Love, Love, Love!!!!!!
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Post by gipsy on May 16, 2018 17:12:33 GMT -6
Hang it all out on the line in the sun and it will get sorted out for sure.
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Post by cutter on May 16, 2018 19:42:25 GMT -6
Mark and Stacy aren't the only ones having problems. Working on the next chapter now.
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Post by supermag on May 16, 2018 22:48:23 GMT -6
Thanks for the new chapter. Had a tough evening but this helped make it better
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Post by cutter on May 17, 2018 8:10:05 GMT -6
Super made, I hope things are working out better for you today
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