Spider Lake

by Jeff Nania

  With a flourish, he signed his name to one copy of the warrant and gave it to the district attorney. “Do you gentleman have any idea when you plan to serve the warrant?” the judge asked.

  We looked at each other, and Chief Bork spoke up. “My thought is at first light. The woods around Stone’s home will limit visibility in the dark. When it’s daylight, if the security guards fire upon us, they will do so knowing full well they are firing on officers of the law. We will also be able to clearly identify our own people.”

  “Sounds like a reasonable idea. Now, I’m sure you all have much that needs doing, and I need a tumbler of brandy. I will pray for you men. Our community is fortunate to have public servants such as you.”

  The sheriff’s office and city police department activated emergency protocols, moving from “on-call standby” status to “all units report,” resulting in what looked like a police convention when we arrived at the department. Sheriffs’ cars and city squads took up every parking spot. We knew our low-profile operation was going to be hard to keep under wraps. Gawkers from a bar across the street looked on with others. Among the crowd was local reporter Bill Presser. The law enforcement officers offered little information.

  The chief and the sheriff climbed the front steps of the building. The sheriff addressed the group. “Thank you all for coming. I’m sorry for calling you in with such short notice. As many of you are aware, we received a grant from the federal government to help us improve our joint mobilization procedures in the event of an emergency. It is critical to assess the current status to help us determine where we need improvement, and that’s why you were given no warning. In essence, this is the first of several training exercises. It appears as though we had a strong response. File into the conference room where we will debrief how you felt things went and what changes we may need to make in the event of a callout for a real emergency. For the record, you are all on overtime.”

  Cops, as they are known to do, did an appropriate amount of grumbling and groaning as they entered the building. The bar next door had pretty much emptied, and the raucous crowd was loudly sharing their opinions of the whole event.

  Chief Bork addressed them. “I want to make sure that everyone here understands the importance of this training exercise and those we intend to do in the future. We are small departments and have to work together always, but especially in emergencies.”

  A member of the bar crowd spoke up loud enough for everyone to hear. “Hey, Chief, this ain’t no training exercise. Word is you guys are planning a big drug raid with the tribal police in the rez. Isn’t that what is really going on, Chief?”

  Len took a breath, “Let me assure you and the rest of the citizens here that we are not planning a big drug raid on the reservation. Let me also suggest something to all you folks that came from that bar. We are going to debrief our officers and then send them home. That means in a short while there are going to be a bunch of patrol units on the road. Some of them are a little unhappy about being called in. I hope you will be smart enough to avoid doing anything foolish like driving under the influence. That’s it. I have to get inside and get to work.”

  As Len turned and disappeared through the door, he told Presser that he would brief him fully on the exercise the following day.

  As I was walking inside, Bill stopped me. “John, what are you doing here?”

  “The chief and sheriff wanted an outside observer, so I volunteered.”

  “John, I’m going to take you and the chief at your words, even though I don’t believe much of what I heard.”

  “Thanks, Bill. I’m sure they will keep you posted.”

  The amount of gear each officer wore made for close quarters in the conference room. Everyone came to attention when the sheriff stepped up to the front.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, this is not an exercise. You are here because we are going to serve a warrant at first light tomorrow morning. I hope we have not compromised our operation, but we needed everyone here together.” No one seemed to breathe as Sheriff Rawsom and Chief Bork explained the situation.

  “We will be taking an armed camp. We know that heavily armed security patrol the grounds at all hours. There is no doubt whatsoever that we will encounter this security force. How they will react to us is unknown, but we know they will be armed, and we must assume they are a threat. Chief Bork had a good idea of how we might handle this. Chief, you want to go ahead?”

  “Sure, Sheriff. Well folks, I was thinking that just like me, most of you have been ramming around this backcountry hunting, fishing, and trapping most of your lives. You are going to need to use those skills in the morning. Several different approaches surround Stone’s house, and in most cases, the fire lanes are big enough to drive on. We are guessing the guards stay pretty close to those cleared paths—better visibility for them and a likely way an intruder might try to enter. You will be in four teams of three. We want you to sneak up on these clowns and take them down, just like you’re stalking the biggest buck of your life. I want you in full uniform so there is no mistaking who you are. Use whatever means you need to take them out of the action—meet force with force. Hopefully they will choose not to pick a fight with us. John Cabrelli here has been deputized, and he has made personal contact. In his opinion, they are highly trained, and that’s probably good for us. There’s a big difference between running off trespassers and going at it with a bunch of cops. Pros will know that.

  “Once you take down a guard, immediately strip them of any gear, their weapons, of course, and don’t forget to check them for hidden holsters, Thunderwear especially. Remove the ammunition from all their firearms. Take any communication devices and listen for transmissions. The longer our op stays quiet, the greater the chance of success. Once secured, attempt to find out whether or not there are additional security personnel in the house and how many other people are in there and who they are. After that, cuff them hand and foot to a tree.

  “One member of the team will have to stay behind with the prisoner. If you get another, bring them back to the first tree. If you take someone down and suddenly all hell breaks loose, cuff them anywhere to keep them out of the action.

  “The teams will go in first. Each team member will have a short-range communication radio. The frequency we are using is encrypted, and the likelihood of its being monitored is near zero. Lieutenant Malone brought these radios for us and will give us a demo in the morning. We don’t know how many security people there are, so as you take one down, advise the lieutenant. When you feel your area is clear, advise also. Your goal is to be within sight of the house. Once you are there, secure both cover and concealment to prepare for service of the warrant. Sheriff, do you want to cover serving the warrant?” The chief handed it back to the sheriff.

  “We have a no-knock warrant, which allows us to take a ram to the door. If we need to, that’s all well and good. However, our plan is this. Once Stone’s security force has been taken care of, available people will move into positions close to the house. We are going to call the house and order everyone outside. Everyone that comes out will be immediately ordered to their knees, hands visible. Once I give the order, they will be quickly secured and removed to areas away from the front door. The use of force may be necessary. If they don’t comply, don’t screw around. Take them down.

  “It is highly likely that there are security cameras, and that could alert the people inside to our presence before we are ready. But it will be early enough that they may still be asleep. In any event, we will stick to cover as well as we can when we approach the house. Everyone needs to remember that at least one of the people we are likely to encounter is a suspect in multiple homicides. We should expect and be prepared for armed resistance. Deputy Delzell, please hand out the photos.” The deputy went through the crowd and handed out photos of the suspect thought to be “the Wolf.”

  “We all know David Stone. He is always on the edge of the law, and we have not been successful in making a case agains
t him. Stone is a cool customer, and my guess is the guy we are looking for is too. We know Stone but will have to make a positive ID on the Wolf. I figure there is a good chance after we make contact, Stone will come out demanding to know what we are doing there. At that point, we will take him down and secure him and anyone else with him. Once everyone is secured, we will begin a search of the building. Everyone in that house must be considered armed and dangerous.

  “Any questions?” the sheriff concluded.

  “I’ve got one,” a deputy from the back of the room spoke. “How will the teams be assigned?”

  “We will go with the already assigned special event teams. You can shift people around based on the skills needed for this operation. That will take place tonight. Chief Bork will be assigned with the these perimeter teams. That leaves Cabrelli, Malone, Delzell, and me. Cabrelli and Chief Bork are the only two people who have seen the subject in person and can identify him. Cabrelli and Malone are going to be on the front door team with me. Deputy Delzell will be on top of the garage roof covering us with her rifle. That location will give her a clear shot up the center of the driveway if need be.

  “Lieutenant Malone will show real-time photos of the property for you and your team to study. Team One takes the south approach, Team Two the west, and Team Three the north. Any other questions? Now is the time to ask them. Check all your gear, and anything you need we will get from the equipment armory.”

  Malone projected an image on the wall that showed the area in great detail. Teams looked carefully over the terrain to learn everything they could before the morning raid. The mood was serious and somber. They were career law enforcement officers, and they knew that something like this was always a possibility. They had trained for it, and they were ready.

  An hour later, the chief called everyone back together. “I want you all to head home now. See your families, have dinner, and try to get some sleep. We will meet at 4:30 tomorrow morning at the old boat landing on Trout Road. Drive to the end so no one will see us from the highway. Oh, and on your way out of the building, bitch a little about being called in for training. It might cool off some curious ears.”

  Everyone made their way out and drove to their homes or wherever it was that they found some solace. I was pretty certain that none would sleep well. Their thoughts would be of their families, of whether or not they had the gear they needed, and how this thing would go down.

  20

  As I drove home, I felt lonely. I was prepared for the situation and hoped everyone else was too. Bear had decided to stay in town at a motel. He did not require much sleep, and as was his habit, he would stay up until the wee hours of the morning researching, trying to find that one thing that might give us an edge or that one thing we needed to know.

  I pulled into my driveway and was stunned to see Julie’s Suburban parked in front. The lights were on inside, and there was a light curl of smoke coming from the chimney. She must have built a fire to offset the cool evening.

  She was sitting in my aunt Rose’s favorite rocking chair with a pile of school papers on the table next to her. I didn’t know what to say, but she took care of that. “I am sorry to intrude, but we need to talk. We probably should have a while ago, but I think our mutual stubbornness got in the way. I thought that now was as good a time as any.”

  Still, I had no response.

  “Well, here it is. Let me speak my piece. When I am done, if you want, I will be on my way and never darken your doorstep again. But I need to say what I came to say.”

  Still, not a word passed my lips.

  “John, we have been through a great deal together. We have enjoyed some good times and lived through some bad times. We have laughed together and cried together. You and I and Bud have sat at that dining table and made good memories. I cared for you when you were shot, and it was then that I met the real John Cabrelli for the first time. All the facades were stripped away. Your internal toughness took over as you shed your external bravado and allowed me to care for you at your most vulnerable. I came to know you as a kind and gentle soul who had borne the burden of so many things that have happened in your life. That is the John Cabrelli I care for very much.

  “I thought about our first interactions. I was so mean to you when you first came here when I should have realized that you were a hurting soul looking for a place to be, looking for peace. I was bitter about your relationship with Nick and Rose when I should have thought about the things that kept you away from them and probably the only place you ever loved. I am truly sorry, John. I hope you will forgive me. If you can, it will make what I have to say next easier.”

  I remained dumbfounded and braced myself.

  “I am going to say it anyway, while I have the courage. We have danced around the idea that you and I may have a future together, in the sense of us being a couple. We avoided the topic at all costs, probably because we feared rejection, and we have both lived through losing people we loved. Our mutual quest for independence put up a wall between us. That wall doesn’t exist anymore. We started to tear it down stone by stone with every minute we shared. I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to lose you, John.”

  Fear paralyzed me. I could not speak. I knew that whatever words came out of my mouth would seal my fate. I could not stop staring at her, attending to every detail of that sweet face, those deep blue eyes, lips that would break into a smile at a moment’s notice.

  When I did speak, the words spilled out of me without thought. “Julie, I love you with all my heart. If you love me, I am the luckiest man on earth.”

  “John, I do love you.”

  The embrace and kiss we shared was overwhelming. The feeling of joy that coursed through me was something I had never known before.

  We sat by the fire and talked and laughed about the first time we met, with her looking down the barrel of a shotgun at me. How happy Bud was going to be.

  “He has been a total pain over the last few weeks,” she said.

  “No kidding. He stormed out of here clearly put out with our inability to see what a great couple we’d be.”

  Then I had to stop. “Julie, I need to tell you something important.”

  “What do you need to tell me? I am listening.”

  “Julie, tomorrow morning I am going to be on an entry team with my former partner Bear and Sheriff Rawsom. They need me to make a positive ID on a murder suspect, probably the guy who killed my uncle Nick.” I filled her in on all the details and told her about what was going down in the morning. Upon hearing what I said, the look on her face said it all: Here we go again.

  “There has been a rumor circulating around town that the police and sheriff departments were getting ready for some kind of big raid. The last I heard they were coming down on a bunch of drug dealers who have set up business on the edge of the reservation. Small town, you know, secrets are hard to keep. I never heard anything close to what the real situation is. I guess it’s so ‘out there,’ no one would have ever dreamed up anything like this,” she said.

  “We have come up with a pretty good plan. I don’t think we are going to have any problems, but you know how it is.”

  “Actually, I don’t know how it is, and I don’t want to know. I do want you to know that I am going to be sitting here in this rocker waiting for you to come home. You have to do what you have to do. If this is the guy who killed your uncle Nick, I know that putting him away will give you the closure you are seeking and rid our community of a very bad man. Heaven forbid that you need to be patched up again, but if you do, I will be right by your side. After this is over tomorrow, we are headed down a new path, together, and that will require discussion about our potential future. For now, please be careful. I will be sitting here safe and sound waiting for your call.”

  “Julie, I have to get my gear ready. Sit there and work on your papers, and I will be right back.”

  “I am going to pack up and get back to town.”

  “Ah … you’re going back t
o town?”

  “Our new agreement is not … does not begin until after you bring yourself home to me tomorrow.” She gathered the student work and put it in a file box. As she began to walk out the door, she turned, put the box down and walked back to me. Wrapping her arms around me, she rested her pretty head on my chest. Then she looked up and kissed me. “I love you, and I am proud of you, John. Please come home to me.”

  21

  A light fog hovered above the boat landing. The difference between the water and air temperatures created a mist of river spirits drifting along the channel. Visibility would be limited, but the dampness would help muffle the sound. Conditions were never perfect, but our crew of outdoorsmen would know how to use the circumstances to their advantage. The raiding parties were checking each other’s gear, including the new radios with crystal clear reception, even at a whisper. Rawsom handed me a bulletproof vest and a radio.

  The sheriff called everyone together. “Folks, it’s time to get rolling. I want the perimeter teams to head out from here. It looks like about a mile and a half hike. Chief Bork and others know some trails that wind through along the river. Take your time and use every advantage to get in position. Malone, Delzell, Cabrelli, and I will be waiting for acknowledgment that you are where you need to be. As soon as you have taken down the security forces, we will make our way up to the front gate of the house. Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck to all of us, and God bless you.”

  The teams disappeared into the woods, following trails forged by deer and bear, each person carrying an AR-15 rifle, except Len Bork. He had his trusty Marlin .45-70, the same one he used to stop a charging bear.

  After they were gone, Malone opened up his duffle bag and began to remove things and load them in a small backpack. “What do you have there, Bear?” I asked.