by Mark Porto
When Governor Marin learns of the indictments, he tells his secretary to summon the attorney general to his office at the Capitol, who arrives sometime later. The Governor slams some papers on the desk, “I’ve been reading these libelous accusations. I thought you were more responsible than to stoop to such antics!” He says slamming the front page on the desk.
Jacobson rises wearing a scowl. “Sir, with all due respect, I’m doing my job. A source states with what appears to be unimpeachable evidence regarding this, there is a possibility that Senator Croydon is the architect of this whole scheme!”
The Governor mellows in his anger, “Don’t you realize without the senator’s endorsement, my future appointments to various positions are going to be in serious jeopardy?”
“Sir, in the last election, you ran on a law and order platform. Now, because of petty politics, you’re going to allow these shenanigans to continue?”
The governor stares at the prosecutor with watery eyes, gyrating lips, a stiff right arm along with a frown. “You’ll withdraw those indictments or you won’t be re-elected next year! I’ll see to it, Jacobson, you won’t get elected dog catcher.”
“First of all, they’re called dog wardens or animal control officers, take your pick. Secondly, your influence in the party is at an all-time low, this is according to state party officials. If you were to seek a third term, you would lose big! Even the weakest GOP candidate would defeat you by at least five points, face it, sir, your days in this office are nearly over.”
The governor roars while sitting down, “When hell freezes over, I know you’re eyeing my job, but it’s Lieutenant Governor Messina who’s going to get the nomination, should I decide to leave, that’s a promise!” He cracks open a book, “That will be all, Mr. Jacobson!”
“I doubt it, sir, this is only the beginning! When those cronies of yours are behind bars, the party leaders are going to be on their knees begging me to accept the nomination when the polls show a GOP sweep in a democratic state!” Yelled the top prosecutor, while taking his valise and walking out of the office.
Just then, Croydon was made privy of the indictments, when the governor called to let him know about his discussions with the attorney general. “I’m sorry, I can’t stop him, and he’s determined to see we’re finished!”
“Governor, you’re going to have to, because it’ll jeopardize my expected run for the GOP nomination for governor, should you retire.” The governor asks why this is happening, Croydon says, “Somebody has got to be giving him the information.”
Croydon called several officials to schedule a meeting.
The meeting is held in an empty committee room in the State Capitol. The lights were dim; while the door was locked and guarded by state troopers.
Parker, the Parole board chairman speaks first wanting to know the purpose of this meeting, “I have to be at another meeting soon.”
The senator remarks, “It seems the source of these indictments is from someone in Black Meadows.” He lowers his voice during the course of the conversation.
Judge Lexington stands up to straighten up his slacks, “How do you know?”
Senator Croydon informs them he has connections to a law firm in Black Meadows, “These people have an excellent investigative team, when he found there was a grand jury investigation about, ‘them’, I contacted them and they’ve gathered some information, I’ve been sifting through them with the conclusion I’m adding two and two if you know what I mean?”
Judge Lexington smirks, “I think I know whom you’re referring.”
Parker steps in, “Also, I know of three of four men who were promised parole, provided they help us to get the person responsible. Another man promised parole is going to be working with us in exchange for a state job.”
Croydon looks to Bart, while Jasper sits with his briefcase in a velvet rotating chair and taking notes of the meeting with a “secret” notebook, holding a small manual flashlight.
Jasper suggests getting Dr. Kimball involved; he has access to records with which could stifle the attorney general’s investigation.
Croydon comments with a smile and a laugh, “You’re reading my mind, again, I’ll take it under advisement.”
Judge Lexington puts down his drink, “It can be useful, I say we do it.”
The senator made it clear he is in charge; he slumps down in his recliner to put out his cigarette while taking a brief sigh. He takes out another cigarette, “It can be hard to suppress.”
Bart Grayson speaks up, “Sir, what about future nominations, since this news puts in danger any judicial nominations by the when he submits them to your committee, will you have the ability to push the nominees through?”
The legislator straightens up to flick the butt of the cigarette into the portable glass ashtray. “Look, if we’re exonerated and I know we will be there won’t be too many problems. I wouldn’t worry so much about it.”
Parker tells Bart he was glad he asked the question. “Does that help you?”
“Yes, sir, it helps me a great deal.” The rest of the evening was devoted to small talk.
When Attorney General Jacobson enters his office the next day, his shirt sweats while dark circles develop under his eyes. His secretary asks him if anything was wrong, he dismisses it as fatigue while looking over some papers.
After a while, he calls his chief investigator asking him to come down immediately, when he asks why, Jacobson simply says unless he gets more evidence, his investigation would collapse. Johnny Bellow, of course, will play a major role in the attorney general’s predicament. However, his participation will nearly cost him his life and sanity.
CHAPTER NINE
The crowds outside Knickbocker Stadium in Yonkers were large; a basketball game between the Westchester Wings v. the Old City Grange was in progress. The Bellow family was seated midway up the stadium steps which gave them a halfway decent look at the court. The Wings wore red while the Grange wore white. The game at the end of the second half was tied prompting them into overtime, resulting with Wings winning 103-99.
Afterwards, the Bellow family step out of the stadium on a warm Saturday evening on May 2, they decide to take a brief walk down the street to a restaurant for a late dinner. It happened to be the day; Johnny and Doreen were supposed to be married.
While walking across the parking lot, Johnny notices a car riding slowly, running parallel to both he and his parents. In the auto were four individuals who hadn’t attended the game.
When Johnny and his parents stop at the corner between the stadium and the restaurant, the car makes a turn to the right moving quickly in front of them. Johnny has a negative feeling when the four step out of the car to ask for the directions to Darren Street.
As soon as Johnny spoke, they got out their guns demanding the family’s money. They surrendered it to the men without incident.
However, one of the men demanding the money was yelling, it wasn’t enough and shot Johnny in the lower abdomen. He fell to his left side with a groan as the men drove away.
Anita cries with her hands in the air, “Oh, my God!” Sal went to a phone booth to call the police and ambulance.
Johnny was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital; he was semiconscious while looking up at the hospital ceiling corridor. Blood was gushing from his abdomen on the stretcher as he was immediately wheeled into surgery.
Sal and Anita wait in a lounge on the second floor, “How could they do this to my Johnny! Why?” She cries with her face fell into her hands.
Sal scratches his head; wondering if this has anything to do with Doreen’s death and about Johnny’s errands, I wonder what he was doing during all that time? And why would those thugs drop the money and take off? But, Sal was more concerned with his son’s welfare than a few dollar bills.
After three hours of surgery, Dr. Gregory Van Gogh comes into the lounge with a somber look. His smock was wrinkled along with his disheveled hair as he looks down to tell Sal and Anita that
he had good news and bad news. Anita was still crying as Sal asked him what he meant. The doctor continues, “The good news is he’s going to survive, primarily, because we’ve located the bullet and summarily removed it. However, the bullet did some damage to his coccyx, does it mean he’ll never walk again, that is questionable. I guess it can go either way.” Sal asks what the coccyx was; the doctor said it was a bone at the base of the spinal column. “What it means in the short term, he’ll have to walk either on crutches or sit in a wheelchair.”
Anita, after wiping her tears asks if they could see him, but the doctor winces saying while Johnny was under sedation, he thought it would be better if they came tomorrow. Sal has to escort his wife from the hospital.
The next day, Johnny is resting in a private room, when his parents quickly walk in that morning, he awakens, “Hello, Pa? Ma?” He could see two figures, but they were grayish representing more of an outline.
“Yes, Johnny, we’re here.” Anita says as she tried the best she could for holding back tears, “We couldn’t sleep all night thinking about you.” She sits down, rubbing her temples while wiping her hair back to look at him. Johnny, at this point, could only nod; he has difficulty carrying on a conversation. Sal displays a nervous laugh while crying at the same time, “That’s the calmest I’ve seen him in a while.”
During that time, the doctors and nurses periodically check up on him to record his vital signs, which were stable.
Later on, while he was able to talk to his parents, Johnny is concerned about his future. He wants to know about his ability to physically and emotionally function. During the course of conversation, he has difficulty sitting up to maintain his upright position.
Sal and Anita look to each other not knowing what to tell him. Johnny pushes his lunch away lying back in bed acting restless.
Dr. Van Gogh walks in to ask Johnny, “How is the patient feeling?” He tries to crack a smile. He answers the doctor displaying a frown while inquires about how he is going to be able to function; he was fine as far as the physical pain goes. The doctor has just gotten out of another surgery, his smock is slouched as he scratches his head. “Well you’ve got to give it time. Right now, it’s too early to know if you’ll walk.” He examines Johnny and leaves.
Shortly thereafter, a nun, Sister Carol walks into the room; she was one of several nuns who visit hospitals in the area. The nun is wearing civilian clothing without a veil on top of her head as she introduces herself.
Johnny tells her he was deeply upset over losing his ability to walk feeling the need to sleep, because of the pills. He couldn’t pay attention to visitors as much as possible.
The sister lowers her head as her smooth rotund face shines; she extends her hand to him saying, “Dear, this is God’s will. You’ve got to remember that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”
Johnny’s face twists and turns along with his stomach, “Oh, really, what do you know, sister about suffering, outside of what you’ve been told? It would seem to me you don’t understand that I’ve been enduring a living hell!”
His parents want to intervene, since they didn’t approve of the way Johnny was talking to the nun; however, he gave them a look, which meant for them to stay out of the conversation.
Sister remarks, “Life’s a cycle, we must go on.” Johnny mulls the comment to tell her she doesn’t understand he lost his fiancée and child. Sister Carol’s gray hair enhances her rotund torso and eyeglasses while speaking in a strict tone, “You wouldn’t have lost a baby, if you didn’t engage in premarital sex.”
Johnny’s face figuratively sizzles asking her to leave. Sister grips the armrest of the bed to say goodbye to the family.
Sal and Anita looks at Johnny with their mouths open, “You shouldn’t have talked to the sister that way, she only means well.” Johnny didn’t want to discuss it.
The next day, Father Bryan comes in asking Johnny how he was doing; he takes his left hand, points it straight in the air while turning it back and forth.
Johnny remarks lying on his side, he wasn’t too happy about being crippled for the rest of his natural life. Father advocates he must pray. Although his face was flush, he asks the priest if he would like to hear his confession, while he straightens up.
Father sits beside him with his ear closer to Johnny; Johnny makes the sign of the cross and repeating, “Bless me Father, for I have sinned.” “How long has it been since your last confession?”
Johnny tells him it has been three months, the priest nods, “I had sexual relations outside of marriage –“Father nods a second time, saying he was very sorry for doing it. “Yes and no, please let me explains. I loved this woman, but she did, what they call, “vamping” me, it’s like she tricked me in a sense; I did go into it of my own free will. I still love her and the baby; we were going to be married.”
“I’m sure you did, where is she?”
“She was murdered, Father.” Father gasps, “It was done in such a horrendous way, do you know she was raped and killed? What type of people would do something so horrible?”
“We live in trying times, my son.”
Johnny has blood in his eyes, “When they found the killers, the system, because of these idiots, let them go!”
“You have to put this behind you.”
“Father, I don’t forgive them, they destroyed a part of me, no one, I don’t care how much you don’t like or even hate someone enough, has the right to do that.” Father says if we don’t forgive, it may be an obstruction to his salvation. “Father, are you concerned with my salvation or your own conscience?” When the priest asked him what he meant. Johnny said he thought the priest knew more than what he was saying by brushing off his suffering, “In other words, you knew about my fiancée’s demise, because you were one of the priests at the funeral. I saw you afterward talking with Senator Croydon after he drove up in his car; it was about the nursing home and the hospital.”
Father is sweating, “Son, what does this have to do with your confession?”
Johnny says, “Look, why did you testify against me at the Dennison civil trial, were you promised anything in return?” He looks at the priest’s rosary beads holding them in a grip.
Father’s face turns red and darkens, he is silent for a minute, “You listen to me, I was given a subpoena by Mr. Padgett!”
Johnny holds the rail, telling him it was unusual for the plaintiff’s attorney summoning the defendant’s priest for information about him. “When I was in seventh grade, I remember your opposition to me being in parochial school. I thought, at first, it was you didn’t like Italians, secondly, I think that sap who was a principal in the middle school said something to you in order to discourage you. Don’t deny it, because I saw the records.”
Father clears his throat, wiping his forehead; he admits he happens to mention him on a couple of occasions.
Johnny remarks Padgett knew about the “hush” money you gave the district attorney’s cousin to avoid trouble with the Bishop, “You knew if word got out your days as pastor was gone. He ripped off the parish of $100,000 and you filed a claim with the insurance company claiming different circumstances.”
When the day turned from sunny to cloudy, Father stood in a silhouette, with stiffened arms. He spoke in a deep morose tone, “You, young man had better learn to leave well enough alone! These events are none of your business!” Johnny interrupts saying they were his business if they involve him. Johnny looks him in the eye, saying the real reason he was visiting him was to persuade him to drop his appeal in the civil suit, because there was information which could make him guilty of perjury. “I think I’ve heard enough!” He walked to the door, shook his finger at him while leaving.
Subsequently, Johnny winces as he thought about the caustic reprimand by Father.
A day later, Ralph came into the hospital with two large briefcases. When Johnny inquires as to what’s in them, Ralph tells him he’ll definitely be interested.
John
ny begins reading the documents, outside of visits from doctor and nurses, physical therapy and medication, which was all he did for several days. When he was finished reading a certain amount, he rubs his eyes to utter a huge sigh.
Whenever Johnny was in physical therapy, which was every morning, a nurse was there to supervise and assist him in learning how to use the crutches and leg braces. Each time, he was there, he would always have a tear in his eye from both physical and emotional pain; it always reminded him about the inability to walk.
There were days when Johnny was receptive, but most of the time, he was sluggish and had a difficult time listening to directions as he tried to follow the routine. Whenever his parents visited, the nurses tell them of their various concerns. Dr. Van Gogh tells them what he suspects, but would examine him before taking any action.
It was later when the doctor enters Johnny’s room, while he was making the final rounds of the evening. Johnny had been lying on the bed staring out into space; his eyes drooped as he acknowledges the doctor’s presence giving a slight wave in order for him to sit up. The doctor asks how he feels. Johnny tells him he was very sluggish known to have been crying himself to sleep at night. The doctor lowers his head, takes out the chart to write down he was to be given Sinequan, claiming it will receive him of despair. Johnny further complains of anxiety attacks, nightmares and wasn’t receptive to conversation while experiencing pangs in his stomach. The doctor also orders Lorazepan and Cyclobenzaprine to be administered. He tells a nurse that he needed to be watched for shock and Tetanus Bacillus.
During the day, Sal would sit down with his head lowered, while Anita used boxes of tissues to wipe away her make up from tears.
Dr. Van Gogh came in to talk with Johnny’s parents, he expresses concern over his maudlin attitude, he states medications can only do so much. The doctor asks if he has any close friends nearby. Anita says he has only three. “I recommend you try and get them to visit Johnny, because he isn’t improving as much as I’d like.