Ian

by Denise Irwin

  Molly and Jack ran into the house and sat on the foyer floor, just like Dad said, he smelled them all over knowing that they had been somewhere with other dogs. Leona and Sam stepped around the children. Sam grabbed Vinny’s leash from the mud room and brought it to the kids.

  “Take him out for a walk, so he knows that you didn’t find another dog to bring home.”

  Molly asked, “Do you really think that he would?”

  “Sam, stop it. Molly, Vinny just wants to sniff you to smell where you’ve been.”

  “He can do that?”

  “If you’re asking if he knew that you were in the Perry Hall Middle School, he can’t do that, but he can smell the dogs that you worked with.”

  After the kids went to bed, Leona and Sam met in the kitchen for a nightcap. As Sam handed her a glass of wine, he said, “That looked like so much fun. If you can find an adult class we can go together.”

  “If I find one, I’ll call Mom and Amanda along with Phil with the dates and times.”

  He laughed aloud and then said, “That would be a hoot.”

  <>

  On Monday morning while eating breakfast, Jack said, “The two of you should look for an adult class.”

  “Jack, that’s a really good idea. Then, you can come and watch us.”

  “Mom, do you think that you can find a class for the grownups?”

  “I’ll start looking into it. If I find one, should I also invite your grandparents and Miss Amanda and Mr. Stefan along with Mr. Brian and Mr. Phil?”

  Molly nearly screamed, “That would be way cool.”

  “Then I’ll start working on it after you leave for school. Dad will help, right Dad?”

  “Of course I will.”

  They ran down the driveway excited to tell their school chums about the training class.

  Leona poured a second cup of coffee and then called, Shannon Elton. “Shannon, this is Leona Marksman. I’m now interested in adult classes.”

  “We have them on Saturdays, at Perry Hall Middle school. The next class starts Saturday, December 7th, at 2:00 in the afternoon. Are you and Sam planning to attend?”

  “We are, but we have another six people who may be with us. Is that too many people?”

  “Not at all, we can work with that many participants.”

  “Well I haven’t called anyone just yet, so the number may change. I’ll call you once I have a final count.”

  “Not a problem. Did Molly and Jack enjoy their class?”

  “They did. Their cheerleaders are the folks who now want to take classes.”

  “Do they have dogs?”

  “Not yet.”

  Shannon was laughing as they disconnected the call.

  “Sam, there are adult agility classes at Perry Hall Middle School on Saturdays. The first class is on December 7th, at 2:00 in the afternoon. What do you think?”

  “It’s gonna be during the trial preparation, but what the hell, everyone will enjoy the break. Call them and see what they have to say.”

  She started with her parents. Bill answered the phone. She told him about the adult class and he said, “Sign us up.”

  “Do you want to talk this over with your wife first?”

  “Nope.”

  Leona laughed, “If you’re sure, I’ll sign the two of you up.”

  She wrote her parents’ names on a note pad and moved on to call Brian. When he answered the phone, Leona told him about adult class. “We’re in, I think Phil is ready to go to the SPCA to adopt a dog.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “No, I am not. He thinks we need a hobby and I have to agree that this dog stuff is great exercise as well as a hobby.”

  She was still laughing when they disconnected the call. Sam asked, “Who were you talking to?”

  “That was Brian. He and Phil are in. He also said that Phil’s planning to go to the ASPCA to adopt a dog.”

  Sam laughed, “Does Phil know that he doesn’t need a dog to take the class?”

  “I think so, but Phil told him that they needed a hobby and the dog would be great exercise.”

  “Who is your next call to?”

  “Amanda.”

  “I don’t think that I can handle it if you tell me that they also plan to get a dog.”

  “Let me make the call.” When Amanda answered the phone, Leona told her about the adult agility class. Amanda said, “That is great. Count Stefan and I in. Is everyone else coming?”

  “Yes, so there will be eight of us in the class.”

  “Do we have to bring a dog?”

  “I don’t think so, I think that we’ll use their dogs. If you want to practice, you’re always welcome to come here and practice with Vinny.”

  “If that’s okay with you, that’s what we just might do.”

  “Molly and Jack will love it if you practiced here.”

  Sam was looking at his wife, as he said, “Okay, give me the dip.”

  She shook her head as she said, “She really didn’t say, but asked if they had to have a dog. I told her they could come here to practice if they needed to. Let me give Shannon a call and give her our head count.”

  After giving the trainer the head count, she told her husband, “This is going to be so much fun and the kids will love watching us.”

  During dinner, Leona told Molly and Jack. “There is an adult dog agility training class. Your grandparents are going to participate. Mr. Phil and Mr. Brian are planning to attend, along with Miss Amanda and Mr. Stefan.”

  Jack asked, “When are the classes?”

  “The first class is Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Perry Hall Middle School.”

  “That’s so cool and we’ll get to watch.”

  <>

  Thompson went into the dining hall with the intention to pick a fight with the guy. He saw him sitting with his cronies, so he filled his plate with hot food. He walked to the bastard and dumped the hot food on top of his head. The other guy was fast. He dove over the table and punched Thompson in the throat cutting off his air supply. He lay gagging on the floor until the guards took him to the infirmary.

  <>

  After the kids went to bed, Sam poured his wife a glass of wine and sat across the table with a beer. He started to laugh and that turned in to a howl. When he regained himself, he said, “This dog training is going to be a hoot and our kids are gonna love watching as we learn the course. It’ll give us a great stress reliever from the case.”

  She smiled at her husband as she said, “I’m sure that it will.”

  <>

  Sam came into the kitchen after walking the dog. He said, “It is freaking cold out there. The wind is blowing hard to add to the cold.”

  As she handed him a cup of coffee, Leona said “This might warm you up a bit.”

  Leona made breakfast for her family and then sent Molly and Jack off to school with full bellies and warm clothes.

  Her husband asked, “Is there anything on our dance card today?”

  “Not that I know of. I put the trial date for Thompson on the calendar. I’ll asked Mom to pick the kids up from school that day.”

  <>

  Delven called the Baltimore City Jail and asked that Mark Thompson be brought to an interview room at 11:00 that morning. She then called Thompson’s parents. A man answered the phone. “My name is Rebecca Delven, I’m a public defender in Baltimore, Maryland; I’m representing your son for a premeditated murder in Baltimore. Were you aware of the charge and his incarceration?”

  “No Ms. Delven I was not; however I have to say that I’m not surprised. If he asked you to make this call so that I’ll give him money for anything, you just let him know that his mother and I decided years ago that we wouldn’t pay for his criminal behavior.”

  “Mr. Thompson, may I ask about his childhood years?”

  “Sure, what do you want to know?”

  “He told me that he went to Towson University and that when you were laid off, he and his bro
thers worked to put food on the table.”

  “That sounds like something that Mark would say. To my knowledge, he never went to any college. Mark has three sisters and I was never laid off. Did he tell you why we moved to Florida?”

  “Not really, he just said that you sold the house and moved to Florida.”

  “We went on vacation and he built a meth lab in our basement. We called the police and they arrested me as well as Mark. I paid a lot of money in attorney’s fees, before someone realized that I wasn’t involved. My son is a pathological liar; don’t believe a word that he says for your own good. I know that as a public defender it’s your job to defend him, but watch what he says and how he says it.”

  “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about your son.”

  “Ms. Delven, before you go, may I ask you a question?”

  “Of course.”

  “Has my son threatened you?”

  “Yes he has, so I started recording our interviews and since then, he’s not made another threat.”

  “Don’t trust anything he says. I’m so sorry that you were assigned to this case.”

  “Thank you again. I will take heed of what you told me, but I have to defend him to the best of my ability. Talking with you really helps me to develop a defense strategy. So, do you want me to call after the trial?”

  “Thank you for the offer, but I don’t what to hear anything about him. His mother and I divorced ourselves from him years ago.”

  When they disconnected the call Delven knew that she had to get her head on straight to visit her client.

  During her drive to the BCJ, Delven knew herself well enough to know that she can’t lie, even if the other person was a malicious liar. She parked the car, walked in and signed the log book. A guard walked her to the interview room and before he unlocked the door, he said, “Ms. Delven, he’s in a real state today, so please be real careful. I’ll be right outside so let me know if you need me.”

  “Is Thompson in the room?”

  “No, not yet, so as I get you settled in, I’ll radio another guard to bring him in. Just be real careful.”

  She said nothing when her client was led into the room in handcuffs and leg irons. She saw that his nose was swollen with black and blue bruises. She knew that he’d done something that required the restraints. She waited for him to talk knowing that she could end up spending the rest of the day in this interview room.

  He finally asked, “Did you call my parents?”

  Delven knew that she had to tell him the truth, but she would try keep it minimal. “Yes, I spoke with your father this morning.”

  “Did he tell you why he moved for Florida?”

  “Yes he did, but I would like to hear it from you.”

  “You tell me what he said because I’m not gonna tell you a fucking thing because you’re a fucking bitch.”

  “In that case the conversation with your father is confidential.”

  “I want to testify on my behalf.”

  “I would ordinarily advise against it, but you have the right to choose. Is there anything that I can help you with?”

  “Yeah, just get the fuck out of my face.”

  “Is it safe to assume that you don’t want me to visit again before the trial?”

  “That’s right and if I had my way, I wouldn’t see you during the trial.”

  Delven drove away from the jail trying to figure out what had him so riled up, knowing that she’d never know what lurks in his mind. She drove to the office to tell her boss what happened.

  “What am I going to do?”

  “Becca, you’re his attorney, so you’re going to defend him. If he fucks up, it’s on him. I have to say that I’m sorry that I didn’t pull the case from you, but you really are the best person to defend him, whether he likes it or not. Go on home and shake it off or you’re gonna end up in the hospital with a stroke”

  Delven left his office and walked to her own office. She had to map out a plan for the trial.

  <>

  After dinner, the kids went into the living room to watch television. Sam stayed at the kitchen table with his wife. She said, “I can’t believe that everyone said yes to the agility training class.”

  “I can and I think that it’s gonna be fun for all of us.”

  His cell phone rang, he told Leona it’s Gregory, “Brian, what’s up?”

  “Am I on speaker mode?”

  “No, but Leona’s here with me, so do you want her to listen?”

  Gregory chuckled as he said, “I wouldn’t have said it like that, but yes I want her to hear what I need to ask.”

  “Brian, I’m here. What do you need?”

  “Can the team meet at your house tomorrow evening? We’re getting close to the trial date, and I want to make sure that we’re ready.”

  “That’s a great idea, so why don’t to tell everyone to plan for 7:30ish.”

  “Thanks, I’ll make the calls and see you tomorrow evening. What can Phil bring?”

  “Brian, it’s just a meeting, so no one needs to bring anything.”

  “You know that he won’t go for that, so I’ll tell him that he can bring anything that he wants.”

  Molly and Jack came into the kitchen to say goodnight. Vinny followed them up the stairs and then returned to the kitchen. As Sam handed Leona a glass of wine, she said, “I guess the vacation is over and it’s back to work.”

  “I heard that. We know that he met probable cause, but as of today, I’ve not heard anything about motive.”

  “Sam, he knows that without a motive, he’s gonna lose.”

  “Lee, he knows that, so we’re gonna have to wait and hear what he says.”

  <>

  During breakfast, Molly said, “Today is called hump day.”

  Sam asked, “What does that mean?”

  “Well, I think that it means that it’s Wednesday.”

  “Then explain to me why Thursday can’t be hump day?”

  Her little face scrunched up because she was thinking hard, “I really don’t know why.”

  “There are five days of the week that you go to school, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What is in the middle of the week?”

  “Wednesday.”

  “Now think about this. Picture a hill in your mind, you climb up the hill Monday and Tuesday. You reach the top on Wednesday and you slide down the hill until Friday.”

  “Thanks Dad. I didn’t know that and now I do.”

  After the kids left for school, Leona looked at her liquor supply and what she had for snacks. “Sam, is it just the investigative team or are they bringing spouses?”

  “Is it important?”

  “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t.”

  “It would be a whole lot easier if you just called Gregory, but let me see if I can help. You and I will be here. Brian and Phil. Amanda and maybe Stefan. So, I guess that means a possible six.”

  “Thanks.”

  She started to leave the kitchen when Sam said, “Whoa little doggy, not so fast. Tell me why you wanted to know that.”

  “It’s very simple, the number of attendees determine whether or not I needed to go to the store. We have enough for six, so I don’t have to go to the store. We still have a lot of beer and liquor from Thanksgiving, so I don’t have to worry about that.”

  “I have those little pizza roll ups for the kids’ snack and I’ll serve soup and grilled cheese for dinner, so, I’m all set.”

  Sam chuckled and then said, “I’m sure glad to hear that because I was beginning to worry.”

  Leona made a list of everything she had and then went off to gather up dirty laundry. She had her third load in the washer when her children arrived home. She put the pizza rolls on a cookie sheet and put them into the oven. Needless to say, her children were delighted with their snack. When they were done, Molly and Jack said, “Thanks Mom.”, and then ran upstairs to do homework.

  During dinner, Sam told his child
ren, “I just wanted to let you know that Mom and I have a meeting this evening.”

  Jack asked, “Do you want us to go watch television in your bedroom?”

  “No, you can watch television in the living room, but it would be nice if you came into the kitchen to say hello.”

  Jack said, “We can do that.”

  The first to arrive were Gregory and Mason, Molly and Jack met them at the door. Jack said, “Mr. Brian and Mr. Phil it’s nice to see you. Let me take your coats.”

  Molly said, “We’re happy that you signed up for the agility class. The meeting’s in the kitchen, so let me walk with you.”

  Jack was greeting Buttons and Taggart. “Miss Amanda and Mr. Stefan it’s so nice to see you. Let me take your coats.”

  Molly stepped right in to her greeting, “We’re happy that you signed up for the agility class. The meeting’s in the kitchen, so I’ll walk with you.”

  The kids then went back into the living room to watch TV.

  Brian asked, “Did you pay your children to do that?”

  Sam chuckled and then said, “No, but if you want to make a contribution to their college fund, Leona and I would really appreciate it.”

  Leona admonished her husband, “Samuel Jackson Marksman, don’t you dare tell Brian that. Brian, we’re working on teaching our children how to greet guests.”

  “I personally think that your children did great. While I’m up, let me get the drink orders.”

  Amanda laughed, “Brian, we’ve worked together for years. You know what we like to drink.”

  “I’m just checking to make sure that you didn’t change up on me.” He passed out the drinks and then sat at the table. “Okay let’s get started. Phil is going to testify as to the cause of death. Amanda is going to testify for the evidence. I have listed; 1) DNA on the defendant’s shirt; 2) the dirt samples from the Roland Park lot to those recovered from the defendant’s tires; 3) the invoice recovered from the glove box in the defendant’s vehicle matched the tires. Did I leave anything out?”

  Everyone shook their head, “Okay, what I don’t have is motive. Any ideas?”