by Sims, R.
“And this Angelique Brooks, who is she?”
“Anna Spivey. The same woman who pretended to be Geneva Lansing. I think the real Angelique Brooks now lives in South America. That’s what my brother told me.”
Dexter leaned over and whispered something to Janet.
CHAPTER 121
Gerald sipped water from a Styrofoam cup, glanced at the jury, then said to Wesley, “Kevin Orwells’ company, iTFIGURES, used Seacon and the Housette Corporations to manufacture components and casings for the Herbyte unit. Those were two of the dummy corporations that Jerry Bean set up for my brother. Really, iTFIGURES was sending all of its production budget to my brother.”
Wesley said, “The defense will want to know why you’re testifying against your brother.”
“I want him back in prison where he belongs. Simple as that.”
“It’s not really that simple. This has something to do with your wife, doesn’t it?” Wesley was taking the sting out of Janet’s expected cross-examination. A pre-emptive strike.
“She’s almost my ex-wife. I filed for divorce at the end of February, about two months ago. He begged me to marry Caroline, so I did. A few months later, he gets out of prison and I learn that they’re sleeping together.”
“And this leads to a physical fight between you and your brother, correct?”
“Yes, and a gun charge.”
“Were you charged with unlawful possession of a firearm?”
“Yes, and attempted murder. That charge got dropped. I still have the unlawful possession of a firearm charge. I don’t have a license to carry a .45, or any other gun.”
“And the federal prosecutor in Harrisburg has agreed to drop the gun charge against you in exchange for your truthful testimony in this case, correct?”
“Yes, sir, but I would have testified anyway because my brother deserves to spend a few more decades in prison. Once he crossed the line with my wife, he should have expected me to cross the line with him.”
Wesley asked, “Did the defendant trust anyone else with the complete details of his investment scheme?”
“Not that I know of. He’s not going to trust a lot of people. I don’t think he fully trusted me.”
“What makes you say that, Mr. Parker?”
Gerald looked at Dexter for the first time since taking the stand. “See the watch he’s wearing? It’s called a Cosierre. He had me order a pair of them a few months before he got out of prison, one for me and one for him.” Gerald held his wrist up for Wesley to see his Cosierre. “He wanted me to wear the dumb watch twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I just learned less than a week ago why he wanted me to wear it so much.”
“And why is that?” Wesley asked.
“Well, it looks like a formal timepiece, all the way down to the second hand. But I got some online information from the China watchmaker, and now I know that my brother can download specific data from the Internet.”
“What sort of data?”
“It’s something like OnStar in your car, but he can visit a Web site and pull up a map to show everywhere I’ve been, where I currently am, and can somehow make my watch stream audio to the Web site.”
Wesley’s mouth was slightly open but he did not realize it.
“Yeah, he could have been recording all of my business and I wouldn’t even know it. The Web site charges only $29 a month to retrieve 20 Gigabytes of audio and unlimited navigational mapping.”
CHAPTER 122
At the start of cross-examination, Janet got up from her chair at the Defense’s table but did not take her eyes off her tablet screen. While she studied the Web site that Gerald had mentioned, she said to him, “Mr. Parker, were you wearing your Cosierre wristwatch when United States Attorney Charles Bosch interviewed you in his office on the fifteenth of February this year?”
“Yes, I was. I had gotten used to the watch, and I like the way it looks.”
“So, you believe that the existence of an audio recording of that interview is possible?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“No further questions,” she said as she finally looked up at Gerald.
Judge Garrison looked at Wesley.
“No re-direct, Your Honor.”
The judge said, “The witness is excused.”
Wesley stood and said, “Side bar, Your Honor?”
Judge Garrison used a hand gesture to summon Wesley and Janet to the bench.
Wesley said, “Your Honor, it’s obvious that the defense has a recording that they will attempt to introduce into evidence. If so, I’d move for the recording to be authenticated under Rule 901. The government requests a copy and a transcription.”
“Ms. Ingram,” the judge said, “is there a recording?”
“Your Honor, I picked up a copy of the recording two days ago from SunHotLead.com’s Atlanta headquarters. I can assure you that Mr. Henderson would not want the jury to hear this recording, even after it is authenticated.”
“Brief me,” the judge said. “What is the nature of the recording?”
“Gerald Parker wastes no time admitting that he doesn’t know anything about my client’s involvement in the investment scam but says he will testify to anything Mr. Bosch wants if he gets a script. Gerald says the jury will believe his story because he and my client are brothers. Bosch appears to be mulling it over at first but soon agrees. Then, the two of them spend the next four hours working out scenarios, lies, and corroborations with evidence and other statements from different witnesses and investigators.”
The judge looked at Wesley. “I will adjourn the court and allow time for authentication.” He looked at Janet now. “How soon can you deliver an evidentiary copy of the recording to Mr. Henderson and me?”
Janet said, “Your Honor, I can email the recording to Mr. Henderson right now. He can forward the same to Mr. Bosch for authentication. I can email one to the court in just a moment.”
“Very well.” Then, the judge said to Wesley, “Mr. Henderson, if the content of the recording is anything like Ms. Ingram has just described, I will be prepared to dismiss all charges against the defendant, with prejudice, unless there is a legitimate authentication challenge.”
Wesley said, “If the recording exists and is authentic, I would be wise not to object to your ruling, Your Honor.”
***
Dexter and Janet were having lunch in her car, which was parked at a Wendy’s restaurant. Janet said, “Even the fight you had with your brother was staged?”
“Of course. I found out that the Feds were watching me from a cheesy pet care van. It didn’t take much work to learn that nobody in that neighborhood worked at Sylvia’s Pet Care. I needed them to think that Gerald had a real reason to hate me.”
CHAPTER 123
“I knew something was fake about the affair with his wife. The dialogue was…too rehearsey on her part.” Janet said.
Dexter looked at her. “Rehearsey? You’re making up words now?”
“Did he marry Caroline as part of your plan?”
Dexter looked under the top bun of his chicken sandwich. “Caroline agreed to it. She’s $2 million richer because of it. I’ll owe her another $2 million when this is all over.”
“Your brother was a good actor on the stand.”
“Not really. All he had to do was mostly tell the truth about me and what I did.”
“Aw, give him some credit.”
Dexter smiled. “Yeah, he almost fooled me. He looked like he enjoyed fucking me up in front of the jury.”
“He did not.” She laughed then stole one of his fries.
“I had to fuss and argue with my brother to go along with this. He did not want to testify against me.”
“The charges will likely be dismissed before five today or first thing in the morning.”
Dexter didn’t respond.
Janet assumed he was thinking about Dana and the child she was carrying. “I’ve been thinking, and I have an idea that may help you free
Dana and keep yourself alive.”
Dexter said, “Keep it to yourself. I don’t want to know your idea.”
She was staring at him now. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No. Your intentions are good, but if I use your idea and something happens to me, or even Dana, you would blame yourself forever. I can’t have that. I need you to live your life without unnecessary regrets.” He reached over and gently squeezed her right thigh. “Eat your food, baby. I prefer to keep the burden on my shoulders.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I love you. Did you know that?”
She traded stares with him then said, “I’ve seen evidence of that.”
“You’ve been perfect this entire trial. You did everything I asked you to do, and the things you did on your own were even better. I appreciate it all.”
“I’m glad I could help, and I thank you for choosing me as a lawyer and a friend.”
***
Tuesday morning at 11:09, Dexter stood on the steps of the federal courthouse amidst a throng of reporters, cameras, and microphones. He faced the SunHot Lead reporter and said, “Obviously I am pleased with the Court’s decision to dismiss all charges against me. I would like to thank the jurors for their service, the judge for his fairness, and United States Attorney Wesley Henderson for his integrity.”
The college students were still displaying signs of support by the hundreds, most of them disappointed the the money would now come to an end.
“My lawyers Dana Searing and Janet Ingram helped make this moment possible, as well as Stan Ferguson, the best investigator I’ve ever known.”
There were more than 400 supporters in the background with signs now. What a college kid wouldn’t do for $10 a day, let alone the thousand a day that Dexter was paying them.
Dexter said, “Elizabeth Mackie, I owe it all to you.” He smiled because only a few people in the world would know what he meant by that. “I’ll take a few of your questions now.” He pointed at the SunHot reporter first.
Reporter Jim Canady said, “SunHot first broke the story about the government’s misconduct early Monday morning, exactly twenty-four hours after you confirmed the identity of your brother’s voice in an audio recording. Are you responsible for the delivery of that anonymous recording to our Atlanta headquarters?”
Dexter said, “I most certainly am. I have a right to participate in my own defense, don’t I?”
Another reporter shouted, “Does that mean you actually conspired with your brother to entrap U.S. Attorney Charles Bosch?”
“Probably, although I take issue with the term entrap; that’s assuming you’re using it in its legal sense and not contextually out of its intended, grammatical meaning.” He smiled for the cameras, proud to be educated.
CHAPTER 124
At 9:07 pm, Dexter arrived by taxi at D’Amos, an upscale restaurant in Pasadena, California. Two large white men met him as he entered the place.
“Mr. Parker?” the larger of the two men said. “This way, please.”
Dexter followed them and they entered a restroom.
The smallest of the big men was 6 foot 5 and weighed 291 pounds; the other was 6 foot 10 at 313 pounds. Six-Five produced a detection wand and began sweeping Dexter for metal and electronic objects. He said, “Remove your watch and whatever you have in your pockets.”
Dexter unfastened his Cosierre then retrieved keys and a wallet from his pockets.
Six-Ten unfolded a black shopping bag and held it out for Dexter to drop the items inside.
Six-Five said, “Strip down to your underwear and put your clothes in the bag.”
Dexter followed the orders. He had been told to leave his cell phone, watch, and all weapons before making the trip to D’Amos. He’d worn the Cosierre anyway.
When Dexter was standing in nothing but silk boxer shorts and socks, Six-Five said, “Socks, too.”
Dexter complied and was swept again with the detection wand.
Six-Five said, “Step inside that last stall and you’ll find some clothes to put on.”
Two minutes later, Dexter exited the stall wearing a suit and shoes that were not all that bad, though the formal attire was nothing he would have chosen for himself. He said to the men, “All fucked up and ready to go,” damn near stealing Obama’s line.
Six-Ten led the way as they left the restroom. They went through the kitchen area, bypassed cooks, chefs, dishwashers, waiters, and waitresses. The manager was waiting near the back door. He took possession of the black shopping bag that contained Dexter’s belongings.
Seconds later, the three men were sitting in the backseat area of an SUV with tinted windows. Dexter was between the two big men. The driver was a white man about Dexter’s size, but he didn’t say a word.
***
Dana Searing was standing on the side of a service station in Bakersfield, California. The driver of a Bentley had left her there and had advised her to use her cell phone to call Dexter at a certain number. After calling Danielle for a ride home, she called to get in touch with Dexter while she waited.
“Yes, I’m Dana Searing and I’d like to speak with Dexter.” When he was on the phone Dana said, “Dexter, I’m fine. I’m at a gas station called Petro Island in Bakersfield. Danielle’s on her way.”
Dexter said, “Did anybody hurt you?”
“No.”
“How’s the baby? Did you get good doctor care?”
She hesitated, longer than she needed. “I’m okay. I’m fine. What about you?” Her eyes were getting watery.
He said, “Don’t worry about me. They gave me what I wanted; I have to stick to my end of the deal.”
CHAPTER 125
Dana was about to cry now. “Congratulations on your trial victory. I saw you talking with the press.” And then she was crying.
“Dana, what’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry I lied to you. I should have trusted you.”
“What did you lie about? Trusted me how?” he said.
“I’m not pregnant. I never was. I lied because I thought you would have chosen to keep the money rather than making sure I was safe.” She couldn’t stop crying.
Dexter wasn’t sure he should respond. Finally, he said, “Speaking of money, I transferred the balance of what I owed you to your offshore account. You’ve been paid in full now.”
“I don’t care about the money, Dexter. What’s going to happen to you?”
“Lots of things, I assume, and then I’ll get some much-needed rest.”
Dana cried uncontrollably.
When it sounded as if she was gathering herself, Dexter said, “I have to go now. They’re making me end this call.”
“Dexter, please. Don’t let them kill you. Please do something to help yourself. I’ll give them all the money you sent to my account. Anything, Dexter. I love you…” She realized that the call had been terminated. She crumpled to the ground and cried even harder.
***
Dexter was clearly in a bad mood now. How could Dana lie to him about being pregnant?
As the driver pulled off in the SUV, Dexter began rethinking his plan. Sandwiched between two hulking figures, he had little room with which to work. Six-Ten was on his left. A smashing elbow to his face could break a nose but a knockout was not likely. And then there would be two other men going for their weapons. Dexter knew that the odds would favor him only in a Hollywood thriller.
Fuck it. He decided he would just stick with his original plan. He said to the two big men, “Marquise Dyson was about to marry Celisa Richardson, the woman who was apparently tortured and murdered in Harrisburg. If one of you guys is responsible for killing Marquise, I’ll accept that as the fairness of war. I’m not a big fan of collateral damage, though.”
The driver looked at Dexter in the rearview mirror.
“If I knew which one of you cowards tortured and killed Celisa, I would punish that ass something terrible.”
Six-Ten turned his head and half smiled at Dexter. “You don’t really belie
ve I’m a coward, do you?”
Dexter turned his attention away from him and instead looked Six-Five square in the eyes. Dexter leaned forward and suddenly jerked his left elbow back and up with all the strength he could muster within the cramped space, violently bashing Six-Ten’s face, sputtering rich red blood in various directions. This wasn’t an attempt to knock him out; Dexter had intended to kill the man with one blow.
The driver slammed on brakes.
Without wasting a critical split second, Dexter swung his right hand around, gripped the side of Six-Ten’s head, and shoved it through the side window glass. Irregular-shaped cubes of glass bits bounced on the street pavement.
Six-Five threw a shoulder against Dexter and produced a handgun with speed that seemed to misrepresent his size.
The driver had stopped in the middle of a well-traveled street, and he, too, aimed a gun at the side of Dexter’s head.
Six-Five said to Dexter, “Pull him back inside the goddamn truck!”
Dexter kept applying pressure to Six-Ten’s head. “Why the fuck would I do that? He’s bleeding profusely. Give me another minute.” And he kept shoving the man’s head out the window, trying to snap his neck. The window and upper frame had caused severe lacerations and a major gash to Six-Ten’s head. The man was out cold.
Six-Five said to the driver, “Drive, goddammit! You can’t stop in the middle of the fucking street!” When the vehicle was moving again, he touched the back of Dexter’s neck with the barrel of the handgun. “Pull him back inside or I’ll give you what you’re looking for.”
Dexter said, “Pull the fucking trigger! Pull it, muthafucka! Shoot me and then explain to Doug how you blew more than $3 billion of his money. I’ll pull your fucking bestie back in after he bleeds to death.” Dexter kept his right hand planted on the side of Six-Ten’s head.