Love Story: In The Cloud

by Ken Renshaw

  The next morning, as I went down for breakfast, Buster asked whether I could stay at the ranch for a couple of hours. He said someone was coming about ten o'clock to brief me about Mr. S.

  Elizabeth volunteered to go to court to be available for jury questions.

  I happily agreed to delay going to court and went back to bed.

  At breakfast, Tina said, "Do you have the letter predicting the outcome of the trial that Steve sent you? You said you were not going to open it before the trial. Can't you open it now?"

  I thought for a minute and then said, "I don't see why not. Seeing the letter can't change anything I did or might do in the trial." I went upstairs and got the unopened letter from my bag.

  I came back to the table and theatrically paused, opening the letter and holding it to my forehead. I started to say, "I predict this letter says...."

  Tina blurted, "Open the damn thing!"

  I opened it and read, "I saw a pick."

  I handed the letter to Tina.

  "What does that mean, 'a pick'" Tina demanded.

  "It means Steve foretold us winning the case."

  Tina bounced up and down a shouted, "Whoopee!"

  When I hadn't joined in, Tina scolded, "After convincing the jury of the validity of Steve's abilities, do I sense disbelief? You hypocrite!"

  "Yippee!" I shouted. Tina and I danced around hugging each other.

  "What's going on here?" Sofia asked as she ran out from the kitchen. "Everything OK? Tina, Is this man bothering you?"

  "We won! Dave Willard won the case," Answered Tina.

  "The jury is back so soon?"

  "No, we were celebrating Steve's prediction."

  Sofia didn't respond. I heard the front door screen bang and looked to see Buster come in.

  "Dave, let's take a ride to the airstrip. We have a visitor coming in. Excuse us ladies?'

  As we drove to the airstrip, Buster listened to his iPod and didn't volunteer any information on the visitor.

  Soon after we arrived at the strip, we heard an airplane in the distance. When it circled over the strip to check the windsock, I noticed it was not the twin-engine Cessna that I and the other visitors had flown in on. It was a black, high winged, twin turbine jet. When it taxied up to us I saw, a company logo painted on the side and words that said, California Energy Transmission. I was puzzled until it stopped, the door opened, and I saw Mr. Burton get out. He was wearing a black suit, his reflecting aviator sunglasses, and his professional inscrutable expression.

  He shook my hand and acknowledged Buster with a nod.

  He said mechanically, "Mr. Willard, we trust you have had a pleasant and successful stay and that the arrangements were convenient."

  "Yes, to all three questions." I replied.

  "The FBI has our Mr. S in custody. On Wednesday night, the man you know as Cody was awakened by the peripheral alarm system we installed at the decoy house. He watched on the surveillance camera as Mr. S proceeded to open the door of the black sedan. He then opened the hood and installed three bombs in the car, one in the vicinity of the driver’s position. The bomb was rigged to go off when the car was started.

  "Cody and two other men who work for me took Mr. S. into custody before he reached his white van parked hidden in the woods. They held him until the FBI arrived from the Sacramento office and took him to Sacramento detention facilities.

  "The sedan you were using and the white van are in the custody of the FBI.

  "Mr. S is being held and will be tried in Federal Court for his activity here and other places. All evidence points to him working alone. You need not worry about him anymore.

  "With your permission, and the knowledge of Dan, your associate at CrystalSky, we placed your sailplane under surveillance. Surveillance video revealed that Mr. S entered your sailplane trailer and placed an explosive device within the sailplane. He also altered your parachute so that the ripcord wouldn't function if you bailed out."

  "Does the FBI have my sailplane in their big evidence locker with the white van and black sedan?"

  "No, the FBI removed all the explosive devices. An FAA aircraft inspector has completely gone over your airplane to assure its safety and airworthiness. The parachute was examined at the FBI laboratories and then repacked at a certified FAA facility. It was placed back in your sailplane in its original location.

  "We also had your mobile home under surveillance during the time your sailplane trailer was being monitored. Neither Mr. S. or any other person has entered your mobile home."

  "Is the mobile home bugged now?" I asked.

  "All of our surveillance devices have been removed," he replied. "Since we did not enter inside the structure, we did not determine if other surveillance devices had been placed there. You might wish to make your own inspection.

  "Any other questions?" Burton asked mechanically.

  "No."

  "Then, we thank you for your cooperation and indulgence in our assignment," Burton said as he shook my hand, nodded to Buster, and climbed back into his airplane.

  "I'm glad he is on our side," I confided to Buster as the airplane taxied away.

  Buster silently stood as though at attention, like a soldier in a military ceremony, until the airplane took off and was on it's way.

  In the Jeep on the way back to the lodge, Buster confided that he had only met Burton in person three times, that this must have been an important job to get his attention.

  I said, "I think Vince Colson thinks that getting these ideas of space-time out into the scientific community is important."

  As we drove up to the lodge, Tina and Sofia were engaged in karate exercises on the lawn. I said to Buster, "Tina looks like a full–fledged karate expert. How did that happen in a few days?"

  "Sofia has a black belt, sometimes teaches at an academy, and often works intensively with actors preparing for a movie role. She says Tina is a natural. I'd be careful to not get her really mad from now on. If you need to have an argument, do it over the telephone."

  "I'll get my briefcase, and we can go into town to wait for the verdict."

  "It's now OK for you to drive yourself in the SUV. Burton has called off the bodyguard detail. But, I'd like to go with you. After sitting through the trial, I am eager to see how it turned out."

  In the courthouse, I joined Elizabeth and the Sodastroms in a conference room.

  Ed Sodastrom asked meekly, "If we win the trial, we will get some money, right?"

  "Yes, but the case might get appealed, and that could take years before you get paid."

  "Well, Ann and I have been talking. We don't really need money. We would like to create some sort of memorial or scholarship fund for the children of Rocky Butte."

  "That's a wonderful, loving idea! Our law firm will keep you posted on how the appeals process is progressing. When we get closer to a final judgment, please contact me personally and I will be happy to set up any trusts or take care of any agreements that are necessary, pro bono...at no charge to you.

  "You and Ann might as well go wait at home–we have no idea how long the jury will be out. You are only a few minutes away; we can call you when the jury comes back. Be ready to come on a moments notice. Elizabeth will call you if the jury doesn't reach a verdict today and goes home for the night."

  "Thank you," said Ann. "I think Ed and I need some rest." They left, not walking as slowly and looking so forlorn as they did at the start of the trial.

  I thought to myself, I have really changed–caring about clients. I must be becoming human.

  There was a knock on the door, I answered and saw Buster as I stepped outside.

  Buster grinned, "Sofia called and asked whether the girls could come into town and have lunch with us."

  "It's a great idea. I think the bailiff is taking the jury to Bob's Cafe so we can't go there. I'm not sure I trust the food at the other restaurant. There is also the Tasty Freeze."

  Buster frowned so I added, "Tell them to bring a pi
cnic lunch and we can have it in Pioneer Park here in Courthouse Square. I'll ask Elizabeth to join us. The bailiff showed me a way to out the back trough the new building that we can use to avoid the media."

  Buster listened to music, and Elizabeth and I read for a while until my cell phone rang. I answered and said, "Thank you."

  "The jury is going to lunch."

  Elizabeth scurried from the room and said, "I'm going to read the jury. I'll catch up with you at the park."

  "No tampering," I warned and Elizabeth simply stared coldly at me.

  Buster and I snuck out the back of the county building. At the park we saw Tina and Sofia sitting at a table, with five plates and a picnic laid out, having a glass of wine. They were both again wearing gingham dresses with bows in the back: Sofia had come with a whole trunk of costumes from movies.

  Buster joked, "You girls could get arrested for drinking in a public park."

  They looked at me with a puzzled expression and I said, "It's OK, I know the Sheriff."

  Tina faked a guilty expression and hid her glass under the table and then said, "We don't want to run afoul of the Rocky Butte law. Georgia, put the wine bottle back in the paper sack. We will pass it around, taking turns."

  Elizabeth walked up and said, "The jury is in a good mood. Everybody's smiling. They have agreed on something. I sensed they might be thinking about the penalty now."

  Tina made a motion like she was going to pass the wine bottle in the sack to Elizabeth and then stopped and said, "No we will use wine glasses, risk it!"

  As we were eating, I asked Buster, "What are you going to do next?"

  "The ranch is rented until the end of the next week so we will stay here and do some day hiking. I've got to get back in shape after sitting in a courtroom all week. You are welcome to stay with or without our supervision. Then, we will drive back to LA. Our agent called and said we both have a gig on a movie in the Colorado Mountains for most of September. How about you?"

  "Does that SUV we have been using have to get back to LA?"

  Buster replied, "Yes, it is rented from a movie prop house. No hurry in getting it back, it is rented for the month."

  "Tina and I decided we would like to drive back through the gold country. Neither of us has ever been there. Maybe we will go through Yosemite. Then, we will stop at CrystalSky for a few days and I'll see whether my sailplane still works."

  My cell phone rang. It was the court clerk saying the jury was back from lunch and was continuing deliberation.

  "When will they come back with a verdict?" Tina asked.

  Elizabeth volunteered, "It's Friday afternoon. Some of the jurors play on the Rocky Butte Claim Jumpers' softball team. It has an important league game tomorrow morning. There will be a verdict today."

  Tina and Sofia said they were going to tour the Pioneer Museum and then see the sights of town.

  Elizabeth, Buster, and I snuck back to the secret passage into the courthouse. In the conference room, Buster sat in one of the antique captains chairs, rocked back, put in his ear buds, pushed his Stetson down over his face and had a nap. Elizabeth and I read. At four o'clock, the clerk called and said she had seen the bailiff come out of the jury room and get some of the formal papers that the jury had to fill out. They would have a verdict soon.

  Inside the courtroom, tension filled the air. All the spectator seats were filled. Reporters had their laptops open and were talking to each other.

  The Sodastroms joined us in the courtroom and soon Judge Cartright appeared and banged his gavel. Hush fell over the court.

  The jurors filed in. Nobody smiled.

  Judge Cartright asked, "Has the jury elected a foreman?"

  "Yes, sir," Said juror number eight.

  "Have you reached a verdict?"

  "Yes sir," said the foreman as he handed a piece of paper to the bailiff.

  The Judge put on his eyeglasses and read the slip of paper. He paused with a look that could have betrayed disagreement, and handed the paper back to the bailiff.

  "Read the verdict," commanded the judge.

  The foreman paused and glanced at the other jurors. They all looked timid or almost embarrassed.

  "We find in favor of the plaintiff."

  Noise filled the courtroom.

  Judge Cartright stood and banged his gavel and called, "Order! Or, I will clear this court."

  We all held our breath.

  The jury foreman said in a loud voice, "We award the plaintiff twenty–million dollars."

  Chaos erupted in the court, Reporters were pushing to leave the courtroom.

  Judge Cartright again stood and banged his gavel and called, "Order! Order!"

  As the judged was thanking the jury, I heard a gasp and tuned around to see Ed catching Ann.

  "I'm OK." she said. "My knees just went weak."

  The gavel banged. "This court is adjourned."

  Elizabeth gave me a hug as I stood there stunned, and cried, "We did it boss!"

  Ed and Ann's Sodastrom cried as they shook our hands and said, "Thank you! Thank you!"

  Normal color had returned to Ed and Ann's faces for the first time since I had known them. I tried to say goodbye to opposing counsel, Dean Buttress, but he was gone.

  I motioned to the bailiff to come over. I said, "Will you take the Sodastroms out the back entrance of the county facility to avoid the media?"

  He agreed.

  Ann gave Elizabeth and me a tearful hug. "Thank you!' she reiterated as Ed led her off following the bailiff.

  Elizabeth and I gathered up our briefcases. Buster led the way, nudging reporters out of the way as we left the courthouse. On the steps, several reporters, and two TV crews pushed microphones in front of us. "Mr. Willard: Carol Tipton from NBC: Congratulations! Do you have any comment on the verdict?"

  "I congratulate the jury on reaching a fair verdict. No amount of money will bring Lucy back, end the Sodastrom's grief, or restore their health.

  "This verdict has created one lasting memorial to Lucy: this verdict will put all California counties and sheriffs on notice that it is negligent to ignore any reasonable person who claims to have knowledge of where a missing person is, even if they claim to have psychic powers."

  "Thank you," said Carol.

  As we continued down the steps, dodging reporters and microphones, Elizabeth quipped, "A press conference after a verdict already: this is more like it."