“At this point I am sure I could not get a search warrant. No D.A. would sign off on a warrant. There just isn't enough. But if I could, I am confident I would find something.
“That's about it. You've gotten a report that is a bit longer and more detailed than will appear in my hastily written report, but I thought you would like to know. As far as I can see, I am at a dead end to this investigation. I don't think the chief will allow me any more time on either case, but I have no problem speculating that Zelaya either killed Marty or had him killed. That's the sad part of this case.” A short but heavy moment of silence followed. Then O'Reilly stood up from his chair, reached his hand out towards John and said, “It has been nice meeting you, Mr. Trader, but I have to be back at the office.” John shook his hand, but said nothing. O'Reilly turned to go, and when he reached the doorway, he put his left hand on the door frame, shoulder high, turned his head back towards Trader and said, “Next time, John, be a bit more careful.”
CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
THE TEXT
“Dirtiest actions should be carried out by the most honest men.”
…….Mein Dagan
It was a couple of days later before John was able to pick up his mail at the post office on his way home.
He carried the box of mail into his house, took off his jacket, grabbed a Corona from the refrigerator, and sat on the sofa to filter through the mail. Weeks of flyers, unsolicited magazines, a few unpaid bills, and an envelope obviously with a personal card. The date stamped over the postage was Washington. He opened it and it was a card that merely said, “Missing your company.” At the bottom was written, “I haven't heard from you lately. Give me a call.” It was signed “S”. John got up, went to the counter where he left his phone. He looked at his phone and noticed he had a text. He recognized the number of Fordham. The text said, “Call me soon. We may need your help.”
John leaned back on the counter, paused for a moment and then quietly said to himself, “Oh shit!”
EPILOGUE
Omid Madani was released a short time later. He told me that he might try to join homeland security. He said the people he met in national security were so ignorant, inexperienced, and uneducated, not to mention not very bright, that he could out match them. He said, “I could rise quickly and do well in that environment.” Madani eventually did join the agency. I haven't heard from him, but I have been told that he has done very well and was rising rapidly in the service.
Raintree went to work in an office environment providing analysis and intelligence. He did get married and had two very healthy children.
Mac is still in Iran, providing intelligence on the significantly damaged economy and deteriorating political structure in the country. He sold Raintree's taxi cab.
Farah returned to the United States. She is currently teaching in a northeastern university and returns to Israel quite often. She is called upon by both agencies for special assignments occasionally.
John Trader returned to Washington and joined the Prince Georges County prosecutor's office just outside Washington D.C. He and Sarah have moved in together. When I spoke to Sarah last she said John was very pleased to be in Washington D.C. I asked her how she and John were getting along and she replied, “I own him.”
About the Author
“Only bad writers think that their work is really good.” --Anne Enright
Author's Note
Author's wife: Milton, can you hurry. I'll back the car out and meet you in the driveway.
The Author: Okay. I just have a few more pages to print out and I will be completely finished.
Author's wife: Hurry, I don't want to be late.
Author: It will just be another minute or two.
The author pressed the print button on his computer and the final four pages of his book printed quickly and landed on the printer tray. He turned off the computer, grabbed his coat, turned off the light and closed the door to his office.
Author: I'm on my way.
Contact the Author: [email protected]
Misdemeanor Trials Page 26