Bodies Out Back

by Nanisi Barrett D'Arnuk

  Michael nodded as she ate the dinner.

  * * * *

  Maggie waited as the phone rang. It took a moment for it to be answered.

  “Craig, this is Maggie. Cam’s been arrested in Magog, Quebec in a drug sting.”

  Here was a moment of silence.

  “Isn’t that Jean-René Gauchet’s jurisdiction?”

  “Yes.” Maggie sighed. “But the sting was by local or provincial police. Cam’s being held until the arraignment on Friday.”

  “Did you get to speak to Jean-René?” Craig asked.

  “No, Michael called me. I guess that they didn’t realize what had happened until Cam didn’t show up for dinner. She has been helping Jean-René find outlets. She’s not known there, so she thought it would be easier for her.”

  “And she’s using her felon cover,” Craig said.

  “Yes, she is, and she was caught holding twelve grams of coke in a drug house.”

  “That makes it harder.” Craig sighed.

  “We don’t want to blow her cover.”

  “No. When’s the bail hearing?”

  “Ontario doesn’t arraign them until the hearing, which will be Friday at two P.M. She’s being held without bond,” Maggie answered.

  “Can you get there before then?”

  “I can try. I believe there’s a small airport in Magog but I’ll have to check the connections.”

  “All right. Find out what’s happening and let me know. We don’t want her sentenced to prison again.”

  “No. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I’ll prepare a warrant for her arrest here in Washington. It should be something heavy enough to override whatever she’s charged with there.”

  “All right, I’ll be in touch.” They hung up.

  Damn, Maggie thought, what would be the best way to approach this? First I need to get there. I can decide what to do when I talk to Michael again.

  She went to her desk to look for her address book and flipped to the CIA listings. She read down until she came to travel office.

  This better be twenty-four hour.

  She waited until a voice answered, then she identified herself and told the booking agent the problem. After a few minutes she heard, “I can get you there this afternoon at three o’clock, but you’ll have to leave at ten this morning. You’ll have to connect through Burlington.”

  “All right, thanks.” She gave him the budget information to which it would be charged. The agent put her on hold.

  When he finally came back on the line he said, “I’ve sent an e-ticket to BWI. You’ll need to check in at the desk when you get there.” He read off the flight numbers and times and told her everything had been confirmed.

  “Thank you.”

  “Will you need lodging there?” he asked.

  “No. We have an agent there,” Maggie responded.

  Maggie hung up and immediately called Craig back. His line was busy so she left a message with her times and flight numbers, then closed the call.

  I’ve got to pack and get ready, Maggie thought. If I have to look like a CIA agent, I’d better wear a black suit. What other clothes do I need?

  She dragged a small suitcase out of her storage closet and opened it on her bed. She was putting the last shirt in it when her phone rang. It was Craig.

  “It’s good you got those flights,” he said. “That will give you time to talk to the judge and any other person you’ll need to consult. Did you book accommodations, too?”

  “No. I figured I’d stay at Cam’s house. Michael is there and I understand Cam has two guest rooms.”

  Craig laughed. “Wait until you see the warrant I prepared. She’s charged with several drug-related crimes, an FTA, and attempted murder of a government agent. I figured either you or I could have had a heart attack brought on by her antics so that wasn’t a hard stretch.”

  “Oh, those are perfect, Craig. I’m sure there’ll be no problem getting her out of there.”

  “Do you want me to fax it to your office or home?” he asked.

  “No, fax it here to my home. I’ve got to be at the airport early in the morning and probably won’t have time to stop at my office.”

  “Do you want to take Tarelli or Adreopolous with you? You’ll be transporting a very dangerous criminal.”

  “That’s a very good idea. I’ll call Pauly as soon as we hang up.”

  “Okay. Good luck and call me if you run into any problems. You can also have the judge call me if he has any questions.”

  “Thanks, Craig. I’ll let you know what happens.”

  Chapter 24

  Almost everyone in the police station could hear him, even though they were in a private visiting room. The father of the young man who had been arrested with the others was livid and screaming at his son.

  “I will not pay for a barrister to get you out of this. I’ve warned you hundreds of times that you’d better stop playing with those ridiculous drugs, but did you listen to me? No! You and your know-it-all friends knew a lot more than I did. Well, let them pay for a barrister. You were buying it for them too, weren’t you?”

  He continued without waiting for a response. “And you had the audacity to bring that nice young girl with you. What are her parents going to say?” He pushed on. “I’ve had enough. I have better things to do with my money. Your mother doesn’t deserve to give up things she enjoys just so you can be an asshole. We didn’t raise you like that. I will not see her give up the vacation she’s been planning for years to get you out of jail. No, you can rot in here as far as I’m concerned. I’ve given you everything for the last seventeen years and this is how you repay me? You’re on your own. I don’t know why you even thought you could call me. After this I don’t ever want to hear your name mentioned again. Call your mother if you ever get out because I fear she’ll still care, God bless her.”

  The older man rose and turned to leave.

  “Dad…” the boy started but his father stopped and turned back.

  “I don’t want to hear that word ever again. No. Not until you can control your own life.” He turned back and continued to walk away.

  After a moment, a guard walked up to escort the boy back to his cell. The boy rose reluctantly, tears streaming down his face, no matter how hard he tried to stop them.

  * * * *

  Janelle and her parents sat in another small private room adjacent to the visitors’ room with their barrister. They could hear everything that was being said next door.

  “The poor boy,” Ingrid Reynolds said.

  “You could be in a similar situation, Janelle,” Clark Reynolds told his daughter.

  “He’ll be turned over to Juvenile House and a barrister will work with him,” Janelle’s barrister informed them. “But we have to worry about this young lady. I’m fairly sure I can get her released to you for the duration and I’ll suggest some community service for her to do. I’m sure that will work. There were no drugs in her possession. We can say it was the peer influence that brought her there. Janelle, would you mind doing community service for a while?”

  “Oh, no! Not if it gets me out of this mess. I’m so very sorry I went there.”

  “Why did you go?” the barrister asked.

  “It seemed like fun. I’ve never met any drug dealers before,” was Janelle’s answer.

  “Have you ever met a murderer?” her father asked. When Janelle shook her head, he continued, “Would you like to? I’m sure there are some in this city.”

  “No, Dad, I wouldn’t want to. This is scary enough.”

  “Then I hope you’ve learned something from this experience.”

  Janelle nodded and put her head down to her chest.

  “Now, tell me what the patrol officers did when they brought you in,” the barrister, Mrs. Peterson, started. “If they did anything to you they shouldn’t have, that could cut your sentence. Tell me exactly what happened to you today, starting when the police came to arrest everyone.”

&n
bsp; Janelle looked at her mother, and then started relating what had happened that day.

  An hour later, they all knew what Mrs. Peterson was going to tell the judge.

  “Now, if you have the money, we can get her bonded out until the arraignment.”

  * * * *

  At breakfast the next morning, Cam sat with Laurie and Grace. It was several minutes before anyone said anything besides Good morning. Finally, as they sat over their breakfast and coffee, Grace spoke. “I have some magazines that I’m finished with if you’d like them.”

  “Oh, yes. I’d love one,” Laurie said as she sat up. “I was so bored last night. All I did was go over what my barrister told me. My father or my stepfather wouldn’t post bond, so I guess I’m here until Friday.” She looked at Cam. “I met with the barrister last night. She’s really smart.”

  “That’s good,” was all Cam said.

  “Did you get to meet with yours?”

  Cam shook her head. “I haven’t heard from anyone. I hope my friend got my message. Hopefully I’ll hear something today. I don’t want to go into the trial tomorrow not knowing what’s happening. I also don’t want to go in without a barrister. Maybe I should ask for a public defender.”

  A new jailor walked into the block.

  “How’s it going, Gracie?” she asked.

  “As well as can be expected,” Grace answered.

  “At least you have a couple friends for a few days,” the jailor continued. Then she turned to Cam and Laurie. “Which of you is Andrews?” she asked.

  When Cam said she was, the new jailor handed her an envelope and a pack of cigarettes.

  Cam opened the envelope quickly. It was a plain white paper that read: Things are progressing. Do not worry. M.

  That’s all? Things are progressing? What things? Come on Michael, give me more than that.

  “Is that from your barrister?” Laurie asked.

  “No. It’s from my friend. I have no idea what she means. She said not to worry. How can I not worry?” Cam slammed her hand down on the table. A bit of the coffee in their cups splashed onto the table.

  “Whoa,” Grace exclaimed in surprise. “Don’t break the table.”

  “Sorry,” mumbled Cam. “I don’t like being kept in the dark. Being in jail makes me nervous.”

  “I know what you mean,” Grace said.

  “What do we do here all day?” Laurie asked.

  Grace shook her head. “There’s not much happening here. We can go out in the yard for a couple hours.”

  “Maybe that’s what I need: some fresh air.” Cam reached for her coffee cup and drained it.

  Laurie reached out and put her hand atop Cam’s. “Maybe you shouldn’t worry if your friend told you not to. She must know what’s happening. Maybe they have a barrister coming in for you tomorrow.”

  “God, I hope so,” Cam said with a sigh. “This is why I got out of the States. I hope none of that follows me.” She looked around for the jailor. When she saw her, she held up a cigarette with a questioning look on her face.

  The jailor nodded and walked over with her lighter and lit Cam’s cigarette.

  “Were you in trouble in the States?” Laurie asked.

  “Not that I know of, but you can never tell.” Cam sat forward and took a deep drag on her cigarette. She braced her elbows on her knees.

  “What will you do?” Laurie asked. She was quite concerned.

  “I’m not sure. I wish I knew what was happening.”

  About an hour later another jailor came into the cell block.

  “Cameron Andrews, you have a visitor,” he announced.

  “Finally!” Cam exclaimed as she stood up. The jailor led her out to the visitor’s room. As they walked in, Cam looked around. There was only one man in there, who stood when she entered. He held his hand out as she approached.

  “Cameron Andrews? Jason Summer,” he introduced himself.

  “Summer? Only one?” Cam grinned as they both sat down at one of the small tables.

  “Yes, only one. Up here, that’s all we get.” He smiled back at her. “I’ve been paid to represent you tomorrow,” he said.

  “By whom?” Cam asked. Michael? Jean-René? Maggie? Whom?

  “Well, to tell you the truth, Cameron…May I call you Cameron?”

  Cam nodded quickly and he continued. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know. A messenger delivered at letter with a nice cashier’s check to my office last night. I’ve been studying your case ever since.”

  “And the letter wasn’t signed?”

  Jason shook his head and said simply “No.”

  Cam pounded her fist on the table. She immediately felt the guard walk up behind her.

  “It’s okay,” she said, waving her hand. “I’m not going to hurt anyone.”

  She pulled the pack of cigarettes out of her pocket. “Got a light?” she asked. Jason shook his head, so she turned around and looked at the guard. “Light?” she asked, holding up the cigarette. He stepped forward and flicked his lighter for her.

  “Thanks.” After taking a long puff, she turned back to Jason.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m very confused by what’s happening.”

  “You’re charged with possession of twelve grams of cocaine,” he said, “and with your record, it doesn’t look very good. I know you pleaded ‘not guilty,’ but the drugs were in your purse. I would suggest you throw yourself on the mercy of the court.”

  “The mercy of the court?” Cam exclaimed. “I’ve never known a court to be merciful.”

  Jason chuckled. “I know it feels that way, but judges can be kind,” he said.

  “Kindness about drug possession? Who do you know who’s kind about that?”

  “We can always plead out for a lesser sentence, Cameron.” He tapped his pen, nervously on the tabletop.

  “I don’t have anything to plead with,” she said with a long sigh.

  “Let’s talk and see what we do have,” he said.

  Damn, do I play this as a convicted felon or come out and tell him the truth? No, if Jean-René, or whomever paid him wanted him to know, they would have told him. I guess I have to play this out. But how do I want to play it? As the tough butch that I’ve always been in these situations? Well, kid, get it together and play your part.

  “All right, Jason,” she said, “what do you propose?”

  They sat and talked for a half hour. When Cam shook his hand and they stood up to leave, she was even more confused as she had been an hour earlier.

  * * * *

  When she returned to the cell block, the jailor directed her out the back door where Laurie and Grace were in the yard, sitting in the sun.

  “Cameron!” Laurie exclaimed when she saw her come out into the yard. “What happened? Was it your friend?”

  “No. I have a barrister. I don’t know what good he’s going to do. He wants me to plead guilty and he’ll get my sentence reduced.”

  “Doesn’t that sound good? I’m going to plead guilty, too,” Laurie told her.

  “Yes, but this is only your first offense.”

  “Isn’t this only your second?” Laurie asked.

  “I don’t remember anymore.” Cam sighed.

  Laurie threw her arms around Cam’s neck. “Don’t be sad,” she whispered. “We’ll get through this.”

  “Well, you will.”

  “You will, too,” Laurie said, hoping to encourage Cam. “Gracie, tell Cam it will be all right.”

  Grace looked at Cam. “It’ll be fine,” she said without conviction. “What do you think’s gonna happen?”

  “I’ll probably get twice what everyone else gets.”

  Chapter 25

  Maggie stepped off the plane at the Magog International Airport on Thursday afternoon with her suitcase in her hand. It was small enough that she was able to carry it onboard. Magog Airport was a small airport without room for commercial jets, but it connected with other US and Canadian airports, thus, international. She i
mmediately saw Michael waiting for her. Michael met her as soon as she stepped through the gate.

  “Bon Jour, Maggie. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Hopefully we can get this squared away today.”

  Michael looked at her watch. “We have time if you want to get something to eat,” Michael suggested.

  “A cup of coffee would be great,” Maggie told her with a smile. “I’m not sure I can eat anything until we get this straightened out.”

  “All right. There’s a very nice coffee shop a few blocks from here.”

  “Anywhere. I haven’t stopped since I got your call last night. I’ve only had three hours sleep.”

  “Then we will get the preliminaries taken care of and you can come back to Cam’s house and rest. A good night’s sleep will make tomorrow much better.” Michael led the way to her car. Her motorcycle didn’t seem appropriate for this week and Cam’s car had been impounded with the other cars at Preston’s house.

  “I expected to ride your cycle,” Maggie said with a big smile as she got into the full-sized rental.

  “It only holds two and if we can spring Cam, we have to take her, too. Her car was impounded at the house where she was arrested.”

  “I must tell you then that this is a nice, comfortable surprise.”

  Michael steered the car the two blocks and pulled into a parking space in front of the coffee shop.

  “One of the best coffee shops around,” Michael declared.

  “Wonderful, as long as it will keep me awake.” Maggie smiled at Michael.

  They entered the coffee shop and sat down at a small table.

  A waitress walked up to them.

  “Cappuccino, latte, mocha, or plain coffee?” Michael asked Maggie.

  “Cappuccino sounds great,” Maggie said.

  “Deux tasses de café Cappuccino, s’il vous plait,” Michael ordered.

  “Vous voulez autre chose?”

  “Do you want anything else?” Michael translated for Maggie. When Maggie shook her head, she told the waitress “Non, merci.”

  The waitress nodded and walked away.

  “I can’t wait to see Cam’s new house,” Maggie admitted. “I’m so happy she bought herself something.”