by Denise Irwin
“I told you her name is Rebecca. She’s Rebecca Grossman. I didn’t want to chain her to that wall, but she begged me to.”
“Is that right? Did she also beg you to rape and sodomize her?”
“Yes sir, she did.”
“That’s interesting. When an ambulance took Agent Henson to the hospital, the doctors reported that someone had raped her. The doctors also were able to match your DNA sample to the sample collected by the police in your basement using your dried semen.”
“I told you, she asked for it.”
“Mr. Grossman, what exactly did Agent Henson ask for?”
“Rebecca liked rough sex. She begged me to fuck her hard.”
Frankel turned to the jury. “Members of the jury, I have finished my questions for Mr. Grossman. If anyone needs clarification of his responses, now’s the time.”
When no one raised a hand, Frankel asked the Deputy Marshals to please remove the defendant from the jury room.
“I interviewed two witnesses in this case; however, if you would like to request other witnesses, I can grant that. I have Investigator Marksman on standby as well as Director Shuman.”
No one in the jury raised a hand.
Chapter Sixteen
November 2001
It was late in the afternoon, when the surgeon came into the waiting room to speak with Randy. “Mr. Jordan?”
Randy jumped up from the chair, “Yes sir, I’m Randy Jordan. How’s my wife?”
“The surgery went fairly well. She’s in recovery now. It’s likely we won’t know for several days about the damage to her heart.”
“Can I see her?”
“I think since she’s still in recovery, it might be better to see her tomorrow when she moves to ICU. Mr. Jordan, she’s still listed as critical and you look at though you can use some rest. She’s been through a lot and will need all the support you can give her to recover.”
Randy sat back down when the doctor left. Leona sat next to him. “Randy, come home with me tonight. I just can’t let you home into that empty house.”
“Thanks Lee, but I want to be there if the phone rings.”
“Sit tight a minute. I’m gonna give the nurse’s station my numbers, and then I’m taking you home.”
Frankel called Sam, “Hey Sam, wanna meet for a beer at the pub?”
“Sure, when?”
“I’m on my way.”
“Adam, I’ll see you there.”
Antonio LoVerde called the Marshal’s office and requested to see his client.
“Mr. LoVerde, are you still in that fleabag?”
“Yes, how soon can you get here?”
“We’ll send a car for you in fifteen minutes.”
Randy climbed into Leona’s car. He gave in to staying at her house for the night. Going into an empty house would rip his heart out.
“Randy, I’m gonna go by your house for fresh clothes. You’re gonna wait in the car. What do you want me to put together?”
“Lee, I don’t care, put together what you think is best.”
Sam called Leona before leaving for the pub to meet Frankel. Once again, all her numbers went straight to voice mail. If, when he returned to his room after meeting Frankel, her voice mail picked up, he had no choice, but to call Nancy.
On a dark parking lot, the Deputy Marshals ushered LoVerde into the car containing Bruce Grossman. Grossman spit bullets from his eyes, “I guess you’re here to ask me about today’s testimony, aren’t you?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“Your fucking ass is safe for another night. Get out of this car and go back under the rock you crawled out of.”
LoVerde left the car and the Deputies drove him back to the motel. At least tonight, he didn’t need to meet with Sal; he just needed to pass a message that the songbird hadn’t sung.
Sam was sitting at a table when Adam walked in. Adam asked him, “Did you order a drink yet?”
“I just walked in the door.”
After the waitress took their drink orders and laid menus on the table, Sam asked, “How’d it go today?”
“I think it went okay. I never know until the vote comes in. It was a long day. The jurors will start deliberation around 9:30, so we’ll see what they come up with.”
“I’d like to stick around if you need me, but I might have one hitch.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve been calling my wife all day and I got as far as her voice mail. That’s not like Leona. I figure I’ll call her when I get in this evening. If she doesn’t answer, I gotta run down to Baltimore and see what’s going on.”
Frankel’s face turned serious, “Do you think something’s happened to her?”
“I don’t know, but as soon as I do, I’ll give you a call.”
“Sam this might not be an appropriate question to ask at the moment, but can you tell me a little about Agent Henson?”
Sam chuckled, “Did my girl put a sparkle in your eye?”
Adam blushed. “I can’t deny that.”
Sam chuckled again, “I can tell you this, if I’d met her before I met Leona, I would have tried to get her attention.”
Leona managed to find some clean clothes for Randy. After shoving them into a backpack she found in the closet, she made one stop on the way to her house for takeout Chinese food. Leona saw through the shop window that Randy was sitting very still, staring off into space. She paid for the food, and then drove to her house.
“Randy, I need to feed and walk Bailey. You march up those steps and take a shower.”
When Leona and Bailey returned to the house, she found Randy dressed in fresh clothes sitting on her sofa crying. Without saying anything to him, she poured him a scotch, knowing that he wouldn’t eat a bite until he let loose his emotions. She stepped out of the living room to give him some privacy. She took her cell phone out into her small back yard to call Sam.
Leona had turned her cell phone off in the hospital, so when she turned it on she found four messages from her husband. Without listening to the messages, she called his cell phone immediately.
When Sam’s phone rang, he excused himself to Adam, “It’s Leona, give me a minute.”
“Hey woman, where have you been?”
“Sam, Shelly was in a horrible automobile accident last night.” Leona stopped talking, the day’s stress rushed out of her in sobs.
“Leona, are you there?”
She managed to choke out a “Yes. Someone ran a red light and t-boned her on the driver’s side. A rib punctured her heart and she lost the baby. I spent all day at the hospital with Randy. I brought him home to stay here tonight.”
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. She and I had dinner together last night and she was hit on the way home.”
“Do you want me to come home?”
“Of course I do, but finish what you’re working on. I’m going to take Randy back to the hospital in the morning. I can’t find a good reason for you to come home other than the fact that I miss you.”
“It’s very possible I could be on my way home tomorrow night.”
“Cassie too?”
“Yes ma’am, Cassie too.”
“How is she doing?”
“From what I hear, she’s whipping her protective Deputy Marshal’s ass in both gin rummy and chess.”
“Do you want me to call Sue?”
“Let me make sure the testimonies are done before we call.”
“Okay. Sam, be safe.”
“I promise.”
Adam looked at Sam’s worried face. “Is everything okay at home?”
“My wife’s best friend was in a horrible auto accident. One of Shelly’s ribs punctured her heart. She also lost the baby she was carrying.”
“Do you wanna leave?”
“If I showed up now, she’d get pissed. She’s playing mother to Shelly’s husband. She wants me to stay and finish the job. If we finish tomorrow, I’ll duck out early.”
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br /> “It’s my guess that we’ll be done by lunch.”
“When does Cassie head out?”
“As soon as the jury votes, a couple of Deputies will drive her to the safehouse you set up.”
Sam called the casino and asked if Englar wanted to join him for dinner. He caught the casino owner up on where the case stood at the time.
“Sam, why wasn’t I called to testify if the money laundering took place in my casino?”
“It’s just a guess on my part, but you wouldn’t have been able to put forth the hard evidence that the Grand Jury needs to indict. If the state indicts tomorrow, I’m sure both of us will be on the witness lists for the criminal cases. The federal criminal case is scheduled for November 27.”
“I take it you’ll be back for the trial?”
“I sure will. I’ll be here for both cases.”
“I’ll leave the porch light on.”
Sam called Sue Sampson’s house from his hotel room later than evening. Sue giggled when she answered the phone. Sam told her, “I love it when a woman answers the phone giggling.”
“Sam, it’s this husband of mine standing here acting like a fool, who’s making me giggle.” Sue turned away from the phone and Sam heard her tell her husband to go away. “Okay, you have my full attention. How’s it going?”
“It’s good. We might be shipping packages home tomorrow.”
“Is that right? Will your packages be delivered together?”
“Hell no, your package will be delivered special delivery, while mine is third class.”
“Okay, we’ll sign for our special delivery package when it arrives.”
Frankel was standing outside the jury room when Sam arrived the following morning. “Good morning. I see you’re planning to stick around for the jury’s vote?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to see if they vote for indictment.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
“Is Schuman still around?”
“No, since the jurors didn’t need to hear his testimony, I let him off the hook last night.”
As Frankel walked into the jury chamber, he hoped someone was planning to take Schuman to the wall. “Okay folks, it’s now show time. There are a few rules for deliberation. First, every Juror has a right to speak. Second, a consensus is not required; a majority will be sufficient either way. Third, you are not convicting the defendant. Your role is to analyze and discuss the case to determine if I’ve given you enough evidence to rule on the indictment. Are there any questions?”
The jurors shook their heads, no. “Okay then, I’ll take my leave. I’ll be right down the hall if you need me. Juror One, will you please lead the discussion and count the votes?”
“Yes sir.”
Juror One took the lead, “Shall we go through the charges in the order they were presented?” When the other jurors nodded their heads, she moved on. “The first charge was for firearm violations. Does anyone have anything to say regarding the charge?”
When no one raised a hand, Juror One asked her fellow jurors, “Do we want to vote on this charge now or go through the other two charges first.”
Juror Ten raised his hand, “I’m ready to vote now, but it’s not my call.”
Several jurors chimed in they were ready to cast their votes now for the firearms violation. Juror One handed out the ballots. As she collected them, she looked at each one intending to create two piles; one for indictment and one not to indict. All sixteen votes were for indictment, so there was only one pile.
“It seems we have a consensus for indictment on the first charge. Does anyone wish to discuss the second charge which is Rape?”
Juror Eight raised her hand, “I’m ready to vote.”
Juror One looked around the room and saw that jurors nod in agreement with Juror Eight. She passed out the ballots. When she collected the ballots, once again there were sixteen votes for indictment. “We’re in consensus for indictment on the rape charge. That brings us to the charge of Impersonating a Law Enforcement Official.”
Juror One heard Juror Eight mumble, “I’d like to be sitting on the jury for Schuman.” Two other jurors agreed with Juror Eight. Juror One shushed them, “We are to remain focused on the charges against Bruce Grossman.” She then handed out the ballots. When she collected them, she looked up and smiled, “It looks like we’re done. I have sixteen ballots for indictment. I’ll go collect Mr. Frankel.”
When Frankel returned with Juror One, he thanked the jurors, “Thank you for serving as jury members on this case. If there aren’t any questions, lunch is waiting in the jury chamber room.”
Juror One asked, “Can you join us for lunch?”
“No, that’s pretty much taboo. I’m going to check the judge’s calendar for a trial date. Please enjoy your lunch.”
Frankel called the Clerk’s Office. “Amelia, can you check Judge Krank’s schedule? I’m hoping that we can schedule Grossman’s case for the first week in December.”
“Counselor how many days do you need?
“I’m gonna say no more than four days.”
“Adam, the first week is open. I’ll reserve from Monday, December 3, through Thursday, December 7.
“Thank you.”
Frankel’s next call was to Smyth. “Phil, we’re all set for criminal trial, the week of December 3.”
Smyth laughed, “That’s great, and we’ll run back to back trials. Congratulations on your indictment. Got time for a drink?”
“I need to make a couple of calls first. I’ll give you a call as soon as I’m ready to pack up.”
“Before you go, ask Sam to join us.”
“I think he’s anxious to get home, but I’ll ask.”
Before calling Marksman, Adam called the US Marshal’s Office to let them know they could start planning the route for transporting Agent Henson back to the safehouse Investigator Marksman had set up. Before he hung up the phone, “Can I see Agent Henson before she leaves?”
“You sure can. I’ll have a car pick you up. She’s our package until we turn her over to the next team.”
“I’m at the courthouse, where I’ve got make one last phone call while you send that car.”
His last call was to Marksman. When Sam answered the phone, Frankel told him, “Sam, the State got its indictment. We go to trial the first week in December. The Deputies are bringing Cassie to the courthouse, so I can thank her, and you know, say goodbye. After that I’m meeting Smyth at the pub, please come join us.”
Sam laughed into the phone, “Counselor, did you just say you needed to say goodbye to your witness?”
“Well…” Adam fumbled for words.
“You ain’t gotta ‘splain nuttin’ to me. Thanks for the invite, but I need to get home and support my own babe. Just remember, she’s still a witness until the convictions.”
“I will, dad.”
“Tell her I’ll see her as soon as I can.”
“How could I not pass a message from her knight in shining armor?”
Two Deputy Marshals brought Cassie to the courthouse. Frankel asked if they could have a private moment before they left. The Deputies chuckled and told him they’d wait outside the car.
Frankel climbed into the backseat with Cassie. “I suppose we can’t see one another until after the case is settled, but once Grossman is sentenced, do you think we get together for a drink or maybe dinner?”
“Counselor, are you asking me out?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
“Well, I certainly can’t turn down your offer, can I?”
“I hope not. I gotta run since the Deputies want to get you home, so I guess I’ll see you at the trials.”
Sam tried to call Leona. When he got her voice mail, he assumed she was at the hospital. He’d give her a call when he was closer to the Maryland line. He gave Sue a quick call. When she answered, he told her, “Sue the eagle’s on its way.”
“I’m not sure if you mean you, or your butterfly that would
never pass for an eagle.”
He laughed into the phone, “You’re right, she wouldn’t would she?”
“Are you stopping by the house?”
“I’m not sure. Leona’s friend Shelly, who was at the wedding, was in a terrible auto accident and is in the hospital. The last time I talked to Leona, She’s in critical condition.”
“Oh my God, is the baby okay?”
“No, she lost the baby. Leona had Randy stay at the house last night.”
“What hospital is she in?”
“I don’t know, so I might stop by your house, say a quick hello, and see if I can call her again.”
“Sure, we’ll be here.”
“Thanks babe, I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”
When the Deputies reached the Delaware state line, Deputy Paul Anderson told Agent Henson he had enjoyed his time with her.
“Thank you Deputy Anderson. While I’m chilling, practice chess and let’s see if you can win a game when I get back.”
Paul laughed, “You bet I’m gonna practice. Agent, I have to say again that it’s been a pleasure working with you.”
As she started to exit the car, Cassie told him, “Same here. Now you be safe on the trip back.”
Deputy Anderson shook his head as she climbed into the next car.
The doctor came into the waiting room. “Mr. Jordan, I just upgraded Shelly from critical to critical, but stable. She’s sleeping, but if you follow me to the Intensive Care Unit, I can let you see her for a few minutes. When we get there, talk to her and let her know you’re there. She doesn’t know that she lost the baby yet, so please don’t say anything. We need to wait until she’s stronger before we tell her.”
“Can Leona come with me; she’s my wife’s best friend?”