Secret thoughts: (I can’t believe I might have to testify against Jerry. This is a nightmare. I know Jerry is a bad man and would harm Chad and me if he could but it just goes against the grain for me to have to tell that to the whole world.)
[ Chapter 58 ]
There is not much opportunity for a poor Mexican boy to find work, especially without a father, and a grandmother, mother and sister to support. Rosalie, his mother had long given up her polished nails and nice dresses to work in the garden and do all the work of keeping the small piece of land the family had. Her mother was not much help, she was up in age and was only able to help with the cooking and washing dishes as she was crippled with a bad hip and moved very slowly.
Antonio had grown into a strong young man, he was enterprising, and loved the outdoors. He and his friends camped out frequently and knew the local area well. He could have joined a gang and brought money to the family but would never be free to live with them. Instead he chose another path. One of the older boys he knew worked at a local lab a few miles away. Antonio went with him one day and asked if they would give him a job too. They told him they only needed someone to clean the offices, sweep up and take out the trash once a week. Antonio was happy to do that. He had such a pleasant disposition and was so willing to help with anything they began giving him more jobs to do. The lab assistants liked him, and they were always happy to answer his questions because he wanted to learn all he could.
Antonio began to take on more jobs as they were assigned. He worked with all the lab staff now and was trusted to deliver their products to the shipping office for distribution. On Fridays when Antonio received his pay, he would go to the store in town and buy the things, his mother requested on the list she gave him. She never asked for anything for herself, but for her mother and Damita. They were doing so much better now with Antonio working.
Antonio wanted to ask his mother about his father’s death especially after Uncle Juan died, but each time he did she would get a look of horror on her face and tell Antonio that it was better if he knew nothing about what happened at the farm. Antonio knew from her frightened demeanor that whatever happened was not good, but he decided to leave it alone as it made his mother so upset.
The FBI agents came to visit Rosalie again, this time they brought her the news that they found her husband’s body and it was buried on the farm Jerry took them to. Rosalie began to cry. The first thing she asked was where Jerry was. The FBI agents told her he was in jail and wanted to know if she knew how Roberto died. She told them she didn’t know anything, still afraid, even though he was in jail, Jerry was still alive.
She told them Jerry didn’t let me talk to them, he wanted me to stay in the bedroom most of the day, because he thought I might talk to them and tell them too much. She stuck to her story and told them Roberto run away and she did not know where he was. Jerry took her and the children back to Mexico because there was nothing left at the farm and everybody that lived there before left. It was not the truth, but she couldn’t be certain Jerry would not come back and hurt her or her children.
What the visit from the FBI agents did was to alert Antonio once more, how frightened his mother was of Jerry. He also was most anxious to know the real story of what happened. He remembered some of it, but he was just a kid then.
Wilson went with Chad and Amelia when they went to the FBI offices in Philadelphia to be questioned. Vince had to come to the office to meet with them. Wilson introduced himself to Vince and told him it was good to put a face to a voice, then he introduced Chad and Amelia. After doing the routine showing of identification, Amelia asked if Jerry was still in jail. Vince said yes for the moment, he does have a lawyer and he was trying to get Jerry released on bail. I’m hoping that what you have to tell me will stop that from happening.
Chad sat next to her with his arm on her chair. She told Vince and the other agents all about Jerry coming to the farm and how he tried to steal the farm from them.
When Amelia got to Ida’s she was visibly upset, Ida asked her what happened. She was afraid to tell her everything, what if Jerry saw her somehow and thought she told Ida. Then Ida would be in trouble too. She said, “My brother was fighting with Rosalie’s brother and it was not a nice thing to watch.”
She told them they had to move and how she came back to her room for some forgotten items and saw Jerry and Roberto fighting. She saw Jerry pick up a shovel and hit Roberto in the head and he didn’t move anymore. Then Jerry dragged his body to the field.
“Amelia,” said Vince, “I will be very honest with you. It will be your testimony that will put Jerry in jail for life or possibly give him the death penalty. I’m sorry it had to come to this. The others he robbed the armored car with have changed their stories several times and it’s hard to believe what the truth is there. I do believe Jerry killed at least one of them, but we have no proof. There is really no proof in this case either, we have the body, but we have no murder weapon or other hard evidence. You as an eyewitness will be the only proof Jerry killed Roberto. It will take some time for us to get the indictment and then it’s usually an average of 90 days or more to get to trail. It may be longer if Jerry’s lawyers request delays for gathering evidence and of course, the worst-case scenario is that Jerry would be able to get out on bail and hit the streets.
Wilson said, “Wouldn’t he be a flight risk since we already know he has run to Mexico before?”
“You and I see that,” said Vince, “but it’s usually up to the judge to grant bail, to set the monetary amount of bail, and the conditions. You see Amelia, coming here today is probably the easy part. We all are going to have to watch this case very closely. If Jerry is able to get bail, we will have a big concern then, because once we reveal that we have an eyewitness, Jerry will know who came forward. Maybe if he hears the way the body was found, he will recognize that you had no choice, but to tell what you saw.
“I don’t think so,” said Amelia, “I know that after what he did to Chad and me, and the fact that he hates Chad and would want to harm him by hurting me, he would not understand. Instead, I think he will make a spectacle of the fact that his own sister is going to rat him out.”
“Sounds like you know how he thinks,” said Vince.
“If you mean I know he is a hateful, vindictive man, capable of torture and murder yes, I know him very well that way.”
I want to thank you for coming here today, Amelia, Chad, I wish I had more to tell you, I promise you we will be watching what happens very closely and keep in touch with you if anything changes. Wilson, I’m hoping you will stick close by your friends also, the more eyes the better. I will put it in the record that if any circumstances change with Jerry on how or where he is incarcerated, we will all know immediately.”
[ Chapter 59 ]
It was a long three months before they heard of anything about Jerry’s case. Wilson kept Chad and Amelia informed of whatever information he could get. The situation had not really changed their lives because after Amelia came back from her self-imposed absence, Chad stuck pretty close to her already. Wilson called them to say that Jerry’s lawyer had partitioned the court to allow Jerry out on bail. For the next two weeks Chad took Amelia to work and back, walked her into the lab, and talked to Buzz, who requested a guard be placed on their floor. Chad always carried his gun and made Amelia keep her gun in her purse. He taught her some self-defense moves and they worked out frequently. It took almost two weeks before they were informed that bail was denied.
Amelia said, “I know that by the time Jerry comes to trail you will be so sick of following me around, you won’t know what to do with your free time, Honey.”
“Don’t be silly Babe,” he said, “look at all the time I missed being without you when I was in the military. I don’t want to get on your nerves by being so protective.”
One afternoon at about 2:00 o’clock, Chad called Amelia at work.
“Guess what honey, Bart just called me, he and Sophie are off this weekend, and I would like to invite them to come down. Is that OK with you?”
“That’s fine with me I can’t wait to see them.”
“I’ll call Bart back. They were planning to come this evening after Sophie gets off work. I thought we would have them stay with us and this evening we could have a late supper, do you want to invite Shelly and Wilson to come too, if they can?”
“That sounds great, Babe, it will be so much fun to have company.”
“Let’s invited Betty and Darrell too, do you want me to pick up something up to cook or should we get carry out?”
“I don’t know,” said Amelia, “I’m so excited they are coming, give me a few minutes to think about what I will serve, and I’ll call you back.”
Amelia called Chad back, “Babe I think we should get some lasagna and make a big salad and have strawberry short cake for dessert. I’m going to order two large trays of lasagna from Rosa’s and would you pick up some things from the grocery store for me?”
“Sure, honey email me the list and I will leave here a little early and stop and pick everything up before I come to get you. I’ll stop and get some beer, wine, and soft drinks too.”
“That would be so good, honey. I’m so excited to have them visit us.”
When Chad and Amelia arrived home, they put the groceries away, chilled the wine and beer. Amelia made the salad and cut up fresh Italian bread to make garlic bread.
Then she went to check the guest bedroom and bath. She placed fresh towels and soap in there and checked to be sure that the bed linens were fresh.
Sophie and Bart arrived around six and Shelly and Wilson twenty minutes later. After introductions were made, they all had a drink before dinner. Shelly and Sophie got along well, she and Shelly had a lot in common, and they compared notes on hospitals routines and talked about some crazy cases they had worked with. Wilson, Bart, and Chad seemed to get acquainted quickly, they talked about the military and their jobs during dinner. They were still sitting at the table and talking, letting the food settle before dessert. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves when Bart’s phone rang.
Sophie said, “That didn’t take too long, for them to find him I mean, it’s been a whole 4 hours.”
Within seconds, Wilson’s phone rang too. Both men got up and went in the living room. Bart still on the phone came and motioned Chad to come in the living room.
“Is this a conspiracy or something?” Asked Amelia. Before anyone could answer her, the three came back into the kitchen. Chad looked at Amelia and said, “Honey can I go out and play with my friends now?” He had such a little boy, pleading look on his face they all burst out laughing. Chad came, hugged Amelia, and gave her a kiss on the neck.
“What’s going on?” Asked Sophie.
“That case I told you about,” he said, “it’s about that.”
“And you want playmates to come with you?”
Bart grinned, “Yeah I do, do you mind Honey?”
“I know you have to go,” she said, “I was just teasing.”
Shelly said, “I should be used to it by now, it’s usually me that gets a call from the hospital, so I can’t complain about Wilson getting called.”
The men all went to their wives and gave them a kiss, Bart whispered something in Sophie ear, she nodded.
Amelia said, “Chad please be careful, Babe.”
“I will,” he said, “I love you I’m taking my gun, do you have yours?”
“Yes, it’s in my purse.”
With a bang of the door, they were gone.
Amelia said, “Well here we are ladies what shall we do?”
Sophie spoke up, “Amelia you know Bart is trying to recruit Chad to the FBI, don’t you?” and after talking to Wilson he’ll probably want him too.
“I didn’t know for certain. Chad has dropped some subtle hints. I know his job is not exciting and he misses the action he had in the military.”
“I don’t know all the details, I never do, and Bart tells me a little bit about the cases, never the details. Whatever Chad and Bart talked about when you stayed with us in DC has interested Bart and that’s why we’re really here.”
A light bulb went off in Amelia’s head! “He must have told him about Jerry,” said Amelia.”
“Jerry,” said Shelly, “I thought he was in jail?”
“Who’s Jerry? Asked Sophie?”
“He is my derelict brother. Let’s have some coffee and dessert and I’ll tell you the whole story and fill Shelly in on the latest.”
“Shelly knows all this, but anyway here goes.” Amelia told Sophie the whole story about Jerry coming to the farm and that he tried to keep her and Chad apart, and everything else.
When she was done, Sophie said, “I’m sorry Amelia, but what a prick!”
I know you mentioned something about all the drama in your life, but I didn’t think it involved all of what you just told us. “Jerry’s in jail, now right?
Before Amelia could answer her phone rang, it was Chad.
“Hi Babe,” he said.
“Hi sweetheart,” Amelia answered.
“Are you all still sitting at the table?”
“Yes,” said Amelia, “we’re having dessert and coffee and talking.”
“Put me on speaker, Babe. Hi Sophie and Shelly, I want you to do something for me. Sophie if you would go around and close all the blinds and shades, Shelly would you check the door to be sure the deadbolt is in place and it’s locked. Babe go get your purse and get your gun and keep it in your pocket.”
“Its Jerry isn’t it, he’s out?” asked Amelia with a groan.
“I didn’t want to scare you Babe or make you nervous. Jerry somehow got out on bail. Everybody was surprised at that, but somehow, he was able to get himself a hot shot lawyer and he made bail for him. Bart has been working on the case too, he asked his boss for permission to work it after I told him the story when we were in DC. That’s really, why they came down because Bart got wind Jerry might be getting out. Jerry was watched from the minute he left the jail. We know where he is, and we are going to follow him till he does something Bart can arrest him for and put him back in jail. Everybody suspects he will try and contact you, so we want to surprise him. Look out the window quickly Babe and you should see two unmarked cars parked close to the apartment. They are guards Vince put in place. Sophie, Shelly, I apologize for putting you both in a spot like this, but I’m glad that Mellie’s not alone.”
“It’s OK, said Sophie, Shelly and I are here to help.”
“Chad please don’t get close to Jerry, he hates you, and he will try to kill you if he can.”
“That’s what we’re hoping, that he will try to do something to me and not you, and then we’ll be able to stop him.”
“You set yourself up as bait! Oh Babe, no, please I, and she began to cry.”
“Babe, please trust me I know how you hate this, but it must be done, I will be safe because I must come back to you.”
“OK, OK, I hear you, I love you.”
“I don’t think I need to say don’t let anybody in, don’t open the curtains except to look out from the side, I’ll try to call and keep you up to date on what’s happening Babe. Don’t worry, Bart and Wilson won’t let anything happen to me. Love you, bye.”
Amelia was crying, “My God,” he’s doing this to protect me, making Jerry come after him instead of me. I feel so helpless.”
Sophie and Shelly tried to comfort her, they told her Bart and Wilson won’t let anything happen to him.
“You don’t know my brother,” said Amelia, his is a murderer and he hates Chad, he would kill him just because he’s knows how much it would hurt me. Then he would try and kill me too.”
[ Chapter 60 ]
Je
rry came out of jail with his lawyer. The lawyer got into his car and drove away, and Jerry got in a car with three men. Two of them were members of the gang that robbed the armored car who were also out on bail. They drove off and began speeding down the highway. They ran a red light and soon heard a siren. The local police pulled them over. They arrested one of the men on an open warrant and had to let the rest go. Wilson, Bart, and Chad were following them from a great distance. They were actually in front of them, not wanting to make them suspicious. They wanted to force Jerry to do something illegal so that Bart could arrest him and put him back in jail.
Bart, Wilson, and Chad passed as the car turned into the parking lot of a seedy looking bar near the edge of town. The huge, bright, neon sign flashed Girls! Girls! Girls!
As they turned the car around and watched, the trio entered the bar. Chad asked, “What’s the plan?”
“We have to play this one by ear now,” said Wilson, as he parked the car, “and hope he does something wrong.”
“I don’t know,” said Bart, “he is pretty slick, I think we might have to provoke him into losing his temper an making a mistake, he’s probably very aware that he’ll go right back to prison if he gets caught doing something wrong and he’s too anxious to get to you and Amelia to want to screw up. Look Jerry doesn’t know me. I’ll go in and pretend I’m drunk and try and hear what they’re planning. Wilson you call Vince and ask for silent back up, I think we need to make our stand here, we must keep him away from your neighborhood and Amelia. I know what they look like from their mug shots. If I need you to come in, I’ll say, “I’m doing it now, in my radio. Chad you stand by with Wilson.”
Bart went in and walked with a stagger, he sat down on a bar stool next to one of the men that was with Jerry. He ordered a beer and pretended to listen to the fake iPod earpiece, which was really a radio transmitter. With any luck, Wilson and Chad could hear some of what was going on. The trio paid no attention to Bart and began talking. The man sitting with his back to Bart, asked Jerry, “What’s the plan man?”
Secrets of Amelia Page 37