Johns’ hands were unshackled from his feet but recuffed to the table. As the guards retreated, the prisoner bent forward and worked a pack of Newports out of his pocket.
“Let me get that for you.” Cresi got up, grabbed the matches and lit the cigarette.
Johns nodded an acknowledgment.
“You look, uh . . . you okay, Jimmy?”
Johns nodded, then coughed as he bent forward to take a drag. “I’ve been in a few joints, but this shithole takes the cake. How’s my sis?”
“She’s doing fine. I spoke to her yesterday.”
“Yeah, what about?”
“She was frustrated that visiting rights are severely limited here.”
The prisoner cleared his throat. “Like everything else.”
“You getting any time outside the cell?”
“Fucking thirty minutes by myself.”
Cresi jotted a note. “Let me see if I can do anything.”
“This is bullshit. I’m being treated like I’ve been convicted already.”
Cresi pinched the knot in his tie. “You’ve got to understand, as I mentioned in our last meeting, the state has a strong case, an exceedingly strong case against you.”
Johns’ ears flattened. “Ain’t it your fucking job to get me out of here?”
Cresi shook his head. “Miracle worker I’m not, Jimmy.” Cresi clasped his hands. “I’ve been through all the evidence the prosecutor has put together at this point, and it’s compelling.” Cresi unhooked his hands and laid them on the table. “The fact that they have you where you are, in Block E, speaks directly of it.” Cresi rapped his thumbs on the table. “Now, the last time we talked about a plea, you were upset, and I understand that, but you’ve got to trust me on this. I truly think it is the best course of action.”
Johns pulled a hard drag on the cigarette. “What kinda deal can we make?”
Cresi couldn’t believe Johns was talking like he held some ace in the hole. Cresi gathered his thoughts before saying, “It’s hard to tell, but it’s early yet, and if we approach them before they spend any resources on the case, well, that’s a big plus.”
Johns pulled an earlobe and spit out some phlegm but said nothing.
“Now, we’ve got to lean hard on the substance-abuse angle. You were under the influence, etcetera, etcetera.”
Johns slowly nodded and grimaced as he reached for his back.
“Now, you’ve got to be willing to go into rehab. You’re okay with that, no?”
“Yeah.” Johns flipped his burning butt into an aluminum tray and immediately reached for his pack.
Cresi helped him with another smoke, hoping Johns would choke to death before he had to explain the process of pleading. Cresi continually stressed the part about saving his life, which had worked like an elixir in prior cases.
“But I ain’t agreeing to nothing that don’t give me a shot at parole. You hear?”
“I don’t know, Jimmy. They’ll resist the idea, but let me work on it.”
">Secretly hoping his client would rot in prison, Cresi worked out a deal with prosecutors to get the case off his desk. However, despite Cresi’s sense that Johns finally realized he was in deep trouble, he knew it would be a tough sell. The lawyer had a strategy to convince Johns it was a good deal and put his idea in motion.
***
“Hello Jessica, it’s Lou Cresi.”
“Oh, hi Mr. Cresi. Is everything all right?”
“Yes, fine, fine. There’s no need for formalities, Jessica. Please, call me Lou.”
“You sure?”
“Of course. Listen, I’ve got great news regarding Jimmy’s case.”
“Really?”
“It wasn’t easy, but I was able to negotiate a plea to a reduced charge.”
“Does Jimmy have to go to prison?”
“I’m afraid so, Jessica. Jimmy is facing very serious charges, and as you know, the death penalty. I don’t mean to bring bad tidings, but my contacts tell me he would be fast-tracked on the death penalty phase. I’m afraid it would be a certainty.”
“Oh my God.”
“I know, but that’s what makes this deal so attractive. Instead of first-degree murder, Jimmy would plead to manslaughter and only receive a twenty-year term.”
“Twenty years!”
“It may seem like a long time, but it’s much better than death row, Jessica. Besides, he’ll be eligible for parole.”
“How long would that take?”
“It’d be some years before eligibility, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The important thing is he would avoid being put to death.”
“I know you’re right. We can’t let that happen. It’s just that twenty years—I don’t know how Jimmy’ll make it.”
“Exactly. Now, I was able to get a couple of excellent concessions, and I’ll tell you, it wasn’t easy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, first off, he’d be moved from that, and excuse my language here, hellhole called Block E. That place is just terrible, inhuman, if you ask me. I’ve got half a mind to file a lawsuit to prevent any poor soul from being put in that dungeon.”
“Jimmy’d like that.”
“And the best part is it would enable you to visit him much more frequently.”
“Oh, that’s great. It’s been hard on both of us.”
“I can imagine. Family is all you got, you know.”
“Nothing truer than that, Mr. Cresi.”
“Lou, please, it’s Lou. Now, I don’t know if Jimmy mentioned this to you or not, but he’s been restricted, really isolated, but if he accepts the deal, he’d be in the regular population, and that’d mean daily time in the general pen. He’d be able to be outside every day, socializing with the other inmates.”
“That’d make things easier for Jimmy, for sure. He’s gonna like that, Mr., ah, Lou.”
“There you go, Jess. Now, I don’t want to be seen as talking out of school, but Jimmy, he can be stubborn at times, not that we all can’t be. It’s just that I don’t want this special deal to be pulled by the prosecutors.”
“They can do that?”
“Unfortunately, they can. That’s why we’ve got to move quickly on this, and if need be, you know, kinda help show Jimmy what a good deal this is.”
“He’s just got to take it.”
">“That’s how I feel, Jessica. I just think it’s important for you to convey your feelings to him on this.”
***
I watched Vinny and his escort get buzzed through the door to the visitor hall. It was a Saturday, and the place was packed with families visiting their imprisoned family members. Vinny saw me waiting by myself at a table and waved to me.
I stood, waved, and smiled as Vinny approached. “Hey, good to see you, Vin.” I hugged my brother. It was great to see him.
“You okay?”
“I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I think I’m good. I really am.”
Vinny noticed that one of the arms of my eyeglasses was missing, causing my glasses to tilt. “What happened to your glasses?”
“Uh, yeah, I was working the seeder, and when I bent down, they came off, and I kinda fell trying to get them and snapped an arm off.”
“You've got to use your cane, Peter. How many times do I gotta tell you?”
“I know, I know. They’re gonna get me new ones, though.” I pursed my lips. “But we gotta pay for them.”
Vinny dug out his J deposit form receipt and handed it to me. “It’s okay. I just put in a hundred for you. That should cover it.”
I hated taking money from him all the time. “Thanks.”
“You been taking your meds?”
“Yep.”
“All of them?”
He still thought I couldn’t remember anything. “Of course.”
Vinny was visibly relieved that I didn’t exhibit signs that I was going off the rails, which I thought was amusing. He smiled and asked
, “So what you been doing all week?”
“Been busy. I know it’s a jail and all, but you know I like gardening, and here I get to work on a farm, and it’s fun. The day goes by in a flash.”
We spent the rest of the hour talking and making plans for when I’d get out.
***
Johns lifted his head off the cot when he heard the buzzer echo through the cell block. His interest piqued when he identified two sets of footsteps making their way down the corridor. Johns lay back down and reached for a pack of Newports but was taken by surprise when the hatch on his door was unlocked.
“Stick ’em through, Johns!”
Johns grabbed his glasses and swung his legs off the cot. He stood at the door and put his hands through the opening to be cuffed.
“Step back!”
The prisoner stepped back, and the heavy door creaked open.
“Where you taking me?”
“You got a visitor.”
Johns checked the date in his head, knowing he wasn’t eligible for a visit. “What, you having an open house?”
“Shut up and march!”
Johns was ushered into a windowless room and cuffed to a steel table that was bolted to the floor. As the guards retreated, Johns asked, “Hey, you got a smoke? I left mine in the cell.”
The guards smiled at each other. “Guess you’re shit out of luck, then.”
“Fuck you too!”
Johns mulled over the last visit with his lawyer and the plea agreement, figuring it was Cresi who wanted his answer. When the door opened and his sister was escorted into the room, Johns tried to jump out of his seat but was restrained by the handcuffs. “Jess! How’d you get in?”
Johns’ sister smiled as he coughed. “Mr. Cresi pulled some strings.” She kissed her brother and sat down. “You don’t look so good, Jimmy.”
“You got any smokes?”
“You know I don’t smoke, Jimmy, and listen to you, coughing all the time. Why don’t you try and quit? It’d be good for you.”
“Come on, sis. Get off my back, will you?”
“Okay, okay, it’s just that I get worried about you, that’s all. I’m sorry, but I care.” Jessica took a seat. “Oh, here’s the J receipt.” She stuffed the receipt in his pocket.
Johns studied his sister. “Are you okay, sis? You look, I don’t know, real pale.”
Jessica’s eyes welled up. “I’m okay, Jimmy. I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”
“Don’t worry about me, you hear? You take care of yourself.”
She sniffled and wiped a tear from her face. When her lips started to quiver, Johns tried to change the subject. “So, how’d you get in here, what, two and a half weeks early?”
“I know. I was surprised when Mr. Cresi called me and said I could come to see you. He said I’d be able to visit regularly when you take the plea 'cause you’ll be moved to the regular population.”
Johns had a coughing fit. “Ain’t made no decision on no damn plea.”
“But Jimmy, Mr. Cresi said if you plea, then you won’t have to, you know, go through a horrible trial and all. And he says the prosecutor is pushing for the death penalty.” Jessica leaned forward. “Oh Jimmy, we can’t take a chance. You’ll be able to save your life. If something happens to you, I don’t know what I’d—”
“If I can get me a chance at parole, I’m thinking I’d take it.”
“Oh good, Jimmy. Mr. Cresi, he said it’s possible, and I think if you can get help and get clean, for good this time.” She studied her brother “You’re not using in here, are you?”
“Shit, Jess, they got me locked up by myself all the time.”
“Poor thing. It must be real tough on you, Jimmy, but Mr. Cresi said you’d be getting regular visits with the plea, and I’d be here as much as I could.”
***
I shifted my glance between the door and the clock. Where the heck was he? Vinny was never late. I hoped he was okay. Finally, the door swung open, and Vinny rushed into the visitor’s room. I stood and waved.
We embraced, and when we broke, Vinny checked his watch. “These motherfuckers!”
“What’s the matter?”
“Can’t you see what I’m wearing? They gave me a frigging hassle over my shirt.”
“Shirt? What do you mean?”
“I was wearing my FedEx shirt. I’m going to work the night shift after this, but they got some cockamamy rule about delivery uniforms—said it was against rules. What bullshit. What do they think, I’m gonna sneak you out or something?”
“It’s okay, relax.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just that—ah, forget it. How you doing?”
“I’m okay. What’s going on with you?”
“Well, remember last Wednesday, I told you I had to tell you something?”
What I remembered was him telling me not to forget to do things, and I nodded to pacify him.
“Well, look, I spoke to Luca, Detective Luca. You remember him?”
I nodded. Like I could forget the guy who interrogated me.
“Well, he told me about the guy he always thought might’ve been involved in Billy’s murder. You remember that guy, Jimmy Johns.”
“What about him?”
“Well, they got him red-handed in a murder case right after you came in here. Luca said he was going to push him to see what he could get out of him on Billy’s case.”
“Sounds like a long shot.”
“I don’t know, maybe he was the one who did it, and you can get the hell out of this shithole.”
“Yeah, maybe, but it really ain’t too bad here, Vin. Don’t worry. I’m fine with everything.” I smiled as wide as I could. “You know I like the farmwork we do here. Who knows, maybe when I get out we can move and get us a farm and work it together.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Chapter 36
Luca watched as Monmouth County Prosecutor Stanley read a statement to the reporters assembled outside his office. The detective smirked when Stanley touted the plea arrangement he reached with Jimmy Johns as a win both for crime solving and for the taxpayers. Luca acknowledged how smooth an operator Stanley was as he watched him bat away concerns about a possible parole for Johns with both the cost-saving benefits and the certainty that the plea brought.
When a question came up about foregoing the death penalty, Stanley spat out statistics to support the position that capital punishment was ineffective in reducing murder rates. Luca considered the position questionable, at best, and it certainly disappointed those who clamored for an eye for an eye. Luca enjoyed it when the prosecutor was challenged about the costs to keep a prisoner incarcerated for life, but Luca was sorely disappointed when Stanley dismissed the cost-benefit claims of capital punishment when he cited the costs of endless appeals. On that, he ended the press gathering.
Luca headed back to his office. He was filling in his partner on Stanley’s performance when his phone rang.
“What you got for me, Matt?” Luca listened and protested. “Ah, come on, man. You gotta lean on him.” Luca rolled his eyes, shook his head, and said, “Yeah, sure. Thanks anyway.” Luca hung up the phone.
Cremora asked, “Duro get anything?”
“Zippo. Said Johns got the wallet from somebody else, blah blah blah. Same old bullshit.”
“It doesn’t jibe.”
“Tell me about it. When we nailed Johns with Wyatt’s credit card, he said he bought it. Now we know he had the wallet.”
A uniformed officer poked his head in the detective’s office. “Sarge said they’re ready to get started.”
Luca nodded at the officer and said to his partner as he grabbed his jacket, “How’s a cop gonna get anything done around here when all we do is pat ourselves on the back?”
Luca entered the pressroom behind Sergeant Gesso, Prosecutor Stanley, and Captain Fusco. The detective stood to the right of the podium and shifted his weight from foot to foot as Stanley droned on. Luca wasn’t one for atten
tion, but he couldn’t help realizing that Stanley always spoke in the "I" vernacular and never mentioned anyone else by name when doling out credit.
The prosecutor finally turned the mic over to Captain Fusco. Luca cringed when his superior began with, “The department is grateful to Prosecutor Stanley. It is his office’s vigorous enforcement of the forfeiture statutes that provide much-needed resources to our department. The additional funding we receive through the seizure of assets involved in the commission of crimes enhances our ability to protect our citizens, not to mention, the loss of these assets exacts a toll on those engaged in crime,” Fusco said.
Fusco surveyed the room and got serious. “Over the last five years, police departments throughout Monmouth County have been the recipients of over fifteen million dollars. This extra money allows us to increase patrols, surveillance, and to invest in upgraded equipment. I know there are some out there who believe the seizure program is controversial.”
Suddenly, all eyes shifted to Luca, who had spat out, “That could work.”
Luca covered his outburst by coughing and stood at attention as Fusco finished his statement. The detective’s mind raced as he was called up to the podium by Fusco.
“And now we’d like to call Detective Luca up to receive his citation.”
Luca shook hands with Fusco and forced himself to focus on the matters at hand as Sergeant Gesso handed a framed award to Fusco.
“We are proud to honor Detective Luca for the critical role he played in the largest forfeiture in the county’s history.”
Though distracted as he accepted the accolade, Luca made sure to give a special thanks to Captain Gesso before retreating from the podium.
***
“You’re doing what?”
“Going to see Johns.”
“Frank, have you lost it? I thought Sergeant Gesso warned you about this witch hunt.”
“It ain’t no witch hunt, Deb. And besides, Gesso owes me one. He won’t mind.”
“Nobody owes anyone anything, least of all your boss. So, don’t throw me the bull dinky, Frank.”
“No, really, Deb. After that big seizure I brought in, the precinct got a nice chunk of change, and Gesso’s like a pig in shit.”
“You told him you were going to see Johns?”
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