“Like I said, I don’t know if I can actually make it work, but I’ll do everything I can. Kayleigh, why don’t you start.”
I handed her the notepad, and she wrote what she wanted to say. Then she gave it to Mrs. Webster. I asked Major to add a message as well. I was going to be the last one, but I decided to do mine later.
When it was time for me to leave, I left my car keys with Mr. Webster. It took some convincing, but he finally agreed it would be nice to have a car. I’d already asked dad to let me borrow a company car. He had someone drop the keys off at the front desk. I said my goodbyes and left the hotel.
When I got back to the dorm, I put the notepad in front of me and said what was on my mind. There was no point in holding back now. I wanted her to know how I felt and that I would do anything to help her.
****
The next morning, I got up early. I hadn’t slept much so having a task to perform actually helped. After getting dressed, I went straight to the station where they were holding Karma. The girl at the front desk was cute, so I was able to flirt my way past her. She told me how to get to the back where the guard’s office was. I waited for a few minutes until someone finally approached me.
“Can I help you with something?” a female guard asked me. I could tell she wasn’t very happy I was there.
“I know no one here can have visitors,” I said, “but I was wondering if I could get this message to Karma Webster. It’s really important.”
I handed her the piece of paper with a hundred-dollar bill tucked underneath it. She peaked under the paper and then read the notes. I think I was holding my breath the whole time. The guard looked up from the paper and didn’t take her eyes off me for at least a full minute.
“Is she your girl?” the guard asked me.
“No, but I wish she was.”
“Where’s her man then?”
“I think he’s the one responsible for putting her here.”
She looked at me some more. “I’ll see what I can do. Now you better get your ass out of here before someone else sees you.”
I watched as she slipped the money in her pocket along with the folded-up paper. She nodded at me and I turned around and made my way back to the front desk. I winked at the girl then left the building. I had no idea if Karma would actually get the note so all I could do was hope.
I went back to the dorm and saw an email from Cathy. She’s managed to get all the information in a way I could easily look at it. I knew I was going to be spending the rest of the weekend going through the data, and I was really okay with that.
Chapter 36
Karma
I had no idea what time they were coming to take me to the courthouse. The best I could hope for was that it was early, and I got to go home today. It was the only thing keeping me going.
Last night, I’d made lots of notes, but none of it seemed helpful. I set the paper down and thought about what might happen today. Worst case scenario was that I went to an actual jail. I wasn’t sure I could handle that, and what would it do to my parents?
How had I gotten myself into this? All I wanted to do was date a hot guy. If Antonio Pagano didn’t want me dating Anthony, I was sure there were other ways to run me off. What did it gain him to put me in jail?
“Webster.” I heard a guard say. “Stand at the door with your hands in front of you.”
I did as she said. The cell door opened. The guard handcuffed my hands and feet, then chained them together. She started walking and I shuffled along behind her. I was feeling so many things at the moment that I had to force myself not to cry. I wasn’t going to let them get the better of me.
I followed her and ended up in a line with several other people dressed in the lovely orange uniform. We moved slowly and were put in a van and driven to the courthouse.
Being escorted through the courthouse chained like an animal was beyond embarrassing. I kept my head down because I didn’t want to see the looks on people’s faces.
“Sir, stay back,” my female guard said.
“I just need to say one thing to that one.”
I looked up because that was Anthony’s voice. Our eyes met. I was expecting to see sympathy, maybe even hatred or loathing, but the look on his face was pure satisfaction.
“Thank you, Karma. Without you, none of this would have been possible.” Then he turned and left.
I watched as he walked away, not really understanding what he meant. I was prodded in the back to get moving. Following the line of other prisoners, we went down a long hallway and into a room with metal seats attached to the walls. We were told to sit and stay quiet.
For once in my life, I had no problem staying quiet. I kept running Anthony’s words over and over in my head. Was he responsible for putting me in jail? I was sure it was his father, but maybe I was wrong. I thought Anthony and I had something real, but maybe it was all a lie.
Several of my fellow inmates were taken, one by one, into what I assumed was the courtroom, then brought back in. None of them looked especially happy as they sat back down. I was the last one to go. I was escorted by my female guard into the grand looking courtroom.
Glancing to my right Anthony smirked at me. I ignored him and then I saw Bodie, Mr. West, Kayleigh and Major, but the sight that got me the most was my parents. I did everything I could to stop the tears but a few escaped and rolled down my cheeks. I didn’t get to see them for long as I was moved to sit in a chair that faced the front of the courtroom. Bill was there and I was grateful for that.
“Karma Webster,” the judge said, “the State of California has charged you with grand theft and fraud relating to the amount of $5.2 million that was stolen from the business of Pagano Imports. We are here this morning to set bail, but some new information has come to light that will need to be further investigated. We will reschedule this bail hearing for Wednesday, April 6th at 1pm. Detectives, you have forty-eight hours to go over this information and prove the validity of it. Attorneys, please see me in my chambers.”
The judge banged the gavel and we all stood as he left the courtroom.
“What’s going on?” I asked Bill.
“This morning, Bodie presented me with some very interesting information in your favor. I gave it to the judge and now it has to be investigated.”
“So, what happens to me now?”
“You’ll go back to holding, but I’ve requested a meeting with you this afternoon so we can go over the details of what’s happening. The detectives in charge of your case will also be asking you questions over the next couple of days. This time I urge you to answer them truthfully. Don’t worry, I’ll be with you the whole time.”
I nodded. The guard took me by the arm, and I was taken back to the prisoner waiting room.
It wasn’t long until we were being escorted through the courthouse again. I was expecting to see Anthony, but fortunately he was nowhere to be seen. Within the hour, I was back in my jail cell. I was disappointed, but hopeful at the same time. And curious. I really wondered what Bodie had found that made the judge postpone the hearing.
Later that afternoon, I was told by a guard to wait by my door. I was expecting to be handcuffed, but instead I was just told to follow her. I was taken back to the room I’d met Bill in last time.
When the door opened, I was shocked and instantly in tears. Not only was my lawyer there, but so was my mom and Bodie. I didn’t know how they did it, but right now it really didn’t matter. I went to my mom and threw my arms around her.
“I’m so sorry, mom.”
“Shhh, Karma, it’s okay,” mom said, as she rubbed my back. “We know you didn’t do anything but date the wrong guy.”
That got my attention. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“Let’s have a seat and let Bodie explain everything to you.”
My eyes immediately went to Bodie. He gave me a small smile, sat down across the table from me and took a piece of paper out of a folder.
“Karma,” he said. “
What were you doing on Friday, January 21st at 6:34 am?”
“I would have been at practice.”
“And Thursday, February 3rd at 4:16 pm?”
“Practice.”
“How about Tuesday, February 21st at 7:58 am?”
“Practice. You know we practice Monday to Friday from 6am to 8am and Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 6pm. Why are you asking me this?”
“One more question,” he said. “What were you doing on Saturday, February 19th at 1:01 pm?”
“I was at a swim meet at Cannonhill College. We made it to the top of the points standings that day.”
“And were you on your cell phone at any of the times I mentioned?”
“Are you kidding me? Coach Everett would eat us alive if we had our phone anywhere near the pool, practice or competition. They stay in our lockers until we’re done.”
“So, your coach and teammates can verify all of this information?”
“Of course. What are you getting at Bodie?”
“Those four specific times I mentioned, there were money transfers made during those times, supposedly made by you. But there was no way you could have made them.” He was smiling, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile back.
“But what about all the other ones?” I asked. “Won’t they just say I did them from somewhere else or something like that?”
“Here’s the bonus, Karma, every single transaction, all fifteen hundred of them, were all done from only two different IP addresses. It was tricky, but I was able to track them. One was the Pagano residence, and the other was Pagano Imports. And, your cell phone GPS has you at the pool and other colleges during the times I mentioned. No one can be in two places at the same time, Karma. No one.”
It took me a minute to register what he was saying. Then I smiled for the first time in days. “Does this really prove my innocence?”
“Yes,” Bill said. “Everything was given to Detectives Martinez and Lance. They were told by the judge to verify what we found. They have forty-eight hours to go over our information and confirm or deny it. That means, they will talk to your coach and probably some of your teammates. Then they will come and talk to you. This looks good for you Karma.”
I had hope for the first time in days.
****
Bodie
Leaving the room and knowing Karma was going back to a jail cell was terrible, but knowing that she should be out of there and free in a couple of days almost made up for it.
I took Mrs. Webster back to the hotel then went to our dorm room. Kayleigh was there with Major, so I filled them on in the meeting.
“So, it really looks like she might go free?” Kaleigh asked.
“If the detectives do their job, then yes.”
“And if they don’t?” she wanted to know.
“I have a very strong feeling they will.”
Major chuckled. “What did you do?”
“Me. Nothing. But West Security may have had a talk with them after court this morning.”
Major shook his head but smiled at me. “It’s a good thing your dad’s company has a good relationship with the police around here.”
“Yeah, I never thought it would have come in as handy as it has this year.”
I knew both Major and Kayleigh were thinking back to last year when she was kidnapped, and West Security helped find her.
“So, what can we do?” Kayleigh asked.
“You guys can’t do anything. So, just go to class and act normal, I guess. I’m going to continue to investigate this. I know that Anthony is behind it, I just have to have indisputable proof.”
Kayleigh nodded. “Call if you find anything out.”
“And don’t do anything stupid without me,” Major said with a smile.
“Okay, to both of you,” I said.
They left the dorm and I got back on my laptop. I had to find a way to show that it was Anthony and not his dad that was responsible for stealing the money. Logically, you wouldn’t steal from your own company and then report it to the police, so I was ninety-nine percent sure it was Anthony.
I figured I had about twelve hours to find what I was looking for and get it to the detectives so they could confirm it. Once my fingers started flying over the keys it was all I could focus on.
“I brought you food,” Major said.
“Huh,” I said, looking up from my computer.
He chuckled. “You’ve been at it for hours. I figured you needed to eat.”
I had no idea how long I’d been sitting there, but I was a little stiff when I stood up.
“Thanks,” I told Major. “Where’s Kayleigh?”
“With Karma’s parents. I’m going to pick her up in a while. How’s it going? Did you find anything?”
“I think so,” I said between mouthfuls. “But I don’t want to get too excited until I can actually prove it. I’m currently trying to find Anthony’s hidden email. I know there has to be one. No one could set up offshore accounts without phone calls or emails. I’m betting emails because they’re easier to get rid of.”
“I know I’m not as good as you, but I can hold my own so let me know if you need any help.”
“Thanks, Major. I will.”
He left and I finished the burger he brought me. Then I was right back to searching. I wasn’t sure if Anthony covered his tracks himself or if someone else was in on it with him, but whoever it was, they were good. But I was better.
Sometime in the middle of the night, I found what I was looking for. Way down deep on the dark web Anthony had a secret email that was almost impossible to find. I’d hit the jackpot. Everything was there to convict him. I saved everything on a flash drive and went straight to the police station, not caring what time it was.
There was an officer at the front desk now instead of the cute girl from the other day.
“Can I help you?” he asked me.
“I need to see Detective Martinez or Detective Lance. It’s extremely urgent.”
“Son, it’s almost 4am, they aren’t here right now.”
“I’ll wait then,” I told him. “When do they get in?”
“Usually around 8am.”
“Fuck, okay. Can I sit here?”
“As long as you don’t cause any trouble.”
“I won’t, Sir. I just really need to give them some important information about a case they’re working on.”
“Okay then.”
He went back to whatever he was doing, and I had a seat in one of the chairs. I played on my phone for a while then started pacing. When I got the look from the officer, I sat down again. Sometime around 5am he brought me a coffee, which I was extremely grateful for.
By 6am, I was a ball of nerves. The flash drive was burning a hole in my pocket. The officer must have sensed it because he came over to me with a piece of paper.
“We don’t normally do this, but I can tell whatever you need to talk to them about is important so here.”
I looked at the paper and on it were the numbers for Martinez and Lance.
“Thank you. You have no idea what this means Officer …” I looked at his name badge, “Walker. You’re helping to save an innocent woman.”
He chuckled. “I kind of thought this had to do with a woman. Good luck son.” He clapped me on the shoulder and went back to the desk.
I went straight to my car and called the number for Detective Martinez.
“Detective Martinez,” she said, when she answered.
“Detective, this is Bodie West. I have some very important information for you regarding the Karma Webster case.”
“What is it?”
“I need to show you. I have everything on a flash drive for you. It proves who the actual criminal is behind the stolen money. Can you meet me at the station?”
“We’ll be there in ten minutes. Meet us out front.”
She hung up and I breathed a small sigh of relief. I think that was the longest ten minutes of my life. I could barely stand still by the
time a car pulled up in front of the building. The two detectives got out and came over to me.
“Come with us,” Detective Lance said.
I followed them into the building, giving Officer Walker a small nod on the way by. We went into the main area of the station and to what I guessed was one of their desks.
“Where’s the flash drive?” Detective Martinez asked.
I dug it out of my pocket and handed it to her. She put it in her computer and brought up the files I’d saved on it. I watched as they looked at what I’d found.
“You’re good kid,” Detective Lance said. “How long did it take you to find this?”
“Almost all night. I had to prove it wasn’t Karma.”
“Looks like you did, and you’ve made the case against Anthony Pagano easy,” he said. “We still have to talk to Miss Webster’s associates, but I can’t see why the judge won’t let her go, especially with this information.”
“Thank you, Mr. West,” Detective Martinez said. “Karma is lucky to have you in her life. The case was overwhelmingly against her until you came along.”
“It was the least I could do,” I said. “She deserves to be happy.”
“Bodie,” Detective Lance said seriously, “I need you to do one thing for me, stay away from Anthony Pagano. If he suspects anything, I have a feeling he’ll run. You’ve given us enough evidence to charge him and I’d hate for that not to happen. Okay?”
“Okay,” I agreed. I really wanted to confront him and beat the fuck out of him, but that satisfaction wasn’t worth Karma’s freedom.
“Now go home and get some sleep. You look like shit kid.”
I had to smile at that. “Thank you, guys, for giving me a chance. See you in court tomorrow.”
After leaving the police station, I went home, to my parents place instead of the dorm. I let Major know where I was if he needed me. Mom and dad were just getting ready for the day. I told them what I’d found and my visit with the detectives. Then I went to my old room and crashed.
Chapter 37
Karma
Monday night, I sat in my cell thinking about the future and hoping that an orange uniform wasn’t in it. I wanted so badly to believe that Bodie was right and that the judge would let me go, but it was hard. Even though it was only my fourth night in jail it felt like I’d been here a month. If I got out of this, I was going to be a better person. The selfish Karma was gone.
Diving in Deep (A Bay State University Novel Book 2) Page 26