Trinity nodded and they hurried off to beat the start bell for the last class of the day.
“I expect the police commissioner to be contacted in this matter,” James Faulkenberg told Vice-Principal Smathers.
“Congressman, I am not entirely sure the police need to be contacted,” she replied, rather tentatively.
Coach Crandall could tell she was slightly intimidated by the congressman.
“I am quite sure,” the congressman replied. “Rodney tells me this hooligan tried to skewer him with a javelin. Threw a dozen or more at him.”
“It was horseplay,” Coach Crandall said. “Dangerous horseplay, certainly. Jason has been suspended from the team for a month, and is being placed on restricted intramural physical activity until the suspension is over.”
“It was attempted murder!” Rodney said.
“Shut up, boy,” the congressman said. “Let me handle this.”
Rodney fell silent and glared at Jason. Jason had yet to say a word.
“I am telling you right now that if you fail to call the authorities within the next five minutes, every job in this school will be in jeopardy. I will not have my son treated like this. This is a serious matter. My attorney will be here shortly to make sure everyone understands the seriousness.”
Jack Lawrence entered the office. “Congressman, I came as soon as I was notified. I want to offer my most sincere apologies. Believe me when I tell you that I intend to straighten this young man out.”
He glared at Jason as hard as Rodney was.
“I expect you to apologize to Congressman immediately, young man!”
Jason looked at Lawrence for a moment. Then turned toward the congressman. “I am very sorry you have such a terrible person as a son, Congressman.”
“Jason McKindrick!” Jack Lawrence said.
“I am going to kill him!” Rodney said.
“Oh, my!” Vice-Principal Smathers said.
“Oh, Lord!” Coach Crandall said.
“I will not tolerate this!” the Congressman said. “I and my attorney will be speaking to Judge Grovener within the hour! Come along, Rodney!”
The two stormed out.
“I ought to…” Jack Lawrence was saying when Sally Richardson hurried in.
“You ought to be careful what you say, and to whom,” Sally said. Turning to Jason she asked, “Are you all right?”
“I am fine. Make sure no one here gets in trouble, okay? I will see you at the house.”
“Wait one minute!” Jack Lawrence said. “I have not finished with you. The congressman is an important man in this city. We are going to have to appease him in some manner, or everyone will pay the price. I do not intend to be one of them.”
He whirled on the Coach. “You only suspended him for one month? You should kick him off the team!” He turned to the Vice-Principal. “You should suspend him for the rest of the school year.”
“Look, you,” Coach Crandall said, “I thought you were his guardian. You are supposed to be standing up for him! Not selling him down the river!”
“No, you look! I can cause you almost as much grief as the Congressman. I want this matter settled to the Congressman’s satisfaction.”
Sally looked over at Jason. “What happened?”
Jason smiled. “I convinced Rodney to go the other way when he started after Kathy.”
“With javelins?”
“Richardson, the crazy loon was throwing them at the Congressman’s son, for Christ’s sake! He really could have killed him!”
“Jason?” Sally asked.
“Hey, look! Jason McKindrick is the best high school javelin thrower in the state. Probably the country. He can put a javelin in a three foot circle at two hundred feet. If he had wanted to hit Rodney with one of the javelins, the boy would be dead. He just kept sticking them into the ground a few feet from Rodney, as Rodney ran the other way, just to keep him moving.”
“Are you condoning this?” Vice-Principal Smathers asked.
“No, of course not!” Coach Crandall replied, quickly subdued. “No. If he had made a slip, it could have been terrible. But he did not.”
“It does not matter,” Lawrence said. “It was still assault with a deadly weapon.”
“Just wait a minute, Lawrence!” Sally said. “I need to get the story from Jason. Then we can plan our strategy to deal with the Congressman.”
“You talk some sense into the hoodlum. I intend to go downtown and try to head off as much of this trouble as I can.”
“Coach,” Jason said when Lawrence was gone, “You have to protect yourself. Do not try to help me. It will only make things worse for you.”
“But, Jason…”
“Be smart, Crandall,” Vice-Principal Smathers said, getting a little of her own back, now that the powerful were gone.
“Jeez, Judy! You know how Rodney is! How many times has he been in here? Jason was just protecting that girl! You heard what happened. He might have hurt her.”
“Discipline is my prerogative. His guardian even suggested harsher punishment than that you meted. And perhaps he is right. If we appease the congressman, we may get out of this mess with our jobs intact.”
“I do not believe this!” Sally said.
“Wait, Miss Richardson. She is right. If they do not come down hard on me there will be trouble. For people I do not want to have trouble.”
Jason looked over at the Vice-Principal. “Whatever you think is appropriate, Mrs. Smathers.”
“That is much better,” she replied triumphantly.
“Be very careful of what disciplinary action you inflict. I am his attorney, and will protect his rights. The congressman has no means to harm me. The firm I am associated with campaigned against him in the last election, and we all survived.”
Vice Principal Smathers frowned. “We have to do something more than a month suspension!” She turned to the Coach. “You heard him. You need your job. So do I.”
“I will not allow him to be suspended from school for the entire year!” Sally insisted.
She saw the anguish in the coach’s face. “Three month suspension. No intra-mural sports. Strictly physical education, based on an approved program. Supervised, with no other students. I, or Coach Andrews will supervise. Return to the team only upon approval of the school board.”
He looked at Jason, not Sally or the Vice Principal. “Do you think that might do it?”
Jason shook his head. “No. They are out for blood. Mine. But it should get the school off the hook. Miss Richardson is a very good lawyer. She will protect the school, as well as me. Will you not, Miss Richardson?”
Sally frowned at Smathers, but studied the coach’s face for a moment. “I need to talk to some witnesses, then decide. But I am inclined to go along, despite my better judgment.”
“If you can come down to the gym, I will round up Pam. She saw most of it, too.”
“Any of the other students.”
“Several, but they are probably already gone for the day. That was last bell, several minutes ago.”
There was quite a group that met near the school offices after the final bell.
When the coach stepped out he looked a little startled. “Perhaps not everyone has left, yet,” he told Sally.
“You okay, Jason?” Sara asked.
Instead of replying Jason asked Kathy, “Are you okay? He had hold of you pretty tight.”
“I am fine. Oh, Jason, why did you do it? You could be in so much trouble.”
“You do know I was not throwing at him. Just close to him to make him stop,” Jason said carefully.
“We all know that!” Trinity said. “Geez, Jason! I have watched you practice a hundred times! You put that javelin right where you want it every time. That is what you did today.”
“I will say,” Alan said. “He just kept laying them to within two feet every time. I could tell he was calculating every trajectory, just like he does in a meet. Wind speed and direction, the light, his streng
th that day… all of it.”
“Alan is right,” one of the others said. “He could have come at least a foot closer on every throw and still not been more than three inches, plus or minus.”
“I will want to talk to everyone that saw what happened. Sara, could you get everyone’s name and phone number I can contact them? For the moment, I have to talk to Jason and the coaches.”
“Yes, Miss Richardson. Everyone will help. Rodney was going to hurt Kathy. I know it. Jason was just helping her.”
“Do not worry. We will make sure nothing serious happens to Jason,” Sally stated, marveling at support the young man was receiving.
“We will wait for you, Jason,” Sara said.
He shook his head. “Everyone has homework and jobs and stuff. I will be fine. Miss Richardson will see to it that I get home.” His eyes cut to Kathy, then back to Sara.
Sara nodded very slightly. Jason smiled.
When Jason entered the house he immediately asked Sara, who met him at the door, “How is Kathy? And her folks?”
“Kathy is fine. I was worried about her just a little, until we got her home. But she did really great then. Her parents nearly went ballistic. Getting them calmed down helped Kathy, I think.
“They want to talk to you. Thank you, I am sure, for standing up for Kathy. I think you should let them. I know you do not like praise, but it really is important to them.”
Jason nodded. “I understand, I guess. I will go over early tomorrow when I pick up Kathy. That will give them a chance.”’
He smiled ruefully. “I was expecting something of the second degree, anyway, just taking Kathy out. Guys have been after her for a long time. Kathy said her mother and father both interview every boy that takes her out.”
Sara smiled at the expression on Jason’s face.
Jason’s eyes cut toward the dining room. “Would you tell Mrs. MacDougal that I am not hungry. I think I just want to go up and lie down. This has been a trying day.”
“Jason?” Sara asked. “Are you sure you are okay?”
“I came this close to actually throwing AT him.” Jason spoke quietly. “I do not like having felt that close to losing it. I really did throw to scare him, not hit him, but I really did think about it.”
“Oh, Jason!”
“Yeah,” Jason said, dejectedly. “I just want to lay down and think about some things.”
“I will explain to the staff,” Sara said. “I have a feeling, that with the network of acquaintances that Mrs. MacDougal has, she already knows something went on today. I have managed to avoid her, so far, but I will go find her and explain.”
“Thanks. That will be a big help.”
Sara felt the tears well as Jason walked slowly toward the stairs.
When she turned around Mrs. MacDougal was standing there.
“What should we do to help?” Mrs. MacDougal asked.
“Just… Let him be for a little while. He feels terrible at the moment, even though he did a wonderful thing.”
Mrs. MacDougal nodded, watching the young man going up the stairs.
“He has the McKindrick blood, no doubt about it,” she whispered. “Come, child, tell me the tale. We shall plan what to do to help, when it is time to help.”
Sara smiled. “I might not love Jason,” she thought to herself. “But I sure do love these people!”
“Is everyone here that is supposed to be here?” Judge Grovener asked his bailiff.
“Plus a couple,” the bailiff told the judge. A head motion indicated the extras.
“All rise!”
“I believe I will keep this informal for the moment, Harry,” Judge Grovener said.
“Everyone take a seat, and let us see if we can get this straightened out without bloodshed. Commodore, to what do we owe the pleasure? In what capacity are you here?”
“I represent Jason McKindrick’s trust, Judge. And I am the legal guardian of one of the minor witnesses.”
“I see. And you, sir? Who might you be?”
“I represent the media. Congressman Faulkenberg asked me to attend to document the case.”
“That right, Jim?”
“Yes, Frank. I thought a record of…”
“Harry, lose the reporter,” Judge Grovener said, interrupting the Congressman.
“Jim, you knew there would be a court reporter here. We go back a long way. I intend to keep this on an informal basis until I establish the need for formality. But be very careful of your actions. There are minors involved in this. Bringing in the media, unannounced, is getting very close to the limit.”
Judge Grovener looked around the room. “The rest of you. Who are you? For the record.”
Harry took his place near the bench.
“You getting all this, Bridgette?” the judge asked at one point.
“Yes, Your Honor,” she replied.
“Let me know if we go too fast for you.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Okay. Everyone knows who everyone else is. Of course, everyone did, except me, anyway.”
The judge looked at Jason. “You the instigator of all this?”
Sally started to stand. Even before the Judge could say anything, Jason put his hand on her shoulder to prevent her from rising. He stood instead.
“Yes, Your Honor. I am afraid I did instigate this whole mess.”
“You sorry you did?”
“No, sir. I would do it again, if the situation came about in the same manner.”
There were several quick comments, rather loud and pointed, from those around the Congressman.
“I said this would be informal. But it will be very quietly informal,” Judge Grovener said sharply. “If I have to ask Harry to escort anyone out, everyone will regret it.”
Sally grabbed Jason’s wrist, urging him to sit.
“I do not think your attorney thinks that was a good idea,” the judge said to Jason.
“No, Your Honor. She is a very good attorney. Knows the legal system inside and out. I simply prefer the truth.”
“You do not believe the legal system is simply a formal means to get to the truth?” asked Judge Grovener.
“In many cases, yes. In most, no.”
“Really? You plan on being an attorney at some point?”
Jason smiled. “No, Your Honor.”
“Too bad. You would be a good one.”
There were some murmurs from the Congressman’s area, but a glare from the Judge quieted them.
“The truth, boy? The whole truth and nothing but the truth?”
“If that is what you want, Your Honor.”
“We will try that and see what happens. You go first.”
Again Sally gripped Jason’s wrist. Her eyes went to the Judge’s. She released Jason and sat back.
“In my opinion, Kathy Wilkenson was in immediate danger of physical harm from Rodney Faulkenberg.”
“I object, Your Honor! The witness is…”
“Strike Two,” Judge Grovener said, silencing Faulkenberg’s attorney. “Make a note, Harry. One more strike and he is out.”
“Yes’ir, Your Honor.”
“Continue.”
Jason began speaking again. “I had heard her named used disparagingly only minutes before by Rodney. He said he intended to make her pay. It is an assumption, but I believed he meant for her humiliation of Rodney the night before, when she defended herself from similar acts of abuse by striking Rodney in the solar plexus.
“I have had mutual combat with Rodney in the past. He is big, tough and strong. I thought then, and I think now, that he would have hurt Kathy. I am no match in strength. I can throw a javelin exceptionally well. Not even Rodney, as tough and mean as he is, could stand still when a javelin was being thrown within two feet of him. I used the means at my disposal to prevent harm coming to Kathy.”
“Twelve times, I understand,” Judge Grovener said dryly.
“It was actually sixteen, Your Honor,” Jason said quietly. “I do not
think most of those that witnessed the events realized that my first four throws were ranging throws, to allow me to gauge flight times and wind drift. I suspected Rodney was going to do something and I prepared accordingly. I consider the first four ranging throws as part of the incident.”
Judge Grovener’s eyes widened slightly at Jason’s words. He cut his eyes to the Congressman and entourage.
“In order to prevent the immediate birth of any kittens, I think I shall allow one of your people to speak on your behalf. Yourself, if so inclined.”
“That is what I pay these people large sums of money to do,” said the Congressman. He motioned to one of the attorneys.
“Your Honor!” the man said, literally leaping to his feet.
Harry took a step forward. The judge waved him back.
“Your Honor,” the attorney said, somewhat more calmly. “The defendant has just admitted to premeditation. I doubt if there will be any question as to the lethality of the javelins. I move that this be made a formal hearing based on the testimony just heard.”
“You done?”
“Uh… Yes, Your Honor.”
“Sit down. No.” Judge Grovener looked at Jason again. “Any further truths you have to tell?”
“No, Your Honor. Well, except… Vini, Vici, Proieci a magnus lignum,” Jason sat down.
Bridgette giggled.
“Okay,” the judge said when no one spoke up, “Someone translate. Not you.” He looked pointedly at Jason.
Trinity raised her hand tentatively. “The first two,” she said when the judge nodded toward her. “From William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. I came. I saw. The other one is Vidi, I conquered. I do not know what Jason’s third saying was.”
“Well, thank you, miss, for knowing that much. Which, just so no one doubts it, I already knew, thank you very much,” said the judge.
“Since there is no outcry from the other side of the room, I take it no one understands much Latin, there, either.
Bridgette stood and leaned toward the judge. He leaned forward and she whispered in his ear.
The judge’s eyes cut once again to Jason.
“Do not do that again. Do you understand?”
Jason stood up. ”Yes, Your Honor.” He sat down.
“But it was pretty good,” Judge Grovener, added with a smile. He looked over at the Congressman. “It is immaterial and will not be considered. So leave it alone. Look it up later, if you are so inclined.
The Contract Page 26
