"My husband believes that he is one of the men that C.W. Watson has been after since becoming head of the Domestic Anti-Drug Commission," Tasha said.
Gloria grabbed a pen and a yellow legal pad and began to scribble notes. "Does Face know you're here?"
"He's the one who sent me to come and see you. He's been keeping a close eye on you. He knows all about your reputation as one of the best, young defense attorneys in the country."
Gloria smiled at the compliments. "So, tell me, Mrs. Smith, how can I help?"
"Face wants you and only you to represent him. We'll pay whatever the cost," Tasha said, with a sincere expression. "Money is not an obstacle," she added.
"Where is your husband now?" Gloria asked.
"He's at our house in the Hamptons. He's been there for the past few weeks."
"Face is in New York?" Gloria asked, surprised.
"Yes, Mrs. Henderson. Face has been hiding from the authorities, trying to put his thoughts in order. He's safe at the house. No one knows about it except a few close friends, and now you. So, will you represent my husband, Mrs. Henderson?... Right now, Face really needs you. He told me to tell you that," Tasha stated.
Gloria looked at Tasha and smiled. Then she said, "Please, call me Gloria. And yes, it would be an honor to help out a good friend."
Tasha sat her briefcase on her lap and opened it up, then she reached inside and took out a piece of paper with an address and a phone number written on it. "Here, this is for you, Gloria.
It's the address and phone number to the house. Face is already expecting your call or visit," Tasha said with a smile that reached her eyes.
"So, he knew that I wouldn't say no, huh?" Gloria asked, as she took the paper from her hand.
"My husband said that y’all were good friends, and that real friends always come through."
Gloria watched as Tasha reached into the briefcase again and brought out her check book. She closed the briefcase and lay the check book on top of it and began to write. When she finished Tasha passed the check to Gloria. Gloria stared at the check with a stunned expression.
"Mrs. Smith,..." Gloria started.
"Please call me Tasha," Tasha interrupted with a smile.
"Tasha, this is way more than enough!"
"It's all yours, Gloria. My husband wanted to cover all expenses; traveling costs, hotels, phone calls, taxis and whatever else you need to do your job comfortably. Face is planning on taking this case to trial and he's prepared to go down fighting!"
Gloria sat back holding the check in her hands. "If everything you told me today is true then it's going to be a long drawn out trial. The United States Government has all the resources
to fight these type of drug cases. And as we both know, the U.S. Government does not like to lose!"
Tasha closed her briefcase and stood up, "and neither does my husband," she said acutely.
After Gloria walked her to the door, they shook hands again and Tasha stepped out of the office and gently closed the door behind her. As soon as the door had closed, Gloria walked back to her desk and sat down. She picked the check up again and looked at it closely, as if to make sure her eyes weren't deceiving her. They weren't, so she reached for the phone and made the first of many important phone calls.
CHAPTER 89
Lewisburg Federal Prison...
Vernon 'Truck' Wilson stepped inside the small interview room. He was being escorted by a large white, angry looking and bitter C.O. that treated the shackled and handcuffed prisoner none to gently. "Sit down!" the C.O. sneered, impatiently urging Truck into the chair.
"You can leave us now," Agent McDonald told the C.O. in a superior tone.
The C.O. grinned patronizingly then turned and went out the door. He glared at Truck as he left.
"Who the fuck is he?" Powaski asked as the door closed.
"That's Stripe, 'The Stripe' for the yellow streak down his back. Unless he got a prisoner chained down. Then he a bad muthafucker," Truck smiled, as he looked at the two Agents inconspicuously. What's this all about?"
"Your freedom, if you're willing to play by the rules," McDonald replied.
Truck sat back and started laughing. "I think y’all got the wrong man!" he laughed.
Agent Powaski scooted his chair closer to Truck and stared directly in his eyes. "Mr. Wilson you have been in prison for over eight years and you have a long way to go before you're eligible for release. You know why we are here and either you're gonna help us out or not!"
"I ain't no snitch!" Truck replied.
He watched as McDonald reached into a large brown envelope and pulled out a white sheet of paper.
"Do you see this piece of paper, Mr. Wilson? Here, why don't you read it for yourself," he said, handing it to Truck.
Truck sat back in the chair and carefully read every line. When he had finished reading the paper he laid it aside and looked at the two agents. "This says that if I'm willing to cooperate and testify against Norman Smith, Junior, aka Black Scarface, then the U.S. Government will recommend that the rest of my sentence be vacated and I’ll be placed in the Witness Protection Program," Truck said with an incredulous expression.
"That's right, Mr. Wilson and it's signed by the Director of the FBI himself. All we'll need from you is for you to take the witness stand and tell the jury what we need for you to say. We already have a list made out for you," Agent McDonald said with a sly smile.
"So, basically what the government wants is for me to lie on the witness stand. Commit perjury for my freedom?"
"Call it what you like. But, think about your freedom," Powaski replied.
"Y’all want Face that bad?" Truck asked.
"More than you could ever imagine, Mr. Wilson, and with or without your help, Face is going down. Mark my words," McDonald said.
Washington, D.C...
C.W. Watson sat behind his large ornate, antique desk looking over some very highly classified documents. Since being appointed head of the Domestic Anti-Drug Commission, every man on his list of major drug dealers, except one, had been arrested and charged. The one remaining name was Norman 'Face' Smith, Jr.. The Senator was going over material for his press conference that was less than an hour away.
Expected to be in attendance were members from all the major news media; NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, NPR, and the BBC. All were expected to carry live coverage on their radio and TV stations nationwide.
C.W. Watson was ready to let the national public know just who he was and at the same time diminish the character of the only fugitive that had yet to be caught and arrested from his
list. For C.W. Watson it was all a powerful political move; fooling the public with the 'good guys versus the bad guys' scheme that the U.S. Government was a master at using.
After closing the classified document folder, the Senator stood from his desk and stretched his arms out and mumbled, "I'm sorry Mr. Smith, but you're the perfect 'fall-guy' that
I need to win my place in the White House's Oval Office! It's my destiny!"
C.W. grabbed his briefcase and headed for the door. He had people to impress!
Philadelphia, PA. early the next morning...
A swarm of Federal agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, local police and Philadelphia County Sheriff's Department raided more than thirty-five locations suspected of being connected to Face's drug operation. Unbeknownst to the authorities, Face's entire drug operation had already been shut down for weeks, and none of his top men had been arrested. The 'spoiled milk' alert proved that Face had remained three steps ahead of the authorities.
For all the federal authorities involved in the morning raids, it turned out to be one big disappointment and another big waste of tax-payer's money.
Still, after yesterday’s live televised press conference, Norman 'Face' Smith, Jr. was now the 'Most Wanted Man in America!' And C.W. Watson had made himself into the new public hero that was determined to take down the bad guy.
Inside the T&F Real Estate Firm...
>
Pamela stepped into Tasha's office and quickly closed the door. "A group of reporters are all outside in the lobby. What do you want to do?" Pamela asked, taking a seat.
Tasha put down the newspaper she had been reading and said, "Nothing. Face said don't do anything. I already called a two o'clock meeting to inform all of our employees to avoid the media and don't answer any questions about anything. If anyone talks to the media they will be fired on the spot!"
"I see you've been reading the news papers. Those bastards are trying to ruin my son!" Pamela vented.
Tasha picked up the newspaper and showed Pamela the bold black headlines, 'PHILLY DRUG KINGPIN ON THE RUN FROM THE FEDS'
"'Trying' is an understatement!" Tasha replied angrily.
"They're making Face out to be some kind of violent street thug! Feeding the public with a bunch of bullshit!" Pamela vented, as her eyes filled with tears.
Tasha tearfully looked at Pamela and said, "Don't worry, Miss Pam. We're gonna fight these people with everything we got!"
East Hampton, Long Island, New York...
Gloria sat beside Face staring into his deep brown eyes. To her, he was still the most handsome and intelligent man she had ever known. And deep down inside, her feelings for him
had never changed.
"I made a few very important calls and Face, this thing don't look good at all," she told him. "The press conference that C.W. Watson did yesterday started a media frenzy. Now, the public thinks you're some type of mastermind, murderously bloody, drug dealer."
"But, I wasn't indicted for no murders," Face said.
"We know that, but the public don't and the media will use any information, valid or not, to create a story. It sells papers," Gloria replied.
Face sat back nodding his head. "So, honestly, what do you think, Gloria?"
After a long sigh, Gloria reached out and grabbed both of Face's hands. "They want you bad Face. More than John Gotti, Ricky Ross and Larry Hoover all combined. This thing is big
and I believe there are a lot of powerful people involved, pulling strings to make sure you go down!"
"Can you beat 'em?"
Tears welled up in Gloria's eyes and started falling down her cheeks. "I can try," she said softly.
Face reached over and gave Gloria a long warm hug. "Just do your best," he whispered in her ear.
"I will. I promise you!" she replied, looking into his eyes and said, "Tomorrow morning we're driving to Philadelphia so you can turn yourself in. The longer you run, the worse it gets."
Face nodded his head in agreement and said, "I'll be ready."
Then he and Gloria stood up from the sofa and he walked her over to the door. After she left the house, Face retreated back into his bedroom. He laid on his bed and stared at the
twelve foot ceiling.
CHAPTER 90
Philadelphia, early the next morning...
Face and his lawyer, Gloria Jones, walked into the downtown FBI office to turn himself in to the authorities. After being read his rights, he was fingerprinted, photographed and then processed into the federal system. His new federal prison number was 84546-066.
After Face was processed he was quickly escorted to the nearby Federal Detention Center. Face was housed on the 4th floor with other federal inmates waiting to be sentenced or waiting to go to trial.
Early the next morning, four U.S. Marshals escorted Face to his arraignment hearing inside the federal court building. At Face arraignment, he and Gloria stood side by side while
a magistrate judge read Face the charges against him. Face was being charged with conspiracy to purchase and distribute more than 2000 kilograms of Cocaine and 250 kilos of Heroin. If found guilty he would be sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.
The day after his arraignment, he was denied bond because he was considered to be a major flight risk, even though he had voluntarily surrendered. However, the government didn't want to take any chances.
The case was assigned to Federal District Judge, Anthony T. Marino, a conservative, mild-tempered man that had been a Federal District Judge for 23 years. Judge Marino was respected by all his peers and considered a fair judge. The Assistant United States Attorney assigned to represent the government's case was Vincent L. Brady, a tall, slim, white man with a hard nose reputation and a flawless record. In his 12 years, as a U.S. Prosecutor for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, he had never lost a case. His reputation was the reason the government had specially appointed him to Face’s case. They wanted Face badly, and Vincent L. Brady was the man to take him down.
A few days later...
Inside his cell at the federal detention center Face was laying across his bunk reading a few important documents that Gloria sent him. When a C.O. opened his door, he quickly sat up on his bunk.
"Smith, this is your new celly," the C.O. said, shoving a tall, slim, dark skinned man into the cell and slamming the steel door.
Face stared at the man and thought that he looked familiar. He was positive that he knew the man from somewhere, but he just couldn't place him.
"Hey, what's up? I'm Kevon," the man said, extending his hand.
"Face," Face replied, as he shook the man's hand.
"Wow, it's kinda cool that I'm in the same cell with one of the biggest drug dealers in the whole country," Kevon said with a smile.
Face didn't reply, he just curiously watched as Kevon made up his bunk. "Don't I know you from somewhere?" Face asked curiously.
"I doubt it. I'm just a petty drug dealer from North Philly, "Kevon answered.
"Where at in North?"
"Richard Allen Projects," Kevon answered proudly.
Face made a mental note of that and then laid back across his bunk.
"Man, you all over the TV and newspapers! Everybody is talking about you!"
"Yeah, I know," Face said, as he finished reading his documents.
After Kevon finished making up his bunk, he climbed up on top of it and laid down. "So you think you can win?" Kevon asked as he leaned over and looked down from his bunk.
Face looked up at Kevon's familiar face and said, "Only time will tell. One thing for sure… I'm gonna fight with every breath I got.
Kevon smiled and nodded his head. "I wish you luck," he said, as he laid back down.
After two weeks inside the Federal Detention Center...
Face had spent the majority of his time reading over important documents about his case. The only time he left his cell was for mail call or for a visit. And to all the other inmates there,
Face was looked upon as a celebrity. Even members of the staff were in awe of him. They couldn't believe that the man who was considered the biggest drug dealer in the country was right there with them.
As for his celly, Kevon, Face still couldn't place his face or figure out where he knew him from. For the two weeks that they had been cellies, Face had people secretly gathering up enough
information to find out who he really was. Face didn't trust anyone around him. Especially a talkative cellmate who asked too many questions and never stopped running his mouth.
Inside the private Attorney’s visiting room, Face and Gloria sat there talking and discussing some strategies for the trial.
"This is your Motion For Discovery," Gloria said, passing Face a manila folder. "Now you can see for yourself all the government's witnesses that's gonna testify against you at the trial. You'll also see the statements they made and swore to."
Face opened the folder and looked over his Motion For Discovery. As he perused each page he couldn't believe what he was reading. After a long sigh he looked up at Gloria and shook his head in total disappointment and disbelief. "Damn!" he mumbled under his breath.
"As you see Face, there are no friends in this ugly game. Even the ones you think are your friends will cross you to save their own asses," Gloria stated. "The government is the very best at turning your friends and loved ones against you," she added.
"Well, believe it! Every name on those pages are people who have made deals with the government to take you down. Most likely after they testify against you at trial they'll each enter into the Witness Protection Program."
Face closed the folder and passed it back to Gloria. His mind was clouded with thoughts, and his soul was filled with indescribable pain. He still couldn't believe that people who he considered friends were all going to testify against him.
"Face!" Gloria said, snapping him from out of his daze.
"Yeah ?"
"I checked up on your celly like you asked," she said.
"What did you find out?"
"I don't know what's going on, but there's no inmate Kevon Johnson, prisoner number 73852-066 anywhere in the system. I can't find anything on the guy. Make sure you watch him very closely. He might be an informant working with the Feds to try and gather information on you. So, be extra careful."
"Did you talk to Quincy?"
"Yeah, I spoke with Quincy yesterday and he told me to tell you that no one down at the Richard Allen Projects has ever heard of the guy. So, please, be cautious and watch what you say," Gloria warned.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Face grinned.
Gloria closed her briefcase and stood up. Then Face stood up and gave her a hug.
"Thanks Gloria, for everything. I really appreciate it." Gloria stared into his handsome face and smiled. Just being in his presence turned her on more than any man she had ever known, including her husband. "You don't have to thank me, Face. That's what friends are for," she said softly.
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