Guilty! The Trials of Phil Ferguson

by Sean Russell

  tookaleaveofabsencefromschoolandflewtothelandofopportunity;theland wheredreamscametrue.

  *****

  Theauditionwasanexperience.Therewerehundredsofyoung,prettygirls,all

  thinkingthattheywouldbeAmerica’snexttopmodel.Amandafacedallkinds

  of personalities, from pleasant to overly competitive, to downright bitch. None ofthisfazedher.Comparedtoherschooldays,theseweregirlguidesonagood day.Amandawasplacingherselfinthecrowd,visualizingbeingselected,being ontheshow.Suddenlyshewascalledoutfromthegroup.

  Shewaselated.Someonesawthediamondintherough.Tyrawantedaprivate

  word with her. She was led outside by one of the show’s officials. Waiting for her in navy blue uniforms, light glittering off their badges and faces grim as deportation, were two immigration officers. The person who Amanda was staying with had overstayed her time in the United States, but in jealous spite, had informed the officials that Amanda had a doctored passport and was therefore in the country illegally and was auditioning to be America’s Top Model.Theofficershadnochoicebuttoinvestigate.

  Amandawastakentotheofficeforquestioningandthoroughexaminationofher passportwhichwasfoundtobe‘legit’.Shehadstraightenedthatmatteroutprior toanyexcursiontotheU.S.,havingfollowedtheadviceofhermentorMickey.

  Shewasreleasedwithanapology.

  “Wehavetofollowuponallleads…Youknowhowthesethingsare…”

  The end result was that Amanda missed the audition. The next one was in six monthsandwasduetobeheldinLosAngeles.Shewasdevastated.

  Amanda was determined to chase her dream. She was at a turning point. She could cut her losses, return to Barbados and become a lawyer and protect the rightsofyoung,vulnerablewomenlikeherself.

  In fact, it was the sensible choice. She could not, however, ignore that burn in her; that burn that rose from that inner core of her being; that burn that felt it wouldconsumeheratsometimeifshedidnotaccedetoitsurging.Shedecided to go for broke. She had six months to make headway towards her dream.

  Beyond that she would certainly be a legitimate target for the immigration

  department.Shewasdeterminedtorealiseherdream.Shewouldwaittables,do whateverittook.Shewasunafraidofstruggle.Shehadknownitallherlife.

  CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

  Detective Mobert Clarke was a thin man of medium-brown complexion and coarsefeatureswithatendencyforwrinkling,muchlikeabullmastiff’sface.

  Hewasnotwelllikedinhisdepartment,probablybecausehewasnotmuchofa talker,andwhenhedidtalkitwasusuallytocommunicatethefacthetookshit from no one. Little mystery that he was a bachelor. He also possessed a sharp, deductive mind, and so despite any shortcomings he had on a social level, he washighlyrespected,evenifgrudginglyso,asoneofthebestdetectivesinthe department.

  HewascontemplatingthecaseinvolvingthewellknownlawyerPhilFerguson.

  Thecasehadonodour—fishy.Thepolicehadreceivedananonymoustipabout

  Jade’scar:thatthebrakelineshadbeencut.ThatfollowedacallfromJade’scell phone the day before requesting that the police come to her office because she felt as if she was in danger. Her husband had threatened her. That call was followedquicklybyanotheronesayingnottobother,thateverythingwasokay.

  WhatfurtherconcernedMobertwasthetiming.

  Mobert had a great disbelief in coincidences. The calls happened to come in whenDetectiveSealewasonduty.

  Adrian Seale was an ambitious man who was in a tremendous hurry to move aheadinlife.HewasknowninthedepartmentasPastorSeale,forhisleapsof faith in many of the cases he solved. The shortcuts he took to solve his cases required those leaps of faith with great regularity. The idea that he managed to becomeadetectivewasalsoaleapoffaith.Morerealistically,PastorSealehada powerful godfather who watched over him and made sure he remained

  untouched.

  Mobert did not voice his concerns. He resolved to find out what was really happening.

  *****

  There were benefits to living in a small island and being a ‘somebody’ even if that ‘somebody’ was recognized under dubious circumstances. Ricky Paul was

  visitinghisgrandmotheratthehospital.Shewaswaitingtoknowwhetherornot shewasgoingtohaveherleftlegamputated.Manyyearsofpoormanagement

  ofherdiabeteshadrenderedthecirculationinherlegtenuousatbest.Shehad practically raised Ricky and he was very close to her. He visited her every evening.

  It had almost become a bone of contention at work because his employer was committedtodeliveringwhatheofferedoneveryjobandontime.Thatmeant

  late evenings sometimes, which of course conflicted with Ricky getting to the hospital in time for visiting hours. Fortunately, Ricky’s boss was a compassionatemanwho respectedfamilyvalues. HeandRicky workedoutan

  agreement. Ricky was grateful, because many construction bosses would not havebeenableconceiveacompromise.Tohiscredit,Rickywasanintelligent, industriousindividualinwhomhisbosssawpotentialforgrowth.

  RickywasjustenteringthehospitalwhenPhilwasclimbingintothesquadcar.

  Itwasjustoneofthosethings.Thecarwasparkednearthebackentrance,away from most curious eyes. He was shocked. He recognized Phil Ferguson even thoughhewasnotinhiscustomarysuit.

  Rickyknewwhathehadtodo.ItwasobviousthatPhilwasinserioustrouble.

  Thiswashisopportunity.

  Hedialedthenumberonhiscellphone.Themanontheotherendanswered.He

  was an older man—a successful business owner. He was Ricky’s boss, Isaac Ferguson,Phil’sfather.Rickytoldhimwhathesaw.

  Isaacthankedhimforthecall.Hesatandthoughtforafewminutes.Experience hadtaughthimovertheyearstodothat.Ithelpedhimtoavoidhastymistakes and he also found that he spent his time and energy more effectively. Isaac Fergusonwasjustshortofaverageheight,stockywithclose-croppedgreyhair.

  He was dark in complexion like Phil was, and had a broad nose and eyes that lookedliketheywerelaughing,andtheyweremuchofthetimeunlesstheywere provokedintogivingoneofthesternestlooksonewouldeverwanttowitness.

  Hewasnotafussyman,buthewasaproudman.HeknewPhilwouldneverdo

  anythingtoputhimselfonthewrongsideofthelaw.Someonewastryingtohurt Phil,andbyextension,theFergusonfamily.Isaachadweatheredmanyattempts tobringtheFergusonsdown.Helearnedfromeachattempt.

  ThiswasanotheropportunitytolearnandshowtheLordwhathewasmadeof.

  Anothertrialsentfromonhigh.Towhommuchwasgiven,muchwasexpected.

  Isaac gave thanks for this trial and went to work to overcome it. He began dialingsomenumbers.

  Asachildyouneverknowwhoyourplaymatesaregoingtobecome.Playingin

  thecountryvillagesomesixtyplusyearsbefore,Isaachadmanyfriends.Itwas curious to see who turned out to be who, and did what. Some became quite successful despite their humble beginnings. Some went nowhere, and a few foundthewrongsideofthelaw.

  OneofIsaac’sfriendswasBarringtonAdolphusThompson.Heendedupbeing

  calledBATman,anicknamewhichwasdroppedasBarryadvancedinlife.Few,

  ifany,nowdaredtocallhimbyhisinitialpetnamesimplybecauseheattained thestationinlifewhere
hecouldputyouinjailifhewantedto.Hewasajudge.

  BarryandIsaachadmaintainedtheirfriendshipovertheyears.Isaacevenbuilt Barry’sfirsthouseandlaterablockofapartments.Isaac,aswashisway,gave Barryvalueformoneyanddeliveredontime,andbecauseBarrywasafriendhe cut costs where he could and did not charge his usual mark up. He had never asked for anything in return except legal advice and advice for Phil’s development.Heneveraskedforfavours.ItwasnotIsaac’sway.

  When Isaac got the news about Phil being arrested and gave himself time to think,thefirstnumberhecalledwasBarry’s.

  “HiBarry,Isaachere.Howareyou?Canyoutalk?”

  “HiIsaac.Sure.Ialwayshavetimeforyou.”

  “Iwillgetstraighttothepoint.Iamreallydisturbed.

  MysonPhilhasbeenarrested.”

  “What!Whatfor?”

  “Idon’tknow.”

  “What??” Barry was seated at his desk in his chambers. His face expressed

  concern.

  “I haven’t spoken to Phil. One of my workers saw Phil being picked up at the hospital.”

  “Whatwashedoingthere?Whydidtheypickhimupthere?Didhelookhurtor

  asifhehadbeeninascuffle?”

  Isaacfeltembarrassed.

  “YouknowBarry,Ididn’tthinktoask.Iassumeifanythingelsehadlookedout ofthenormmymanwouldhavetoldme.Tobefrank,thecallitselfcaughtme

  offguard.”

  “Youknowthisman?Thiswasnotamischievouscall?”

  “Iknowhim.He’soneofmyworkers.He’sagoodman.”

  “Doyoutrusthim?”

  “Yes.Ihavenoreasonnotto.”

  “Isaac you would be surprised at the agendas people have that you would not expectthemtohave.

  But in my world I have the opportunity to see some of the worst of human nature,soIamoftenquiteskeptical.Especiallyincaseslikethis.”

  “Likethis?”

  “Philisagoodman.Iknowhim.He’syourson.

  I’veseenhimwork.He’samanofprinciple.He’snotamantogivethepolicea reasontopickhimup.

  Somethingiswronghere.”

  “That’swhyIcalledyou.Iwantedyouradvice.Iamnotsurewhattodo.”

  “Myfriend,havenofear.Iamgivingthismattermyfullattention.Iamgoingto makesomecallsassoonaswefinishthisconversation.Trustmeontwothings.

  One,Philwillbehometonight.Two,Iamgoingtofindoutwhoistheculpritof allthismischief.”

  “Thanks,Barry.Iappreciateit.”

  “Notatallmyfriend.Iwillcallyousoonwithsomegoodnews.”

  “Okay.”

  Isaac put the phone down, relief evident in his face, and then his body as he relaxed.Hemadeafewmorecalls.Hestillhadbusinesstoattendto.

  *****

  Phil was in Central Police Station for barely ten minutes before the station sergeantcalledthetwoofficerstohim.Itwasashort,animateddiscussion.

  TheshorterofthetwoofficerswalkeduptoPhil.

  “Mr.Ferguson,Ihavebeeninformedthatthere’saproblemwiththecellshere.

  Wewillnotbekeepingyouhere.Itcouldbeahealthrisk.Youwillbeallowed home on bail and your own recognizance, but you will need to surrender your passportherewithinthenextsixtyminutes.”

  Philcouldnotbelieveit.Ifhedidnotknowbetter,hewouldswearhewasliving someoneelse’slife.

  Questions ran through his mind. What problem in the jail cells? What health problem? Released on bail? Just like that after they had whisked him off the hospital compound? He was no fool. Nobody was going to insult his

  intelligence.Thesequestionsneededanswering.Hewasreadytoposethem.By

  thetimehewasfinished,theofficerinfrontofifhimwouldlooklikeaschool boy after his headmaster has berated him for having a simple lack of common sense.Philwasreadytounleashhisassaultofverbalweapons.

  Hedidn’t.Hewasinapolicestation,notacourtroom.Hewasadefendant,nota lawyer.

  Hewouldbebetterservedseekingtheanswerstothesequestionswhenhewas

  safelyoutsidethepolicestationandwhenhewasontherightsideofthelaw.

  CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

  Jadewasfeelingbetterphysically,butnotemotionally.Herheadnolongerfelt asifitwasusedasthefootballinasoccermatch.Shewasduetobedischarged laterthatday.Thedoctorsweresatisfiedthatshewasinnodangerandtherewas nothinginhertreatmentthatrequiredhospitalcare.Restandanalgesicswereher prescription.Shewasnowinaquandary.Shehadamissionbeforetheaccident andthereforeaplanofaction;apurpose.Nowthatshehadnearlylostherlife, thingshadchanged.

  News, whether good or bad, travels fast in the Caribbean. The worse it is, the fasterittravels.Philwasarrestedforattemptedmurder.Hehadtriedtokillher.

  Why?Itcouldonlybethosepictures.JimmyCadoganhadtohavesentthemto

  Phil.Thedog.AndPhiltriedtokillher?Philcouldbepassionate,butno...could he have been so incensed that he would try to kill her? Hold up. The accident wastheattempt?

  If so, how did he get to the car? He could have sent someone. Wrong answer again.First,hewouldnottakethechancetoinvolveanyoneinsuchathing.

  Hecouldnottrustanyonetodosomethinglikethat.

  Second,hedidnotknowwhereshewas.Hangon…

  back to one. That woman he was sleeping with, maybe it was more than she thought.Maybetheywantedtobetogetherandshe,Jade,wasintheway. Geta holdofyourselfgirl.You’vebeenwatchingtoomany Lifetimemovies.Thewhole thingisabsurd.

  OneconclusionJadedidcometo:shewasgoingtohavetotalktoPhilfaceto face,andsoon.Shewonderedwherehewas.Washeinjail?Perishthethought.

  Thatwouldkillhimandhisfamily.Evenifhewasarrested,hewouldbeoutin no time. Perhaps she should call and find out what’s going on and arrange to meethim.Shewantedtocallhimthereandthen,butshewasnotsurewhereher phonewas,andshedidnothavetheenergytogetupandlookforit.Shewould getbacktothat.Shedriftedofftosleep.

  *****

  “Wehaveaseriousproblem.”

  “IknowthatDad.”

  Philwassittingwithhisfatheronthepatioatthebackofthehouse,afewfeet awayfromthepool.

  Itwasaroundtenthirtyinthemorning.ItwasanunusualplaceforPhiltobeat that time of day. Even on weekends he was often busy with work and had no time to appreciate the backyard pool which was designed to be a small haven.

  High pittosporum hedges afforded lush protection from curious eyes as they formed the perimeter of the backyard. Closer to the pool, an organized arrangementoffloradesignedtointoxicatethemindwithnature’sfloralbeauty, did just that with hues of green, yellow and purple blending in wonderful harmony.Themosaictileswhichformedasimple,yetelegantpatternalongthe sidesofthepoolandonthepool’sflooraddeditsownman-madecontribution.

  Themorningsunreflectedofftheshallowripplesasaneasterlybreezeblewon the surface of the water. Even though Phil sat in plain view of this beside his father,hesawnoneofit—hismindwaselsewhere.

  “Whatdoyouthinkisgoingonhere?”

  “Someonehasitinforme.”

  “Canyouthinkofanyone?”

  “No.”

  “Thereisnooneyouhadabadsituationwith,noonewhomayfeelharddone

  byyou?”Philthoughtoftwopossibilities,buthedismissedthem.Therewasno needtoconfusehisDad
withhisprivateaffairs.

  “No.”

  “Wearegoingtohavetofightthisontwofronts.

  Legallyandnon-legally.”

  Phil’sfaceregisteredaquestionmark.

  “Surelyyoudon’tmeananythingillegal,Dad.”Isaacallowedhimselftosmile.

  “Isaidnon-legal,notillegal.”

  “Ididn’tknowifyouwereusingaeuphemism.”

  “Son,youknowmebynow.IsaywhatImean.”

  “Sowhatdoyoumean?”Philleanedforwardandlookedinhisfather’seyesas

  hesaidthis.

  “ApartfromfightingthecaseincourtwiththeDirectorofPublicProsecutions, wehavetofighttofindoutwhoissettingyouup,andwhy,andwehavetomake sure they stop this nonsense and as much as possible and retract these accusationsthatservetosullyyourreputation.”

  Philnodded.“Agreed.”

  Isaacfacedhissonandheldhisgaze.

  “Youaregoingtohavetoreflectonthehappeningsinyourlifeoverthepastfew yearsdispassionately.

  You will have to ignore your emotions and be honest with yourself. It’s very likelytheansweroracluetoyourtroubleswillbethere.”

  Philshookhisheadinagreement.

  “Remember,thisisnotadressrehearsal,thisisyourlife.Hereandnow.”Isaac gotup.“I’moff.Notmuchmorewecandohereandnow.Iwillworkonthings

  onmyendandkeepintouchwithyou.Youdothesame.”

  Philstoodup.

  HisDadspokeagain.“Whenisthecase?”

  “Fivedaysfromtoday.”

  “Wehavealottodoinalittletime.”

  “Trustme,I’mwellaware,Dad.”

  “Good.AsIsaid,I’moff.“

  Hewalkedhisfatheroutandwatchedhimdriveaway.

  Philwasbemused.Hisfatherseemedtoknowmorethanhewaslettingon.Phil

  wondered how much he knew, what he knew. It really didn’t matter. Isaac Ferguson was one person on this earth that he could trust. Isaac would always have his best interests at heart. He needed to focus now on how best to help himself. He suddenly remembered that he needed to return a call to this police detective,Clarke.Themessagewasabitcryptic,butPhilfeltheneededtocheck itout.