Guilty! The Trials of Phil Ferguson

by Sean Russell

  *****

  Isaac was reviewing the expenses for the week. He was at his desk examining the invoices and receipts, making sure everything tallied and made sense. The phonerang.ItwasBarry.

  “HelloIsaac,howareyou?”

  “Iamaswellascanbe.Howareyou?”

  “I’mwell,butI’mafraidIdon’thavegoodnewsforyou.”

  “Excuseme.Whatareyoutalkingabout?Whenlastwespokeyouassuredme

  thateverythingwasfine.

  You said that the case against Phil was baseless and that you would get to the bottomofthisconspiracy.”

  “Isaac, I did say that. But admittedly I said that in ignorance based on my perceptionofPhilandwhatIknowaboutyou.Theevidencethathasturnedup

  againstyourboyisoverwhelming.He’sgoingtoprison.Ifbysomemiraclehe

  escapesconvictionhisreputationisgoingtoberuined.Itwillbepointlesshim practising in this island. Maybe you should consider getting him out of the country.Phil’sbright.

  Hecanstartoverandmakealotofmoneyinanothercountry.”

  “Barry… are you suggesting I encourage my son to be a fugitive?” Isaac had

  thrownhisglassesdownonthedeskandwaswipinghisbrow.

  “Isaac, based on the evidence that has been presented, I am telling you as a friend…getPhiloutofhere.”

  “What?!”

  “Isaac.I’vealreadyspokentoomuchoutofturn.

  Ihavetogo.Bytheway,Iwillnotbeavailablesubsequenttothisconversation forethicalreasons.

  Youknow,mebeingamagistrate.I’msorry…”

  “Barry!”

  Isaacheldthephoneuntiltheincessantsoundofthedialtonebegantoburnhis ear.Hecouldnotbelievetheconversationhejusthad.Hewasgoingtohaveto take some time to cool down and think about what had just transpired. The problemwas,Isaacdidnothavealotoftime.Moredirectly,Phildidnothavea lotoftime.Thecasewasthedayaftertomorrow.

  ThemeetingwiththeinvestorsforthetwentymilliondollarCaribbeanParadise projectwasthefollowingweek.Isaachadheardmurmuringsthattheywerenot

  happyandtheywerelookingatanotherconstructioncompanytodotheproject.

  Phil’s case was no secret despite the Fergusons’ efforts to make it one. The associationwasnotgoodforPremierConstruction.

  This case being heard in public court would mean the end of the association between Caribbean Paradise and Premier Construction. Foreign investors were often quite finicky. They wanted no news back home that the attorney who normallyconductedbusinessforthecompanytheycontractedtobuildforthem

  wasontrialforattemptedmurder.Theyjustdidnotneedthatpublicity.

  CHAPTERNINETEEN

  Jimmy was pleased with himself. He was scoring all his goals. Things were going according to plan. The only thing he had not gotten was Amanda. She refused to sleep with him. He had tried every trick in the book and some new ones he made up, but she would not bite. He had to have her. She was outstanding; even better with her clothes off and more exquisite when she was beingfucked.Heknew.Hehaditrecorded.

  Poor fool… she did still serve a purpose. She must have thought she put one overhimwhenheagreedtodiscounttheleaseonthecondosheoccupied.She

  hadnoideahehadthewholeplaceriggedwithcamerasandmicrophoneswhich

  weremicrosizedtotheextentthatitwaseasytohidethem—theywerevirtually undetectable. He could monitor and document all the goings-on in her apartment.Hesmiledtohimself.Shewasprobablystillunawarethathehadher encounter with Phil recorded. That poor fool would have been too proud and embarrassedtoconfrontheraboutit.Shewasfieryenoughthatifsheknewshe wouldtackleherlandlordwhoownedlotsofrealestate,butnoscruples.

  The Fergusons were falling fast. They were going to lose out on their twenty million dollar contract. Phil was going to prison and they would be summarily disgraced. Phil’s imprisonment meant that he would not be practicing law.

  Jimmy would snap up not only the now unrepresented clients, but the talented partnersPhilhadacquired.Tothinkallthatwasjustthefringebenefits.Jimmy smiled to himself. I am the puppet master, I pull all the strings and everyone jumpsatmycommand.

  CHAPTERTWENTY

  Bill Michaels was the new item in New York and he had the look this year. It was is if he just knew what the fashion world wanted. He had that mixed look whereyouweren’tquitesureofhisethnicorigins.

  Hewaslight-brownincomplexion,likeawell-tannedCaucasian,withcurlyhair which he kept cropped short and dyed platinum blond, accentuated by a very neat, thin goatee which was also blond. He had clean, neat features with a slightlysquarejaw.Hewasgarbedinolivegreenslacksandawhitelinenshirt, bothofwhichhedesigned.

  Hewasseatedatatableonthesidewalk,awaitinghisorder.Theshrimpscampi wassaidtobedelightfulatthisplaceandhewasreallylookingforwardtoit.

  It was his first time there, and his eyes wandered ceaselessly, taking in his surroundings—a typical sidewalk café that decorated many street corners in Manhattan.Itwasagoodeveningtobeout,asevidencedbythefactthatallthe seatsweretaken,andthestaffwashustlingtokeepupwiththedemandsoftheir patrons.

  Billfeltgood.Theglassofmerlotwasapleasantsurprise.Thebardidnothave hisusualchoice,buthewasgoingtohavetomakeanoteofthisone.

  Helikedsittingonhisownwithawonderfulglassofwinetostimulatehispalate as he anticipated a delicious meal. His ideas started to flow as he took in the metropolitan rat race around him: people of all races, shapes and sizes, some headedtowork,sometoleisure,othersrunningawayfromworkorotherthings, butallhavingsomethingincommonthatwasofparticularinteresttoBill.They all wore clothes. There was something about the harmony of movement of all thosepeopleintheirvaryingshapes,sizes,colours,andtextures.Togetherwith the mellowing effect of the merlot, this stimulated his mind and caused him to fall into a hypnotized state where designs came to him in shocking clarity. He keptthishabitasecret;hedidnotsharethispastimewithanyone,andasaresult hehaddevelopedthereputationofbeingsnobbishandreclusive,asmanytimes he would avoid meeting people in his quest to have his very pleasurable and productivequiettime.Fortunately,thereputationdidnotreallyhurthisbusiness.

  In fact, it was expected that a top fashion designer would have quirks. Which

  greatartistdidn’t?

  Bill was beginning to get that sweet, dreamy feeling that preceded a potent fashionconceptionwhenhewasdisturbedbyawoman.Shewasyoung,andit

  wasthatclearthatshehadbeenstrikingonce,andstillbelievedshehadit,butit wasalsoclearshehadhitveryhardtimes.Herhairwasbrushedandstyled,but thatcoilynatureoftherootsandtheflat,dullappearanceofthelongerstrands told the story that they had not seen the inside of a salon for quite some time.

  Her clothes were neat but not clean, and hung a little too easily on her frame, tellinganotherstory—

  thattherehadbeenmoretofillthemwhentheownerhadchosentobuythem,

  andagainthatchoicewouldhavetakenplacefurtherinthepastthantheowner wouldhavelikedtoadmit.Heraccentannouncedherascomingfromoneofthe

  islands.Whichone,Billcouldn’ttell.Hewasnotinterestednowanddidn’twant tospeaktoher.

  Initially he was very
annoyed and was about to have the proverbial how-dare-you-disturb-a-celebrityfitwhenhesawthemanagerscamperingtohisrescue.

  Thisvisionsubduedhim.Hewasbeingrescuedandheknewthatifheblewup

  hewouldnotgetbackintohis‘zone’.

  “Youneedtoleaveimmediately.Youaredisturbingthisgentleman.”

  Shelookedatthemanagerandsawthefirmnessinhisdemeanor.Hewasready

  tobodilyputherout.

  She was crushed. She had recognized Bill Michaels and she knew that if she couldlethimseehershine,hewouldwanthertomodelhisclothes.Itwasover.

  Shesaunteredoff,aportraitofdejection.

  AmandasawthemanagergoingtowardsBill.Shehadtoactquickly;thismight

  beheronlychance.

  Timehadaboutrunout,ashadhermoney.

  Billfeltapoignantstabofpityforthewomanasshequietlywithdrew.Maybeif hehadseenheracouplemonthsearlierbeforeshegotsobeatendownandworn.

  He wanted someone fresh and new, someone special, and she was not it. That was even more clear as she sadly disappeared from view, swallowed by the perpetualseaofpedestrians.

  Amandawatchedthewomantraipseaway. That couldeasilyhavebeenme, she thought.

  “Yourwine,Sir.Complimentsofthemanager.”Billlookeduptoseetheowner

  ofthevoice.Thegazewascasualatfirst,butthenhisattentionwasarrested.She was in the plain garb that was the café’s uniform: a white polo shirt and khaki slackswithamaroonapron.Butinsomewayshemanagedtowearherslikeshe

  wasgoingtobeshotfor‘Manhattan’ssidewalkcafé’sadiningexperienceyou’ll neverwanttomiss’.

  “Yourdinnerorderwillbereadyveryshortly.IsthereanythingelseIcandofor yousir?”Billcontinuedtostare,recognitionseepingintohisconsciousness.His waitresswasatanauditionsixmonthsago.Shehadcaughthiseyethen.Hehad lookedforwardtoseeingmoreofher,butshehadvanished.Hehadevenasked

  oneoftheproducerswhathadhappenedtoherandwastoldshehadwithdrawn

  becauseofpersonalissues.Hecouldnotbelieveit.Thereshewas,standingright infrontofhim.Hehadtohaveherinhisclothes.Hecouldn’twaittoseeherin them.

  “Iamnotinthehabitofdoingthis.Ipaypeopletodothesekindsofthingsfor me.However,inthiscaseIammakinganexception.MynameisBillMichaels

  and I would love for you model for me.” She beamed a radiant smile back at him,asmilefullofconfidenceandatouchofmischief.

  “I’mAmandaCallender.Itwouldbemydistinctpleasuretomodelforyou.”

  *****

  AmandadideventuallymodelforBill,whichwaswhyshewasinthedressing

  roomwithtearsinhereyesafterasuccessfulrunwayjaunt.Itwasn’talwayslike this.Herfirsttwoshowsborderedondisaster,andnotwithouttheassistanceof somejealousparties,butAmandaquicklylearnthowtoplaythegameandwho

  shecouldtrust.Sheknewshewouldalwayshavetowatchherback,butshehad mappedoutacourseintheminefieldoftheultra-competitiveworldoffashion.

  Herthoughtsspedtotheeveningahead,largelybecausethechirpfromhercell phone told her that she had a text. She knew it was from her man of interest,

  Xavier.Hewasoutsidewaitingtotakehertodinner.

  Xavier was a great guy, but patience was not one of his better qualities. She knew he was in the town car waiting for her, anxious to keep their dinner reservation. Meanwhile, he would be on his Blackberry generating and

  answeringaflurryofemails,suchasitwas,beinganinvestmentbanker.

  He had surprised her that night. As the town car pulled to a halt, Amanda was perplexed.Theyonlydinedathigh-profile,fivestarrestaurants,placesthatyou bookedwellinadvanceoryouhadconnectionstogetyouinatshortnotice,with lavishly decorated, exquisite menus, and where one was sure to run into a celebrity or notable citizen of the land. As magnificent and opulent as it was, bothAmandaandXavierhadbeguntotireofthemonotonyoftheexperience.

  The car had brought them to the sidewalk on a street with several shops and restaurants,mostofthemsubterraneanintheirlocale,thesignsproclaimingtheir presenceweremodest,clearandpractical.

  AmandawasexploringtheirdestinationwithhereyesandlookedoveratXavier.

  Hesmiledbackather.

  Heknewwhatshewasthinking.Theyalightedfromthevehicleanddescended

  the steps of the restaurant they were in front of. It was dimly lit, but brightly decorated with coloured lights and beads and brass-and copper-coloured metal potsadorningthewallsandtables.Ithadasubdued,festiveeffect.Thescentof curry and several spices originating from the Indian subcontinent caressed Amanda’snostrils.Itwassomewhatnostalgic,asitremindedherofherdaysasa littlegirlwhenAuntMilliedecidedtomakerotisforeveryone.Shesuddenlyfelt happierthanever.Shewassoawareofwhereshewasnowandhowfarshehad

  come.

  “Ithoughtyoumightlikethechange,butIdidn’tknowitwouldbesuchahit.

  And you haven’t even had the food.” Xavier had witnessed Amanda’s

  transformation.

  “Iwassurprisedatfirst,butthisisafabulousplace.”Shewasstillbeaming.

  They were seated at a table at the far corner of the room where an indigenous Indian tapestry hung on the wall behind the table. They took their seats and bottledwaterwasservedwhilethewaitertooktheirorders.

  Amanda was so pleased. It was is if Xavier had read her mind and knew what shewanted…whatsheneededbeforesheknew.Thechangeofpacewasperfect.

  “Trythebeefvindaloo.It’sspectacular.”

  “Okay.I’lltrustyouonthat.Whatareyouhaving?”

  “Oh.I’mhavingcurrychicken.Wecanshare.”

  “That’llbefun.”Amandasmiled.

  “HaveyouthoughtaboutthatfundIwastellingyouabout?Idon’twantyouto missout.”

  “Whichonewasthatagain?”

  Amanda was toying with him, playing the dumb blonde. She knew exactly which fund he was talking about. She had done her own homework, but she didn’t want him to feel that she didn’t trust him and she didn’t want to let on howsmartshereallywas.

  Men’s egos seemed to inflate proportionately to the financial power they had over women, whether in their bank accounts or their knowledge of financial matters.Thefunnythingwas,theyweremuchmoremanageablewhentheiregos

  wereinflated.Xaviershowedalittleimpatienceashespoke.

  “The high interest account that I gave you the scoop on. You could make a killingonit.”

  “Ohyes.”Amandarepliedcoyly.“Theonethatwouldmakemerich.”

  “Iguessfromyourresponsethatyouhaven’t.”

  “ItoldyouIwouldrunitbymymanager.Heisalsomyfinancialconsultant.”

  Xavier was now genuinely annoyed. “I told you under no circumstances to discussitwithanyone.It’shighlyconfidentialandIcouldlosemylicenceover this.”

  Amandawasherownmanagerandfinancialadvisor.Shehadmanagedtoglean

  information from knowledgeable people whenever she could, but she entrusted

  herfinancialfuturetoherself.ShehadjustwantedtoseeXavier’sreaction.

  “Ididn’treallygetaroundtoit.I’vereallybeentoobusyoflate.”Shedelivered the last statement with the attitude only a top model could have. Xavier was relieved.

  “Listentome.Iknowyouhavetheworldatyourfeet
rightnow,butthingscould changeinaninstant.

  Youcouldgetsickorhaveanaccidentorjustplainfalloutoffavour.Youneed toinvest.”Heseemedreallygenuineatthispoint,butAmandacouldn’thelpbut playwithhimalittlemore.Shestudiedhimforamoment.Shewasn’tusually

  attracted to white men, but he was downright handsome—slimly built, just above average height. It was his face she was looking at now, his dark brown hair which he wore long and brushed back and his sparkling blue eyes, which were just a shade darker than pale blue. His eyes danced and smouldered with energyashebroughthissecretweaponintoaction—

  his smile—it was one of those contagious smiles that one could not help but returnevenifyouwantedtohatehim.

  “HonestlyXav,yousoundlikeyou’resellingmeinsurance.”Shesmiledathim

  wickedly.

  “Ooh,butIam.Solidinvestmentinsurance.Withaninsanereturn.”

  Hisvoiceandhiseyeswerefilledwithearnest.

  “Youneedtoactnow.Youaremissingthewindowofopportunity.”

  “Well,ifit’sasolidinvestment,whytherush?”

  “Itissolid,butwiththesethingstimingiscrucial.

  Itcanmakeahugedifferenceonyourreturns.Youwillalwaysgetreturns,but wouldn’tyouratherhookahugemarlinthanaflyingfish?”

  Xavierlaughedatthis,itwasalittledigatthesmallislandthatAmandacalled her home. The flying fish was indeed one of the smallest fish anyone would choose to eat, and it was also part of the national dish of Amanda’s adopted

  home.Amandawasuptothegame.

  “AslongasIdon’thookashark;thatmightcomebacktobiteme.”Shesmiled, buthereyeswerehard.

  “Icanmakeyoualotofmoney,Amanda.Trustme.”

  Shecontinuedtolookathimasshechewedherfood.Theolfactoryandlingual sensations combined were far more pleasant than the auditory stimulation she was deciphering. She craved the pleasure and decided to abbreviate the conversation.