Guilty! -The Trials of Phil Ferguson

by Sean Russell

  * * *

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Phil and Jade were having dinner at home. It was a candlelight dinner. They were seated at a small table on their balcony which gave them a wonderful view of the West Coast. At night the lights illuminating the streets and residences below were miniaturised by the distance they held from their observers. It was as if Phil and Jade had their personal, twinkling Christmas lights blanketing the land beneath for a nightly visual feast all year round. They had chosen a ridge lot for just that purpose, so they could enjoy many evenings taking in that view together.

  The mood was set as it had been since the news.

  It was like they were dating for the first time again.

  The memory of almost losing each other for eternity was still fresh in their minds. Jade thought she heard a knock, but she wasn’t sure. She scolded Phil in her mind. They had a doorbell, but nobody rang it because nobody noticed where it was located. Phil’s idea for it to blend in, her idea for it to stand out.

  Actually she got it twisted. It was her idea to have it blend in. Good thing she held her tongue. There it was again. Definitely a knock.

  “Did you hear that Phil?”

  “Yep. I’ll get it.”

  “No. I will.”

  Jade got up from the table and checked herself. She had plans for Phil and the evening. She had dressed with that in mind. No point in revealing that to their visitor. She secured her wrap. She was bare-skinned beneath it.

  She opened the door. The persons on the other side made her gasp. They wore the uniform of the country’s constabulary.

  “Goodnight Mrs. Ferguson. We have a subpoena for your husband to appear in court the day after tomorrow, in the morning. He is to stand trial for attempted murder.”

  “But that can’t be, officer. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dean Morgan, assured me personally that the case had been dropped.”

  The second officer, who had not yet spoken, seemed a little sympathetic. He stepped up and leaned slightly forward as he spoke to Jade.

  “Mrs. Ferguson, we are following orders here.” His voice dropped as he continued to speak. “I know your husband is a good man. But the fact of the matter is that Mr. Morgan left the office suddenly this afternoon on a medical emergency and the deputy took over and immediately issued these orders. If I wasn’t a paid civil servant, I would tell what I think about the deputy DPP.

  My only consolation to you is what my grandmother liked to tell me in the face of wrong doings. God don’t like evil. Goodnight Mrs. Ferguson.” He retreated with his partner in tow.

  Jade returned to the dining room. Her eyes welled up with tears. Phil watched her return, and noticed the document in her hand. He could tell before she spoke.

  “When am I to appear?”

  “Day after tomorrow.”

  “That gives me a day to get a lawyer.” Phil got up and went for his mobile. He hardly seemed bothered. Jade was perplexed.

  “You’re handling this better than I am. Are you okay?”

  “Funny enough, I am. I guess I have been desensitized.”

  “Oh…”

  Jade was still not sure what was going through Phil’s mind. She was concerned. She would have preferred an outburst of some sort. After all, this was outrageous.

  Phil was on the phone with Mitchell Drakes, the lawyer who he had initially asked to represent him.

  They agreed to meet first thing in the morning. Phil hit a number. It speed-dialled Teddy.

  “Hi buddy. You busy? I need to talk.”

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “No. I mean in person.”

  “Sure. You want me to pass?”

  “No. I will be there in twenty minutes.” Jade paid close attention.

  “Who were you talking to Phil? Where are you going?”

  Phil stood in front of Jade. He grabbed both her shoulders, almost too hard. He stared into her eyes, his own intense enough to make her quiver inside.

  “Listen to me Jade, my life is on the line. Our lives.

  This man means to destroy me. I’ve got to end this.

  So far I’ve been sparring, now it’s time to fight. Don’t question me. Don’t hold me back. Just trust me and give me the freedom to fight, to win.” In the next moment he was gone. If his eyes weren’t so intense, and her shoulders were not so sore, Jade would have thought she had just hallucinated.

  * * *

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Jimmy believed his luck. He believed all the good things that happened to him. In fact, he knew he was largely responsible. Dean Morgan was out of the island, his deputy Decourcey O’Neale acting immediately to have Phil Ferguson’s case heard. Just brilliant. He had saved the man when he was a junior at his firm. He had caught him taking a bribe while he was assisting, doing searches, on a major case.

  It would have been disastrous had the transgression been made public. Jimmy, being a man of vision, took the man aside and offered him a chance not to go to jail. He also did him the favour of getting a job with the Crown. Of course, that meant he had to leave J.C.

  Chambers. It also meant that Jimmy had a spy on the other side of the legal battle field. Much of J.C.

  Chambers’ work was defence litigation. Jimmy made sure to reward his accomplice. O’Neale was smart and ambitious enough to rise through the system to the position he now held as deputy Director of Public Prosecutions. Jimmy pondered… with Dean Morgan out of the way for some time and O’Neale back on the case, Phil was doomed. Game, set and match.

  He was on his way for his treat for being such a shrewd manipulator. He was about to meet Amanda and Jackie at Amanda’s condo. This was a night for posterity and he had the equipment in place to record it.

  Jimmy had hardly pressed the doorbell before the door opened and he was greeted by a gorgeous specimen. Jackie looked at Jimmy directly, eye to eye.

  They were about the same height. Jimmy wore shoes, she was barefooted. Her smile said ‘welcome’ in every way. She kissed him full on the lips without warning.

  “You must be Jimmy. Come in.”

  She stepped aside and ushered him in with a turn of her head. Jimmy was already aroused.

  Amanda was sitting on the couch in a short, red, sheer negligee. Her knees were bent with her feet tucked under her bottom. Her knees were spread slightly apart. Jimmy could not tell if she was wearing panties, but he knew he would soon find out. The room was dimly lit and there was a musky aroma of incense that was smouldering in an earthen pot with a low flame. The sound of soft, alternative jazz-rock fusion filled the room. It all had an heady, sensual effect on Jimmy.

  “What would you like to drink Jimmy?” Jackie asked.

  Jimmy only now noticed that she was wearing a robe held loosely at the waist. He was about to answer when she took a sip from her glass and walked up to him. She kissed him again. This time she poured her drink into his mouth. Her tongue played with his. He gave her a piece of his. He became aware of her hand on his crotch. She was rubbing his dick.

  Somehow she knew just how to touch. How much pressure, how much much intensity. He was going past aroused. He was not used to this. Jimmy was a control freak: take charge, do things his way, follow his commands. Here, he was literally ambushed. It was not what he was used to, it was different. He had to admit that he liked it. He had been secretly hoping that something like this would happen. A surprise. He always managed to bully or intimidate people, so he always took control. Tonight was different. He would never forget this night.

  Jackie was working on his pants now, unfastening his belt. She was on her knees in front of him. Amanda was in the background, giving him a show. She had parted her legs and placed her hand between her thighs. The other hand was alternating between her lips and her breast. She looked very turned on. She beckoned to him with the same finger she was using to pleasure herself. Jimmy responded as if hypnotized.

  “I thought we were friends. You’ve deserted me for someone you just met? You don’t
even know her.” Her tone was accusatory and he wasn’t sure if she was serious or just teasing. He wasn’t about to take any chances. Jackie was sweet, but he had wanted to fuck Amanda for so long that there was no way he was going to let this chance to have her slip by.

  She had always been so elusive. He started walking towards her and nearly tripped on his pants which were now wrapped around his ankles. He stepped out of his pants and ripped his shirt off. Jackie assisted him and was behind him now. He felt restricted by his clothes now. His cock was painfully hard. It may not have been the size he suggested, but with the Viagra he had on board, satisfaction was guaranteed. As though she was reading his mind, Jackie spoke softly in his ear as he marched over to Amanda. She had by now parted her thighs more and was slowly and rhythmically gyrating her hips.

  “I heard you say satisfaction was guaranteed? Was that meant for only Amanda? You gonna leave me hanging after I kicked the party off?” She was licking his neck and her hand had found his erect member. He could not believe it could get harder, but it did.

  “What’s wrong Jimmy? Do I have do this all on my own? You promised me satisfaction. Just because I got a head start doesn’t mean you can’t catch up. If I have to, I’ll finish the race without you. But remember this, I will be very disappointed.” Amanda’s hip movements were quicker now. Her hand between her thighs kept pace, the other hand had found it’s way under the negligee for support.

  Jimmy’s brain went into overload. He was being forced to choose. He had anticipated that he would get the girls to fool around with each other and put on a show for him. Get him in the mood, and then he could join at will, when and where he thought he would be most effective. Instead, they were pulling in opposite directions and he felt like if he would be a punk if he tried to flip the script. His brain was in overdrive, but his body was in neutral. He had stopped walking and stood still as he tried to work out how to gain control of the situation.

  Jackie pushed him, gently, playfully he assumed, but it was enough for him to fall forward. Jimmy ended up on all fours, his face level with the seat of the couch and pleasingly close to Amanda’s knees and what lay beyond. He advanced steadily as if he was a piece of iron ore being pulled by an powerful magnet.

  His mind was racing, climaxing in anticipation. He did not know if he was going to eat her or fuck her, but he was ready to attack Amanda like he just got out of prison.

  Suddenly Jimmy felt like he couldn’t breathe and he tasted plastic in his mouth. Jackie had thrown a plastic bag over his head.

  “Don’t worry, this heightens the arousal.” Jackie’s gentle voice contradicted the force with which her hands clenched the bag on his neck.

  Jimmy’s sensorium began to blur and as it did his subconscious told him this was what the bitches did, not men. Uncannily, as if Jackie was reading his mind again, she spoke. This time the tone was harsh, almost demonic.

  “Take this, bitch!”

  Jimmy felt the most horrific sensation he could imagine—the entry of a hard, cylindrical object up his rectum, accompanied by immense pain. His last act before he lost consciousness was to grab Jackie’s hand to pull the dildo out. His last thought before drifting into dreamland was Oh shit. This is not a dildo. Jackie is a man!

  * * *

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Teddy heard Phil coming. First he heard the engine screaming, then he heard screeching as the agitated driver applied brakes. Next, he heard the driver banging on his door. The man was definitely agitated.

  “Come in Phil. Have a seat. Have a drink.” As usual, Teddy was having a libation. He had set aside a glass for Phil when he called. Phil eyed Teddy, then the glass, and with an exasperated sigh he flopped into the chair. Teddy poured a drink for Phil and handed it to him.

  “What’s up buddy?… Don’t tell me. Jimmy’s got you by the balls again.”

  Phil nodded in acknowledgement. Teddy could not help himself.

  “You hard-ears Phil.”

  “I know, but I don’t have time for retrospect. They want me in court the day after tomorrow. Teddy, I need your help. I’m ready to fight dirty.”

  “Now you’re talking.”

  “So, what do we do?”

  Teddy looked a like the cat that swallowed the canary.

  “Considering the bind that you were in, I took the chance and started my own personal investigation to get dirt on Jimmy.”

  Phil looked as if he wanted to admonish Teddy, but he checked himself.

  “What did you find?”

  “Sophia Inniss Jordan.”

  Teddy announced her name as if she had a winning lottery number.

  Phil’s brow furrowed. “That name sounds familiar.”

  “She’s Jimmy Cadogan’s personal secretary. She thinks Jimmy is a shite. She has seen a lot of unfair and some illegal activities carried out by that man.

  She said it turns her stomach. She feels justice should be served. She’s willing to provide documents that prove that he’s broken the law several times and that plenty times he has, unethically, suit himself even if it unfaired his clients.”

  Phil looked encouraged.

  “I remember her now. She was junior secretary working with the junior lawyers when I was there.

  She was Sophia Inniss then. I guess she got married.

  Great. Let’s talk to her, get the proof and get Jimmy to lay off. That’s how it works right?”

  “Not quite.”

  “What!?”

  “She wants $600,000.00.”

  “What!! Teddy are you insane? What are you smoking?”

  “Cool down buddy, think about it. Think about it.”

  “Think about what? It’s the next thing to extortion!

  I’m a lawyer. I can’t be party to this. It’s immoral, unethical!”

  Phil was on his feet. His nostrils were flaring, his chest was heaving and the veins on his forehead were bulging. His leg throbbed as he limped around on it. He should not have been weight bearing without support and he risked serious damage to the limb by ignoring medical advice, but he was too agitated to care.

  “Teddy! How could you bring this enterprise to me!

  You told me fight dirty, but this is filthy!” Teddy remained cool in the face of Phil’s outburst.

  He touched Phil on the shoulder and gestured for him to sit down.

  “Have a drink and listen to what I have to tell you.

  I gonna talk to you as a friend, as I always do. Take your head out your ass and listen.” Phil gave Teddy a glum look.

  “Phil, your ass is on the line. This man means to fuck you up. You ent in no position to talk about ethics.

  You headed to prison. Them things ent gonna help you there. You have to do whatever it takes to keep you out of there. The woman fears for her livelihood.

  Cadogan is a very spiteful man. She wants enough money to relocate and start a new life. She is sure he will destroy her if she hangs about here. Be realistic.

  That money is a small fortune for her; it’s petty cash for you. What price do you put on your freedom? Your freedom, my man, your life.”

  Phil stared at his glass for some time, digesting Teddy’s words.

  “I understand what you are saying, and in a perverse, twisted way it makes sense, but I don’t think I can do it.”

  “Not can’t, won’t. It’s a choice.”

  “You’re right, but it goes against the very core of my being.”

  “More than being locked up wrongfully on a made up charge and losing everything you worked your whole life for because of a cunt like Jimmy Cadogan???”

  “I take your point.”

  “I ent about scoring points. I’m about keeping my friend out of prison.”

  Phil got up. “This is frying my brain. I’m going to discuss this with Jade.”

  “My man, you retarded?” Teddy sat Phil down. “Be a man. Don’t involve her in your dirty fighting. Let her support you as you fight, but don’t involve her in the nasty details. There is
no way that can help you.” Phil nodded.

  “My friend, you will sit with me until you make a decision. Either way, I’ll back you but you don’t have time to waste. If you decide to work with Sonia, do it tonight. There is no lot of time for her to get files and make arrangements.”

  * * *

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Teddy pondered after Phil had left. He had always admired Phil—he was genuinely a good man, a little spoilt, but he did learn from his mistakes. Teddy remembered the last time Phil was in a bind. They were both in the hiatus between high school and university. It was the summer after ‘A’ levels. High school was finished.

  Phil had already decided he was going to do law.

  They were partying one Saturday night at one of the night clubs on the south coast. Phil had had some drinks, as had Teddy. They were on their way out when a man who was hassling Phil’s date came out after them. The man’s name was Derek and he had recently broken up with Erica. He had been too smothering and she had wanted to breathe. She was out with her girlfriends and had met Phil at the club. Phil was so cool-looking and so easy to talk to that she’d started to party with him. Derek had turned up there as he got wind of where she was. In reality, one of Erica’s friends who wanted to see some drama, decided to call Derek and pretend to be an innocent spectator to the resulting scene. She knew how jealous he got, even if he and Erica were supposed to be ‘seeing other people’.

  The club had an outdoor area where the dance floor was raised and separated by a wooden railing. It was a moonlit night with a sky so clear that one could count all the stars in the galaxy. Even though it was summer, there was a cool breeze coming across the floor from the beach just a few meters away. There were just enough people dancing for the human energy to be palpable, and everyone had enough room to strut their stuff. For those who craved romance, it was one of those perfect nights.