Judge Starkley had been scanning the files.
“Who was in charge of this raid?” the judge asked.
“I was, your Honor.” A tall man with thick dark hair said as he stood up. He had on his dress uniform.
He stepped forward and was sworn in.
“Identify yourself.”
“I am Captain Casper Wilson of the Magog Police Department.”
“Explain this case, Captain.” The judge sat back.
“Your Honor, Wednesday morning we received an anonymous call that said a house was having an unusual amount of visitors at all hours of the day and night. We established a stake-out and observed several people going into and coming out of the house. We obtained a search warrant on probable cause from Judge Warren Miller.” He handed the warrant document to the bailiff. “We stopped one young man as he came out. He was showing signs of drug intoxication. We asked what was in the house and he was reticent to talk to us. After more questioning, he admitted that he’d bought some methamphetamine in there. I assembled a contingent of officers and we entered the house and arrested seven people and confiscated two kilograms of cocaine, five kilograms of methamphetamine in different forms, and six grams of uncut heroin. These seven people were in the house. One met us at the front door, the rest were in a room in the basement.”
The judge nodded. “Did you determine who was in charge there?”
“We think so, your Honor. Mr. Preston Shermer, the owner of the house, seemed to be in charge.”
Preston suddenly stood up. “Your Honor! I object. Just because I own the house doesn’t translate to being in charge!”
The judge banged her gavel onto the block.
“You may not object at this point, Mr. Shermer. You’ll have your chance to answer these allegations. Sit down.”
Preston clenched his mouth and slipped back down into his chair. There was soft laughter and tittering round the court room.
Again Judge Starkley banged her gavel. “Order,” was all she said, but several were sure they saw a tiny smile escape the corner of her lips.
Captain Wilson continued with his explanation of the day. The judge nodded and he was allowed to step down.
She looked at the seven defendants.
“This is a preliminary hearing. If you feel the decisions I hand out are fair, you may accept them and that will be that. If you want to contest them and go to a jury trial that can be done, too, but it will take a lot longer. Does everyone understand?”
The seven defendants all nodded.
“First I will deal with the minors in this case. Janelle Reynolds?”
Janelle got up and after looking at her barrister to make sure she was doing the right thing, walked over, and stood in front of the judge.
“Mrs. Peterson, I believe you are representing this girl,” the judge started.
“Yes, your Honor.”
“How do you plead, Miss Reynolds?”
Janelle looked up at her k, and then said, “No contest, ma’am.”
“Are her parents in court?”
Mrs. Peterson looked over at Ingrid and Clark who rose to their feet.
The judge looked over at them. “I take it you had no idea this was happening,” she said.
“Oh, no, your Honor,” Clark exclaimed. “None at all.”
Judge Starkley nodded and looked down at Janelle. “Miss Reynolds,” the judge said to her, “I believe this is your first offense. Did you learn anything from this experience?”
Janelle looked up in surprise. “Of course, your Honor. I learned a whole bunch.”
“Hopefully it was a bunch of good things,” the judge said, trying not to smile.
“Yes, ma’am,’ Janelle said softly.
“Then I am going to sentence you to ninety hours of community service. If you work four or five hours a week, that can be completed in as little as five months. In addition, you will be released into your parents’ supervision for the term of six months. If you do not incur any other trouble during that time, your charges will be expunged and you will have a clear record. Stay out of trouble, Miss Reynolds, and away from drugs. I will not lecture you about the ravages of such things at this time. I’m sure your parents will have something to say about that.” She looked over at Clark and Ingrid, who both nodded. “I will review your case in six months.” She banged her gavel on the block.
“Thank you, thank you,” Clark, Ingrid, and Janelle all said.
Janelle turned to Mrs. Peterson with a big smile and whispered her thank you. Mrs. Peterson directed her to go sit with her parents.
“Thomas Simpson,” Judge Starkley said, banging her gavel. “Mrs. Peterson, are you also representing him?”
“Yes, your Honor.”
Thomas walked over in front of the bench, Mrs. Peterson beside him.
“How do you plead, Mr. Simpson?” the judge asked.
“No contest, your Honor,” Thomas said softly.
“Are his parents in court?”
“No, your Honor,” Mrs. Peterson replied. “His father told me he wants nothing to do with what he referred to as his son’s debacle. He also refused to post bond.”
“What is the situation, Thomas?” she asked.
“He blew up, your Honor. He wants nothing to do with me. I haven’t heard from my mother.”
“Did you learn anything from this experience?”
“Yes, ma’am. I won’t do it again, ever.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard all the things I could tell you about drugs, so I won’t reiterate them here.” The judge took a deep breath. “How old are you?”
“Seventeen, ma’am,” he answered.
“When will you turn eighteen?”
“The end of April.”
“Are you in school, Thomas?”
“Yes, ma’am, I’m a senior.”
“I’m a firm believer in education. How are your grades?”
“Mostly Bs and C-pluses, ma’am, but I have an A in Phys Ed.”
Judge Starkley nodded. “First of all, you will finish this year and graduate. However, since your father refuses to support you, I must remand you to Juvenile House until graduation. Transport will be provided to and from school. You will not be allowed afterschool activities and will return to Juvenile House each afternoon. Do you have an afterschool job?”
“Yes, your Honor. I work at Food Mart on weekends.”
“If they will retain your services, transportation will be provided there, too. I will review your case the first court date after graduation. Your grades and performance, both at work and at Juvenile House, will be considered. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot in Juvenile House. Use that time wisely, Thomas. I’m much stricter the second time anyone sees me in here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I believe a representative from Juvenile House will be here later this afternoon to pick you up. Sit down and observe the rest of these cases. You’ll see I’m much stricter with adults. Good luck, Thomas.”
“Thank you, your Honor.”
“Mrs. Peterson,” the judge continued, “if you feel that Thomas should be transferred to a senior facility when he reaches maturity, I will review the petition.”
“Thank you, your Honor,” she said softly.
Chapter 27
The judge pounded her gavel and looked at the other five sitting there.
“Well, Mr. Shermer, seeing you were anxious to talk to the court, I’ll deal with you first. Please come over in front of the bench. Do you have representation?”
Preston walked over to the bench. “Not yet, ma’am. My barrister is out of the country and will not return until next Thursday”
“I see that you pleaded not guilty to the charges of possession and sale.”
“Yes, your Honor, partly.”
“Partly?”
“Yes, ma’am. I can’t contest to having the drugs, but I did not sell them.”
“A fine line, Mr. Shermer.”
“Yes, your Honor. I need to discu
ss that with my barrister, if I can postpone this until next week.”
“I understand, Mr. Shermer. As you are a homeowner here in Magog, you will be released on a fifty-thousand-dollar bond.” She searched papers on her bench. “I will delay your hearing until a week from Monday. Will that give you enough time to speak with your barrister?”
“Yes, your Honor. Thank you.”
The judge banged her gavel on her block. “Next case.”
The bailiff stepped forward again. “We have United States citizen, Cameron Andrews, your Honor.”
“Approach the bench, Ms. Andrews,” the judge instructed.
Cam got up and walked over in front of her. The judge looked Cam up and down and shook her head.
“Do you have representation?” she asked.
“Yes, your Honor,” Cam said.
“I represent her, your Honor,” Jason said, standing up and walking over beside Cam.
Judge Starkley nodded thoughtfully.
“Ms. Andrews,” the judge started. “I was very surprised when I read your case. This isn’t your first felony arrest, is it?”
Cam turned back to Jason, who nodded.
“No, your Honor, it isn’t.”
“Explain.”
“I was arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover officer in Baltimore, Maryland,” Cam said, softly.
“And the verdict?”
“A three-year sentence. I spent a year in prison in Maryland and another two on parole.”
“And your parole is completed?”
“Yes, your Honor, several years ago.”
“But it didn’t teach you a lesson, did it?”
“I guess not, your Honor,” Cam said, humbly.
“After reviewing your case, I was prepared to hold you without bond, but it was brought to my attention last night, that there’s an outstanding warrant for your arrest in Washington DC.”
Cam looked up quickly, quite surprised. She felt Jason’s hand on her arm.
“You didn’t tell me,” he whispered.
“I didn’t know,” she responded.
“Mister Summer,” the judge said, “you might want to sit down. I’m sure you know nothing about this. Your client will not need you from here on.” She looked directly at Cam. “The charges against you in Washington, D.C. are quite severe. I was surprised to find that you are allegedly quite a seasoned and violent criminal.” She brought the warrant out and set it in front of her. “Very severe charges, Ms. Andrews.”
Cam looked around her. Laurie and the other men were watching with great dismay.
“The charges against you in the District of Columbia of the United States of America are: One, transporting methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin across state lines. Two: possession of the aforementioned drugs with intent to sell.”
“Those were never proven, your Honor,” Cam said rather loudly.
The judge looked at her, and then continued reading. “Three: breaking your bond agreement via failure to appear on the scheduled court date, thus forfeiting a one hundred-thousand-dollar bond.”
“Oh, shit,” swore Cam. She glanced toward the exit, judging the distance to make an escape, but took a deep breath of resignation.
The judge continued, “And, more seriously, four: attempted murder of a government agent. Those charges are much more serious than what you’re charged with here.”
Cam shook her head and looked back at Laurie, whose face showed only horror. There were many gasps of surprise around the room. Cam didn’t know how to react.
“I’m innocent of all that, your Honor,” Cam said.
“This court does not have the authority, nor the interest, to judge those charges, Ms. Andrews. Because of that,” continued the judge, “I am remanding you back to the United States government via the United States Central Intelligence Agency. There is a representative of that agency prepared to escort you back to Washington DC.” The judge looked up. “Agent Paul Tarelli?”
Cam looked up quickly, her eyes wide. She quickly changed her expression from surprise to fear.
Pauly stood up and approached the bench.
“Your identification, Mr. Tarelli?” She held her hand out.
Pauly handed his identification folder to the bailiff who handed it to the judge. She inspected it and handed it back.
“Agent Tarelli, I am releasing Cameron Andrews to you for transportation. Do you have assistance?”
“Yes, Your Honor; Sergeant Chuck Carver of the Vermont State Police.”
Cam watched as Chuck came down the aisle. Chuck was dressed in his severely pressed uniform. Then she saw Maggie, Jean-René, and Michael sitting in the back row. She tried to keep the feeling of relief from her face. Maggie gave her an encouraging smile. Cam turned around, surprised, a look of fear on her face.
“My identification, your Honor,” Chuck said, handing the bailiff his credentials. The judge inspected them and handed them back.
“Sergeant Carter,” the judge started, “this will not cut into your duties here?”
“No, your Honor, I can be back by tomorrow at noon.”
The judge took a deep breath. “I am releasing Ms. Cameron Andrews to the United States government, as represented by Agent Paul Tarelli of the CIA, who will be aided in transport by Sergeant Chuck Carver of the Vermont State Police,” the judge decreed as she pounded her gavel on its block.
There was soft talk around the courtroom. The judge pounded her gavel on its block again and said. “Order in the court.”
Pauly immediately handcuffed Cam’s hands behind her back.
“Good luck, Agent Tarelli.”
“Thank you, your Honor,” Pauly said. He took Cam’s arm and walked her out of the court room. They stopped at the cashier’s cage and waited for the forms to be prepared and sign the release papers. Through all that Pauly didn’t look Cam in the eye and she kept her head down, Chuck stood on the other side of her.
The papers completed and signed, Pauly, Cam, and Chuck walked outside and got into Carver’s State Police vehicle. Cam, of course, was locked in the back seat. She let out a deep sigh.
“Thank you,” was the first thing she’d said since she told the judge she was innocent.
An RCMP car pulled in behind Chuck’s car. Jean-René got out and walked over to Chuck’s side of the Vermont car.
“All right,” he said, looking into the back seat and smiling at Cam, “follow me and we’ll get this taken care of.”
Chuck nodded. Jean-René got back into his car and Chuck followed as Jean-René started out of the parking lot. Once they were on the street outside the courthouse, Cam and Pauly broke into laughter.
“Attempted murder?” Cam asked. “Where did that come from?”
Pauly looked over his shoulder from where he sat in the front seat. “Craig wrote it. He said you always got him to the brink of a heart attack when you didn’t follow procedures. He wanted to make sure the judge released you to us.”
“I was wondering how I was going to get out of that without blowing my cover.”
“I’m sorry we had to leave you there, but if we rescued you too quickly, people would wonder why.”
“Yes, they would. Did the judge know? She was rather strict.”
“Yes,” Pauly said as he nodded. “She knew. She’s a good actor, too. In fact, she was quite impressed by your background and would love to meet you some time. She also suggested that you stay south of the border in the near future.”
“Of course! I don’t think I’ll go back to Magog for quite a while.” Cam chuckled. “I’ll have to drive down to Newport to do my shopping now.”
Chuck broke into laughter. “I know you told me about your cover, but I wasn’t prepared for the lengths the government would go through to help you keep it.”
“Yes, they’ve been quite willing to break the rules for me.”
“I can imagine. Thank you, too, for finding that cross. When the RCMP raided that place, it was taken as evidence. They got quite a lot, inc
luding the three billfolds that belonged to those boys. We now have evidence to convict the murderers of those boys. Now we’re just waiting for one of them to break down and confess. We’ve charged all three of them with three counts of first-degree murder so I’m sure one of them will talk, because they could all be facing a death penalty. Hopefully, that should close the case.”
“That’s good,” Cam said softly. “It was hard to keep my composure when I saw it hanging there. I wanted to shout for joy!”
“So you got another case solved,” Pauly said. “What’s next?”
“I have no idea,” Cam answered. “I’ll have to ask Maggie.” She looked out the window. “Where are we going?” They were not on the road back to her house.
“Jean-René thought we’d better not go directly to your place in case we were being watched. His wife’s making an early dinner.”
“Ah…food!” Cam sat forward. “You put these handcuffs on awfully tight,” she told Pauly.
He looked at her. “I didn’t want such a seasoned criminal to get away.”
“You’re having too much fun,” Cam growled.
Pauly and Chuck laughed.
“So, how do Canadian jails compare to US ones?” Pauly asked.
“Well, they’re a little cleaner and the coffee’s better,” Cam said. “Other than that, the cells are smaller.”
They drove down the eastern edge of the lake. Pauly were amazed by the beauty of it.
“This is as beautiful as Chesapeake Bay,” Pauly said.
“Did you stay at my place last night?” Cam asked.
“No,” he replied. “I got here this morning. We flew in from the west so I only saw part of this lake from the air,” Pauly explained. “Maggie got here yesterday. I believe she stayed at your house last night.”
“How long are you staying?” Cam asked.
“I need to be back tomorrow night,” Pauly responded. “Michael was talking about bringing me back to Montreal in the morning and I can fly out of there. That way no one would see me flying out of Magog without you.”
Bodies Out Back Page 19
