Scamper's Find
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His thoughts were interrupted by a visit from his counsel who informed him that the High Court Judge had deferred sentence until a later date.
“Joe, it could take up to four weeks before we have a decision. You will be transferred to a nearby prison until then. I’ll put in a plea of mitigation since you’ve been left to carry the can. The judge might look kindly on you for pleading guilty, he alone will make the decision on length of sentence, but don’t hold out too much hope. We’re looking at a long prison sentence for abduction and double murder. Alex will be found, mark my word. The police will stop at nothing to find him. The guys who were escorting him have egg on their faces and have to redeem themselves somehow or other. It will bode hard for him when he’s found.”
Some weeks later, Joe Bryson learned of his fate. He was escorted to court by wardens and met there with his counsel.
“Prepare yourself for the worst, Joe,” he said as he patted the prisoner on the shoulder. “I’ve done all that I could for you, the rest is up to the judge now.”
Standing in the dock, cuffed between two burly wardens, Joe Bryson learned his fate: “Life without parole,” announced the judge to the distraught man who felt tears stream down his face and was unable to wipe them away. He barely heard the judge’s condemnation of his crimes. His mind was in turmoil. Anger would come later.
***
A ruling had been made that due to Bobby’s mental disorder and diminished responsibility he would be held in a secure psychiatric prison wing without limit of time.
***
Alex Bryson remained at large with APW, all ports warning, an alert system which was hopeful of tracing the wanted man.
***
Some time later, Tony and the heavily pregnant Gina sat with Carole and Ted enjoying a quiet meal together. They were thoughtful and subdued.
“You know, I don’t feel like celebrating the ending of this case. We got our man in the end but I feel numb now. Knowing Rita Hampton has been sentenced to life without parole doesn’t make me want to shout from the rooftops. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for not saving Lucy. If only…”
“Tony,” said Carole, “I feel the same. The events of the past few years have taken over our lives. It has left scars for us all. All those lives lost…”
She never got to finish. A cry from a smiling Gina told them a new life was about to enter their world.
CHAPTER 40
Some of the team from Harvey’s squad gathered around to talk via Skype with their Scottish colleagues and detective Geoff Nolan who had come from London for the trial of Joe Bryson.
“Good results all round then guys, on both sides of the pond,” began Tony, looking more relaxed than he had for some time. “In the end, justice has been served.”
“Yes, sir,” responded Detective McKenzie, with a mock salute to his American friends. “Our trio of bad brothers led us a merry dance. We were all convinced your two thugs had been targeted by someone from your end of the world in revenge for young Lucy’s death and all the time the Bryson boys were seeking out Barry Jones for a ten-year-old assault on their mother.”
“It’s sure been a roller coaster of a ride,” commented Carole. “I for one am glad the ride has stopped. It’s been great working with you guys and learning the difference in our judiciary systems and the different terminology.”
Rab McKenzie picked up the theme, “Yes, it is different, but we got our men in the end, well apart from the one who has gone AWOL and he is sure to be picked up soon. He can’t hide forever.
“Do you guys know that Scotland has its own system of law, quite separate from the rest of the UK, have had for centuries? We have three verdicts here; guilty, not guilty, and not proven.”
Geoff Nolan piped in, “The crazy Scots have to be different now, don’t you? Causes all sorts of confusion. I thought I was on another planet when I sat in your High Court. Why can’t you be civilised and refer to it as the Crown Court, like normal people? And they don’t use the word ‘defendant’ either up here; they talk about the ‘accused’. Don’t get me started on the rest!”
His remarks caused laughter among the friends who had bonded well over the many months of investigation.
“Yeah,” said Tony, “I read about the different systems. Hey, in the end we’re all reading from the same hymn sheet; okay, maybe from different pages, but we get the result in the end. If your guys had been tried over here, they could possibly be facing the death penalty.”
“I’ll be sure to tell the Bryson boy when I see him, he’ll be really cheered up to know that!” said Rab.
Before signing off, Tony said, “We need to get together in the future and have a discussion about all this over a meal and a drink. I hope we will meet up again. I plan to visit Scotland some day with my wife and family when my son is a bit older.”
“We heard you’d got yourself a wife and settled down to wedded bliss! And you have a son! Congratulations to you both. What did you call the wee man?”
“My step-daughter Abigail made the choice for us. His name is Lucian.”
***
Julie, relieved at not having to appear in court, had concentrated on publishing her book. She finished a successful book-signing session, packed up her remaining books, pleased with the turnout for the event. She enjoyed talking to people about her work, enthused with those who, like her, loved history, and met some interesting people and answered questions with courtesy and professionalism.
“Would you ever consider writing in another genre?” she was asked by an enthusiastic book reader.
“I’ve only ever written historical fiction, but it’s not outwith the realm of possibility. Perhaps in the future!”
***
As always, her mind wandered to the next book tucked somewhere in the deep recess of her brain.
“Maybe I do need a change of genre,” she commented as she relaxed at home with her friend Liz and three lively pets who fussed around the visitor in the hope that her large pocket contained some biscuits. They were not disappointed.
“A mystery thriller perhaps,” suggested Liz, “with an international flavour and a missing killer. Yes, the very thing. Perhaps Scamper could find that escaped prisoner, Alex Bryson, the guy who took flight from a rendezvous with justice. You could call the book, Scamper’s Find.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Terry H Watson qualified in D.C.E. and Dip.Sp.Ed. from Notre Dame College Glasgow and Bearsden, and obtained a B.A. degree from Open University Scotland.
A retired special needs teacher, who recently began writing, Terry has three books published: Call Mama, of which Scamper’s Find is the sequel and a compilation of short stories, A Tale or Two and a Few More. She is presently working on another mystery thriller.
Contact her by e-mail: Terryhwatson@yahoo.co.uk
or
Twitter: @TerryHWatson1
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Website: www.terryhwatson.com