“They didn’t know one thing,” said Vince, “the company installed tracking devises inside the money sacks, even the employees didn’t know about them yet. The company had them on a trial basis to see if they were going to buy them and if they would be cost effective. I think they got their answer rather quickly. If the gang had not been so greedy and transferred as much money into their own bags instead of taking it in all the original bags, we would have had much more difficult time catching them.”
“Damn,” said Wilson, “that was a lucky break for our side.”
“Anyway,” said Vince, “I was calling you because you said you had a personal interest in finding something out about Stillwater.”
“Yup, some good friends of mine wanted to know his whereabouts because he has done some bad things to them.”
“Wilson, here’s our problem, you know how it is when you catch a bunch of hungry dogs, they are breaking their necks to snitch on one another for a deal and a reduced sentence. We must find out whom to tag with the two murders. Stillwater has been identified by one of them as the shooter, but Stillwater has fingered someone else as the one who did it. We want to have a solid case before we take it to court so we won’t look like the keystone cops when we get there. If your friends can give us any further information, we would really appreciate it. If we have something else on him then we could get him on that other charge while we find out for sure who pulled the trigger on this job. Would you talk with them and get back to me?”
“Consider it done,” said Wilson, “I’ll be seeing them Sunday afternoon and see if they have anything. Thanks for calling me about this I really appreciate it they are special people to me. Talk to you soon, Vince.”
Betty and Darrell, Chad and Amelia and Shelly and Wilson were all meeting at Betty’s to have lunch and make some plans for the wedding. Actually, the girls would be doing the wedding planning and the guys would be watching the game.
After lunch Betty, Amelia and Shelly, sat at the kitchen table with pads of paper and began asking Shelly what she wanted done for her special day. After a few hours they felt like they accomplished a lot, they organized what Shelly told them she wanted and split up the work between Amelia, Betty, Shelly’s mom and her sister. The game was over, and Shelly had night call at the hospital. Chad and Amelia had driven to Betty and Darrell’s, with Wilson and Shelly going back they would drop Shelly off at the hospital, and Wilson would take them back to the apartment. On their way to the apartment, Wilson asked if he could come in and talk with them about something.
“Sure,” said Chad, “will you make some coffee for us honey?”
“I’m heading for the kitchen,” said Amelia.
Amelia went to the kitchen and made coffee and they sat at the table.
“What’s going on, Wilson,” asked Chad?
“I wanted to talk to you and Amelia about Jerry.”
“Jerry?” Chad and Amelia said, at the same time, looking at each other with surprise.”
“Yes, he’s in real trouble with the law this time. He was with those guys who tried to rob that armored car that was in the papers and on TV.”
“Oh no,” said Amelia, as she reached for Chad’s hand.
“Tell us the rest,” said Chad, “what has this got to do with us?”
“The way I found out that Jerry was one of the gang,” said Wilson, “is that my friend Vince the FBI agent, called me. Both the driver and the security guard in the armored car were killed by the robbers. The FBI questioned the suspects and has been told that the murders were done by two different people in the gang. They can’t pinpoint who committed the murders because the gang members are accusing each other of doing the killings. Jerry is one of the ones they say did the killing. Vince asked me to talk to you to see if you knew anything about Jerry that they could look into to get more evidence to develop a more solid case against Jerry, because they think he is the one who committed the murders. If they can’t prove he murdered the armored car employees, they were hoping that maybe Jerry did something else that they can get him for. They sure they don’t want him to go to prison on a lighter sentence and get out on parole and be out on the streets again.”
“Before you say anything, let me tell you all that Vince told me about him and what he’s been doing. Wilson told Chad and Amelia about Joey, Juzette, the trailer park, and the details of the robbery where Jerry and Joey worked, the drug running Jerry did in the military and the full story of the armored car robbery.”
“That’s mind boggling,” said Chad, “he is into everything isn’t he?”
“He looked at Amelia who was looking at him and looked slightly upset, are you OK baby?”
“I’m OK. I feel badly that my brother is such a hateful person. I’m not surprised after what he tried to do to my family for money, but he continues to go around hurting people.”
Wilson excused himself and went to the bathroom. When he was gone, Amelia said to Chad, “what do you think honey, should we tell him what I know about Jerry?”
“I think if we level with Wilson he will understand our position that we would only want to reveal the information you know about Jerry only if there is no other tactic to put him away where he won’t be able to hurt anyone else.”
“OK honey, let’s do that.”
When Wilson returned, Chad said, “Wilson we have to ask you something, but first we want to know how it would affect us. Would it be possible to say we have information about Jerry, except we only want to tell about it if there is no other way to get him?”
“For my part you could tell me, in all honesty, if I was sworn in, as a witness in court to tell the truth, I would have to tell the truth. If I didn’t and they knew I had information that I didn’t reveal, I wouldn’t be trusted as a cop anymore. Here’s the part that tricky, if you know something and don’t reveal it, you can be held as an accessory because you knew about a crime and didn’t report it to the police. Sorry I have to tell you that, but that’s the law, and you could go to jail for not telling the truth.”
“I understand what you are saying, I think Amelia does too, don’t you honey?”
Amelia shook her head and said yes.
“Wilson, we trust you, so this is what I want to do. I will tell you some things about my brother that I hope will help you and the FBI make your case because I know he needs to be put away. I’m going to say that there might be some things I might remember if this isn’t enough, that’s all I want to say. I don’t want to put you in a bad place by having to lie, nor do I want to get us in trouble because we didn’t tell it all. Let’s say I’m trying hard to remember.”
“That’s fair enough, I do understand this is not easy for you, Amelia.”
Amelia said to Chad, “Honey please hold my hand,” then she told Wilson all she knew about the first time Jerry came to the farm. How he told them Rosalie was his wife and one day Roberto Lopez showed up and said he was Rosalie’s brother, they had a very strange relationship. They hugged and kissed on the lips.
One day Rosalie told Amelia where they lived in small rural town outside of Hermosillo, Mexico. Both Roger and I knew he was up to something and didn’t come from being in the military with his hair long and beard. Maybe if they go there, they will find out more and you’ll have enough to charge him with something else. I knew he was a changed man from the brother I knew growing up.
Jerry was always lazy and looking for the easy way out, but he wasn’t mean. Then one day Roberto tried to molest me, and I stopped him by kicking him in the groin. Jerry heard him scream and came to see what happened. I told him what Roberto tried to do to me and that I expected Jerry to defend me like any brother would. Jerry did nothing to help me, he said I was like all the other females a tease and asking for it and that I shouldn’t have kicked Roberto so hard, he only wanted to have a little fun with me. That was the day I knew he was no longer the brother I knew.
“You never told me that honey.”
“I know I didn’t want you to beat him up if you ever found him.” Amelia shed a few tears, then said, “I didn’t want you to get in trouble defending me. Besides Roger gave Deana and me a gun after that and we would have used it.”
“Honey I thought I knew how hard it was for you when you were on the farm, I had no idea, Jerry came back and terrorized your whole family. You were probably right not to tell me, because I would have made him pay for treating you and your family like that. Maybe I would have gone to jail.”
“Amelia, Chad, I’m sorry I had to put you both through the bad memories. I’ll call Vince and give him what you told me. I hope that it will be enough, if so everything will be over. I know he will send someone to Mexico to see if there is anything else. Thank you for telling me all that. I know it hurt you, Amelia to talk about all those sad times.
“It’s OK if it will be enough,” Amelia said.
“Thanks, Amelia,” said Wilson and he gave Amelia a hug as he left.”
“We have to call Roger and let him know what’s going on, I’m sure they will be going to the farm to do some more investigating,” Said Chad, “I’ll be right back I’m going to walk Wilson out.”
Chad asked Wilson, “Do you really think it will be enough?”
“I don’t know it’s not much it shows how mean he is and that he was willing to steal from his own family. I don’t want you to tell me what Amelia is holding back, but could you say if it’s something we could use.”
“It’s something you can use, it’s something very bad, as bad as it gets, I worry that Amelia would have to testify against her own brother. Even though he is a bastard it would tear her up, people would think she is a monster for helping to put him behind bars.”
“Chad, I promise I won’t ask if I don’t have to or if Vince thinks they have enough already.”
“Thanks Buddy, I appreciate all you have done for us. It seems like we need your services often.”
“Think nothing of it, Chad I love you both and I’m so glad we all care for each other’s welfare, I don’t have much family, you guys and Betty and Darrell are all Shelly and I have except for her folks. I gotta go, see you, I’ll call as soon as I know something.”
When Chad went back in Amelia mouthed, she was on the phone with Roger.
“Hi Rog,” called Chad.
Amelia said, “Roger I’m going to put you on speaker Chad’s here now.”
“What do you think about all this”? Asked Roger.
“One thing I know,” said Chad, “I think Jerry did a lot more bad things then we will ever know and because of that I’m keeping Amelia as close to me as possible. You need to do the same with Deana and the kids and warn Matt. First chance we get I’m taking my baby here to the firing range to get her brushed up on her firearms skills. I’m not taking any chances, the details about this gang tells me that Jerry knows some real bad dudes.”
“I hear you loud and clear I’m so glad Amelia has you, if she didn’t, I would worry a lot more than I do.”
[ Chapter 54 ]
Shelly’s wedding was perfect. She looked beautiful and she wore her mother’s wedding dress and veil. Wilson was so nervous Chad and Darrell had to make him drink water because he was perspiring so much, and they didn’t want him to pass out.
Chad, who was best man, asked him, “What’s the matter Wilson don’t you want to get married? Did you and Shelly have a fight or something?”
“No, we hardly ever fight, that’s not what I’m nervous about, I want to get married very much, but what if Shelly changes her mind at the last minute and leaves me at the altar?”
“Wilson you are being so silly, Amelia says, Shelly loves you so much she talks about you all the time.”
“She does?” He said with much surprise.
Then the music started, and Wilson looked down the aisle and could see Betty walking in first, then Amelia, the Matron of Honor and Shelly and her father. Chad gave Wilson a nudge, “See what I told you,” he said, “Everything is going to be alright now. You’ll soon be an old married man like me and Darrell,” he said with a smile and a nudge of his elbow.
Betty, Darrell, Amelia, and Chad went to Wilson’s apartment and got it ready the same way Shelly and Betty did for Amelia and Chad. They would be staying there the night of the wedding and then going away for a few days that’s all the time Shelly could get off.
After Chad finished checking the fitness centers on Saturday and Sundays, he had the rest of the day off. He and Amelia usually rode their bikes or took long walks and sometimes when to the movies. When the weather was nice, they sometimes went to Betty and Darrell’s house and cooked outside. Sometimes they stayed home, and Amelia would make some popcorn and they watched TV or read. Chad was on the computer a lot he kept in touch with Herbie and some of the men from the squad.
One Saturday afternoon Chad, Amelia, Shelly, and Wilson wanted to work out in one of the fitness centers. Chad brought them in as guests of his. Chad finished making his rounds early and they went to the fitness center nearest the apartment. The girls were on treadmills and Wilson and Chad were using the weight machines. A good-looking young man in shorts and a tank top got on the treadmill next to Amelia and began talking to her. She chatted with him to be friendly, but mostly talked with Shelly. When they stopped the treadmills and got off, the man got off his too. “Can I buy you girls a fruit drink,” he asked, seeming as if he were flirting with them.
“No thank you,” said Amelia, “we are both married and not interested in beginning a new relationship.”
“I was only trying to be friendly,” the man said, suddenly grabbing Amelia’s arm, he ran and pulled her with him toward the door. He got her as far as the sidewalk before both Chad and Wilson were on him. Chad pulled Amelia away from the man and he tried to run away, Wilson had him on the ground and was restraining him. A white van which was double-parked in front of the fitness center, laid down rubber as it pulled away. Wilson got only the last three license plate numbers. Shelly had followed them all out and was asking Wilson if he and Amelia were OK. Chad had Amelia in his arms. Wilson asked Shelly to get his cell phone and made some calls and soon a police cruiser came and took the prisoner to jail. Wilson told them he would be down to give them all the info as soon as he got showered and dressed.
Wilson went to the police station and Shelly went home with Chad and Amelia. Wilson would join them after finding out who this man was. Chad and Amelia were cooking, and Shelly was fixing the salad and setting the table. Wilson called to say he was on his way.
They all wanted to know about the guy who grabbed Amelia and what happened. Wilson said, I’m waiting for my partner to call me with the rest of the info on him. After they ate, Wilson called his partner and got the details.
“I can tell you all that that guy was not some fresh jerk. When we ran his fingerprints, he had a record in Los Vegas and has a long list of assault charges, he works as a security guard for a check cashing service. He said he was messing with Amelia because his boss wanted her for security.”
“What does that mean?” Asked Chad.
“Well here’s the weird part,” said Wilson, “it seems that they were stuck with a large amount of funny money by a man who made an exchange with them. They were able to find out that the guy was Jerry.”
“How would they do that I’m sure Jerry used a false name,” said Chad.
Places like that often employ off duty cops for security. They moonlight and made good money. In addition to security protection, the cops naturally use their skills at finding out information. They think Jerry must have left his prints behind and they put him through the system. Once they made him, they ran him saw he had outstanding warrants, found he was in jail, and figured he had the real money stashed away. They would hold Amelia hostage till he told them where it was.
“No, no, I called Vince and he is very much still in jail. The man was trying to take you hostage and was going to hold you and tell Jerry he had to pay them back or they would harm you.”
“Then they don’t know he’s in jail, do they?” Asked Chad, automatically, pulling Amelia closer to him.
“No, so that’s why I called Vince, he’s going to call his guys in Vegas and question anybody who knew Jerry. I think it’s OK for Amelia, once that crowd knows Jerry is in jail, they will work to get him from the inside rather than grab one of his relatives.”
“Little do they know,” said Amelia, “Jerry would probably let them do whatever they wanted to me or anybody else in the family for the money.”
[ Chapter 55 ]
Wilson gave the information he got from Amelia to the FBI, they would investigate more thoroughly. After questioning Joey further, he spilled his guts and told everything he knew about Jerry. He told the agents that one night when Jerry was in a drunken stupor, he told Joey how he came back into the USA and went to the farm to get money from his family. He was staying in a small town in Mexico when he met Roberto and he agreed to let him use his wife and kids. He had to Americanize her by getting her some new clothes and her hair done, he even got her nails painted, but she didn’t speak very much English. They were only supposed to be gone for a very short time, but then Roberto showed up at the farm and the plans changed.
Vince sent two FBI agents to Mexico to find Rosalie. They found her, Antonio, and Damita in a small farmhouse outside of town. Antonio was a teenager now and had a job, Damita was still in school. Antonio saw that when they said Jerry’s name his mother pulled her shawl tighter around her and put her arms around Damita, she looked very scared and trembled a little. She pulled Antonio closer to her to.
They questioned Rosalie and she told them the whole story of how her husband Roberto, made a deal with Jerry to have her and her two children pretend to be Jerry’s wife and children to provide cover for him to go back to the United-States. Jerry wanted to get money from the farm his family owned. It didn’t go as planned and he and Roberto had a fight about the money. As far as she knew, the money was hidden by Roberto and never found. She didn’t tell them Jerry killed Roberto because Antonio was there when they questioned her and she knew if Antonio knew the truth, he would want to seek revenge on Jerry. Rosalie was afraid that Jerry would kill Antonio too. Antonio followed the agents on his bicycle when they left. When they were out of sight of the farmhouse Antonio waved at them to stop. He rode to the side of the car and said, “I need to ask you a question my mother was afraid to ask, where is Jerry now?”
Secrets of Amelia Page 34
