Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen
Bryntley and Todd began putting together the dinner meal we would all be ready for in a short while. Lincoln was asking questions about what I did that day at work and I heard Bryntley talking to my boss, Sofia, explaining that I wouldn’t be coming back. She told her our circumstances had changed. I guess that my circumstances have changed a lot in my life. They certainly changed when Charles died and now I lost my best friend. I didn’t think I would be up for any more changes anytime soon. 

Just staying around the house would be boring indeed. I guess I could try to volunteer to help with cooking and keeping up with the house. I was sure they wanted to keep everyone else out of the area. I thought we wouldn’t be eating any meals in public after this either, even if we didn’t think they had any idea of where we were. 

We prepared meals at the house; we didn’t eat out and we didn’t order any deliveries. I stayed where I could be seen and I kept my family close by me. We had no contact with the outside world except my federal protectors got information fed to them from their supervisors. 

We could watch television but we had no phones. They are too easily tracked I was told. We had an internet connection attached to a VPN for our security. We had tablets we could use to monitor social media but only while in an area that could be seen by Todd or Bryntley. We could not post or comment so we could just look. We connected using our new identities on accounts setup by Todd. 

The days all ran together and it was hard keeping Lincoln busy. He was an active boy and wasn’t into just sitting around. The house was surrounded by a giant adobe fence that went around the entire structure. There was a gate that opened where the garage is to allow cars to come in and out. Each bedroom of the home had its own courtyard contained inside the adobe fence. Lincoln was able to play in that courtyard as long as someone was watching.

All the gates attached to the eight foot adobe fence were heavy steel gates as were the hinges that held them bolted to the fence. The houses were all quite a distance apart and all locked inside a gated community that required an access code for entry. The front gate of the house was also kept locked and so was the heavy garage door. Federal agents kept watch around the perimeter of the house just in case the security gate was ever breached.  

I was sad and depressed most of the time because of losing first my husband and then my friend. Life seemed so hard for me and I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. But when I saw Lincoln playing I realized what I had to be thankful for. He was a constant reminder of his dad. I knew I would always have a piece of Charles that would be with me wherever I needed him to be.

Todd approached me and told me there had been some long discussions with his supervisors and given the extreme circumstances of my roommate being murdered and the fact that somebody was really after me, I was granted permission to carry a gun. They would have to check it out for registration and I would have to demonstrate proficiency with the weapon. I was confident I could do that. 

There was a firing range close by that law enforcement used and Todd would take me there for testing while Bryntley stayed at the house to watch over my mother and son. Everything was laid out on a table next to my firing lane. I had to prove I could load the clip and then prove I could insert and remove the clip. After that I got to fire at the target which was the easy part.

I think Todd was impressed with my shooting skills, at least that is what I thought he meant when he said “damn”. I emptied the clip by making a circle around the head. Todd didn’t say much, he just handed me my pistol and led the way back to the Suburban. I felt safer with my own weapon, not being entirely dependent on others for my protection. 

When we drove back into the garage at the house, everyone was waiting for our return. Bryntley gave a questioning look at Todd and he just shook his head up and down. She smiled and nothing was said. I wasn’t even aware that Todd had brought the target with us, but I saw him show it to Bryntley. 

Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months but finally the word came. The trial date was approaching. The defense had made some delaying maneuvers but had finally run out of time. The federal prosecutor wanted me back in town so they could start going over my testimony. We would be placed at another safe-house and I would only leave for testimony preparations.

We loaded back into the SUV and headed back for the trial. I had a lot of preparations to make and I wanted to be ready. These people were responsible for the death of my roommate and dear friend, Jill. I owed them a debt and I intended to pay back with interest. 

The prosecutor was a professional looking fifty-year old by my calculations. I wouldn’t check his ID if he was buying beer. He was tall with a little graying in the temples and well dressed. He introduced himself as Jonathon Connors. He was polite but firm and he told me the defense would attack me from all angles so if there was anything they needed to know, now was the time to tell them. 

Jonathan said, “In your own words, tell us how you got involved with the defendant.”

I told my story as completely as I could remember. I told how I got suspicious of the things he purchased at the checkout counter. Jonathan asked me to elaborate and I listed the items; duct tape, zip ties, rubber gloves, bleach and trash bags. Then I described how I checked his ID for the beer he bought even though he clearly looked old enough to make the purchase. I explained how I jotted down his name and address before handing him the receipt and how I printed a second copy of the receipt out after he left.

The prosecutor held up the second receipt from the evidence bag and asked, “Is this the receipt you are referring to?”

I answered, “Yes that is the one I gave to the police.”

The prosecutor kept at me trying to trip me up but I stayed calm and answered every question he asked me. I knew he was trying to get me ready for the cross examination of the defense. Then he asked why I thought it was my responsibility to investigate the defendant.

I answered, “Because I am a citizen. Aren’t we all responsible for the safety of the public as a whole? A couple of years ago now, my husband Charles was out driving on his way home to me and his new son. A drunk driver came from nowhere and crashed into him and Charles died on the way to the hospital. They never caught the drunk driver but a lot of good people witnessed what happened and came forward with testimony and videos. I at least know what happened because these people stopped what they were doing and reported what happened.”

The prosecutor was caught off guard and I could see a tear running down his cheek. He told me he didn’t know about that incident.  

I continued to speak, “Too many people are afraid of getting involved and serious crimes occur even under the watchful eyes of witnesses who keep their mouths shut out of fear. I will not be intimidated.”

Jonathan said, “The story about your husband is not part of the charges, so the defense won’t know about it. It isn’t listed as part of “discovery”. You can’t just bring it up. When he asks about why you felt you needed to get involved, and he will, then you can bring it up. He asks and you can let him have it. I think you will do great on the stand.”

I asked, “What if he only asks for yes or no answers?”

Jonathan said, “Then I will cross examine you and allow you to elaborate. The girl he kidnapped will be called to the stand too just to point him out. There are laws protecting minors in court. We have her telling her story on video and that will be shown in court. The video we got from your camera after we got the search warrant can be shown in court as well.”

I asked, “What about all of the videos we shot from the beginning?”

Jonathon replied, “None of the videos prior to the warrant are admissible. But we have enough without them. We aren’t even going to mention that you recorded anything prior to the warrant.”

I asked, “How are you going to explain how you managed to get the warrants in the first place?”

The prosecutor said, “I will tell them the list of items purchased by the defendant was enough to justify a warrant. It gave us some probable cause, especially after the story broke about the missing girl and her mother.”

Everything seemed to be ready for court. I hoped I was ready. I was concerned about after the trial and if the gang would still be after me. I was only involved with the one defendant so after the trial I wouldn’t be a threat to any others but the gang might want revenge to show others what happens when you cross them. 

Todd was waiting for me to finish going over testimony. It was recorded in hopes of using it in the event something happened to me. We started back to the safe-house and I noticed people following behind us in a black sedan. 

I said, “Someone is following us.”

Todd said, “I know. We added some additional security personnel for protection in this case. It is an important case for the government and they are throwing lots of money at it.”

We didn’t go straight to the house but made a lot of turns and went out of our way to make sure no one but the security car knew where we were going. Todd told me the security detail were old experienced federal agents and knew the location of the safe-house. 

We turned off at the house and into a garage that was quickly closed. I learned the security detail stayed outside to guard the house. They stayed in a house across the street. I was also told there were several security guards who were snipers guarding the property. They were placed in multiple locations around the property. 

I don’t know if I felt safer or more scared with all of the security around the house. I had my own pistol handy if needed but I wouldn’t be allowed to take it into the courtroom. I was nervous about that but I had hoped it would all be over soon. Everyone was nice to my whole family and Bryntley told me she heard I did a good job with the testimony. I was anxious to get it over with and had hopes to have a normal life someday.

I wouldn’t be allowed to stay in the courtroom during the trial, because I was testifying. They didn’t want me to be influenced by anyone else testifying so witnesses aren’t allowed to stay in the courtroom while others are testifying. 

My life seemed to be very much like my protection detail. A lot of waiting around hoping nothing happened. They make it exciting in the movies and on TV but from what I have seen it is boring. In a movie or on television there would have been car chases and explosions by now. 

The new safe-house was just as secure as the old one. It was also in a gated community and had a large detachment of federal officers guarding the place. I wouldn’t feel any safer if I was guarded by Bruce Willis.