No Justice For Jeremy: Chapter Three
Two days later, the Bolts arrived in Smith Town, Oregon. It was a small town about the size of Seattle.
The family decided that their surname alias would be Winthrop. Jason would be Thomas or Tommy. Joshua would be Alexander or Alex. Jeremy would be Donald or Donnie. Candy's fake name was going to be Kelly. Biddie's would be Meg.
Jason and Joshua were worried about Jeremy using an alias since he had such a hard time tried to practice with him in his hotel room the night they arrived in Smith Town.
"Jeremy, we know you hate to lie, but you must do it now to save your life. You know you're not very good at it. I mean it is very obvious when you are not telling the truth." Jason told him.
"Well, maybe now that my whole life is a lie, I'll get better at it." Jeremy replied bitterly.
"We don't want you to hang, brother. That's why we are trying to help you be a better liar." Joshua said.
"Maybe I should take lessons from Junior Oates. His lies got me and the rest of you in this predicament." Jeremy responded.
"That's right, Jeremy. It's an example of how wrong and hurtful lying can be." Jason frowned.
"Yeah." Jeremy agreed..
"The first thing to remember when lying, Jeremy, is to breathe normally and maintain eye contact with the person you are speaking too." Joshua told him.
"Jeremy, it's also important not to tilt your head to one 's one of your main tells when you lie." Jason advised.
"Okay. Breathe, eye contact, don't tilt. Anything else? "Jeremy asked.
"Don't gulp. You know like you did when you tried to tell Candy that you loved the spinach casserole she cooked that time for the church dinner?" Joshua questioned his brother.
"Josh, I wasn't gulping because I was lying. I was gulping because that stuff was stuck in my throat." Jeremy answered.
"Jeremy, I'm also thinking that we should do something about your appearance. You look so kind and so sweet that it's hard for you to lie convincingly." Jason commented.
"Sweet?! Really, Jason? People would be surprised to find out that this sweet guy is a convicted murderer, wouldn't they?" Jeremy raised an eyebrow at his brother.
"Hey! That's good, Jeremy! Raise your eyebrow when you talk. It makes you look serious and sort of tough." Joshua recommended.
"I'll try, Josh." Jeremy was tired.
"I think that's enough lying practice for now. Let's get the ladies and go eat supper." Jason said.
"Yes, we need to start lying for real now." Joshua replied.
"Yeah. Now and for the rest of our lives. However long that is." Jeremy added.
Jason looked sadly at his brothers. He walked over to them. He put an arm around their shoulders.
The brothers went down the hall to Joshua and Biddie's room. The Bolt wives were visiting in that room.
The Bolt family walked out of their hotel. They went a few blocks down Main Street. There was a restaurant called Mama's Home Cooking. It was crowded. The food aromas drifting out the door made the group's mouths water.
"This place seems to be popular. It sure smells good too. Would everyone like to try it?" Jason asked.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Let's remember to use our new names." Joshua whispered.
"Okay, Alex." Jeremy sighed.
The family went inside. They looked around nervously. Candy squeezed Jeremy's hand. He put his arm around her.
Jason spoke to a waiter. "We would like a table for five please."
"There is a half hour wait for a table, sir. What is the name, please?" The waiter said pleasantly.
"Winthrop. Thomas Winthrop." Jason said easily.
"Very well, Mr. Winthrop. We are pleased that you and your family have chosen to dine with us tonight." The waiter smiled. He showed them to the waiting area. All of the Bolts sat down on a large sofa.
"I never thought a restaurant called Mama's Home Cooking would have waiters." Joshua whispered.
"I guess Smith Town is growing, sweetheart." Biddie told him.
The family chuckled at Biddie's comment.
A few minutes later, Jeremy excused himself to go to the Men's Washroom.
"Be careful, Donnie." Jason told him.
"I will be very careful, Tommy." Jeremy replied.
Jeremy went down a long hallway. He saw a sign that read Men's Washroom with an arrow pointing to the right down another hallway. Jeremy walked down the hallway to the right.
When he reached the Men's Washroom at the end of the hallway, Jeremy was stunned. Nailed to the washroom door was a wanted poster with his picture sketch and his name.
The wanted poster said WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE, JEREMY BOLT, For the Murder of Walter Phelps. Reward: 500 Dollars. Special Notation:Bolt has piercing blue eyes and sometimes stutters.
Jeremy looked over his shoulder. There was no one in sight.
Jeremy went into the washroom. He splashed some cold water on his face. He dried his face and looked at his reflection in the mirror. Maybe he should grow a beard. That would help him not look so young and baby faced he thought.
Jeremy left the washroom. When he closed the door behind him, he yanked the wanted poster off the door. Jeremy crumpled the paper and shoved it in his pants pocket.
Jeremy hurried back to Candy and his brothers.
"Jer- Donnie, are you alright?" Jason asked.
"No! There was a wanted poster on the door of the men's washroom." Jeremy whispered. "I snatched it off the door."
Candy and Biddie gasped. Joshua covered his face with his hands.
"Do you still want to eat supper here? We can find another place."Jason asked..
"Yes, let's just stay here. Those….things are probably all over town!" Jeremy answered.
Jeremy leaned forward putting his face in his hands, He sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry, Donnie. How did they get those things this far so fast?" Joshua wondered.
Candy put her arm around Jeremy. "Oh, sweetheart! All of this is so awful!"
Jeremy leaned his head on Candy's shoulder. "Yes, it is."
The waiter called the Bolts to their table. They had a tasty meal. Jeremy wondered if the waiter realized he was the one on the wanted poster.
After they finished their supper, the family returned to the hotel.
"Jason, Joshua, would you come to my room, please? Biddie, is it okay if Candy visits here with you in your room for a little while, please?" Jeremy asked.
"Jeremy, why can't Biddie and I be in the room as well? We are part of the family. We need to know what plans the three of you have." Candy asked.
"I agree with you, Candy. We will let Biddie and you know our plans. I need to discuss this with Jason and Joshua first." Jeremy kissed her cheek.
"Okay, Jeremy. I understand you wanting to talk to your brothers first. I can wait." Candy returned the kiss to his cheek.
"That's fine, Jeremy. Candy, you and I can read the newspaper that Joshua bought here this afternoon." Biddie said.
The three brothers walked to Jeremy's room.
"What do you want to talk to us about, Jeremy?" Jason asked.
Jeremy looked at his brothers. "Sit down, please."
Jason and Joshua sat down on the bed.
Jeremy paced the floor for a few minutes. Then he stopped in front of Jason and Joshua. Jeremy stood there with his hands on his hips.
Jeremy took a deep breath. "I have decided to turn myself in."
"No! Jeremy! You can't do that. I know you're upset about the wanted poster, but we can't give up!' Joshua shouted.
"Joshua!' Jeremy shouted back. "They're going to catch me one day. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe a year from now. Yeah, seeing that wanted poster scared me. It also made me realize that the Bolt brothers charmed life is over. At least it is for this Bolt brother. If I turn myself in, you and Jason and Candy and Biddie will be safe. All of you can go home to Seattle."
"Home to what?! Your hanging?!" Joshua exclaimed.
"Josh, my life is over. We have to face it. Sure, running might add a little time for me, but that time is not worth putting the people I love in danger. I have to do this, Joshua. I have to keep all of you safe from the bounty hunters. This is the last thing I can do to show my family how much I love them." Jeremy sobbed.
Jason got up from the bed. He walked across the room.
"Jeremy." Jason said wrapping his arms around his brother. "Cry it out."
Jeremy clung to Jason. Jeremy squalled his heart out.
Jason hugged Jeremy tightly. Jason drew a deep breath. A slight smile came to Jason's lips, as he heard Jeremy through his tears, whisper, "Bah dum, bah dum, bah dum."
Jason knew that Jeremy was recalling a childhood memory. When Jeremy was a very young boy, he often slept with Jason. Jeremy would place his head on Jason's chest so he could hear his oldest brother's heartbeat. Jeremy would sometimes fall asleep whispering bah dum, bah dum, bah dum. As a young child, Jeremy often said that Jason's heartbeat made him feel safe and loved.
When Jeremy stopped crying, he broke the embrace with his brother.
Jeremy looked at Jason. 'You understand why I have to turn myself in don't you?"
"Jeremy, I understand why you think you should surrender. But, you don't have to." Jason answered.
"Yes, I do, Jason!" Jeremy exclaimed. "I can't let all of you get killed because of me! I love each of you too much to let that happen!"
"Jeremy, don't you remember the reason that we are on this journey?" Jason looked his brother in the eye. "It's because we love you too much to let you be killed for a crime you didn't commit." Jason told him.
"Yes, I know that, Jason. I appreciate what everyone has done for me. I know it's a tremendous sacrifice for them. But, I can't let you or them be murdered because of me." Jeremy looked intently at his brother.
"Jeremy, don't you understand that we are willing to risk our lives for you because that's how much we love you?" Jason asked.
Jeremy was tired. He couldn't argue anymore.
"Okay, Jason. You and Josh win. I won't surrender." Jeremy agreed. In his mind, he was thinking, eye contact, breathe normally, don't tilt as he lied to his brothers.
"I l-l-love you, J-J-Jason. I l-l-love you, J-J-Josh." Jeremy told his brothers.
"I love you, Jeremy." Jason replied.
"Jeremy, I love you, brother." Josh told him.
Jason and Joshua went to their rooms.
When Candy returned to their room, Jeremy told her he was too tired to talk about the latest plan. He said they would discuss it tomorrow. Candy said that would be fine.
"I love you, Candy. Please remember that no matter what happens." Jeremy said softly putting his arms around her.
"I will remember Jeremy. You will always be here to remind me." Candy replied sweetly as she hugged him close.
They went to bed. Jeremy hummed softly and stroked Candy's hair as she fell asleep.
The next morning, Jeremy awoke early. He gave Candy a tender kiss on her lips. She sighed in her sleep.
Jeremy got up and got dressed. He sat down at a table to write a note to his wife.
This is what Jeremy wrote:
Dear Candy,
I love you with all of my heart. The past few years we have spent together have been wonderful. I cherish all the time we had with each other even the arguments. My sweet girl never hesitated to speak her 's one of the many reasons that I love you. Candy, I am going to turn myself in today and I'm asking you to understand why I am doing this. Sweetheart, I can't ask you or the rest of our family to continue to put your lives at risk for me. I know all of you are willing. I am truly grateful for that. But, I couldn't bear it if any of you were killed. Especially you, Candy. So, I am doing what I think is best to keep you and the rest of my family safe. I love all of you that much. Please find love and happiness with a new husband, sweetheart. Don't spend the rest of your life grieving for me. I love you, sweet girl. Goodbye, Jeremy.
Jeremy folded the note and put it in an envelope. He wrote Candy's name on the front of the envelope. He placed the envelope under the small vase of flowers on the beside table.
Jeremy walked to the door. He turned his head and looked at his beautiful wife sleeping peacefully.
"I love you, Candy. Goodbye, sweetheart." Jeremy whispered.
Jeremy walked out of the room and closed the door quietly behind him.
Jeremy left the hotel. He headed for the sheriff's office. On the way, Jeremy stuck his hand in his pocket. The wanted poster was there.
When he reached the sheriff's office, Jeremy hesitated for a few moments. This is the right thing to do, Bolt. Don't chicken out now. He thought.
Jeremy put his hand on the doorknob. Just as he was about to turn it, he heard "Donnie! Donnie! Stop!"
Jeremy looked down the street in the direction of the hotel. Jason and Joshua were racing toward him.
.