Seventy-Nine
Jarrod and Nick gained immediate access to the Pinkerton office; Phil met them in the lobby and showed them upstairs.
After they quickly spilled out the story, Phil grabbed a manager and they began to strategize.
"I gotta an agent who doubles as a harbor security man. Whole system down there is corrupt and a head can be turned with a bribe. Might as well have 'em on Pinkerton payroll."
"Makes sense."
Jarrod spoke up, "I know it's going without saying, we will pay whatever."
"Whatever," echoed Nick.
Phil put his hand on his longtime friend's shoulder, "I know and I think you should contact your cousin at Carrington bank, in case we need fast cash. But from what you told me, the lackeys aren't real smart. Let's hope their bosses aren't either."
"You two sure you can carry this off? Without emotions." The manager asked.
Nick gruffed at him,"Don't have any choice, do we?"
"They are our sons. We will make the exchange," Jarrod said curtly.
And they all put their heads back down and drew out a map of the bar. Several more agents joined in and the plan began to take form.
—&—
James David moaned in the darkness and tried to stretch his long legs. They were cramped and pinned in the crate. He reached out and found Chip's shoulder. He was unconscious and blood still oozed from the wound. JT mumbled something and went back in his haze.
The fourth body he felt scooted away from his touch, "The girl? How'd you get in here?"
"Tried to give yall time to run but there was men outside the door. They's selling me to the boats too."
"Oh dear God." James David whispered.
"Do you believe in him? My Pa did. But he's dead. Ma too. Ain't nobody left to miss me."
"I do. And we will get out of this," with a quivering bravado.
She whimpered, "I am afraid of the dark."
"I was too when I was little. My mother would sing to me and leave the door cracked a little to see the light."
"Ain't no door to let in some light." and he heard her cry in the dark.
He searched the crate and pushed on the lid. A padlock clanked outside. He wedged a shim into the lid and a small sliver of light came in.
"Oh, you did it."
He felt a little braver with the girl's words but that disappeared when he made out the bruised and bloody faces of his best friends.
He swallowed and inadvertently shook with fear.
The girl leaned over a bit and put her hand on his cheek, "You almost make me believe that we gonna get out of here."
"We will."
—&—
"All rise. The sanity hearing of Lila Autonberry will commence."
Lila stood up holding Nate's arm as well as the prosecuting attorney and his clerk. The courtroom was empty except for the judge and his clerks. A solitary bailiff guarded the door.
"Mrs Autonberry, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty by reason of insanity." she barely whispered.
"Mr. Springer, what does the defense present to the court?"
"A medical examination by three respected professors, diagnosis of hysteria under duress. And a documented history of mental abuse by JD Autonberry."
"You have both to submit?"
"Yes sir," and the lanky attorney walked them to the podium. He presented the documents to opposing counsel. Nate had already discussed it at length and knew the man was open to this plea.
The judge studied the documents for a few minutes, "Mrs. Autonberry? Do you feel like answering some of my questions?"
"Yes sir, " and she started to rise.
"No ma'am, I will come to you."
He descended his seat and pulled up a chair at the defense table. He nodded to the prosecutor to pull a chair over.
"Lila, may I call you that?"
"Yes," in a childlike voice.
The judge thought about her deposition about the erotica she found in his daughter-in-law's bedroom. It revolted him. She stated that was when her thoughts started to wander and she lost the ability to sleep.
He couldn't reconcile the narcissism of the man naming his new son, his assumed-dead son's name. It gave him an uneasy feeling about the very troubled man.
"Did you believe yourself married to your husband?"
"Yes. The maid said she listened in too and heard the ceremony."
Nate interjected, "That statement is in the previous packet."
"I saw a different marriage license from Canada. I put it in the fire. It was a lie."
The judge nodded kindly and patted her hand.
"Did Mr. Branch threaten you?"
"Taking my son away and leaving me destitute. I couldn't let that happen. I saw what they did to Maris."
"Why did you take a gun into the courthouse?"
"I was scared. Scared. I thought they would take my son."
"Do you have any memory of leaving the meditation hearing?"
"Yes now. I didn't for three days. I left to find the water closet. I was sick to my stomach. Branch grabbed my arm after he saw me. He was arguing with the judge."
Nate nodded again, "The judge's statement in there too. He heard him threaten her."
All the parties nodded in sympathy.
"The headmaster came in and shot Branch. The bullets hit the marble and bounced everywhere. The judge and the deputy got hit."
"People were shouting and yelling. More shots—lots more shots," and she looked off into space almost catatonically.
She closed her eyes and began to rock. They couldn't coax anymore from her.
Nate pulled her shawl around her shoulders, "Lila? Lila?"
She whimpered.
"That's enough Mr. Springer. I will take the eyewitness statements under consideration." with great kindness.
A matron came in and guided the disoriented Lila out.
The men sat back down at the table.
"We know she killed Branch after he was wounded. Emptied the gun into him. And the Headmaster finally turned the gun on himself. The deputy was killed by a ricochet and the judge is still home healing from two stray bullets. A bystander clerk too is dead from the initial gunshots from the Headmaster and Branch." the prosecutor recanted.
"So I will take this all under advisement whether Mrs. Autonberry is culpable for her actions."
"Thank you. sir." Nate shook his hand.
The prosecutor reached out and shook both their hands, "Nasty business. The state will be content with any decision you hand down, sir."
"Thank you, gentlemen. My office will let you know."