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The meeting with the judge had gone well. Winifred Clark did have some friends at court, and with Nathan backing her efforts the meeting had gone, well, well. This was one trip to the prison that she was actually looking forward to. She pulled into the spacious fenced in parking area and strode to the gatehouse that led to the inner grounds of the DOC. Admitted, she headed for the hall where inmates met with their family members and sometimes their lawyers. It was more informal than the small rooms lawyers and the police alone could use when privacy was the issue. Privacy was not a requirement today. She saw him coming toward her through the heavy steel door that separated the inside cell block from the hall. She stood and smiled as he approached. He had been walking slowly, and he took his seated almost gingerly. He was clearly still feeling some pain as a result of his injuries. “David, good to see you,” she said. “Have you gotten the news?” “Yes, this morning. I don’t know how to thank you and Nathan,” he said. “Okay, but we were just doing our job. But, at any rate, you’ll be out of here in a week’s time. I will alert your family as to that if that’s all right with you,” she said. He shrugged his tacit approval. “I guess,” he said. “Well, okay then,” she said. The two of them talked for some time and made the arrangements for her to pick him up and take him to the half-way house that he’d be required to stay at until he was employed. He was concerned about that. He’d try to get his old job back, but he knew that that one was a long shot since Milton Ferguson had died but a year before and there had never been any love lost between himself and Gerald Ferguson, now the sole owner of Ferguson Bros. Wholesalers. But, he’d try, yes he would. ****** Nathan and Winnie, and yes that’s what I called her anymore, had come through for me. I was finally getting out. Oddly, I was actually fearful about what would be coming next. Who might there be there to greet me, if anyone, when I got out? I didn’t expect anyone; I hadn’t informed anyone that I was getting out, not sure why. I had told Winnie to let them know, but then I’d written her that I’d changed my mind. I wanted to be back in the city before I saw anyone. Three more days, the screw had told me. I’d be released. I had no place to go except the half-way house. I’d be stuck there until I could find me a job. I had to get a job. Well, it was better than nothing, the halfway house. I was forty-seven years old and twenty pounds lighter than when I went in. Health? So-so, it was relative, I guess. ****** The screw waved to me. He didn’t like me. His Name was Carlos, we’d had words before, he and I. Nothing big, but we didn’t get along. I think he considered me a pansy; I wasn’t, but after the gang rape thing, that’s how he saw me; well, that’s what I thought whether true or not. But anyway, he waved to me. Well, so what. I felt numb. Not good, not bad, just numb. More than six years gone, almost seven, time lost forever, but my baby was safe. I started walking. I heard the gate slam behind me, but I didn’t turn to see it; I’d seen enough of that damn place to last a lifetime. Even the infirmary, where I’d spent all but the last month and a half of the past four months, was anathema to me. I’d done all I could for my daughter. It kinda bothered me that she wasn’t here to give me a ride. I wondered if she knew exactly when I was getting out. She shouldn’t have, given my desire as expressed to my lawyer in my letter to her. But well anyway, it was what it was. I really wanted to be away from there before I saw anybody. I started walking. It was a two mile walk to the bus stop. The small tube bag I was carrying was not exactly a burden: a change of clothes, a couple of personal items were about it. Oh, and I had two-hundred and fourteen dollars to my name. I’d figured I’d gone maybe half a mile when I heard the car behind me. “Hey, cowboy, need a ride,” yelled the driver. “Lawyer lady,” I said and smiled. “Yeah, I could use one.” We drove in silence for the first few miles to town. She broke the ice. “Gotta drop you at the halfway house,” she said.” It’s part of the deal.” “Yeah, that’s fine,” I said. “I’ll get a job and won’t be there for long.” She nodded. “Yes, that’s the way to be thinking. They have a half way decent placement service there. Anything you’d like to be doing, I mean jobwise?” she said. “Not really, almost anything. I’m gonna be starting over,” I said. “I just need something to pay the rent so to speak.” “David, can I ask you something?” she said. Her tone of voice made me want to say no, but she’d gotten me out sooner rather than later; I owed her. “Sure,” I said. “Did you do it?” she said. I gave her a look that had to have been one of shock. “Next question,” I said, doing my best to let her know I didn’t want to answer her first one. “Jenna kind of tipped me. She didn’t exactly tell me, but I was able to figure it out from her tone of voice as you might say,” she said. “Like I said, next question,” I said. “Okay, okay, I guess you’ve answered me anyway. Someday, you and I will have to talk,” she said. I just stared straight ahead. We pulled into the lot at the rear of the halfway house and parked. I thanked her for the ride and turned to go; then, I turned back. “Winnie, forget about what you think you know. Okay?” I said. “Okay, David, for now, but the time will come when you and I will be talking. Okay?” she said. I just shook my head and went inside to check in. She’d dropped me at the halfway Anadolu Yakası Escort house. It was well named: it was halfway across town, my town, well the one I was from. She made me promise to call her on Friday, that was three days hence. She waved me goodbye. I headed inside to check in. Settled into a small, very small cubicle of a room with no lock on the door. I decided to sleep, and I did. Over the next few days I met with the in-house psychologist, then the warden, he called himself the manager. After those meetings and a half day orientation, I was more or less on my own; I made plans to go job hunting. I had to have a job within the next six months; that was the limit on my right to free room and board. ****** I’d been out a week before I finally got up the nerve to try to get my old job back. I had gone to see the man, and he wouldn’t even grant me the courtesy of a meeting with him. The secretary, his secretary, was tasked with letting me know that I was essentially persona non grata. Well, I’d kinda figured that he’d turn me down. I knew the man and he was most definitely not my pal, never had been. I was sitting on the steps of the house moping when a shadow interposed itself between me and the late afternoon sun. I looked up. Man, she sure did look beautiful. The woman would always be that to me. “Stacey!” “Yes, it’s me, can’t fool you,” she said. She was smiling, sort of. “Yeah, I guess not,” I said. “You know you could’ve let us know you were out,” she said. Her tone was reproving. “I was going to, just wanted to be settled in and employed before I came around. “Can I ask . . .” I started. “She’s fine. I know she’ll want to see you as soon as you’re willing, ready,” she said. I nodded. “Okay,” I said. “I should be able to find a job pretty soon. Then, like I say . . .” “That’s part of why I’m here, David. If you’re amenable, we, Ronald and I would like to offer you a job. You’d be able to get out of here and start over. I mean if you’d be amenable to us helping you out a little,” she said. I’d turned them down every way I could before, mainly because I hated him so much. But now? I frowned. “No, I don’t think so. Working for him, for you? No, I don’t think so. It wouldn’t work,” I said. “David, please. It’s time to let it all go,” she said. “No, I have to do for myself. I’ll be fine. I do want to see my daughter, but no, I don’t need any handouts from him. Not ever from him,” I said. “David, this bitterness has to die. It has to. Yes, we did you wrong. But . . .” “I said no,” I said. She shook her head. “Okay, the offer’s open and will remain so. I hope you change your mind,” she said. And, then she was gone, a few standard words of goodbye and she was gone. ****** I was finally able to land a job, nothing to write home about, but it paid three bills a week and I was allowed to use a little room the place had in the back to shack up in. The Hard Hat Bar and Grill needed a janitor and a part time security guard for the wee smalls, so I took the job. Sleeping in the back guaranteed that there’d be security if here were any more attempted break-ins; there’d been a few over the previous year, and Arnold McCaffrey, the owner wanted to put an end to those happenstances. Arnie had spent a little time in the joint too, burglary when he was a lot younger. Hence, my free place of residence in my off hours. ****** “He wouldn’t take it,” he said. The question was rhetorical. “No, he’s still bitter. This is beyond belief actually. I just don’t know what the man wants. I mean what it would take to get him to lighten up,” said Stacey. “Trying to get him to accept His uncle-hood was a mistake,” said Ronald. “I think that that is what drove him from us even more than anything else.” She nodded. “I guess,” she said. “He will never forgive us for that. But, really, I think it was more the whole thing. I mean the divorce, your paternity, and of course as you say the uncle-hood thing. That last was just the final straw for him.” “Yeah, I suppose your right,” he said. “I did tell him the door, I mean the job, would remain open to him if he changes his mind,” she said. “Good, I guess that that is the best we can do,” he said. “He wants to see her,” she said. “Yes, I can imagine. Does she even know he’s out?” he said. “I haven’t told her. Heck, we didn’t even know ourselves till the day before yesterday. So no, I don’t think she knows. I guess we should call her and let her know and how to contact him. If we don’t, we risk looking like the bad guys in it all,” she said. “Yes, I suppose you’re right about that too,” he said. CHAPTER THIRTY 2013 Settled in, I guess you could say that’s what I was, felt good to me. I was actually getting a little better than minimum wage at the HH, nine bucks an hour, and I got breakfast and dinner included in the deal. And the food was a whole lot better than at state. I had people to see of course, chief among them was Jenna. I needed to talk to her about keeping up the fiction we’d created between us that almost seven years ago now. That figured to be no problem unless there was something I was not privy to. Yes, Winnie had apparently pretty much figured it out, but she was the only one and I was more than confident of her keeping my confidence, and Jenna’s of course. Then I got the visitor I really didn’t want to see, Ronald Carter. “Got a minute, bro,” said the voice behind me that I immediately recognized. I turned to face him. “For you? No,” I said. I turned back away and continued Anadolu Yakası Escort Bayan wringing out the mop I’d just brought out to clean up the mess somebody’d left near the rear entrance way. “Please, David. Cut me some slack here. I’ll only take a minute or two of your time, and then I’ll leave you alone if you want,” he said. Figuring he was not going to leave me alone if I didn’t hear him out, I turned back to him once more. “Whaddya want, asshole? You took my wife away from me, tried to take my kid away too, and pretty much ruined my life; so what is it do you think that I want to have to do with you,” I said. “David, yes, I guess you have a gripe when it comes to me taking Stacey away from you, but you haven’t lost your daughter, our daughter; nor did I ruin your life. You did the latter yourself when you killed those three bums,” he said. “Whatever,” I said. “So what do you want? I’m working and I don’t have time for the one I hate most in the world.” “Hate is a strong word, David. Really,” he said. “Let me put it this way, Ronald Carter, ex-brother. Inside I was raped numerous times. Beat up even more than that. And, compared with you, I love those guys. Yeah, hate’s a strong word, do yuh think! And, get this, I hate you!” I said, “And I always will.” “David, I came here to offer you a deal,” he said. “Don’t want it,” I said. “Now, you can leave.” “Hear me out. Okay?” he said. “What! I’m busy,” I said. “How does fifty grand annual sound to you?” he said. “Money? A job? Fuck you,” I said. “Stacey was worth way more than that to me. Tell her that. Maybe it’ll make her feel bad about dumping me for a player like you,” I said. “Man you are something for damn sure,” he said. “I didn’t ask you to come here and offer me money as some kind of consolation prize. I never want to see your ugly face again. Do I make myself clear?” I said. “Yeah, I guess,” he said. “Fuck you and fuck off, asshole. You wanna do me a favor just get lost and stay lost! That’s all I’m ever going to ask of you.” The man nodded and left. I think he was feeling down, but who knew. What I was pretty sure of was the likely fact that he would henceforth be leaving me alone. Well, I could hope. The next days were busy for me. Well, I was setting up my new life. Bank account, driver’s license, even though I didn’t have a car anymore, and a few other things along the same lines. I was almost ready to make the tour. Then I got the visitor that I did want to see, my daughter. God she was pretty. Just like her momma, I mean just like her. I was so proud and so glad that I’d been able to step up to protect her. If I never did anything else worth a damn in my life that would be enough, I thought, as I watched her stride purposefully toward me. “Daddy!” she cried as she got close. She nearly crushed me with her hug. “Are you okay? Momma told me, just an hour ago, that you were out. I’d have been here sooner, but your place, this place was a little hard to find.” “Yes, I’m fine baby. Really fine, now I see you,” I said. “Daddy, I’m going to be married soon. You’ve got to walk me down the aisle too,” she said. Huh?” I said. “Yes, you know. I sent you a picture of my man. We’re getting married three weeks from next Saturday,” she said. “I’m just glad you’re out and can be there for the ceremony.” Another hug and another near thing breath-wise. “Uh-okay,” I said. “But . . . “ “Yes, you and daddy Ronald can walk me down the aisle together, Okay!” she said, brightly. My mood darkened. I thought fast. “No, I can’t be there. I’m working,” I said. “Uh-wish I could. “We’ll get together one of these days,” I said. “But, I have to get back to work now. A guy like me needs to stay on the good side of the boss, you understand. Right?” I said. “But, it’s my wedding day!” she said. “Well you’ve got him to walk you down the aisle, so that should be a winner for you,” I said. “Anyway, I’ve got to get back to it. See you later.” I rushed off before she could see me break up. I could feel my eyes already clouding up. The bitterness I felt toward that man was now so far beyond the pale that all I could think of was dying or maybe killing him and then dying. I was out and on Parole. It was a loose parole as such things went, but I couldn’t leave the state, and moving any significant distance away from them all was gonna be problematical. But, I knew I had to find a different job and a different place to stay. I didn’t want to be found. Oh, I knew his money could find me if he decided to go that way, but I was more than confident that I was going to be proof to that. He’d get his way now, the kid was his, clearly. He’d made inroads with her while I was inside and Jenna had allowed it. Share her? Walk her down the aisle with him! When it froze where the devil lived! I quit my new job and headed out into the night. My tube bag was full and I had three hundred and nineteen dollars in my pocket. Hell, I was flush and fancy free. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE 2013 “Honey, how did he act? I mean was he angry? What?” said Stacey. “No. He just acted kind of strange,” said Jenna. “You know with everything going on. I mean him getting out and all; it didn’t even occur to me that he might not want to, well, you know, share you on your wedding day,” said Stacey. “Share me? What share me? He’s my dad! Daddy Ron is my dad too! What share me are you talking about,” said Jenna. “Honey, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When you came to live with us after the divorce, well, your dad just Escort Anadolu Yakası couldn’t get over it. Never has. That he essentially abandoned you by killing those men and going to prison for it, well . . . “Anyway, your daddy Ron, has been there for you. Not so much your daddy David. Daddy David has to get that and understand that his brother, your daddy Ron, deserves to be there for you. He should not be cut out of your life because David Carter is bitter,” said Stacey. “Frankly I’m kind of angry with my ex-husband for his intransigence.” “But . . .” started Jenna. “I know he’s suffered, but he deserved his punishment and he needs to get over his pique and understand that your daddy Ron has earned the right to be by your side on your wedding day,” said Stacey. “Heck, your daddy David should feel honored that you are allowing him to share the day with your daddy Ron.” Suddenly, the younger of the two women burst into sobbing and ran from the room. ****** “What in the heck is going on, Stacey,” said Ronald Carter. “I have a job to take care of, a business. I can’t be running in and out of the shop every time that girl of ours has a hissy fit. Please have her come downstairs. I, we, need to talk to her. This is the living end!” “Yes, I think that it is time,” said Stacey. Ronald Carter could hear the uproar upstairs and was glad he was downstairs. It was some twenty minutes later that a clearly chastened Stacey descended those stairs. She was as pale as she had ever been. Entering the dinette area, where her more than impatient husband had stationed himself, she turned to face him. The far off look in her eyes frightened the big man. “Stacey?” he said. “Oh my,” she said, quietly. She threw a dirty dress onto the couch beside where he was standing. “Stacey? What?” he said. She shook her head clearly not wanting to talk but needing to. “Ronald . . .” she started and stopped. She began to cry, silently cry. “Ron, he’s not s killer. He’s a hero,” she said. “Huh?” What are you talking about,” said Ronald Carter. “He didn’t kill those men, Ron, she did!” she said, and now the sobbing wouldn’t be, couldn’t be, stopped. She pointed to the dress. “It’s the proof. David told her to burn it, but she didn’t; she kept it. It’s undoubtedly covered in GSR. Ron, David took the fall for our baby! My God what are we going to do!” “Stacey, what are you talking about,” he said. He’d understood her, but the reality of what she’d said was not believable, not close to believable. “She killed them, Ron. She killed them. David took the fall for her. She called him to come and he came. He saw the horror, and he made her let him take the fall for her. My fucking wimpy-assed-no good-in-bed-whiny-pretty much-useless ex-husband saved her. I mean saved her! God damn him for it! How am I or you either, ever going to make things right by him! How! Tell me how! How fucking how!” she all but screamed. The man across from her slumped to the floor. He sat straight legged on the floor his back against the teak wood credenza. For her part, Stacey Carter went to her knees beside him. Both cried. Speech, thought, action nothing was possible at that moment but pain and tears. ****** The three of them stared at each other across the dinette table. Jenna looked up. There was an actual pool of wet, tears wet, on the wooden surface in front of her. “Mom, dad, I don’t know what to say. Everything is so mixed up. I mean my wedding, my future husband, my dad . . .” she said. “Jenna, your dad did what he did for you because he loves you. He’s a hero, our hero. Oh, and make no mistake, we love you too. That said, you need to keep your promise to him. That means no one, and I mean no one, is to know what happened that day, what really happened. We will do our very best and more to make things right by our David, but no matter what else, the happenings of that day must never be spoken of again. Never!” said Ronald Carter, “not even among ourselves.” “Jenna, as far as your wedding and your husband are concerned; well, that’s up to you. Your father here and I will support anything you decide, but for what it’s worth, James, your intended should not be told. It may be that he could handle it, but then again; well, maybe not. This, thing, has got to remain one of those family secrets that can never be brought to light; there is no possible upside to doing so. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO 2013 I caught myself starting to laugh. I mean laugh? I’d been screwed over by everybody in sight and I wanted to laugh. Why? Because of the impossible incongruity of it all. I was more than certain that the lot of them wanted to be nice to me. But their condescending gift giving, privilege granting efforts were so insulting that it was laughable! Hence my impulse, my almost irresistible need to laugh. Such of course would be followed by the equally strong urge to cry. Well, it was what it was. Yes indeed. Creature of habit that I was, I found myself doing the same thing I’d been doing when last I was employed. I was in Tucson. Poindexter’s, a sawdust joint with a nice bar and a piss poor grill, catered to wannabe cowboys. On Friday and Saturday nights there was live music, all Country Western of course—I was still in Arizona—and the hoofers worked off a whole lot of calories trying to out shine each other. My shift was five in the Morning to noon. Mostly clean up and fill up: cleaning up the place and filling up the vending machines and the beer taps. Poindexter’s opened at noon for lunch and the early bar flies, and closed uniformly at one in the morning seven days a week. Like the HH in Phoenix I had a small room in the back which suited me just fine. I spent most of my time either sleeping or working. Oh, and thinking about my ex-family. I wasn’t overly sentimental about it, them. I did miss Aunt Delia, the rest of them not so much; I hoped she was all right.