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LIGHT OF THE ATMA – THE SPARK WITHIN
rogg was so conniving and scheming-minded, he couldn’t do enough to cause trouble for people who crossed him. He was the type of man who, when someone did cross him, harbored a driving urge to retaliate! Miss Hamilton, he felt, was one who had crossed that line. For this, he planned to take away her credibility and ruin her life as much as he could.
He was a malice-filled man to the core no doubt, who wanted things his way and sought to hurt anyone who opposed him! Is it any wonder why Michael never told him much about his personal life?!
Crogg directed his attention toward Knuckles and Lefty, “Now find something to do, and keep yourselves out of trouble. I’ve got a little business to attend to.” After Knuckles and Lefty left the room, Crogg placed a telephone call to Judge Walker and ordered him front and center, ” . . .and bring along those two city detectives who did that special job for you last year.” He then set about prepensely thinking out the details of a devious plan.
The judge, with the two detectives, came immediately. Crogg called the judge in and asked that the two detectives wait in the hall. “Take a seat Your Honor!” The judge obediently sat down.
“What do you need this time?”
“Judge, I want you to draw up some papers for me concerning Smith’s kid, and pre-date them appropriately.”
“What sort of papers?”
“Custody papers. I got to thinking on the way over here this morning, that the boy would be better off in my care, don’t you think?”
“You don’t want to know what I think Elmer, for my thoughts would burn into you like a hot iron.”
“Cool down Judge. Fan yourself with the cut of all that cool money that’s coming your way. – Say, how much can these detectives of yours, be trusted?”
“What are you worried about Elmer? Someone squealing on you?”Crogg gave him an evil glower. “Relax Elmer, my men are as reliable as I am. They don’t ‘talk or walk’ without my permission. “
“That’s some assurance Judge!” Crogg went to the door of the study and opened it. “Gentlemen . . .” The two detectives entered and sat down.
“Gentlemen,” he began to explain, “I have a task that needs doing – with a big bonus if it’s done right!”Crogg went on to explain that Allison was in the process of taking Peter to Boston. “I need that boy brought back,” he instructed. “I have the tickets here and the train leaves in less than one hour. Can you do the job?”
Mulligan, and Malone, the two Chicago police detectives, looked at each other and nodded, “If it’s a routine snatch.”
“No rough stuff, unless you have to of course. My objective is not to hurt the kid, just to make him see things my way, that’s all.”
Mulligan asked, “What does the girl and the kid look like? What are they wearing?”
“As far as clothing goes,” Crogg stated, “it’s anyone’s guess, except for the fact that the kid will be dressed better than most. The kid has blond hair, and is about five-foot two – I think . . . and well – what can I say, he’s a kid.
As far as his governess goes, she’s five-foot four or so, silky brown hair, always kept it in curls, she’s thin-ish, and dainty; but it’s her mouth you have to watch out for. And she has a quick mind; one of the worst things a woman can have as far as I’m concerned. If you can’t nab the kid in New York, take the train with them to Boston, and snatch him there. If you can’t do that – well . . .what’s the name of your man in Boston Judge . . .?”
“O’Connell,” the judge grumbled.
“That’s the one,” Crogg remarked. “There’s a judge in Boston that our good judge here, has something on. And, O’Connell, as far as I understand, has a few men in the department on the string for one thing or another. Isn’t that right Judge?”
“Uh huh.”
“If you haven’t pulled off the snatch by the time you reach the Boston station, I’ll plan it so that some of O’Connell’s men will meet you in Boston, and through a few legalities, you’ll bring him back here, but snatching the kid will be so much more effective in making my point. . . don’t you think?”
With his robust sounding voice Judge Walker asked demandingly, “And what is your point Elmer?!”
Crogg looked at the judge with a message in his eyes, then swung them over to look at the two detectives. He gave them a smile then tossed them each an envelope. “Tickets, and cash gentlemen. Now scram. It’s getting late, and we don’t want any slip-ups, like missing a train, do we?”
“Oh,” Crogg called as they were leaving, ” I’ll have Judge Walker trump up some charge, let’s say, theft of a valuable painting. That should be enough to hold her for a while . . . and we’ll throw in kidnapping, just for the fun of it.”
The judge glared at Crogg with a crotchety eye.
“Now foot it you two; and remember that bonus I promised you.” The detectives smiled, and left.
When Crogg finally looked back at Walker, he found he had a scowl on his face. “What?! Crogg asked in response to the look.
“You sure know how to manipulate the system to serve your own selfish needs, don’t you?!” the judge remarked.
Crogg smirked. “Life is a gamble Judge, a roll of the dice. Now, if you’re a master at tossing loaded dice without detection, then you’re that much more in control, wouldn’t you say?”
“Either God has been making me into a better person, or you have become a worse one,” the judge suggested, “because this scheme of yours, turns my stomach.”
“Look Judge, when was the last time you exercised your ‘free will’ to set an innocent man free? You’ve convicted men on the say-so of men like me, who have reasons to see people out of the way. And, you do it, because you know if you didn’t, you’d be facing a judgment against yourself, from people like me.
And, if you really don’t like the circumstances of our arrangement as they have been, you could have just packed your bags, and left no forwarding address – but you didn’t. Instead, you stuck it out! You kept playing the game just like I did. So, don’t play self-righteous with me!”
Crogg sat back in the large leather chair behind the desk, and rocked back, and forth on its springs as he studied the judge’s eye movements.
“You take the law to seriously Judge. You’ve been at this profession how long now, and you still think that the the law was made to protect morality? Law, and morality are two different animals Judge. Why do you think so many real criminals get off Scott free? Because most all lawyers and judges are cut from the same cloth as you are Judge. The cloth of Greed!”
The judge was sending daggered looks Crogg’s way. “You surprise me Elmer. How did you fall under the illusion that the law is an instrument for doing only wrong things?”
Crogg took a puff on his cigar. “The law is a mechanism of man’s mind, and how he thinks.” As he breathed out the smoke and it swirled in the air he added, “Law is a reasoning process based on rationalization, how man moves justifications and makes laws to support them, based on his desires, not on morals.
The average juror knows tidily winks about the law. They are not by society about the process of convicting someone of a crime . . . or even freeing an innocent man from one, and why? Because lies flow so convincingly in the court room no one really knows what to believe. The prosecutor makes up scenarios of why the individual is guilty … and the defense attorney is doing the same thing. He’s busy building his own scenarios trying to convince the jury that his client is innocent.
Proper evidence is not permitted when it should be, and wrong evidence is accepted on the basis of circumstantial evidence, and we all know what that means, now don’t we Judge?
It means that the law is based on protecting what the powerful and the rich want protected. Show me where the poorest of the poor, and the most ignorant of the ignorant, had a say in writing the rules of fairness into law?
No….it wasn’t the most un-influential, but the most influential, powerful and wealthy of people who put the laws on the books.
Like a gang looking out for its own needs, the wealthy protect themselves with their own self-created laws, at the same time, only incidentally protecting the common working man, and more likely only some and not all, under its umbrella.
But, believe me Judge, the every-day working man doesn’t gain the benefits the rich do, now do they? When you’re poor in this country, and are accused of a crime . . . jail is inevitable because the poor can’t afford lawyers to defend them, and worse all of, the poor are too ignorant of the warp and woof and intent of the law to defend themselves even if they hoped to. They could be masters of common sense, and have every insight to fairness, but would that do them any good in face of the legal twists and turns of a justice system manipulated by self interest? Hardly!”
Crogg gave him a gauging scan, “Your problem Your Honor – is that you’ve lived on easy street for such a long time now. Bribery suits you. It’s been very rewarding for you, and you’ve done very well with it so far, so let’s not gum up the works with any talk of morality.”
The judge’s thick bushy eyebrows moved up and down. “It’s not morality so much as it is God, Elmer. I think God disapproves of the life that I’ve led. I can’t go on displeasing Him the way you do, and think there will be no consequences to pay for what we’ve done.”
“Keep me out of your religious conscience, Your Honor. If you really want to please God as you say you do – then do it! Get up from that chair right now, and walk out!”
“And, how far will I get?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You might even make it out of the city if you’re lucky enough. You see Judge, I’m not bothered by a conscience like you are. Do you know why? Because there is no God. God is a crutch for the emotional, and mentally weak. Either you’re one of the strong ones, or you’re not. Now Judge, I don’t want to get trapped into this conversation about religion again? Quite frankly, you’re getting on my nerves with all this religious bunk.”
The judge felt compelled to argue his point, though it would do him no good. “But, God does exist, Elmer. I feel Him sometimes.”
“What you feel is blissful ignorance Judge, because no one can feel the presence of a phantom God? It’s called imagination.”
“I’m telling you Elmer, you, and I are going to have to face divine retribution form the Almighty for what we’ve done in our lives.”
“No, what you’re going to face Judge, is my displeasure if you keep up this jabbering! Now, my recommendation to you, is to keep up the good work, and give up the conscience, because if you don’t, you’ll be meeting your maker very soon, and you can talk to Him about these things, all you want.”
Crogg suddenly looked at him with deep suspicion. He sat back in the chair, and studied him. “So, what are you actually complaining so much for Judge? What’s your real problem?”
The judge became bold, “Why are you going after Allison? She’s 17 years old, for God’s sake, and innocent; and yet you sit there making plans to ruin her life as though you have the right to conjure something up, to ruin it.”
Crogg sat straight in the chair. “So, that’s what’s under in your craw? What in blazes got you so sensitive about her? You never complained when I made life a little difficult for other women? This never bothered you before. What does this girl mean to you anyway?”
“You use anyone, and everyone just to suit your own means, don’t you?” The judge accused.
Crogg sat back and folded his arms over his head while he rocked back and forth. “Out with it Judge – – – spell it out!”
“Okay Elmer, I know her family, and I don’t want to see this family, especially, this young innocent girl get railroaded because you want to harm Smith’s son. Besides, no one in Boston is going to believe she is capable of doing what you’ve claimed.”
“Well, if no one is going to believe it, why care?”
“Because there will be many people in the rotten process of law, which poisons minds with prejudice and suspicion, who will believe your outlandish charges. That will be the the Godless moment you will ruin all their good names and reputations.” The judge then quoted a saying. “‘A little slander is the greatest weapon, because it grows into the most powerful, subtlest poison of all – prejudice! It’s the sneakiest of all weapons.'”Remember authoring that saying, Elmer?”
Crogg puffed up with pride, “That was one of my sayings, you say?”
“To the very words.”
“Well, I’m impressed with myself,” and he gave a self-satisfied smile.
“Yes, of course you would be. Harming others has become a dark habit with you, hasn’t it? You’ve seemed to have lost all sight between what is right and wrong. But let me tell you Elmer, the law was never made with the intent of using it for deceit as you’ve use it, and are now using it against an innocent young girl.”
Crogg sat back up, and placed his arms on the desk. “That’s how I gain my leverage. No leverage, no control! “
“Don’t you ever think about doing a good deed now and then?
“Look Judge, that innocent girl you’re so concerned over, has put us all in a very delicate position. If she successfully gets Peter to his grandparents, the first thing they’ll do is hide him. We’ll never find him. And, what do you think they’ll do next? They’ll launch a full scale, legal offensive against us, and fight us tooth and nail from the Boston courts. Who ever has the lad, wins the game.”
“Children have no legal, constitutional right in this country, and you know that!” the judge argued.
“Oh, but you’re wrong there, in the lad’s case. He’ll have more than a constitutional right to be heard, because his grandparents will make sure he is given rights under their name. What do you think the public will think about all of this once it hits the press? He’s no obscure face in this game.
The press will be seen as the dragon slayers, and we will be seen as the dragons. The public will demand the lad be given rights to inherit his fortune, even though there is no law on the books. If his grandfather, starts to give away some of the money to re-election funds, and favorite charitable funds for the underclass, the public is going to stand for Peter’s cause.
The lad’s grandfather is a brilliant, political tactician. Give him the proper resources and backing, and he could become president one day.
As far as the public is concerned, his grandfather will make us look like the greedy rich, seeking to swindle the lad of his due. An investigation into the books at this point will cause a lot questions to rise . . . and everyone will be demanding answers we can’t give them. This is why it’s important to keep the lad in our control. Spelled out clearly enough for you?”
The judge didn’t feel moved by his explanation. “Well then . . . it will become a hot off the presses story, won’t it?”
“Just – what -are – your – implying -Judge?”
The judge made his counter point clear. “I’m saying, I don’t want the girl harmed in body, mind or soul. Do you hear me Elmer!?”But Crogg just started at him. “It’s like this Elmer. Your words turn into weapons when you want them to. And you’ve killed too easily with them. But, I’m not going to be a party to you harming this young lady with what you fabricate about her!”
Crogg gave him a self-righteous look. “Who are you kidding Judge? Your lies have flown back and forth as much. Show me who doesn’t use their words as bullets? Are you wagering that the lad’s relatives won’t have their own set of lies to fire at us with?
His grandfather is a very dangerous politician in the way and manner that he knows how to use the power of political propaganda. A man like him with money in his pockets can wipe us all out. He’s a master in his way, as I am in mine. Only he goes after the crooks . . . and me . . .well I go after anyone who crosses me.”
The judge just sat there giving Crogg a defiant look. “I don’t care what you say Elmer. I’m not going to stand idly by why you tear this young lady’s entire reputation and career to shreds. That’s just a little cruel to do to an innocent girl as her.”
“Cruel to her? No! Protective for us!! I’ve got my stake in this little venture of ours too, and I’m not about to let some pretty miss destroy it. Oh, she’ll walk away from this without too many wounds. I’ll give you my word on it, provided you cooperate with me. I’ll just teach her a little lesson in manners and etiquette, that’s all!” Crogg stood up, and walked over to the judge. “Now, I suggest you stop stepping on my toes, and do as you’re told, you get my drift?”
But Judge Walker didn’t let it go at that. He changed the topic and said, “It’s time to pay attention to the real problems you have instead of playing around with ones you think you have. As a matter of fact, I’m the one who helped Margaret fill out a secret will.”
These words hit Crogg like hammer strokes. He rubbed his temples, and sat on the front side of the desk. His eyes were full of murder, but he controlled his desire to have the judge disappear. . . obviously the judge had him over a barrel. If he lost his temper with the judge, he would also lose control over the entire operation, because the judge was one of his key men – upon which the operation fully depended.
Crogg took a cigar from his shirt pocket. He spoke in a soft voice as not to let on how angry he was. That would tip the judge into knowing that he had weak spots, and this was no man to reveal that to. “Secret will?. . . And he flipped the lighter open and flicked the flame, then touched it to the end of the cigar and puffed. He stared at Walker with deadly intent.
“You heard me!” the judge answered.
After drawing in a deep breath, and letting it out, Crogg spit, “You helped her to fill out a ‘secret will,’and you didn’ttell me?”
“You never asked. Besides, isn’t that the whole point of a secret? Not to tell? Any way, a man has to have some secrets in the game of deception, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I should have known better. Where is it?”
“In a safe place.”
“I bet it is! Get it!”
“Oh no. I’m not going to help you send that girl up the river. I like her.”
“So, you decided to hold out on me just in case, is that it? Did it ever cross your mind, that keeping that ‘Will’ from me could have blown this entire operation?”
“It crossed my mind,” and the judge puffed on his own cigar. At this point, it was force for force.
Crogg got up and walked around to the back of the desk. The judge’s eyes followed him around. He sat down and leaned back in the chair, and folding his arms above his head again while he spoke, holding the cigar with his teeth. “Just what are you up to, Judge?”
“Well, it occurred to me” Walker said, “that you’ve ‘double crossed’ just about everyone you’ve ever dealt with, and I’m not interested in being your next victim.”
“Blackmailing me!? Did you think that by your doing this, once I found out, it would keep you alive? “
“I thought about that,” Walker said, “but remember, without me, you won’t be able to take a red cent out of this little venture. And, there is still a lot for me to do. Taking me out of the picture now, would force you to abandon the entire operation. So, I suggest that if you want to continue, you’ll have to reserve your little satisfaction of seeing me dead for another day, and another time.”
“You have a point there. You’re not worth my losing a 100 million dollars.But, I still want her ‘last will and testament’ – you understand?!
“Well, that depends on what you decide to do about Allison and Peter?”
“You really shouldn’t worry about what happens to either one of them. Worry about what will eventually happen to you, when this is all over.”
“I’m a nothing in the scheme of life, Elmer. I don’t matter that much to anyone, but I do matter when it comes to pulling off one of the biggest heists the world will never get to know about. And if done properly, it will remain a puzzling mystery greater than the ancient pyramids, if it does ever get out.
But, all you master schemers should keep in mind that I am the master key that unlocks all the doors. No one else can accomplish this for you, except me. Without me, you won’t be able to unlock all the ‘easy riches’ . . . and I think you’re well aware of this.”
Walker’s word were as threatening as nitro glycerin charges under every plan that Crogg had schemed. If he agitated the judge too much everything would go up in smoke.
The only thing that Crogg could do at this time was to play the tough man without carrying his threats out. He gritted his teeth and ground them with a nerve-cringing sound. “So,” he said like a poison slithering out of his mouth, “convince me I should let you walk out of here alive,” and he puffed on his cigar as his eyes burned a hold in the judge’s heart.
“No, no. I’m not going to convince you of anything, because that’s what you want me to do. . .to plead for my life, because it’s a bargain for my life that will give you leverage. You’re the one who will have to make the decision here and now,” the judge said calling his bluff. “You want to throw away all your money – everything you need to gain office, everything that will make you famous in all the elite circles? If you want to end all your aspirations by ending my life, then do it! I’ve got to answer to God one way or another anyway.”
Crogg studied his eyes and facial movements, for this was more than calling a person out with cards at a poker table. It was virtually everything Crogg had at stake. To lose now, would set Crogg back years. He puffed hard on his cigar and blew it heavily out into the room. He finally said, “I hate to break it to you like this Judge, but you’re not worth me losing a few million dollars. Now that we have this issue cleared up, just what do you want from me?”
“A few concessions.”
“Such as?”
“Such as, backing away form the girl, and leaving her and her family alone, including Peter. I don’t want either one of them harmed. You can still get much of what you want.”
“Is that it?!”
“No! I have one more demand, and I know you’re not going to like to hear it, but here it goes.”
“Spit it out Judge!”
“I want five million dollars, in gold or silver. I don’t like paper money, and I don’t like banks.”
Crogg sat up straight and put his arms on the desk. “You’re more of a dreamer than I am. Where am I going to get five million dollars in gold and silver? The take for us is sizable but not that sizable where you can demand five million, all in gold or silver. Do you think I have connections at Fort Knox too?” Crogg huffed. “There are a lot of people who have their cuts coming too.”
The judge twisted the cigar in his fingers. “You forget I know what Smith’s estate is actually worth. You’re in line to cash in on over a billiondollars- that’s with a capital “B,” Elmer, and you whine over a mere five million!? Who are you kidding!?” And their eyes locked in a hard challenging stare. The judge said, “If you can’t raise it today, I’m in no real rush. Just come up with it by the end of this month, and I’ll give you Margaret’s ‘secret will,’when I hear Allison has been released from jail with all charges dropped, and when I know that Peter will remain safe.”
Crogg wanted to send the judge off somewhere so he would never be remembered, and where his suffering would never end . . . instead he decided to go along with the judge’s demands, just until something favorable came up for him.
“So you were holding aces up your sleeve? A hundred grand wasn’t enough for you? I mean, what has been your part in this job? You forge some papers here and there and you want a bigger piece of the pie?”
“Look whose taking about the extent of my greed?” the judge countered, “You’re looking at a, ‘Billon dollar grab’ and you want to give me just, one hundred thousand of it for the indispensable part I’m playing? Ha, what a laugh? Did you really think I was that stupid?”
“I’m deeply hurt” Crogg feigned. “And here I thought we had a trusting relationship.”
“I’m touched with your sentiment,” the judge remarked, “but I keep thinking about the twenty-five people I sent to the State Pen just last year alone, and the thirty-two the year before, not speaking of the rest you double crossed. Your hand was behind every one of their downfalls, and I’m not going to let you put me in there too, just because I’m on your list.
“Whether you like it or not Judge, we’re all on someone’s list. Take me for instance, am I not on yours?”
Walker let his true feeling out. His eyes were wrenching with doom. “If I could swing it without going to jail with you – you’d be serving a life sentence, ten times over!
“Well Judge, I must admit, you just keep giving me reasons not to keep you around. However, the beauty is, if I lose, you lose. By saving your own skin, you save mine. And, so long as you care about your own safety, my safety is assured. The question for me is” Crogg said, “When are you going to stop caring about your safety? That’s a tough call for me to make because you’ve been getting more religious on me every day. And Judge, in your case, religion may be a fatal gamble.”
The judge sat there with an air of disagreeableness. Crogg knew he was going to be a risk – but there was nothing like risking ‘it all’ sometimes, he thought.
Crogg stood up and walked around the desk and over to him. “Now listen Judge! You’ve been up to your scrubby little neck in ill-doings for a long, long time. My advice to you – concerning me – is not to get so self-righteous, because if you push me too hard, I may not care about the cost to myself anymore. There will always be another game, another sucker, so, you should consider yourself as walking on very thin ice concerning me!”
Crogg pulled from his vest pocket a rare golden coin he had on a chain while he puffed on his cigar. Holding it between his thumb and forefinger, he put it right in Walker’s face. Crogg watched the judge’s eyes as he stared at the coin. “See this coin Judge? This coin came from ancient Egypt, part of a collection of lucky coins reputed to protect the owner from ultimate harm.”
The judge burst out in a cynical laugh. “It’s just like you to believe in that bunk!”
Crogg let the coin dangle as he stepped back a few paces. He went back around the desk and retook his seat. He picked up the coin again and closed his fingers around it.”Bunk to you – luck for me! I acquired this coin a little over a year ago. Strange . . . how I’ve never lost at anything since. Got myself a pretty good stake in life, have all the amenities, know the best of people, got my pick of women, and now – this entire multi-million dollar estate has fallen into my lap.”
“Bad luck, is not good luck,” the judge countered. “Acquiring things by stealing them is not exactly good fortune.”
“Don’t you get it Judge? Luck, not to get caught – to get caught at anything. You’d never get rich doing things the right way. When you steal from the rich, what have they lost except pocket change?”
What could the judge say? On one side of the equation he had sent many men to jail for what he himself was doing. On the other side, he was trying to redeem himself with God. In the middle of the equation he was finding fault with Crogg in hopes that he could get him to see the errors of his ways. Was this even a possibility?
The judge stood up. “A billioin dollars is hardly pocket change! And, what about all your victims, Elmer? Don’t you ever feel anything for their loss, pain or suffering? Especially the innocent ones who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
Crogg scoffed. “You’re kidding right? Everyone I’ve ever tangled with, in one way or another, has themselves been thieves. I don’t think I’ve ever met atrue honest man in my life. Greed breeds suckers Your Honor, and that’s what your court is all about, isn’t it. . .one greedy man fighting with the next? Are there truly innocent men and women in our species called humanity? If there are, I’ve never met them, nor have I ever known anyone who has.” He looked up at Walker who was standing there glaring down at him. Crogg added, “And as far as your innocent, Miss Allison goes – your naive to think that she is innocent. After all, diamonds can turn a pretty girl’s head, and our young lad is growing into a man faster than any of us wanted to admit. She’s very beautiful as you know, and do you know that our Lad has already given your sweet Miss Hamilton some pretty expensive gifts? I propose that the reason she whisked him off so fast, was to keep the golden goose. Once in her control, she can have just about anything she wishes for; and here you want me to believe she has only good intentions and pristine morals – no greed at all!”
Walker was fuming inside. But he also knew the power, and influence of money. However, this time he wasn’t going to allow Crogg to influence his mind – not this time. He turned around and paced the room a bit. “You’d impose your tainted outlook over anyone!”
Crogg threw out a few more things to create doubts in him, “Face it Judge, it’s a tough and rough world out there for women… Little opportunity to get out of the ‘prison of the kitchen.’ And here, with the opportunity of taking care of Peter . . . the potential of hundreds of millions drop in her lap. Who you kidding? Tell me Judge, are you really that naive?”
In some kind of weak sense of self-confidence, the judge lost sight of his own conviction and began to see it with a shade of doubt, as his own motives were impure. He retorted defensively, “I – I – I don’t believe she is motivated in that direction. She has a good heart,” and his eyes shifted all over the room.
Crogg drew out his words to torment. “Sure – – – you don’t.”
Walker locked his eyes on Crogg again, “Never-the-less Elmer, I want the girl left untouched!”
“Alright Judge. Then whatever she takes from our take, or causes a loss to me for, comes out of your profits, or hide which ever comes first. Now, if she gets a few million, that’s coming out of your five. Do you still think she deserves to be spared, Judge?” Again, he stood up and walked over to the Judge. The two men stood face to face in the center of the large study. “Now, in the meantime Your Honor, carry out your orders, or I’ll get a couple of my men to carry our their orders where you’re concerned. I’m a little too tired to deal with you anymore. D-o y-o-u u-n-d-e-r-s-t-a-n-d m-e-?!”
Walker lifted his sagging, weary eyes and looked into Crogg’s. The judge was worn by his past criminal life which weakened his will. “Your warning is well taken Elmer. I’ll just keep Margaret’s latest ‘will and testament’in safe place until you raise the money. In the meantime, I’ll do what ever you ask of me without being any more of a liability to you.”
Crogg smiled. “Now. . . you see how a ‘heart to heart’ talk can straighten out so many misunderstandings between people? Now, keep your ‘common sense’ in good trim, and everything between you and me will be okay. And Judge – ” Crogg warned, “keep in mind – I never lose! “
udge Walker went back to his chambers and followed the orders Crogg gave him – somewhat! He sat behind his desk and thought for some time. His eyes seemed to be looking at something within himself rather than outside himself.
Suddenly he picked up the telephone, and clicked the receiver up and down a few times to get the operator’s attention.
“Operator.”
“Connie, this is Judge Walker.”
“Oh hello Judge, (speaking as she chewed gum). What number would you like me to ring for you?”
“Get me Boston; the Federal building; Judge O’Connell. Oh, and Connie, you can ring me here in my office. I’ll be here all afternoon.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
‘Click’
Walker placed the earpiece back on the hook and sat back. He turned his swivel chair toward the window and stared out through the blinds at the city which he thought was built so majestically. Who could gauge the depth of his thoughts or how seriously he felt about matters? He himself didn’t even know how he felt. But the crimes in life to which he was a party, weighed heavily in his heart, and guilt nagged away at him unrelentingly.
‘Ring ring’
The judge had slipped off into sleep.
‘Ring ring’
His eyes felt heavy and difficult to open. Each ring of the phone seemed to slowly pull him from the realms of unconsciousness. He opened his eyes and rubbed his face to gain a sense of alertness.
‘Ring ring’
He swung his chair around and picked up the phone. “Yes.” His voice was extra low and slow.
“I have your party on line.”
“Thank you Connie.”
“Go ahead please.”
“Hello!” O’Connell hollered to be heard.
“Yeah Mac, this is E.P. Walker.” The judge forced himself to respond with briskness.
“What’s up?” O’Connell asked.
The judge’s eyes spun about from the contempt he was feeling for Crogg, and the disgust he was feeling for himself, and the life he had led. “Listen, there’s a favor I want you to do . . .”
The judge explained the situation to him, then added: “And remember as though your life depended upon it, I don’t want the girl charged, just questioned. Make it look serious, then let her go. Ruffle their feathers a little more, but ultimately leave her and her family alone. Under no circumstances are you to put her in jail, you understand? Keep the pressure up, but then release it, and just keep this cycle up for a while. I have people on this end who are watching, if you know what I mean.”
“Getting soft?”
“No, just reasonable!”
“All right, but you owe me one!”
“Put it on my tab,” and he hung up.
Walker sat back for a moment to collect his thoughts. Whatever he was thinking, it certainly must have had something to do with nailing Crogg, before Crogg nailed him. Thus, as Allison, and Peter were heading east, the very corrupt Boston jurisprudential system was about to swing into motion – to fool Crogg!
n New York, Allison and Peter were waiting for the New-York-to-Boston train. One hour behind, Mulligan and Malone were en route.
Because of a delay that Milligan’s and Malone’s train encountered, it had entered the New York station just as Allison’s and Peter’s train was about to pull out. Realizing their loss as he caught sight of the departing train, Mulligan yelled, “Come on!” and they ran stumbling through the station until they reached proximity of the train Allison and Peter were on.
It was already slowly moving down the tracks away from the station. “Come on!” Mulligan yelled again as he was trying to catch his breath. They were both running fast as they could in and out of the crowd, trying to catch up to the last car of the train. Finally, Mulligan grabbed a hold of the rail of the last car, Malone still sprinting behind as fast as his legs could take him. He could scarcely reach the rail when Mulligan grabbed his wrist and helped pull him aboard.
“Are you sure we caught the right train?” Malone asked between panting and puffing breaths.
“I’m sure,” Mulligan answered.
Malone panted out, “Give it a second. First, let’s catch our breaths, and then see if they’re aboard. We can’t go in there huffing like this without catching attention.”
When they we ready, they walked through the cars one by one studying all the woman with young boys. “Ah, just as I thought,” Mulligan whispered, “there, up ahead,” and he indicated the woman and boy sitting in the far right of the isle seats. Mulligan and Malone then took a seat in the back, so as not to be obvious.
As they sat down, Allison caught Malone staring at her. She couldn’t pin down the feeling she got from him, but stayed cautious, then after a while brushed the incident as a mere coincidence, until she noticed the two men never really stopped looking at her.
When the Boston-bound train arrived at the terminal, Allison and Peter alighted. The station was very crowded and noisy. As they stood in the station, Allison noticed Malone still staring at her. As she thought about it, the picture began to come in clear. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “We’ve been followed!”
“By whom?” Peter asked.
“By those two men over there. They’ve been boldly staring at us just like that since we left New York.”
Peter looked at the two men who were obviously staring at them. “What do you think they want?”
“I don’t know, but if anything happens, promise me you’ll go straight to your grandparents’ home.” She grabbed his hand and rushed through the crowd toward the main doors.
Just then, two Boston police officers who had their eyes out for them, surprisingly grabbed her by the arm. “Just a minute Miss,” they ordered. “We would like to talk to you.”
“What is the meaning of this?” she asked with consternation.
“We have orders to bring you to the station for questioning.”
“Questioning? . . .. About what! You don’t even know who I am, yet you pick me out of a crowd, and want to question me at the police station?”
“I am sorry we’re not at liberty to say why you’re wanted down town, we were just ordered to watch for you, and to detain you.”
With repugnance she yelled at the two officers. “I am in no mind to go with you if there is no warrant for me to go.”
“Never-the-less Miss Hamilton, we will have to insist that you come with us…quietly.”
“So, you do know who I am! How!?”
“You’ll be told that at the station Miss, now if you’ll cooperate, and accompany us willingly, this won’t have to become difficult for you.”
The other officer took Peter by the arm. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come along too Son.”
The first officer who had rudely grabbed hold of Allison’s arm held it so tightly that it made her wince. Hearing Allison in so much distress, Peter yelled, “Hey! Let go of her!” Peter pulled away from the policeman who had hold of him, and pushed the policeman who had grasp of Allison, away from her. He pushed him so hard that he lost his balance and had regain it by catching up to his steps. Peter stood there staring down the policeman as crowds of people were staring at him. “There is no need to grab her like that!”
This action provoked the officer to grab her again only increasing his tight grip on Allison’s arm. This caused Peter to get red-in-the-face, angry.
“Let her go I said!” The other officer shoved Peter fairly hard causing him to fall to the ground. Allison had a terrified look written all over her face. She watch on as Peter stood to his feet and hauled off and kicked the officer right in the shin for what he did. This sent the officer howling and jumping with ‘ows and ooos’ holding, and rubbing his leg.
The other officer holding on to Allison tried in vain to get a hold of Peter, but Peter was like a greased pig. He swung his leg, and kicked him in the shin for trying to subdue him.
“OW!” the policeman howled as he jumped up and down while still holding on to Allison.
“Let go of her I said!” and with a judo kick he sent the officer who was holding Allison, flying.
Allison knew she would not be able to outrun the police, but Peter had a chance. “RUN PETER!” she cried. “RUN!” Peter was hesitant to leave her.”GO!” she yelled. “I’LL BE ALL RIGHT!”
As Peter started to run, one policeman blew his whistle, and yelled aloud for help from the crowd. “SOMEONE STOP THAT BOY!”
Seeing this as a golden opportunity, Mulligan and Malone dashed after Peter. The second policeman also followed along.
Peter darted in and out of the hundreds of pedestrians and travelers that filled the train station, and eluded their attempts to catch him. He flew out of the station, and ran down the crowed street.
After a moment, he looked back to see where the police officer was, only to sight the two other men chasing after him. For a moment or two he thought he had lost them, but Mulligan and Malone were in very good shape.
Doing her best to keep her composure under the adverse circumstances, Allison tried to reason with the officer who was holding her by the arm while pulling her through the station. She felt that if this had anything to do with her ward of Peter, it could be straightened out right there and then, for she had the papers to prove her guardianship was indeed valid.
“Officer,” she pleaded as she was being jerked about, “I have the right to know what the charge is, do I not?” But the officer said nothing to her, causing a feeling of desperation to go through her.
The other policeman, who had been chasing after Peter, came back looking ragged from the run. Allison, seeing the officer didn’t have him, had hope that Peter would make it to his grandparents’ house safely.
“He got away!” the officer blustered out.
Allison once again tried to reason with the policemen, but they only responded routinely, saying: “We will straighten this out downtown Miss.” With this, he harshly yanked her by the arm, and the two of them roughly escorted her out of the train station using over-bearing needless force, drawing attention from the crowd of onlookers.
When they got to the Paddy Wagon, they opened the back of the door, shoved her in, slammed the door, and locked it with a large key hanging from a ring of others like it.
The inside of the Black Maria Paddy Wagon smelled with foul orders, and the hard bench like seat she was forced to sit on, was disgustingly sticky with unknown substances.
The horse-drawn paddy wagon was waiting outside the station, all along. As the two policemen went to the front of the wagon and climbed up on the seat to drive away, she desperately looked out the back of the wagon through the rusted iron bars, and watched forlornly into the crowd for any sign of Peter, but all she saw was hundreds of unfamiliar faces staring back at her.
Peter, who was running like a white-tailed deer down the sidewalks, glanced back only to see the leopard-like men in hot pursuit after him. He jutted with quick spurts in and out of the congested street traffic taking the risks he felt necessary to get away from his pursuers. He ran blindly through several alleys which crisscrossed the inner city hoping to elude the pursuing men, but wherever he went, the two men were close behind.
Peter tiredly came out of an alleyway onto a boulevard a good distance ahead of them. He was determined to keep moving, and to keep widening that distance between him and them as much as he could.
He darted in and out of all the vendors on the street. But as he turned to see where the men were, who were chasing him, he tripped and fell, skidding along the sidewalk, scraping his hands in a concrete belly flop.
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