Chapter 33 — The Fugitive Felon Act

_January 14, 1984, Antler, North Dakota_

{psc} Violet had served as navigator, and we pulled up to the border crossing at 2:14pm on Saturday. I had no idea exactly where to go, so I simply pulled up to the gate and asked. The officer directed me to a parking spot next to the building. I parked, and Violet and I got out of the car. We walked into the building, and I handed my ID to the officer at the desk. He called Agent Emmerson, who came to the desk and escorted us to an interview room.

"May I see your ID, Miss?"

Violet handed over her Illinois ID card.

"And your relation to Mr. Kane or Ms. Newton?"

"A mutual friend," Violet said. "Jonathan brought me along to help with Heather. Bev and Heather lived with me for about a month before she moved into her apartment."

"Do you have a car seat in your car?" Agent Emmerson asked.

"We do," I replied. "We also have diapers, formula, bottles, liners, and clothes."

"I have a fax from the FBI instructing me to release Heather to you. I'll just need you to sign a document that you've accepted custody, and you can be on your way."

He pushed a document to me, and I read through it. Everything was fine except for one thing – under relationship to Heather, it said 'father'. I had a decision to make and felt I could take the risk, as once Heather was with her grandparents, I'd basically be out of the loop. With a small amount of trepidation, I signed and dated the form and pushed it back to Agent Emmerson.

"I'll have the female officer who has your daughter bring her to you. Miss Newton requested to speak to you, and I'm inclined to allow it."

"Given I have no idea what's happened over the last week, I'm not sure that's a good idea. I would hate to have to repeat anything she told me if I was questioned under oath."

"I can't officially say it, but I think that's wise, given she's facing federal charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive and attempting to illegally cross the border in aid of a fugitive."

He got up and returned a minute later with a female agent who handed Heather to me. Once again, I was thankful Heather cooed and smiled, and she smiled at Violet.

"She ate about thirty minutes ago and has a clean diaper," the female agent said.

"Thank you!"

Not wanting to press our luck, I thanked Agent Emmerson, then left the room with Heather. Violet followed me, and we made our way quickly to the car. We got Heather situated in her car seat, then Violet and I got into the car. I carefully navigated out of the parking area and back onto the highway for our drive to Minneapolis. As I accelerated, I let out a long sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?" Violet asked.

"The form had a blank for my relationship to Heather, and it had 'father' written in. I took a big risk signing that document because we all know that's a lie."

"But nobody else knows that, right?"

"Nobody in the government," I replied. "I suspect Glen won't say anything because, at this point, he could only hurt himself by talking to anyone in law enforcement. I have no idea what Bev might say or do, but for right now, she won't risk losing Heather, and despite being upset with me, she sees me as her best hope."

"I'm curious — where will the Marshals take them?"

"I have no clue how it works when there are federal and state charges. I _think_ the charges against Bev are only federal, but I'm not sure. For Glen, I'm sure there are federal charges in addition to the Ohio charges. If I had to guess, both of them would go before a federal judge in North Dakota first.

"At that point, I have no clue what will happen, because I have only a vague memory of how extradition is supposed to work. I think Ohio has to ask for Glen to be returned, and he can fight that, but I seem to recall those fights are always lost. But with federal charges, I think he could be taken to Ohio without extradition. All of that is based on vague memories. In any event, I doubt anything will happen before Monday, and by then, Heather will be in Ohio."

"What happens if they find out you lied?"

"Well, I think I have a legitimate answer in that I wanted to ensure Heather was with her grandparents, and that's where she will be. I also have copies of the documents Bev signed, of which the FBI has copies. So, I think, in the end, nothing would come of it. If it does, then I'll deal with it. I don't think the risk is that great."

"I was surprised you didn't want to talk to Bev."

"Mainly, it was what I said to the agent — that I would hate for Bev to say something and be called to testify against her. That might happen as it is. The other reason is I can't be involved with her. She's lied multiple times, run away multiple times, and cut off contact multiple times. She needs serious help, and until she gets it, she's a danger to herself and to Heather.

"I've tried to help her time and time again, and she swats away my extended hand unless I'm in a position to force the issue or she's at risk of losing Heather. I was ready to make a commitment to Bev before all the stuff with paternity went down. I was ready to make a commitment to Bev after that. I offered help, and instead, she ran away to St. Louis. I offered help again, and instead, she ran away to Kansas. I just can't do it any longer."

"I guess I just feel sorry for her, and I think you're the only person who can actually help her."

"That might be true," I replied, "but she has to actually want my help. She's acted erratically. Think about the contradictions — she runs away from me, doesn't want to talk to me, tells me to leave her alone, and then has a lawyer draw up guardianship papers and a power of attorney. Something is seriously wrong with Bev, and until she admits it and gets help, there really isn't anything more I can do.

"I mean, I basically rescued her in Overland Park, brought her to Chicago, found her a place to live, helped her get a job, and helped her avoid the private investigator. I also did all the legwork to get her child support and more or less forced her to take it. When Glen came to Chicago, I was supportive and befriended him, though not as a close friend. Then, when all of it goes off the rails due to the accusation, rather than ask me for help right away, I find out from the Clermont County Sheriff, and once again, she runs away.

"It was at that point I realized that the one person who needed my help the most was Heather, even if it wasn't in Bev's best interest. That little girl has been dragged all over the Midwest, all because Bev couldn't deal with her parents. Fine, I get it. My mom and her parents are estranged. But a friend took my mom in and helped her, and my mom accepted it. That's all Bev needed to do.

"And it wasn't just me — she rejected my mom and the McGills, too. We all tried to help her, and her response was to run away. I honestly think there's more to this, and I have a suspicion that Bev started lying to me before I moved to Illinois. If that's the case, then she played me the entire time."

"I don't believe that!" Violet protested.

I shrugged, "At this point, I don't know what to believe. All I know is Heather needs a stable, loving home. That's the one thing my mom did for me. The only way that's going to happen at this point is if Heather is with her grandparents. If Bev gets help and gets her act together, I am positive her parents would agree to allow her to have Heather again."

"Do you know how bad the charges might be or what might happen?"

"It all depends on what Bev says and what the real circumstances are with regard to Glen."

"What do you mean?"

"That her postpartum depression could be the cause of her erratic behavior, and if so, it might be possible for it to excuse what she's done. She could also claim that Glen coërced her. I honestly don't know what happened or what she was thinking, but if I were her, that's the approach I would take. The thing is, she's told so many lies at this point that I'm not sure she knows what the truth actually is.

"This is a perfect example of the problem with telling lies — they pile on each other, and eventually, it becomes impossible to tell the truth. I've lied about exactly one thing — being Heather's biological dad. And I can justify doing so because, in both instances, it achieved a far better result for Heather and prevented potentially disastrous results. In this specific instance, I don't have to tell any other lies to support that lie."

"I think you were right to do what was necessary to keep her out of foster care, even temporarily."

"Thanks."

_January 15, 1984, Chicago, Illinois_

"I can take you home as soon as Heather is with her parents, or you can stay for dinner," I said to Violet as I turned into the alley behind my house.

"I'll stay for dinner. I would like to be home by 8:30pm, if possible."

"That works for me, too, because I'm beat after all the driving, even getting a good night's sleep last night."

I turned into the driveway and parked, deciding not to put the car in the garage as I would be driving Violet home after dinner. I got Heather from her car seat and Violet grabbed our bags and the supplies, and we went into the house. I was not surprised that the Newtons were there despite it only being 2:00pm.

"Heather!" Julie Newton exclaimed happily.

I handed Heather to her, then Jim Newton shook my hand.

"Thank you," he said. "Did you see Bev?"

"No. She's going to need an attorney and counseling. I'm going to guess she'll be taken before a federal judge in North Dakota, but I'm not sure. The Border Patrol officers detained them, but I infer they didn't question them about anything other than trying to cross the border. What the Marshals or FBI will do, I don't know."

"Do you have any idea who we could speak with?" Mr. Newton asked.

"I'd say the FBI agents here or the Clermont County Sheriff's Department. I can give you a business card from Agent Johnson, or you could call the Sheriff's Department and speak to Sergeant Callahan. I think the FBI is your best bet at the moment. They could at least tell you where she is. May I speak to you and Julie privately for a moment?"

"I'll take Heather," Violet offered.

Julie handed Heather to Violet, and she, Jim, and I went to the Japanese room.

"The FBI, Marshals, and Border Patrol all think I'm Heather's father. We know that's not possible, but the documents Bev signed implied that, and given the subterfuge in Overland Park, it wouldn't surprise me if Bev told them I'm Heather's dad. You need to speak to Mr. Chojnicki first thing tomorrow to begin the proceedings for you to have legal custody of Heather."

"How much trouble could you be in?" Jim Newton asked.

"I don't know, but the form I signed wasn't under oath. I never said I was Heather's father — either the FBI said I was, or they inferred it from the documents Bev had. It's also possible Bev said I was. You can safely say that Bev never told you who the baby's father is. But please don't lie. I'll handle any fallout if the government makes an issue of it. I doubt it, but you never know. The most important thing is to ensure Heather stays with you."

"Does Bev know you're giving Heather to us?" Julie asked.

"No. And I believe if she did, she might have let North Dakota take Heather into temporary care. That's why I want you to get Heather back to Ohio and have Mr. Chojnicki file whatever paperwork he needs to file for that to happen. Honestly, you should get out of Illinois as quickly as you can."

"Good advice," Jim Newton said.

We left the Japanese room, and while they both used the restroom, I retrieved the car seat, diapers, and other supplies I'd bought.

"We'll reimburse you," Julie Newton said.

"It's not necessary," I replied. "I'm in very good financial shape."

"I always knew you would find a way to be successful," Jim Newton said. "Even if I wasn't always happy with you."

"Given the circumstances, I understand your position, even if I didn't agree."

The Newtons, Violet, Heather, and I went out to the Newtons' car. I attached the car seat, then put Heather in it. After shaking hands with Bev's dad and hugging her mom, they got into the car. Once they had driven away, heading for Ohio, Violet and I went back into the house.

"You really didn't speak to Bev even though she asked?" Bianca inquired as soon as we were inside.

"I didn't see how it could do anything good, and it might have hurt Heather. I have no clue what Bev is thinking or what's going on between her and Glen. The last thing I needed was to have to testify against Bev because of something she said to me. Not to mention, I didn't want to do anything to wreck the subterfuge."

"I know this might sound strange," CeCi said, "but you told an ethical lie. It wasn't about protecting yourself; it was about protecting another person. It harmed nobody and helped an otherwise helpless and defenseless child. I know how strongly you believe in telling the truth, but in this case, you did absolutely the right thing."

"Thanks. Let's hope the government sees that the same way if it comes to light. I think it all comes down to Bev's reaction when she finds out Heather is with her grandparents rather than with me."

"She was adamant about that not happening when we were in Kansas," Violet observed. "In fact, that's the reason she accepted help from Jonathan — he threatened to turn Heather over to her grandparents unless Bev agreed to counseling and allowed him to help her."

"All true," I replied. "Then, as now, my focus was on helping Heather. Bev doesn't really want my help and hasn't since she left home. Oh, sure, she asked me to assist her with things for which there was no other solution, but if she had truly wanted my help, she'd have come here. If Mr. and Mrs. Newton had showed up, I'd have sent them packing, and given Bev was over eighteen and had full legal custody of Heather, there isn't a damned thing Mr. and Mrs. Newton could have done about it. Literally, every bad thing that has happened in the past year is the direct result of Bev refusing to come here and allow me to help her."

"That's quite the change in attitude," Deanna observed.

"When I finally quit deceiving myself, it became clear. It just took me time to accept it."

"What happens now?" Jack asked.

"That's really up to Family Services in Ohio, the US Attorney in North Dakota or wherever, and the Sheriff in Clermont County. I'd say Glen is going to prison for a long time if he had sex with two different Freshman girls, not to mention whatever the Feds charge him with for trying to go to Canada."

"How did he think that would work?"

"I'm going to guess Glen figured that an out-of-the-way border crossing might not have received the APB, or whatever they call it. He appears to have been mistaken. Maybe a busy crossing was a better choice, but I bet you anything they all had the license plates of both his and Bev's cars on a list. That would be enough to have them stopped at the border. But all of that is speculation, really."

"She went willingly?" Kristy asked.

"I'd say so. I'm not sure if they were stopped in one car or two, but I bet they find one of the cars somewhere else. I don't know that for a fact, but I'd be surprised if they weren't traveling together. That said, I'm not exactly up on interstate flight! I'd have made a very poor Clyde to Bev's Bonnie!"

"I don't see you with a machine gun!" Bianca teased.

"I don't know that I could ever shoot a human being or even shoot at one," I replied. "Rabbits and deer were my limits."

"You registered for the draft, right?" Jack asked.

"Yes, of course, because it was required. I'd ask for conscientious objector status or ask to be assigned to something like payroll or logistics or some other thing that didn't require killing other human beings. That said, as much of a pacifist as I am, I would take up arms to protect all of you if our country were to be invaded. Anyway, I want to put all of this stuff with Bev in the past. What's for dinner?"

"CeCi is making fried chicken and home fries," Bianca said.

"Sounds great!"

I had a quiet afternoon, which I spent in the Japanese room with Violet, with both of us reading. Dinner was awesome, and once we finished eating, I drove Violet home.

"I don't know how to thank you enough," I said as we approached University Park.

"I'm happy to help," Violet said. "I care about you, and you've been so good to me; it's the least I can do."

"Thanks for letting me cry on Friday night."

"You needed it, and I liked cuddling with you. A lot."

"You are a wonderful young woman, and I'm very happy I got to know you."

"Even with all my problems?"

"They aren't your fault, and it's not as if I don't have my own set of problems. We're close friends, and I honestly don't know what I would have done without you when I needed help."

"Thanks," Violet said. "You're a wonderful guy."

I pulled up in front of Violet's house, double parked, and walked her to the door. She hugged me but surprised me by giving me a quick peck on the lips before turning to unlock the door. She opened the door, turned, and smiled.

"See you on Saturday?" she asked.

"Yes! Don't forget we have tickets for the Hawks on the 25th."

"How could I ever forget a Hawks game!"

We said 'good night', and I walked back to my car. I turned off the emergency flashers, put the car in gear, and headed towards Rogers Park. As I drove, I contemplated three things — Violet helping me twice with Heather, her cuddling with me on Friday night, and the peck on the lips.

I knew I was in no state of mind to make any decisions in that regard, and I didn't have any idea when I would be. Every time I thought about the future in that way, my mind went to Keiko, which was the very thing about which Beth had cautioned me. The challenge was how to honor Keiko without being 'straitjacketed', as Beth had called it. I didn't know. One thing I did know, though, was that I had to be extremely careful, not just for Violet's sake but for my own.

When I arrived home, I parked in the garage. After closing the door, I walked over to the hot tub, removed the cover, and turned it on. The temperature was around 15°F, but as I'd discovered, the heat from the water made it such that my head didn't get cold. That was especially true as there was no wind at all. I went into the house, fixed myself some jasmine green tea, then sat down in the Japanese room to drink it.

"You turned on the hot tub?" Bianca asked, coming into the room.

"Yes. Once it warms up, I'm going to sit in it and relax. Driving twenty-six hours in less than forty-eight hours was exhausting, given we didn't stop except for gas and food."

"I think you had to do it based on what you said. Heather being with her grandparents makes it pretty much a _fait accompli_. I can't imagine any social worker or judge saying Heather had to come back to you because of that document."

"I'm not sure how it works, but legally, I still have guardianship. That's why I urged Jim Newton to call Mr. Chojnicki tomorrow."

"What will you do if Bev asks you for help?"

"Other than offer to help pay for a lawyer, I'd probably refuse."

"That's a huge change in attitude."

"The same thing Violet said before she kissed me on the lips when I walked her to the door."

"Be careful."

"No shit. Not just for her, but for me, too."

"Are you OK with company in the hot tub?"

"Can Sophia handle that?"

"For a few minutes, but I meant CeCi and Deanna."

"They're welcome to join me. I'm not trying to be a complete recluse. I just need some time by myself from time to time. The balance is probably about right, and I will slowly go back to being myself, as it were. The entire experience changed me, and I need to figure out how to adapt to those changes."

"May I make an observation? I don't want an answer; it's just something to think about."

"Go ahead."

"Keiko used two different approaches — one when you weren't engaged or married, and one when you were married."

I nodded, "I see your point."

I finished my tea, went upstairs to my bedroom, and changed into my bathing suit. I put on my robe, then went downstairs and out to the porch. I turned on the water jets and got into the tub, which wasn't hot but was warm enough and would continue to heat. Unsurprisingly, Deanna and CeCi joined me about five minutes later.

"I've been preoccupied," I said to Deanna, "how are you doing with the paintings for the art show President's Day weekend?"

"I haven't had a lot of time to work on anything specific, but I have some things I've done for class which I think are OK to display."

"Could you display pieces that are pre-sold?" I asked.

"You mean the two for your office? I could, but the gallery frowns on that because it discourages collectors and casual purchasers. I did come up with an idea for the two additional pieces to go with 'Bull Market' and 'Bear Market' — 'Silver Market' and 'Gold Market'. They'd follow the blue theme but have silver or gold lines and accents that call to mind pricing charts you use."

"I like that."

"I'll tell you about the two for your office because I started on those — one is 'Cherry Blossom', and the other is 'Rising Sun', both obviously Japanese motifs, but not purple."

"Those are great ideas. I know you have to go with your creative flow, but don't neglect your shows for my pieces."

"Actually, I will probably arrange a show at the Art Institute of those six pieces before we hang them in your office, if that's OK. They'd be displayed as 'From the private collection of Jonathan Edward Kane'. I'll receive graduation credit for doing that because we're required to have six shows before graduation."

"Anything that helps you at school or furthers your career is OK by me. They often display art in the lobby of the Hancock Center. I could ask about that, and perhaps once you've shown it at the Art Institute, you could show them there. Anything that gets you exposure is good, right?"

"Absolutely. That's also something that would count for credit, even if it's the same pieces."

"I'll find out how to go about that," I said. "For tomorrow, where do I need to be and when?"

"6:30pm to 9:00pm at the school."

"That would give us time for diner at Maxim's, if you want?"

"Sure," Deanna agreed. "I'll meet you there tomorrow. What time?"

"5:30pm."

"So, can I get you to model for movies for me?" CeCi asked with a smirk.

I laughed, "I'm not sure I should make the kind of movies that smirk implies!"

"It would be fun, but probably not. Do you think it would be possible to get into one of the exchanges and film?"

"There are rules about what can and can't be filmed; Kristy's dad would be a good resource because I don't work at an exchange. And filming my office would be about as boring as watching paint dry. Eighteen people basically sitting on their butts with their noses glued to computer terminals."

"So, 'still life'?" Deanna teased.

"And less interesting than a vase of flowers or whatever!"

"Is that really what you do all day?" CeCi asked.

"It really is. Research means reading either paper or computerized articles, newsletters, or other analyst reports, then distilling that information into summaries that give the traders the information they need to make reasoned decisions. It really is as boring as it sounds in that regard. It takes a certain mindset to enjoy it. It would drive Bianca nuts, but she does something similar — sits with her nose at her computer terminal writing programs."

"I'd go stir crazy!"

"In a sense, it's no different from what I do when I'm painting," Deanna observed. "You're the odd one out. Your chosen profession will mean traveling and being on location in addition to being on set."

"Don't directors spend a lot of time editing?" I asked. "You know, sitting in front of an editing machine cutting and splicing film and that kind of thing?"

"Yes," CeCi admitted. "That's part of the job. But Deanna is right about location shoots, and that makes up for it."

"Are you actually filming anything yet?" I asked.

"Some shorts, that is, between thirty seconds and two minutes, of some interesting thing. I shot one of a flag flapping in the breeze. It's all about framing shots right now, something very important for making a film. Those kinds of shots are the building blocks of longer movies. You may not know this, but it can take hours to shoot a few minutes of a scene."

"I know zero about movie-making," I replied. "On the other hand, finance is my game, and I know it takes a lot of money to make a movie."

"_Star Wars_ cost $11,000,000 to make; _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ cost $20,000,000; _The Godfather_ cost $7,000,000 in the early 70s. Of course, they all made it back in spades, unlike _Reds_ which cost $32,000,000 and barely broke even, or worse, _Heaven's Gate_ which cost $44,000,000 and only made a tenth of that at the box office."

"Ouch," I replied.

"It was one of the worst movies ever made. Well, serious movies, anyway. There are some REALLY bad movies, like _Plan 9 from Outer Space_ and _Santa Claus Conquers the Martians_ but they weren't meant to be serious. _Plan 9_ cost around $60,000 to make in the late 50s and _Santa Claus_ cost around $200,000. Both are near the top of the list of worst films of all time, but they are campy and have something of a cult following."

"I take it film history was one of your courses?"

"Yes."

"What's your favorite movie?"

"It's a toss-up between _Doctor Zhivago_ and _Casablanca_, though you can't really compare those two directly. I also really like _12 Angry Men_, which is a character study about jury deliberations, and _2001: A Space Odyssey_. My favorite director is Francis Ford Coppola — _The Godfather_, _The Godfather Part II_, and _Apocalypse Now_ are amazing in terms of cinematography. That's why I like _Zhivago_ so much — an awesome storyline but out-of-this-world cinematography. The director, Robert Lean, also directed _The Bridge on the River Kwai_, which also has some great cinematography. It's amazing what you can do with just a camera with limited or no special effects."

"Are there any female directors?"

"They make up a tiny percentage. Alice Guy-Blaché was the first, and in fact, only female director before 1906. She made her first film, a short called _La Fée aux Choux_ in 1896."

"Sorry to interrupt, but what is that in English?"

"It translates as 'The Fairy of the Cabbage Patch' or thereabouts. There are no known copies of the film, so we can't be sure what it was like, except from a few contemporary reports. She was followed by Lois Weber in 1908 and a few others, but they really didn't make anything that you would call a success. The most successful early female director was Leni Riefenstahl, but she's seriously problematic."

"Why?" I asked.

"She made Nazi propaganda films, in addition to movies."

"Uh, yeah, I could see how that would be 'problematic'."

"She was a genius, but sadly, like so many other Germans, used her genius to support evil. Wernher von Braun is a name you probably know."

"The NASA rocket guy?"

"Yes. And a Nazi. But he had skills we needed, so he was rehabilitated. Anyway, after the war, there were a number of German, French, and Russian female directors. The first one I know of to make what you would call a mainstream hit is Amy Heckerling, who directed _Fast Times at Ridgemont High_ last year."

"I'm both surprised and not surprised it took a hundred years for a woman to direct a mainstream hit. You have a real challenge ahead of you."

"Well, having financial backing will help!"

"I will need to learn a lot more about filmmaking before that happens, but you still have three more years of school, right?"

"Yes. I might go for a Master's because having credentials matters when you're trying to get your foot in the door."

"I'm going to go inside and get ready for bed," I said.

"We'll get out now, too," Deanna said.

We got out, quickly covered the hot tub, and I turned the controls to keep the water around 50°F so that it would warm up faster if anyone wanted to use it. We went into the house and up the stairs.

"Jonathan," CeCi said, touching my arm, "when you're ready…if you want."

I nodded, "I appreciate that. Just give me some time, please."

"Of course. No pressure. I just wanted you to know."

I went into my room, completed my usual routine, then got into bed.

_January 16, 1984, Chicago, Illinois_

Monday morning started out as my days typically did, with the exception that I drove in alone and Jack and Bianca drove in together, as I had plans with Deanna after work. I was first in the office, started a pot of coffee, checked with Rich about overnight activity, and then began working on my portion of the daily analyst report. I completed it and then placed a call to Nelson to let him know what had happened with Bev, though I left out the details of driving to North Dakota.

"Do you know if she has an attorney?" he asked.

"I have no idea. I'm staying out of it for reasons I'd prefer not to discuss. Heather is safely with Bev's parents in Goshen."

"That's good. Do you know where Bev is being taken?"

"Not for sure."

"OK. Keep me posted."

"Will do."

I ended that call, then placed a call to Mr. Chojnicki, which had two purposes.

"I spoke with Jim Newton about thirty minutes ago," he said. "I'm simply going to file a petition for temporary emergency custody this afternoon without revealing any of the circumstances of how Heather came to be with her grandparents. Given Bev's arrest, the court will grant that. Once that happens, Family Court here in Ohio has jurisdiction, and unless you file some kind of claim, that will be the end of it until Bev's situation is clarified."

"What about the guardianship documents?"

"They aren't filed with any court anywhere, which means short of you making a claim or Bev objecting, they may as well not exist. I know that sounds strange, but the courts here will default to family members and deal with any contest as it arises. I don't think I'm going out on a limb assuming you won't contest the proceedings."

"I have no intention of doing that. Bev might, once she finds out, but I won't."

"She's in Bismarck, North Dakota, and will appear before a magistrate judge for a bail hearing this afternoon."

"What are the charges?"

"A violation of the Fugitive Felon Act, which covers interstate flight to avoid prosecution. I expect her to make bail or even be released on her own recognizance because charges under that act are routinely dismissed or dropped in favor of state charges. If Bev did nothing else, and they haven't charged her with anything else, they'll likely dismiss the charges within a few months."

"What happens then?"

"She goes on with her life. She won't have a conviction of any kind on her record. She will, though, have an arrest record, and Family Court here will take that into account, especially because she had Heather with her. The usual disposition in cases such as this one is that Bev would have visitation and have to convince Family Services she was a fit mother. She could do that by staying out of trouble, going to school, and getting a job."

"You may not know, but what about Glen?"

"He's facing six felony charges here, along with a violation of the Fugitive Felon Act. In his case, Ohio will apply for extradition, and he'll be sent back. They'll keep the federal charges over his head until he either completes a plea deal or a trial concludes. Facing six felony charges, any defense attorney will advise him to take a plea, and he'll serve less than ten years. If he fights it and is convicted on all charges, it would be thirty to life."

"What an idiot."

"I don't disagree."

"While I have you on the phone, may I ask a completely unrelated question?"

"Absolutely."

"Do you know any attorneys who represent athletes?"

"Here in Cincinnati? Marvin McCafferty. Why?"

"I'd appreciate an introduction so I could pitch him on managing investments for his clients."

"I'll call him and see if he's interested in speaking to you."

"I appreciate it. Let me know if there's anything I need to do with regard to Heather."

"I will."

We said 'goodbye' and I hung up, then called Dean Pullman at Circle. He was in, and I explained the purpose of my call. We discussed the program, and he asked when I could come in to fill out the application. We agreed on Thursday at lunch, and I noted that on my calendar.

At 10:00am, we had our weekly team meeting, and afterwards, I had lunch with Bianca. We went to the gym, and when I returned to my desk, there was a message from Anhelina Bondarenko. I returned her call immediately.

"I know you said $295,000 was firm, but they asked me to say that they'll accept $300,000."

"I'm pretty sure 'firm' means 'firm'," I said.

"You're willing to walk away over $5000?"

"They are, obviously."

"Touché. No chance of meeting that price? At all?"

There was always a chance; it was a question of whether or not I would. At $300,000, I'd be paying about 15% under the assessed value and about 7% under their asking price, which was not unreasonable. So long as interest rates came down, which I expected them to over the next few years, the condo would likely double in value by 1990. That was a very good investment, no matter how I looked at it. But given I'd said my price was firm, I couldn't accept their counter. I also wanted the condo and decided a small bump in my offer was worth it. But if I was going to move, it had to be on my terms.

"I'll tell you what," I said. "It's 1:05pm. I'll offer $297,500, but that offer expires today at 5:00pm sharp, and after 5:00pm, I won't pay a dime over $285,000 no matter what happens."

"Let me call them back."

We ended the call, and as I expected, she called back less than ten minutes later to say that they had accepted the offer. She faxed me an offer form, which I filled out, signed, and faxed back to save four elevator trips. She promised to draw up the sales contract by 5:00pm, and I agreed to sign it after work. At 5:00pm, I left the office and made the elevator trips to get to the residential floors. I signed the contract, and Anhelina gave me a copy.

"I've already started the process for the mortgage," I said. "I should have a commitment by the end of the week."

"Great! Do you have an attorney?"

I gave her Nelson's information, then left the office so I could meet Deanna and begin my career as a male model!