Guilty! The Trials of Phil Ferguson Read online

  living in the same country, together in the same house, with no problems.

  Then…”

  Jade became agitated. “Hold up. No problems?” Phil realized where she was going. He looked like he just stepped in a pile of shit. Jade was getting more agitatedandhervoicebecamelouder.

  “Noproblems!”

  Phil was dumbfounded. He had no way of denying the affair and he could not playoffthetiming.HehadgottenatattoosincehisencounterwithAmanda.He wassurefromJade’sattitudethatshehadfiguredoutthetimeline.

  Jadetiltedhereartowardshim,holdingherhandbehindit.

  “Begyourpardon!”

  “Ididn’tsayanything.”

  “What?Catgotyourtongue?”

  Phildidnotanswer.

  “Yeahcatgotyourtongue,exceptitwasn’tmycat.

  Itwashers!”

  Philwasstartingtoboilinside.Hefeltlikeapunk.

  He would not normally allow Jade to handle him like that, but these were extremecircumstances.Hehadasmuchcontrolofhisemotionsasapetfishhad overitsaquarium.Hislastvestigeofcommonsensetoldhimtoleavebeforehe did something stupid. Her accusations placed him at the night when he got the emailfromJimmyCadogan,andtheragehefeltmadehimwanttokill.

  He said nothing. He practically walked through Jade and picked up his keys.

  BeforeJadeknewit,sheheardtheroarofapowerfulsix-cylinderengine.Itdid notstop.Itwasonlypunctuatedbytheoccasionalscreechingoftyres.Itwasan awfulsoundforJadeandshestartedtorelivetheaccident.Shelostherbalance andstartedtofall.Shecaughtherselfonthearmofthecouchnearby.Shesatin thecouchandbreatheddeeply.Thenshestartedtocry.

  CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

  Phildroveblindly.Hehadnoideawherehewasgoing.Hiseyessawtheroad

  andallowedhimtopilotthecaratpacealongtheroadandthroughthetraffic.

  Hisconsciousbrainhadlittleideaofwhatwashappeninginfrontofhim.Allhe knewwasthathehadtogetaway.Hejusthadto.Hewasgoingcrazy.Hisnext consciousthoughtwas Whyiseverythingupside downandwhatisthisballoon doinginmyface?

  “Mr.Ferguson!Mr.Ferguson!”

  Phil looked towards the voice. The image was mostly obscured by the stupid balloon.Itwasauniformedpoliceman.Helookedconcerned,evenupsidedown.

  Someoneisreallyscrewingwithme,Philthought.

  Theofficerpulledonthedoor.Itdidnotbudge.Itwasjammedshut.Thecarwas a wreck. It was sitting on its roof which was slightly crumpled. The front was shortened by about two feet by the guard wall it encountered enroute to its presentlocation.Therightfrontwheelwassomedistanceaway,lostinabush.

  Bytheofficer’sestimation,Philhadhitthewalldoingoveronehundredmiles an hour. The car was airborne for maybe three seconds. Its body had rotated throughtheair,allowingtherooftofacethegroundandthetyrestofacethesky.

  The car finally landed that way at the bottom of a thirty-foot gully. The good newswasthattherearquarterofthecarwasundamaged.

  Theofficermadecallsonhisradio.Acranewouldhavetoliftthecaroutofthe gully.ThejawsoflifewouldbeneededtogetPhiloutofthecar.Hesuspected hewouldneedanambulance,sohecalledforone.

  TheprocessofgettingPhiloutofthecartookthreeandahalfhours.Itwasonly when Phil was being lifted from the car that the EMT noticed that his left leg was rotated outwards and was shorter than the right. He had broken his femur.

  Phildidnotfeelthepain.

  *****

  Jadewasnotsurprisedwhenshegotthecall.Philhadleftatsuchaspeedthat shewassurehewasgoingtohitsomething.Shewasrelievedtohearthathewas aliveandnotseriouslyinjured.Shestoppedbeingangrywithhim.Sheknewthat Phil was a good man. His positive qualities far outweighed his shortcomings.

  She also started to feel upset that someone was not now just attempting to destroyPhil,theyweresucceeding.ItwasonethingthatPhil’senvironmentwas being ruined. It was another when Phil himself was losing his integrity, his ability to hold himself together, to maintain his principles and control of his emotions. It would not be long before Phil became a broken man. She did not even want to consider the prospect of him going to prison. Beyond the embarrassmentandlosinghislivelihood,therewasthelossofhisfreedom.

  Phil was a very active individual who hated to be pinned down. He wasn’t the kindofpersontorelaxandlayup.Hewaskinetic.Howwouldhesurviveinan8

  footby8footcell?Hewouldbelikeacagedanimal.

  Then there was the possibility, worse yet probability, that he would have a cellmate,orcellMATE!Thatthoughtmadehersick.Itwasbadenoughthathe

  hadanaffairwithawomanandthatshefoundoutaboutit.Butthiswouldpale incomparisonwiththesituationofamanputtinghishandsonPhil. Ugghh.

  Sheknewitcouldonlyhappenbyforce.Philwoulddiebeforehewouldallow

  that.Thethoughtmadeherfeelsickanddepressed.

  Shewouldgoseehiminthehospital.Shewasgoingtobeawife,notanangry victim.Shewasgoingtogivehimherfullsupport.Shewasgoingtogoallout topreventhimfromgoingtoprison.Shewoulddealwitheverythingelseafter.

  CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

  Amanda was disappointed, and on more than one level. The more poignant disappointmentwasthatPhildidnottrusther,thathebelievedshehadsethim up. To be fair, she was a willing and not completely ignorant accomplice. She had hoped that his feelings for her would override his suspicions and that he would understand that she truly cared for him. Again, when she considered it, she’d had no opportunity to interact with him in an open and honest manner.

  That brought her to her second disappointment, she had hoped to create the opportunitytobeopenandhonestwhenshevisitedhimathome,butthatdidnot work out. His wife still wanted to be with him. This brought her a deeper disappointment.AmandawascaughtuponPhil.Shecouldnotmusterinterestin anyoneelse.

  Why him of all people? Come to think of it, the Phil Ferguson situation was fraughtwithissues.Amandasettledherself.Shehadhadmanydisappointments

  inherlife.Thegoodthingwasthatshehadlearnthowtohandlethem.Sheknew how to learn from them and move on. She thought of her friend who was arrivingthenextday.Jackiewasalwaysfun.Amandatoldherselftofocusonthe goodtimesshewasgoingtohavewithJackieandwithJimmyCadogan.Itwas

  goingtobeablast.

  *****

  “Sowuhhappentoyou?YoufeelyouisLewisHamilton?”

  Phil lay in the hospital bed. He managed a weak smile for his friend’s twisted expressionofconcern.

  ThatwastypicalofTeddy.

  “Youknowyourmistake.”Itwasastatement,notaquestion.Phillookedathis legencasedinabrightredfibreglasscast.Histoeswerepointingtherightway now.Teddycontinued.“Hamiltondon’tdriveaBMW,hedrivesaMcClaren.”

  “AllthistimeIthoughttheM3wasaMcClaren.”

  “Fool, you should know better. And you know you can’t drive too pretty with

  thatslow-asscaryougot.”

  “Slow?Hmmm.”ThenPhilstartedtolaugh—afull-hearted,bellylaugh.Teddy

  alwaysknewhowtocheerhimup.Hewasagoodfriend.Teddywasoutofthe

  islandthroughoutPhil’stribulations.HehadleftthedayafterhetalkedPhilout ofattemptingtokillJade.

  Hehadjustreturnedhome.HehadtogoseePhil.<
br />
  “Sowhatistheplan?”

  Philsettleddownfromhislaughandgotserious.

  “Idon’tknow.”

  “Youcan’tletJimmygetawaywiththis.Yougottofight.”

  “YouthinkIdon’tknowthat?WhatyouthinkI’vebeendoing?Youknowme

  Teddy.I’mafighter.”

  “Yeah,Iknow.Buthereisyourproblem.”Philallowedhimselfasmiledespite hisfrustration.

  “I know, I know. I’m not Lewis Hamilton.” Teddy glared at him just for a moment.“I’mserious.

  Listentome.Youknowwhatyourproblemis?”

  “Themanistoowellconnected…”

  “No.”TeddymovedclosertoPhilsohewasinhisface.“Jimmydon’tplayfair andyouonlyknowhowtoplayfair.”

  PhillookedbackatTeddyasiftosay‘whatyouwantmetodo?’

  “Youplaythatmanfair,hewilldestroyyoueverytime.”

  PhillookedatTeddyinprotest,butheknewthatTeddywasright.

  “Yougottolearntoplaydirty.”Teddysaidthiswithvenominhisvoice.

  Philfinallyreintroducedhisbraintohistongue.

  “Teddy.Ihonestlydon’tknowhow.Inevercameupthatway.Idon’tthinkIcan belikethat.”

  “Youbetterlearn,andlearnfastmyfriend.Incaseyoudidn’trealizeit,yourlife isontheline.”PhildigestedTeddy’swords.Thenhelookedasclosetotearsas Teddyhadeverseenhim.

  “Teddy.Excuseme.Ineedtobealonenow.”

  “Buddy,Iwillgiveyouyourspace,butIentleffin’

  you.Igotyourback,andIfightin’withyou’tilwebeatthisman.Igoin’show youhowtobedirty.”Withthat,TeddybouncedfistswithPhilandmarchedoff.

  CHAPTERTHIRTY

  Yourleaveisapproved.”

  Mobertlookedupatthefacethevoicebelongedto.Thestatementwasfollowed bytheapprovalletterlandingonhisdesk.Hisstomachchurnedwithdisgustas the implication of what just transpired became clearer. Mobert had applied for studyleavefortrainingatScotlandYard.Heknewhiseffortshadbeenstymied becauseofhispersonality.

  He’dmanagedtohaveaconversationwithJasmineGittens.Shehadfiledacase ofsexualassaultagainstJimmy,butthecasesomehowgot‘lostinthesystem’.

  Mobert believed that the only reason she didn’t go missing was that she was a nottoodistantrelativeofthePrimeMinister.

  Mobert remembered the case because she had come to the station to kick up a stink about her case not being heard. She was so furious that she had to be restrainedandwasalmostcharged.Intheend,anunclecameandtookheraway.

  Mobertfoundherphonenumberinherfiles,whichcuriouslyonlyhadthatshe

  madeacomplaintagainstJimmyCadoganwhichhehaddenied.

  Mobertheardtherageinhervoicewhenheremindedheraboutthecaseandhe

  mentionedJimmy’sname.

  “Youleavedayaftertomorrowfortwelveweeks.

  Congratulations.”

  “Great…”

  ThoughMobertwasgratefulfortheopportunity,thetimingwasabsurd.Hehad

  planned to meet Jasmine, discuss her case and explore how he could begin to makethismanaccountable.Hehadappliedfortheleaveelevenyearsearlier.All expenseswouldbepaidforbythegovernment.Hehadbeenfrustratedforyears, especiallysinceovertimehehadseenotherofficersjuniortohimgetapproval for their leave. His personality dictated that he not let the matter go until there wasasatisfactoryend.Hehadlastcheckedonhisapplicationfivemonthsago

  and he had gotten the same tired excuse he always got: that it was being processed.Suddenly,itwasapproved,justlikethat.

  AndwhoshouldgivehimthegoodnewsbutthePastor?

  Mobertdidnotbelieveincoincidences.Hecouldnotrefusetheleave,itwould be bizarre for him to do that. Furthermore, it would potentially put his job at stake.Muchashehatedtoseeinjusticetakeplaceinfronthisveryeyes,hehad amortgagetopayandhehadnodesiretobeanythingelsebutadetective.

  The pastor read Mobert’s expression. He wore a mischievous grin. All Mobert wantedtodowastoslapthegrinoffhisface.Heplayedthescenethroughhis mind. He would get up, and as he elevated himself, he would swing his right hand across the pastor’s cheek with enough force to land him on his ass. The lookofshockasthepastorfeltthepaininhischeekwouldbepriceless.Mobert allowed himself a snigger as he finished his reverie. It eased the impotence he feltfrombeingmanipulated.

  Then he thought of the positive side. He was getting the opportunity to do somethinghealwayswantedtodo:tohonehiscraftwithsomeofthebestinthe world.Betterthanthatwasthefactthathewouldbeawayfromtheidiotsthat surrounded him for three months. Finally, he considered Phil Ferguson. That poormanwasscrewed.

  CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

  Jade was excited. It felt like a new feeling. It had been so long since she had something positive happen. Not since that night she met Jimmy. As it was, he wasthesubjectofherexcitement.Shecouldn’twaittotellPhilthegoodnews.

  She was walking along the hospital corridor to his private room. She was beaming.Sheburstintotheroom.PhilwaswritinganemailonhisBlackberry.

  Helookedupather,alittlestartled.Hisfaceeruptedashewasinfectedwithher smileandreturnedit.

  “Goodnews,Phil.”Jadewaspracticallyvibrating.

  “Clearlyitmustbe,oryouhadanoverdoseofcappuccino.”

  “I’mgoingtogetthiscasedropped!”Philwasnowpayingcloseattention.His moodwassober.

  “Whatareyoutalkingabout?Jadeyoudidn’tdoanythingcrazylikearrangeto takeCadoganout?”Jadesmiled.“No.Yesterday,maybe.Today,no.”

  “Sodon’tholdoutonme.”

  “Honey,I’mnottheoneholdingout…Youare.”Philwascaughtoffguard.Jade wasflirtingwithhimevenafteralltheshit.Shewasflirtingwithhimwhilehe waslaidupinahospitalbed.Thiswasweird.

  Itwasalsosweet.

  “Youseemtobelosingyouroratoryskills.Notgoodforalawyer.”Philstarted punchingbuttonsmadlyonhisBlackberry.

  Jadewasperplexed.“Whatareyoudoing?”Philsmiledather.“Iamsendingout anSOS.Thisistoocrazy.”

  “TheonlycrazyhereishowIamaboutyou.”Jadewasbytheheadofthebedas sheplayedwithPhil’shand.Philfelttheelectricity.Herhandsweresosoft.Her touchwasgentleandlingeringandshesmeltheavenly.

  “ComeonJade,tellme.What’sthisnews?”

  “IspoketoDeanMorgan.”

  “TheDPP?”

  “Yes.Iwenttoschoolwithhissisterhehadacrushonme,butIthoughthewas tooold.”

  “Ididn’tknowyouknewhim.”

  “Anyway,Imetwithhimandhadaserioustalk.”Philwasfullyengagedinthe conversationnow.

  HestudiedJade’sface.Shelookedsobeautiful.

  Her smooth skin, her full lips, her almost perfect teeth. She had a bit of an overbite, but Phil loved it. Somehow it worked for her. That face was giving crucialinformation.Hislifewasontheline.

  “Whatdidyousay?Whatdidhesay?”

  “Itoldhimthecasemadenosense.Youmadenoattemptonmylife,younever

  evenmadeathreat.Ialsosaidyouhadnocausetoconsiderthatbehaviour.

  Isaidwhateverhappenedbetweenus,youwerenotthekindofmantoresortto violencetoresolveanything.”

  Philcontinuedtowatchher,hisexpressiononeofadmirationandgratitude.

  “IalsosaidthatIcan’timaginehowyouwouldhavehadanopportunitytogetto m
ycar.Remember,Iwasnothomethatnight.”

  Phil felt that red hot pain in his chest. The pain he had experienced from the fracture of his femur was minor compared to this. Her words immediately returnedhimtothatnight.Jadenoticedthechangeinhisexpression.

  “Areyoualright?”

  Phil forced himself back to the present. He was better at doing it now than he hadbeenbefore.

  “Yes.”

  “Itwasn’tyourleg,wasit?”Jadelookedsullen.

  “Let’snotgothere,getbacktowhatyouweretellingme.”

  “Okay. So. You had no opportunity, no motive, and the evidence is very circumstantialatbest.”

  “SowhatdidDeanehavetosay?”

  “Hewasmortified.”

  “Then,whydidheevenallowthecase?”

  “Hewasawayonsickleave.Hewasn’tverywell,apparently.”

  “Whatwaswrongwithhim?”

  “Hewouldn’tsay.Hewasverytight-lipped.We’refriends,soIfiguredithadto bevery,verypersonalandIdecidednottopry.”

  “Wow, sometimes I forget I’m not the only one with problems. So what’s he goingtodo?”

  “He’sgoingtodropthecase.Asfarashe’sconcerned,it’srubbish.Infact,he’s furious with his deputy and he’s going to launch an investigation into the runningsofhisdepartment.Thatmanisfiredbytheway.Hemaygotojail.You, mylove,arefree.

  That’swhyI’msoexcited.Icouldn’twaittogiveyouthegoodnews.”

  “I’mfree?Thecaseisdropped?”

  “You should receive official word in writing and an apology by courier by tomorrow.”

  Philletoutahugesigh.Hewasquietforashortwhile.Jadeobservedhim.He lookedupather,hiseyesenergized.

  “I’ve got to make some calls, tell Dad the good news, and get the practice on track.I’velostmorethanenoughtime.”

  HepickeduphisBlackberryandstartedtodial.

  Beforeherealized,itJadegrabbedtheBlackberryandshoveditinhercleavage.

  “Youwantit,yougonnahavetogetit.”

  “Jade!”