Part I-Chapter 26: COPY THE COPY

Chapter 26

Copy the Copy
(Ó 2007)

It was now just past 10:00 PM that evening, both David and Noel were, for the past forty-five minutes since they had returned to their office, finishing making copies of the copy of Gregior Divic’s Pink Book. They both worked tediously, in rhythm, and synchronized. They continuous whirring noise of the Xerox machine was the only sound that was heard.

They, and Captain Xiang, had spent the rest of the afternoon with Sheriff Harwood at his office, going over all the evidence they had accumulated. The FBI was now involved not only because of the federal crime of kidnapping, but the international drug and human trafficking as well.

David had also inquired about the condition of Gregior Divic from the surgeons at Highland Park Hospital. He was surprised to hear about the prognosis. Divic would indeed have paralysis, however it would be from the waist down. He may have complete control of his upper body, but he may never walk again. Also, the fact that his injuries were least as severe as the other “victims”, Gregior Divic would be able-bodied enough to be interrogated within a couple of days.  

“He may turn out to be the luckiest of the four victims.” David informed everyone else.

The snowfall had ended around 3:00 PM that afternoon. News teams began to gather around the hospital in Highland Park when word got out that Marsha Post, the girl from the small farming community in Iowa had been found. However, details of her rescue have not been released. News teams then heard a rumor that Detectives Todd and Jaworski were seen inside the offices of the Lake County Sheriff, and with one “anonymous news source” came another. The connection between the recovery of Marsha Post, and their presence there, in the eyes of the media, could in no way be just a mere coincidence.

Then the presence of local law enforcement, along with agents of the FBI, seen at Highland Park Hospital, where Marsha Post and three other adolescent children were being treated caught the attention of the media. Information being easier to extract from hospital personnel than that of law enforcement had helped the members of the press learn that there was a “person of interest” undergoing emergency surgery. When the surgery in question turned out to be for a severed spinal cord, then the new commotion began.

Fortunately though for David, Noel, and the Captain, by the time the news flurry had begun, all three men were already back on the expressway headed back to the city. Captain Xiang and Noel in the front, with David in the back, going over the copy of the contents of the Pink Book, that Stan Harwood had made for them.

The ninety minute drive back was dominated with the conversation of the names discovered in the book. The discussion of each new name always began with words and expressions like, “Jeezus”, “Unbelievable”, “Dayum”, or “Shit man, you gotta to see this one”, coming from David in the back seat.

They all began to hear the news reports from the radio and were expecting members of the media to be at the station upon their arrival. Captain Xiang radioed ahead for clearance of the back entrances so that the three men could avoid the onslaught.

They got back to their offices without detection. That was now over an hour ago. After the Explorer was parked and the three men were safely in the building, the Captain informed David and Noel that he was going directly home. He told them both that they should do the same to get some sleep, they were going to need it for what was ahead of them the next day. 

David told Captain Xiang he would as soon as he placed the copy of the Pink Book in their office safe.

David now shut off the Xerox machine, he could feel the heat of it leave from its inside as the lights faded. He had three stacks of papers now in front of him. One, the original copy, and the other two, copies of the copy. David had tapped them down and placed each one in its own large manila envelope.

“There,” David said, “one for you, one for me, and one for the safe.” He handed Noel one of the envelopes and added, “You sure you want to go in on this Ski?”

“Damn straight.” He answered most assuredly.

“I don’t know what kind of trouble this might cause ya know.”

“Not as much trouble as for the names on these lists.” Noel said. “I’m with you bro, these are some pretty powerful bastards and bitches. When word gets out about this Divic fuck, well, there’s gonna be some real nervous high ranking assholes out there.”

“Assholes who’ll do anything to not be caught.” David added.

“I don’t want these scumbags to get away with this shit. I’m mean all that other shit they do get away with? Can’t do anything about that. But with kids man, hell, that’s where ya gotta draw the line.”

“Then you put yours in a place I don’t know, and I’ll do the same with mine. We’ll tell each other where the others is in case the shit gets deep. Alright?”

“Right.” Noel said, grasping David’s hand. “Now, let’s get outta here, I smell the shit of the jackals outside, and I ain’t in no mood to deal with any of it.”

Both men locked the third copy in their office safe, locked up their office, and left, each with their own separate copy. Soon, they were ducking out the back way again to avoid any contact with the media.

“This is starting to get real monotonous.” Noel said, as the got to their car.

“What can I say?” David answered. David started the engine. They left the parking lot undetected. - - -

- - - He sat on his chair in the darkened room which was illuminated only by the flame of the single candle. His elbows rested on his knees, his face was buried in his hands and he was weeping.

After some moments, he was able to compose himself and he looked around the room. His chest hitched from spasms caused from his crying.

Soon, … he was calm. He looked over his shoulder to the direction of the candle, then turned to look back down to the floor in front of him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered in the dark, “I’m so sorry. It was because of me.”

He placed his face back into his hands and said, “It was all my fault”.