Page 31 of Out of Bounds

The wind picked up and was at their backs. Bradford used a 5-wood last Saturday but decided on 4-iron today. He struck the shot perfectly and watched it frame the pin. For a moment he thought it was in. Instead, it grazed the pin and rolled a few feet past. It was a great shot and even Buzz congratulated him. Bradford had never had a hole in one.

  Buzz hit 6-iron, still too much club considering the tail wind. His shot was a little right and rolled to the back of the green. Buzz knew he had made a mental error.

  The boy watched as his brother crossed the street and entered the 7-11. He didn’t want to be there but his brother had insisted. Somebody had to watch the street while he robbed the store. The boy clutched the whistle that he would blow if anybody approached; one whistle meant a customer, two whistles signaled the police.

  It was 2 AM and nobody was on the streets. His brother had been in the store almost 10 minutes when the first shot rang out, followed quickly by two more. The boy waited but his brother didn’t come out. The boy was still trying to garner enough courage to go inside, when he heard the police sirens. He ran.

  Marty walked across the stage to receive his diploma from Miami Law School. His parents were in the audience and Marty knew how proud they were and the sacrifices they had made to get him there. There had been rough times while he grew up, but he had made it. Monday he would start his first day as Assistant District Attorney.

  His one regret was that his older brother could not be there to see him graduate. His brother recovered from his gunshot wound, but was serving a life sentence for killing the store clerk during that robbery 10 years ago. Marty had been the lookout. His brother never told anybody, not even their parents. The only person that knew was Bill, his best friend since childhood. Bill was the only person that still called him Marty.

  Joe Martinez’ career in the DA’s office progressed rapidly. He had a unique combination of brains, good looks and street smarts. Juries and judges liked him. He hadn’t lost a case in three years. If he didn’t think he could win, he would plea bargain and claim victory. He was soon given the tough, high profile cases and he started to specialize in smuggling and drug trafficking.

  In his second year, Martinez prosecuted Diego Raphael, a small time smuggler who had been busted by the DEA for attempting to smuggle 50 pounds of cocaine into Miami by boat. Martinez had all the evidence he needed for a conviction, but settled for a plea to possession rather than trafficking. In turn, Martinez obtained a snitch inside one of the major Caribbean drug trafficking cartels. This source of information would prove useful in the future.

  Martinez received his big break at the end of his third year. A major drug lord in Mexico had been indicted and captured by the Mexican army. He was extradited to the United States for trial. It was the type of high profile case that could launch a political career and Martinez was given the opportunity to prosecute.

  Dave’s shot was closer than it appeared from the tee box. He had less than three feet for his birdie. It wasn’t a tap in, but makeable. Buzz’ birdie attempt from the back of the green was a good one, but missed narrowly on the right and rolled two feet past. He made the comeback putt and it was up to Bradford. He calmly rolled in the 3-foot putt for birdie and went two up with 14 holes to play.

  Chapter 5

  Par 4 - 395 Yards

  Manufactured Evidence