# # # # # # # #
Back in the safe zone near D-T's stash, the four people on the ground were following Mac's play-by-play of the action outside the house. When Dreamer heard that her ex-dad was unconscious and captured, she turned in great relief, saw the sliver of a face in the dark that was Wizard, and then her feet slipped out from underneath her in the mud in that part of the forest.
Wolf was there immediately. Doc, we need you. Dreamer's down and she's not responding.
# # # # # # # #
Lucas would have preferred being in Dreamer's state. He would have preferred to be anywhere but walking up the cement steps to the Surrey police station.
That afternoon, he had approached his mom and dad and asked if he could speak to them in private. Yolanda had taken Lucas into their bedroom and Hank shut the door. Yolanda had been immediately concerned by the look on Lucas' face. A look that she had never seen before. Lucas looked terrified.
Lucas told them everything with a monotone voice – reciting the full extent of his crimes.
"What are you going to do, Lucas?" Yolanda had asked.
"Turn myself in. Confess. Go to prison."
"We may be able to help," Hank said.
"No. No pulling strings. I did this. I shouldn't get off because you have influence. Promise."
"Lucas, it may not be..."
"Promise, or I'll go alone."
"We'll come with you," Yolanda had said.
"I won't ask for any favours," Hank had agreed.
# # # # # # # #
Lucas was taken to an interrogation room. His parents were invited to sit in on the interview because he was a minor. "They already know everything," Lucas said. "No reason why they should have to hear it a second time."
Several hours later, a man in a suit approached Yolanda and Hank and told them that they'd be holding Lucas overnight in one of the detachment's cells while they conducted more interviews. "Mr. and Mrs. Wiltz. Your son is facing some serious charges, but he's young and he seems confused by all that has taken place. What happens next will depend on what this Candi person says. You two should go home now."
(Narrator: Since the Wilizy name was so well-known, the family used the fabricated surname "Wiltz" when they had to give a last name.)
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Chapter 28
Based on Candi's testimony, the Surrey police had kept Lucas in custody over the weekend. They were unwilling to release a young man who had allegedly used violence against another young man and had allegedly raped a young woman. On Monday May 4, they formally charged Lucas Wiltz with procuring, sexual assault including repeated rape of a young woman, using violence and threats to force a young woman to act as a prostitute, and assault on a young man that had resulted in serious bodily harm.
"The young woman's account of what happened is vastly different from what your son told us," the lead detective said. "She told her story very convincingly and broke down emotionally at one point. We had to stop the interview for an hour."
"Do you believe her?" Yolanda asked.
"Enough to charge your son."
"And this woman?" Hank asked. "Is she charged with anything? Prostitution?"
"Coerced prostitution is not a criminal offense, Sir. Your son appears to have made plenty of money off her. She appears to be the victim."
"Appears?" Yolanda asked. "Does that mean that you aren't sure?"
"It doesn't matter what I believe or not believe. The case will be decided on facts, as much as they can be determined. In the meantime, we are releasing Lucas into your custody. Keep him away from Surrey. Bring him in only for his trial."
"He'll be here," Hank replied. "But not because we'll be bringing him in. He turned himself in and confessed to what he had done with no pressure from anybody. He'll be here because he said he'd be here."
"I'm aware that he turned himself in, Sir. You should hire a very good lawyer. If you're interested, we have a list of defense attorneys who practice in the youth criminal justice system."
"We already have a very good lawyer. He's wrapping up another court case today."
# # # # # # # #
Double-Tom had received medical care while he was unconscious and was transported to the Wilizy's idea of a holding cell. It consisted of a sleeping bag under a tarp in the middle of a large meadow. That holding cell could have been anywhere in B.C. or in the Aboriginal Nation. When D-T woke up, he saw that he had the freedom to wander anywhere he felt like. He didn't know where he was, but aboriginals are skilled at finding civilization. D-T was responding to a sudden urge to meet his daily exercise quota when two wolves appeared and blocked his way. One of them had to express her unhappiness with his persistence to stay physically fit in a growly, fangastic manner. At that point, D-T lost his motivation to explore the countryside. He returned to his temporary camp which, on exploration, contained all that he would need to survive for a couple of days.
Doc showed up first on the Monday. Wolf was with him for security reasons, although the wolves made that caution unnecessary.
"You!" Double-Tom explained when he saw who was walking into the clearing.
"Me," Doc said. "I'm here to examine you to make sure you're fit for trial. Stand here. Don't move or you may lose some body parts. The wolves haven't been fed for two days."
"I was assaulted by a female monster," D-T complained during Doc's examination. "I think she broke some bones. I have fierce headaches too. I want to bring charges against the thing that attacked me. What was that?"
"That was my little sister," Wolf said. "Speak nicely about her. She'll be here shortly. You don't want to upset her seeing as how you're so puny." Wolf looked around. "Lots of big trees in this part of the woods," he observed.
"By the way, Double-Tom," Doc said at the end of the examination. "I'm not a lawyer. I'm a real doctor. You're fit to stand trial." Then he patted him twice on each cheek. "It's been nice doing business with ya."
"I'm not a lawyer either," Wolf said. "I'm Dreamer's brother." He too patted Double-Tom twice on each cheek. "It's been nice doing business with ya."
# # # # # # # #
In the next hour, D-T's camp was struck and he was placed in a folding chair in the middle of the meadow. The two wolves decided to sit centimeters away from his knees. They appeared to have a saliva control problem. Every now and then, D-T would hear a wolf's stomach voice its discontent about the irregularity of its feeding schedule.
Around him, the empty meadow was being transformed. From somewhere out of sight, more folding chairs materialized, as did some tables. People also appeared. Like the little aboriginal girl with the pig tails and the Japanese messenger woman. And lots more people entered the meadow that D-T didn't recognize. All of them ignored the tattooed, wiry weasel sitting by himself in the middle of what was rapidly taking shape as a courtroom with audience seating. Most of the people arranging the furniture were aboriginal, however D-T did notice that a blonde and a red-head were in charge and they were white-skinned.
At some point, the red-head appeared satisfied, and the blonde said, "Bring the guests in," rather loudly and some young aboriginal boys took seats in the audience. Five white women were brought into the courtroom and guided to chairs at the back of the clearing. They were perhaps fifteen years old. A line of people formed in front of Double-Tom's chair and each person in that line spoke briefly to him.
"My name is Momaka. I am not a person who acquires young girls for perverts. Dreamer is a close personal friend."
"My name is Mac. I am Dreamer's sister."
"My name is Melissa. I am Dreamer's sister."
"My name is Winnie, I'm 8 years old, and I saw what you were thinking about me. I really am Uncle Stu's niece but not in the way you thought. I am Dreamer's sister."
"My name is Yollie and it was my great pleasure to heave you against that tree. I am Dreamer's sister."
"My name is TG, and that doesn't mean Thin Girl. I am a computer specialist,
not a pervert. Dreamer is my sister." TG patted Double-Tom twice on each cheek and added, "It's been nice doing business with ya."
"I'm General Jock MacLatchie. I am a real general in the Saskatchewan army. I am not a pervert." TG patted Double-Tom twice on each cheek and added, "It's been nice doing business with ya."
"You know me, Double-Tom. I'm the mother of the woman you murdered."
"I will be the prosecuting attorney at your trial," Stu said. "I am a real lawyer. I am not a pervert. Stu patted Double-Tom twice on each cheek and added, "It's been nice doing business with ya."
"All rise," a young boy's voice called out.
The audience stood. Double-Tom also stood when the young wolf closed her teeth on his kneecap.
An aboriginal chief in full regalia limped into the clearing with the help of a big bow. She sat down behind the table that was positioned at the front of the outdoor courtroom. "My name is Granny. I am a deputy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I now show you my badge. That badge gives me the authority to detain suspected criminals, question them, determine if they have broken any laws, and apply justice as required within the Aboriginal Nation. By treaty, my authority also extends to B.C. I will be your judge. Does anybody here want to serve as defense attorney?"
Nobody responded.
"Looks like you're the defense attorney, Wescott," the judge ruled. "Mr. Prosecutor, lay out the charges."
Stu rose. "Your Honour, the Wilizy accuse the defendant of murdering his wife, formerly Wanda George, a resident of Clearwater. We also accuse the defendant of murdering a citizen of Barriere named Sam Buck. Both murders were committed near the North Thompson River, south of Clearwater on July 26, 2075. The prosecution will prove conclusively that the defendant planned to kill both of these people, and as such, the crime is one of premeditated murder. I draw the court's attention to the fact that capital crimes such as this can be brought before a properly constituted court at any time provided that there is sufficient evidence. I will show to the court that I have sufficient evidence." Then Stu the lawyer, not the pervert, sat down.
"How do you plead, Wescott?"
"I didn't do it. I was in Surrey."
"Not guilty, it is. Call your first witness, Mr. Prosecutor."
"I call TG."
# # # # # # # #
"I am a computer specialist proficient in setting up surveillance equipment. With the active assistance of the warden of the Sicamous Regional Prison who ensured that the three cells opposite Wescott's cell were empty, I installed a camera and sound system that would record everything that Wescott said when he was at the front of his cell. Those recordings were automatically uploaded to a computer system in the warden's office. This surveillance was part of an authorized sting operation conducted with the warden's agreement and cooperation. In this sting, various members of our team would pretend to be people that they were not. I was active in installing the surveillance equipment and reviewing the data. I was also active in pretending to be a pervert on the night that the accused was caught in the act of trying to kidnap a young woman."
"Your Honour," Stu added. "Such sting operations have been approved by the courts going back over a century. As an established officer of the court, I was the lead operator in the sting, pretending to be a pervert and a member of a Japanese crime family that did not exist. I can show you the legal precedents if you wish."
"I wish," Wescott interrupted.
Stu pulled six legal books out of a satchel on the ground, deposited them on the judge's table, opened each of them to tagged pages, and waited.
"Precedent has been established," the judge ruled. "Proceed with the testimony."
"Your Honour, I draw your attention to the fact that the video excerpts you will see are in the accused's own voice and he is visibly volunteering these comments with no signs of any coercion."
"Proceed."
# # # # # # # #
I've sold some girls to their buyer. He knows me, but I don't have much access to white, blue-eyed blonde girls. He pays the most for blondes, but he won't let any suppliers hurt them. They can be as young as 6 years old. I can sell him other girls at a lower commission but they have to be at least 10. For them, their guy doesn't care what condition they're in when they arrive.
You focus on brunettes then?
Yeah, of course. There's way more of them. Plus there are no restrictions on what happens during the kidnapping and delivery. It's easy to make good money if you're careful. A young girl disappears near a river and everybody assumes that it was an accident.
Like at Clearwater with your wife?
Yeah. You got me on that. She wasn't for Safe Haven. I killed her because she was cheating on me. I would never have made any money off her because she was way too old. But I tell you, there were no witnesses! I'm not dumb.
Where'd you put the bodies?
Deep cave in closer to Clearwater and by the river. After I stuffed them out of sight, I let the canoe drift back down the river. Her lover is in the cave too. Tall, skinny guy. I don't know why she was interested in him.
Women are hard to understand sometimes. You happen to know the name of the man you killed?
Yeah. I followed him around for several days before I ambushed them. Sam Buck.
# # # # # # # #
"Your Honour. A police team out of Kamloops found the cave that Wescott mentioned. As he said, it was a deep cave by the river. Clothing and other possessions confirmed that the two bodies in the cave were his wife Frances and a man named Sam Buck. Multiple arrows were found lying around and inside their skeletons. I have the sworn affidavits from the police team here. Prosecution rests."
"Defense?"
"I was only playing with your fake pervert when I told him all that stuff in the prison. I knew about him the whole time. I just made up a name for the guy who got killed by somebody that wasn't me. I never knew that he and my wife were lovers. I was in Surrey when they were murdered. I have witnesses."
"Rebuttal?"
"Proceed."
"Your Honour, we searched for witnesses who might have seen Wescott in the area on July 27, 2075. We were fortunate in finding somebody who observed and recorded the murder. I have those pictures and will show them to the court now."
Stu handed the judge a bot. Several minutes later, the judge removed the bot from her skull plug. "Conclusive evidence, I'd say. Pass the bot to the accused. Are you worried about the accused swallowing the bot?"
"The wolves will be happy to recover it for us, Your Honour."
"You can't be a judge and a witness too," Wescott accused after he had viewed the bot. "This is a mistrial. You have to set me free."
"Wescott," Granny looked at him and frowned. "I am not the witness. When I saw you in the prison, Doc simply asked me who I thought was uglier. Him or you. I pointed my bow at you."
"These videos are fakes, Your Honour. I believe I have the right to question my accuser." Wescott's pea-sized brain actually did retain some pea-sized kernels of legal information that Stu had mentioned to him in the cells.
"You have that right. Bailiff, swear in the witness. Wescott, you will confine yourself to questions regarding events related to the murders of these two citizens."
# # # # # # # #
The man facing Double Tom was a husky aboriginal-like male. Big chest. His name was William.
"Do you swear that you took these pictures that show somebody who looked like me murdering these people?" Double-Tom asked.
"I swear that I personally took the pictures of you murdering the two people."
"How old would you have been in 2075?"
"I was born June 2066. I was 9 years old in July 2075. Old enough to know how to operate a pinky-ring camera."
"Where were you hiding when you took these pictures?"
"You can see from the shots that I was in the brush."
"From your nose, you look like an Albertan. How'd you escape from Alberta?"
"I managed to pull off my
brain-band, met a gorgeous red-head who's sitting over there, and with Doc, we escaped to British Columbia."
"Why didn't you report this alleged murder sooner?"
"No alleged about it. This was a murder. I didn't report it sooner because time got in the way. I'm reporting it now. You killed those two people, plain and simple. I watched you do it."
"Any further questions, Wescott?"
"I don't know what to say. These pictures could not have been taken. They have to be fakes."
"Because nobody was hiding in the brush when you committed the murder?"
"That's right. I looked. No little Alberta kid was there." (Narrator: One again Double-Tom comes up several peas short of a full pod.)
"I will take that as a confession. I find the defendant guilty of two premeditated murders. Such crimes demand the death penalty. Justice will be administered shortly. I am aware that somebody present at this trial has requested special privileges. Wolf and William, will you take the defendant to the justice site and secure him there? I will listen to privilege requests now. Everybody else, go home."
The meadow began to shift back to being to a nice place to spend an afternoon in the woods provided that you weren't a self-confessed murderer.
"Take the chairs and tables with you," the person in charge of the furniture in the community hall called out before the audience could leave.
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Chapter 29
Granny was with Wanda in the clearing where Double-Tom would be buried. Wanda had said to D-T what she had come here to say, and she had administered the sentence of the court calmly and quickly. As she had promised Granny that she would. William had provided Wanda with a hand-held version of the flashing red light weapon protecting the compound. Death had been instantaneous.