Second Chance:

[Grand58742]

CHAPTER 42 CONTINUED

[Metal]

Wow! just Wow!
Grand you are a truly a great writer.

[eeyore]

Grand,

I love the twists and turn, keep it up, great story

[barfife]

Ok..you still got me hooked. good job.

[Ozarks Lady]

Yessssssss!!! I like Rindo.

Great chapter here. Thank you so much.

[RunAndGun]

More please?

[Grand58742]

I did forget to mention, many apologies, but the chapters will be a little more infrequent since I'm in the middle of moving right now. I'm heading from Germany back to the States and should be there by the end of this month. So I won't be able to keep up as regularly as I might have liked. But once I get settled in, it will be finished up. For the moment, the postings won't be as quick as they were.

This chapter was more or less a natural pause in the story. No cliff hanging chapter, but still (hopefully) keeps you interested enough to come back when I'm settled in the States.

[robb1313]

Just knowing you'll have updates when you can is great...

Thanks for the great stories!

[Ozarks Lady]

Safe trip Grand. We'll be right here waiting.

[barfife]

God's speed on your trip. Come on home.

[RunAndGun]

Welcome Home Grand!

[Grand58742]

CHAPTER 43



“Sir? It’s the Governor of New York calling again,” said the secretary over the intercom.

“Have the Attorney General come to my office for the call,” said the Governor as he sighed. He knew this phone call would be happening once they sent the details of their investigation to New York and asked for assistance. The Attorney General happened to be in the building and was in his office in less than two minutes.

“Bad?” he asked.

“New York calling,” said the Governor. “Please patch him in Jody.”

The phone rang on his desk and he put it on speaker. “Governor, I was expecting your call.”

“As well you should be! You have a lot of nerve mister!” yelled the Governor of New York into the phone.

“Over what?” asked the Governor of Tennessee.

“Over the fact you went behind our backs and are keeping that girl in your State!” yelled the Governor of New York.

“We just want to make sure justice is served and that is the same request we have made since the beginning,” said the Governor of Tennessee.

“The investigation was complete! We found no signs of any foul play! And furthermore, one of the doctors associated with the case seems to think she is schizophrenic!” yelled the Governor of New York.

“Oh does he now?” asked the Governor of Tennessee.

“Yes! She is showing classic signs of paranoid schizophrenia and delusional behavior! She needs to be returned to this State to begin treatment!” yelled the Governor of New York.

“As we can start treatment here after an impartial investigation is complete, your agencies start looking into why it only took two weeks for that complex of an investigation as well as administrative or judicial action against the agent in charge of her case. He flat out said he was not going to investigate further acts of abuse! How much more evidence do you need until you start another investigation?!” demanded the Governor of Tennessee, starting to lose his cool as well.

“It’s an internal matter and one we won’t need to tell you about! This is our problem, not yours!” yelled the Governor of New York.

“Cindy Grant made it my problem and furthermore, she asked for help and she’s going to get it!” growled the Governor of Tennessee.

“But the medical issues should be taken care of by her family!” he shot back.

“None of our doctors have seen this so called paranoid schizophrenia. NONE! And all of the sudden it surfaces just as you are attempting to send her back into that abusive environment? You are flat out using that as an excuse to get her back! She has no illness except one that you created!” yelled the Governor of Tennessee.

“Her medical information was withheld because frankly it’s none of your business! I repeat my original demand, send her back here to her family or we will be getting federal agencies involved!” shouted the Governor of New York.

“Absolutely not until the situation at her home and the situation in your State Agencies has resolved itself!” shouted the Governor of Tennessee.

“You are kidnapping her!” shouted the Governor of New York.

“We are doing none of the kind! She is here of her own free will and can leave at any time she chooses!” shot the Governor of Tennessee in return.

“So you are refusing to turn her over to her family and the proper New York authorities?” asked the Governor of New York.

“We already tried that once and you saw what happened! This time we don’t send her back until I am satisfied she will be getting the treatment she deserves!” yelled the Governor of Tennessee.

“We’ll take care of that problem, but first, she needs to get home to her family!” shouted the Governor of New York.

“Absolutely not!” said the Governor of Tennessee defiantly.

“You will force us to report this State sanctioned kidnapping to the FBI and anyone else we choose!” shouted the Governor of New York.

“You can tell Little Bo Peep and her little lost sheep for all I care! She doesn’t move until I am satisfied she will be going back to a good home environment and those responsible for her abuse and lack of investigation thereof will be prosecuted! Period!” said the Governor of Tennessee in a growl.

“You are forcing us to get the Federal Government involved when you don’t have to!” shouted the Governor of New York.

“And you are forcing us into this position by not doing what is legally and morally right!” yelled the Governor of Tennessee.

“Who’s morals? Yours?” shouted the Governor of New York.

“Of common morals and the sense of justice! You have heard the tapes of the conversations between Cindy and her father and of that so called Agent of yours by now!” shouted the Governor of Tennessee.

“I have taken it under advisement,” said the Governor of New York, calming somewhat since his advisors were urging him to do so in the background.

“Then you can see the situation you are putting us into?” asked the Governor of Tennessee.

“No! You are putting yourself into that position. Just turn her over to us and there won’t be any position!” demanded the Governor of New York.

“I can see we are going nowhere with this! Cindy Grant will not, I repeat NOT be moved from this State until such time as I feel comfortable she will be getting the care she is due and those responsible for her abuse are brought to justice! Additionally, until you prosecute those responsible for that so called initial investigation, we will not be happy. Those two things must be accomplished before any negotiation for her transfer of custody will take place!” yelled the Governor of Tennessee. He slammed the button shutting off the speaker phone to end the call since he was tired of debating with the New York Governor.

“Little Bo Peep and her sheep?” asked the Tennessee Attorney General before snorting.

“Couldn’t think of anything else at the time,” said the Governor with a smile before laughing at his own comments. He was joined by the Attorney General laughing long and hard at the comments as the brief moment of levity brought down the anger in the Governor slightly.

“Am I to assume this is our official stance?” asked the Attorney General.

“Yes, and go ahead and file the brief with the Circuit Court on the conduct of New York,” said the Governor.

“This one will probably go to the U.S. Supreme Court for a final decision,” said the Attorney General.

“Why is that?” asked the Governor.

“Because if I know New York, they will probably be filing a brief with the Second Circuit Court,” said the Attorney General.

“And if two Circuit Courts don’t agree on something? How can the same case be filed twice?” asked the Governor.

“Normally they can’t, but this situation is unusual to say the least,” said the Attorney General.

“And if they don’t agree?” asked the Governor.

“Then it goes to the Supreme Court for a final determination,” said the Attorney General.

“And what’s the chances of the Second Circuit Court ruling in our favor?” asked the Governor.

“I honestly cannot tell you. Disputes between States are often not handled at that level and there aren’t too many references to guide us. The Second Court is fairly liberal so there is no telling,” said the Attorney General.

“Would they default to the decision of the Sixth Court?” asked the Governor.

“Maybe,” said the Attorney General.

“File it today,” said the Governor.

“And the rest?” asked the Attorney General.

“Get her checked out by medical professionals. We already have three opinions on hand, but at least check this paranoid schizophrenia out before this blows up in our face,” said the Governor.

“Done, anything else?” asked the Attorney General.

“I’d like to meet with Cindy when the time is right. I have that lunch in East Tennessee in a few days and wouldn’t mind dropping in,” said the Governor.

“I’ll have Anderson get in contact with the local Sheriff,” said the Attorney General.

“Thanks for everything you are doing,” said the Governor.

“This certainly has given me something else to think about. Unusual to say the least,” said the Attorney General. “I almost feel like an apprentice just out of law school with all the research I’ve been doing.”

“Good for the brain,” said the Governor who never expected to be doing anything like this when he was elected into the position.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading off to file the brief,” said the Attorney General.

The Governor waved him out and went back to the budget briefing on his desk and back to his normal job of running the State. But in the back of his mind, two questions still raged. Why was New York being so obstinate about the situation and how far would this actually go.

********************

“I’ll get my contacts in the FBI online,” said the Attorney General of New York.

“Good, I want this situation resolved and that girl returned to this State immediately,” said the Governor of New York.

“And the Agent responsible for botching up the investigation?” asked the Attorney General.

“Start an investigation into his conduct,” said the Governor.

“I’ll see to it immediately. And I was thinking of filing a brief with the Second Court,” said the Attorney General.

“Which would do what good?” asked Harley Waters.

“If we get some judicial power behind this, she could be returned quicker,” said the Attorney General, wondering why Waters was present for this meeting since his cousin was part of the problem.

“And what’s our overall game plan here?” asked the Governor.

“Easy, get her returned to her family,” said Waters.

“And?” asked the Governor.

“Well, maybe the social services could be cleaned up a bit. Sorry Waters, but your cousin might have to pay the piper for what he’s done,” said the Attorney General.

“Pay the piper?” asked Waters.

“Any way you look at it, this investigation was pretty slipshod. We might have to reinvestigate the community and the family before it’s all over,” said the Attorney General.

“And if he’s exonerated?” asked Waters.

“Then that’s it. He goes back to work,” said the Attorney General.

“What about the press?” asked the Governor.

“I don’t think we need to get the press involved at this time,” said the Attorney General.

“Why not?” asked the Governor.

“Too early to get a good read on it. We need to make it look like we’ve exhausted all other options before going to them,” said the Attorney General.

“Maybe the story could be leaked from a low level source?” asked Waters.

“Why?” asked the Governor.

“Well, we can play the family angle and drum up sympathy on that mark,” said Waters.

“Maybe,” said the Governor. “No, let’s keep this close to the vest for the moment.”

“Anything else?” asked the Attorney General.

“No, thank you for helping out,” said the Governor. The Attorney General left, but Waters stayed behind. “Something I can help you with Harley?”

“The situation here needs to resolve itself quickly,” said Waters.

“Why is that?” asked the Governor.

“Let’s just say the involved parties would prefer it. They want that child back to her family,” said Waters.

“And I care about what they think? They are part of the problem!” exclaimed the Governor.

“Maybe so, but they did make significant contributions to your campaign last election,” said Waters.

“And this concerns me why?” asked the Governor.

“Because they will do so again if the situation turns in their favor,” said Waters.

“I’ll see what we can do, but if it turns out they are doing anything illegal, I’ll have to let the cards play out,” said the Governor.

“Even if it involved you getting money from suspected domestic terrorist groups and sympathizers?” asked Waters quietly, playing the card at the right time.

“Excuse me?” asked the Governor after letting that information sink in.

“Some of your campaign contributions can be directly linked to some people on the domestic terror watch list. And that doesn’t make good press now does it?” asked Waters.

“I had no idea where all the money came from!” protested the Governor.

“The funds were significant enough that you might have noticed,” said Waters. “Half a million dollars in contributions would have alerted your campaign manager.”

“I didn’t ever recall speaking with him about that,” said the Governor evasively.

“Doesn’t matter at all. Between that and the organized crime contributions, it would signal the end of your political career,” said Waters.

“There was nothing that could be proved!” protested the Governor.

“The mere hint of impropriety would be enough to destroy you politically,” said Waters.

“How dare you come into this office and accuse me of taking contributions from terrorists!” shouted the Governor.

“My campaign was clean, can you say the same thing about yours?” asked Waters in the same monotone voice he was using and not showing any reaction to the Governor’s outburst.

The Governor got quiet at that question since he did know some of the contributions were questionable at best. Some were from legitimate businesses run by some less than legitimate owners. But all in the same, it was politics at its best and he could claim ignorance if the matter ever came up. But to receive contributions from known suspected terrorists combined with that little fact could and probably would destroy him politically. He looked at Waters long and hard before giving out a long sigh.

“I suppose there is something you want me to do?” asked the Governor.

“Just get the girl back and take it easy on my cousin. I’ll take care of him in my own way,” said Waters.

“And I’m just supposed to look the other way in a child abuse case?” asked the Governor.

“I didn’t say that. Let the investigation run as it may, but the girl needs to get back to her family,” said Waters.

“You are pretty resolute in your desires to get her back to her family. Why?” asked the Governor.

“Do you know what it’s like to have a family member go missing? And possibly being turned against you by others? That’s what I’m doing this,” said Waters.

“Which is an utter load of horse manure. You and I both know you could give a darn about some girl outside of your district. Why the big deal?” asked the Governor.

“Just because it interests me and let’s leave it at that,” said Waters.

“I’ll see what I can come up with,” said the Governor as a way of dismissing him.

Waters left the room, but the Governor had no plans on letting all the sleeping dogs lie. He planned on making sure Steven Waters got what was coming to him. He typed out a quick e-mail to the head of the New York State Police and informed him the investigation would press on and if it turned up anything illegal, so be it. The Governor would at least attempt to salvage some of his reputation by placing Waters on the chopping block. He could at least point to something in case everything backfired on him.

********************

“Mrs. Lyons, I hope this isn’t a bad time,” said the Agent with the Insurance Bureau that represented the State.

“No, please,” said Melinda as she waved him into the house.

“I’m here to discuss the claim on your husband’s life insurance policy as well as the additional policy he took out about two weeks ago,” said the agent.

“We only had the one that I know of,” said Melinda.

“Apparently your husband took out an additional policy over and above the standard one from the State,” said the agent.

“I didn’t know he did,” said Melinda as she sat down in the living room.

“Which is why I’m here. He took out a large policy and suddenly ends up dead less than a week later. The insurance company will be investigating the claim and you should probably get legal assistance. The bureau can recommend a lawyer unless there is one you prefer,” said the agent.

“No, we don’t know any other lawyers,” she said. And by “we” she still was in shock over her husband’s death and was used to referring to things in the plural.

“Basically, he put down cash on a five million dollar policy which also included wrongful death. It’s just unusual he was dead a week later in a robbery and homicide,” said the agent.

“But I didn’t know he took it out!” she protested.

“Which I know, but still it’s unusual so you are entitled to legal representation,” said the agent. “Actually, it’s recommended.”

“Why is that?” asked Melinda.

“For starters, the claim is unusual to say the least. What does help is the case is ongoing and there were several other robberies reported in that same area. What does not help is the timing. It’s in too close a proximity to the new policy for the bureau’s tastes which is why we have to look into it,” said the agent.

“And the other settlement? The one from the State?” asked Melinda.

“The standard policy will be paid out today since the cost of funerals and arrangements can be expensive. Standard taxes off the top and so on and so forth. The other policy will be honored if we find there is no foul play,” said the agent.

“May I see the paperwork?” asked Melinda. The agent handed over the legal paperwork and saw her husband had dropped twenty thousand dollars on the new policy and named her and the children as the beneficiaries. She had no knowledge of the policy, much less where her husband came up with the money to start it, especially in the amounts he was talking about. She continued reading and saw it was properly notarized and everything seemed in order.

But what she didn’t know was her late husband started feeling like things weren’t going to be going his way. And that gut feeling just wasn’t going away. He knew some things happened and the crowd Waters had been dealing with was shady to say the least. So to make sure his family was covered in case of any “accidents” he took out the additional life insurance policy and made sure it was large enough for them to be comfortable.

The more Melinda read, the more she was in awe of what her husband had done. It was like he had lived two separate lives. She would be even more awed when the agent left and she searched the garage and found the remainder of the cash. She had no idea what her husband had been up to at work much less why he halfway attempted to hide the cash in their home. But every conclusion she came up with wasn’t good. And she was forced to realize her husband probably wasn’t as squeaky clean as she once thought he was. But at the same time, he was a good father and a good provider so possibly there was a really good reason for the money to be there.

Melinda would think long and hard over the next few weeks about the money, her husband and the reports of his untimely death. One thing was for certain, she wanted vengeance on whoever had killed him and would stop at nothing to avenge her beloved husband.

********************

“This is certainly an unusual case,” said the Justice of the Sixth Circuit Court as he looked at the Tennessee Attorney General over the top of his glasses.

“Two States not getting along needs the attention of a higher power,” said the Attorney General.

“Yes, I can see that. So Tennessee wants New York to check the case once again and reinvestigate. Plus investigating the investigator for foul play. And they refused on both accounts?” asked the Judge.

“Not really refused. They want the girl back as a condition,” said the Attorney General.

“And the Governor says no?” asked the Judge.

“As a short answer, he won’t send her back until all legalities are taken care of,” said the Attorney General.

“And something you don’t entirely agree with?” asked the Judge.

“I would prefer New York handle it without us getting involved. But at the same time, I’m not ready to send that girl back to a place where she will be abused. Or even the chance of being abused,” said the Attorney General.

“I can understand that,” said the Judge as he continued reading. An item of interest caught his eye and he flipped over to the enclosures in the documents. “What’s this?”

“A transcript of the conversation between the girl and her father and the girl and the so called investigator. I heard the recording myself and it makes the case even more clear cut,” said the Attorney General.

“How so?” asked the Judge.

“Well, the investigator all but admits to not investigating the case like he should have. Plus the threats her father makes and the lack of follow up by the Social Services. It certainly does point to foul play,” said the Attorney General.

The Judge read through the transcript for a page or two and his mouth turned into a frown. He didn’t care for what he read much less for the kind of person who would say such things. While he knew of and expected corruption in some government agencies, he felt like his hands were getting dirty just reading the file.

“This is like plutonium! No agent would ever be caught dead saying such things!” objected the Judge.

“It’s valid,” said the Attorney General.

“How is that?” asked the Judge.

“We compared the voice on the recording to Steven Waters from New York. It’s a match,” said the Attorney General.

“And her father?” asked the Judge.

“We haven’t spoken to him so we have no baseline comparison to make,” said the Attorney General.

“So for the moment we are going on this girl’s testimony?” asked the Judge.

“We are and with that file, you can see what the experts are saying,” said the Attorney General.

“It’ll take me some time to read through this,” said the Judge.

“It will, but at the same time, we are hoping for an expedited hearing,” said the Attorney General.

“Why is that?” asked the Judge.

“Because we don’t want this to turn ugly like it can and will if the press gets a hold of it,” said the Attorney General.

“Which they can and will once it hits the docket here,” said the Judge.

“We’ll take care of that when it comes down to it,” said the Attorney General.

“And the ultimate goal?” asked the Judge.

“To get a complete and thorough investigation and get that family some safety. We also included our investigation report into the community and the things that go on there,” said the Attorney General.

“I see that…kind of risky sending in an undercover cop into that compound,” said the Judge.

“It is, but we felt it was necessary to gather additional information,” said the Attorney General.

“And the girl? She is being treated well?” asked the Judge.

“Staying with a foster family for the time being. She is being treated just fine,” said the Attorney General.

“And her goal?” asked the Judge.

“To get her family into a safe environment,” said the Attorney General.

“I’ll put it on the docket, but at the same time, you better be ready for a rough time in the press. They like to get stories like this. Confrontations between States makes good news,” said the Judge.

“We will be ready for it,” said the Attorney General.

“I’ll get in touch with the New York Attorney General and let him know the time and date,” said the Judge.

“They might not be so accommodating,” said the Attorney General.

“They being stubborn?” asked the Judge.

“Fairly so,” said the Attorney General.

“I can be more so. Comes with old age and prerogative of position,” laughed the Judge.

“How long?” asked the Attorney General.

“Maybe a week or two depending on what’s on the schedule,” said the Judge. “But as a reminder, I can only call for a reinvestigation.”

“That’s about all we could want or need,” said the Attorney General. “Well, maybe observer status during the investigation.”

“I can’t make that part of the bargain,” said the Judge.

“You can suggest it,” said the Attorney General.

“Maybe I will,” said the Judge thoughtfully, already starting to prepare his written opinion on this case. It was certainly unusual enough with the basic civil rights being taken away or rather enforced on the unwilling. It would make a dandy opinion that could propel him into the spotlight. And if he ever wanted to make it into the Supreme Court, he would need good opinions of a variety of subjects that got noticed.

Little did he know his opinion would get noticed by those in higher powers. And sometimes they didn’t care for his opinion one bit.

[Grand58742]

Like I said, I'm slowing down, not stopping on this story.

[robb1313]

Thanks for the update, and hope the move is going well.

Welcome home!

[barfife]

thanks for another chapter. Now get your butt back to the US of A