|
Chapter 29: The Final Chapter
 By Jim Caple |
Previously at 24 College Avenue: OK, here goes -- A destruction crew is tearing down the house for a neighborhood development plan called College World. Not knowing his real age, Red Devil mascot Jenn Robbins had sex with a 14-year-old student in State College’s Young Genius program. Cheerleader Mandy Stevenson had an affair with basketball coach Jimmy Medici, who has been paying her off to keep quiet (her friend, band member Bonzi Bangor, knows about it). Former housemate and ROTC student Katie Maynard lost an arm and leg in a deadly insurgent attack in the war. Linebacker Kenan Hill has been arrested for a sexual assault he swears he didn’t commit. Sprinter Nicollette Mayle finally admitted she took HGH to improve her speed. Former She Devil Jill Thomas has been playing basketball in the Arabian k ingdom of Mubai. Josh Williams met a smuggler named Marcus while serving as a tour guide in Europe the previous summer. Most of the former and current housemates have been arrested as suspected terrorists due to video and Internet evidence gathered in a documentary Paul Fairhaven thought he was making for a class on threats to privacy. He is trying to make amends with an expanded “Director’s Cut’’ of the movie. Steve Hamilton has escaped jail with the smuggler Marcus, who sneaks them into the State College engineering research quadrangle (e-Quad). There they learn that the secret campus society, Blood and Muscle, has developed a “Big Brother’’ computer network that provides frightening access to every bit of video and Internet monitoring in the country (it provided Fairhaven’s source material). Marcus has just stolen what he belie ves to be a copy of the Big Brother program but the path of escape has been blocked by an unlikely person. . . .
Steve stared at his ex-housemate, unaware of the horrified expression on his face, or of how it would make her feel.
“Oh . . . my . . . God,’’ he said again. “Oh . . . my . . . God.’’
“Hi, Steve. It’s nice to see you, too,’’ Katie Maynard said, gripping the armrest of the wheelchair tight and fighting back the tears. Two months had passed since the insurgent attack and every time she thought she was ready to accept her new body and move forward, there was another reminder of how badly she had been damaged.
“I’m sorry,’’ Steve said. “I didn’t even know you were back in the country. And I had no idea how badly you were wounded . . . I mean, we heard you were hurt but the way they said you were going through rehab and everything, it didn’t sound that bad. I just didn’t know that . . .that . . . well, you know.’’
“That my leg and arm had been amputated? Is that what you’re trying to say? If so, just say it. As tough as this is, it’s 10 times harder when people try to pretend everything is fine.’’
“Everything IS going to be fine, Katie,’’ the man standing next to her said. “Keep faith.’’
“I want to believe that. And after what you just showed me, maybe I can.’’
Katie noticed Steve’s confused, curious expression. “This is Dr. Hanford Kennewick. He just showed me a new line of prosthetics they’re working on here in E-Quad. Says they’ll make me as good as new.’’
The doctor touched Katie gently on the shoulder. “Better than new. Why must I keep reminding you?’’
“Better than new,’’ Katie said, nodding. “And I’m holding you to that promise that I’ll be playing softball by next spring.’’
“You’ll be the best player on the team when we’re done. The best in the whole league.’’
Marcus coughed. He had been taking all this in rather impatiently and was anxious to get out of E-Quad before security guards caught up to him. It was one thing to bribe your way into State College’s highly secure research complex, it would be another matter entirely to bribe his way out if he were caught with the Big Brother disk.
“I hate to break up this touching reunion, and no disrespect to a woman in uniform,’’ he said, “but we’re in a bit of a hurry.’’
“Oh, no,’’ Katie said, smiling slightly. “What have you gotten yourself into this time, Steve? More Russian mafia? Blood and Muscle again? Another fundamentalist plot to unleash an epidemic? I hope not because as you can see, I’m not sure if I’m in much position to rescue you this time.’’
Steve, once again, didn’t know what to say. How could he explain Big Brother in a couple seconds? He was about to speak when Marcus grabbed his sweatshirt and yanked him along.
“Like I said, my brothers, I hate to dash off like this but we really must be going.’’
He was about to sprint away when the doors at the end of the corridor opened and two armed security guards barged through.
“Halt!’’ one of the guards said, pointing his rifle at the four. “Halt, or we’ll shoot.’’
# # #
Josh and the rest of his housemates, both former and current, shuffled into the courtroom, heads bowed and wrists cuffed (with the exception of Mandy, who raised her cuffed hands to blow a kiss to coach Jimmy Medici; the coach slumped in his chair in the back of the room and pretended not to be there). Judge Davenport DuPont entered the courtroom and took his seat. He signaled to federal prosecutor Clyde Hill to proceed.
Hill brushed a piece of lint from his suit, took a breath and stood up. He looked sternly at the row of suspects and turned toward Judge DuPont.
“Your honor, the government is charging the defendants on nine counts of terrorism as specified under statute 317.43 (b) in the Department of Homefront Protection.’’
Josh felt faint. Jenn and Bonzi began crying. Jill hyper-ventilated. Kenan groaned. Nicollette hissed. Mandy winked at Medici.
“These are very serious charges, counselor,’’ DuPont said. “They look like a bunch of scared college kids to me. Are you sure you want to proceed with the terrorism charges?’’
“We most certainly do, you honor. We have had the house at 24 College Avenue under surveillance for some time. Thanks to a new surveillance program developed at State College, we have collated video, email and cell phone evidence that the Red Devil Nine –”
DuPont interrupted. “I only see seven, counselor.’’
Hill coughed. “Yes, well. We’re still, err, rounding up two of the suspects. But we did not wish to delay matters further. Anyway, our surveillance showed that the house at 24 College Avenue provided a safehouse for an international terror cell, that the residents started the riot and fires that burned down part of the campus after the University of San Marco Brawlin’ Italians football game, and that they are in the employ of Middle East sheikhs whose attitude to this country is unknown. . . .’’
He looked at Jill.
“That they traffic in steroids . . .’’
He looked at Nicollette.
“That they have been in constant communication with known smugglers in Europe . . .’’
He looked at Josh.
“That they plotted to extort money and damage the reputation of a respected member of the coaching community . . .’’
He looked at Mandy and Bonzi.
“That they had sex and provided alcohol to minors . . .’’
He looked at Jenn.
“And that they sexually assaulted young women . . .’’
He looked at Kenan.
“The government therefore will try the Red Devil Nine – or Seven – with the following counts of terrorism–’’
At that precise moment, Mayor Woodland and State College President Cheney burst into the courtroom and rushed to Hill’s table. Cheney tapped on the attorney’s shoulder and whispered into his ear. The attorney stared back in disbelief. Cheney whispered into his ear some more and pointed to where Fairhaven had slipped into the back of the courtroom. Fairhaven smiled smugly and held up a DVD. Woodland leaned in and said something else to Hill. The attorney appeared shocked, then embarrassed, then angry and finally resigned. He nodded to Woodland and Cheney, then faced the judge.
“Your honor,’’ he said, “could I speak with you . . . in private?’’
# # #
“Quincy! Lamont!’’ Katie shouted at the two security guards.
“Katie? Is that really you?’’ Quincy said. “Damn! I heard you were back in town but I had no idea.’’ The two guards lowered their rifles and rushed up to Katie. They bent down and gave their old ROTC mate an almost suffocating embrace.
“I’m just so glad you’re alive,’’ Lamont said. “I can’t express how good it is to see you.’’
“Calm down, will you? You’re gonna make me cry,’’ Katie said, freeing her remaining arm to wipe away a tear with her hand. “But God, it’s good to see you, too.’’ Quincy and Lamont were in the ROTC class after Katie and had been the best doubleplay combo in the intramural league. “How are you doing? What are you doing? Hey, did we win the intramural championship?’’
Quincy straightened up and wiped his own tear away. “Nah, we lost in the final. Damn Killer Fleas – they beat us again.’’
“We’re assigned to E-Quad security while we wait to be deployed,’’ Lamont said. “We’re responding to an alarm that two guys have stolen top secret computer disks. One of them is supposed to be a thin guy in his early 50s wearing a leather jacket. The other guy is supposed to be a geeky looking student in black glasses.’’ He looked over at Marcus and Steve, who grinned sheepishly. “I guess that would be you two.’’
The guards began raising their rifles.
“Sorry, guys,’’ Katie said. “I’m afraid you’ll have to keep looking. These guys are part of the research group working on my prosthetics. You can’t arrest them or I’ll never get back on the softball field.’’
Lamont eyed Marcus suspiciously. “Where are your security passes?’’
“Right here,’’ Marcus said. He reached into his vest pocket for the two badges he had paid for while bribing another set of guards.
“Why aren’t you wearing them?’’ Quincy asked. “You’re supposed to be wearing them at all times.’’
“Took ‘em off to play softball, brother,’’ Marcus said. “They were poking me whenever I slid.’’
Lamont nodded but Quincy still was suspicious. “Maybe, but we’re still going to have to search you.’’ He turned to Katie. “No offense, Katie. I believe you, but it’s just part of our orders. Search everyone until we find the guys.’’
“No offense taken. I understand orders.’’
Marcus opened his jacket and spread his arms. “Frisk away, brother.’’
The guards did, patting down Marcus, Steve and Dr. Kennewick thoroughly, but came up empty. Quincy smiled at Katie. “I don’t care what the orders are, I’m not frisking you,’’ he said. “I don’t frisk heroes.’’ He and Lamont saluted her.
Once again, Katie felt a tear welling up in her eye. “Thanks, Quincy. I really appreciate that.’’ She returned the salute.
“OK, guess we better get moving along,’’ Lamont said. “We’re not going to find those guys standing around talking here.’’
“We’ll see you soon,’’ Quincy said.
As the two guards trotted down the corridor, Katie turned to Steve and Marcus. “I don’t know why I just lied to cover you two,’’ she said to Steve. “House loyalty, I guess. Trust from having gone through so much together. And a very strong sense I get that whatever it is you’re up to, it’s in the best interests of the country.’’
“Don’t worry,’’ Steve said, leaning down to hug Katie. “You can trust us.’’
“All right, brother,’ Marcus said after he had hugged Katie awkwardly. “Let’s get moving.’’
The two rushed down the corridor and made their way to the building’s exit. They didn’t say anything until after they were out of the entire E-Quad.
“Damn, that was close,’’ Steve said. “Where the hell did you ditch the disk?’’
“Ditch it? I didn’t ditch it,’’ Marcus said. “I just temporarily hid it in Katie’s wheelchair.’’
“So she has it?’’
“Of course not, brother,’’ Marcus said, pulling the disk from his coat. “I grabbed it back when we were hugging.’’
# # #
What the authorities had not taken into account with Big Brother was the cameras also were focused on them. All their Internet activity, their credit card purchases, their comings and goings were all available to Fairhaven as well. So his director’s cut included three extra hours of video and records that ranged, shall we say, from embarrassing to humiliating to downright incriminating.
“Lacking sufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges, we have decided to close the case,’’ Hill said. He revealed this after watching a scene in “Director’s Cut’’ that detailed frequent credit card purchases of underwear from Victoria’s Secret even though he wasn't married and had no girl friends.
“What students do in their own homes off campus is their own concern and none of the university’s business,’’ State College president Cheney said. He declared this after seeing a scene from “Director’s Cut’’ that documented a series of sexually explicit emails he sent to young, female professors seeking tenure.
“I think it’s best we slow down development of College World pending a thorough environmental impact study, “ Mayor Woodland said. He announced this after seeing video (captured by an intersection camera designed to catch motorists running red lights) of him stopping to pick up a prostitute, then driving swerving in and out of the opposite lane as he drove away.
“I think it is in the best interest of this young woman and her friend if we do not pursue extortion charges,’’ Medici said of Mandy and Bonzi. “I think they both learned their lesson and there is nothing to be gained by jail.’’ Medici requested this when he saw “Director’s Cut’’ video (taken from several cellphones) that showed him drunk and sometimes shirtless with equally topless sorority girls on various campuses.
Meanwhile, the hotel surveillance tapes not only clearly showed Kenan talking with his family in the lobby at the time of the alleged rape, its security logs showed that an additional key card had been made and that it was this card that was used to gain entrance to the room. Surveillance video also showed the alleged victim entering the room alone. Computer records also showed that she had reported similar rapes by athletes on six separate occasions in at least five states, then settling out of court the first three times before authorities became wise to her shakedown scheme.
The video of Jenn entering her bedroom (taken with a cellphone by a party-goer at the house) with the underage Joey likewise was inconclusive since both insisted they had only studied together.
What really convinced everyone to drop the cases was Steve’s photo card, conveniently copied by Fairhaven, that clearly showed the identity of the student who inadvertently started the San Marco riot fires by tossing a tear gas grenade back to the police line, where it landed in an unoccupied cruiser. When authorities realized the student was Gig Harbor, the brilliant walk-on quarterback expected to lead the Red Devils to the national championship, they decided it was best to walk away.
Thus, all charges not only were dropped, Hill issued an elaborate public apology to all the residents and former residents, saying that a horrible mistake had been made and that all were innocent and free to go. Steve and Marcus also were free to go, wherever they were.
The housemates were in an extraordinary mood as they walked back home as free men and women.
“Damn it Fairhaven,’’ Bonzi said, slapping his housemate on the back. “If it hadn’t been for you, we’d be expelled or in jail.’’
“Or Guantanamo,’’ Josh added. “I got to admit, man – I was sure you betrayed us by making that documentary. But after hearing about this Big Brother program, I realize that they were going to get someone to put it all together. But because it was you, you were able to protect us with the ‘Director’s Cut.’ What can we do to re-pay you?”
“Candlesticks always make a nice gift.’’ (1)
“Do you have any more video of me and Jimmy?’’ Mandy asked. “I’d like to put it on my MyWeb page.’’
This mood of freedom, relief and gratitude lasted all the way until they reached 24 College Avenue and saw the front of the house had been completely demolished.
“Oh my God. I’m back. I’m home. All the time, it was . . . We finally really did it,’’ Fairhaven said, dropping to his knees and screaming. “You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!’’ (2)
Next: Summer Break
Here are the movies Paul Fairhaven referenced in this chapter:
(1) Larry in “Bull Durham’’
(2) Astronaut George Taylor in “Planet of the Apes’’
|
|
|
