- T I M E L I N E OF EVENTS - "New to Love" "New to Teaching Love" by Vince Water Revised: 2/14/2005 What follows are the incidents (by date and time) that surround the legal case against Mike Yager. He's being charged with three counts of resisting arrest, flight from arrest, theft (the Power Bundle Eli Kie claims is his) and an indictment for 'attempted murder of a police officer'. These are working notes to help me formulate character motives in the series but they are not written in stone. In other words, future events that I've outlined here could change. Note the revision date to the right above. As new developments occur, I'll repost this updated text. This timeline reflects the posting of part 7 to "New to Teaching Love" with Mike falling asleep on Thursday evening May 1, 2003. Note that some of the events described below were not revealed in the series which is written from Mike's perspective. He doesn't know a lot of the things that's happened so they cannot be used to help his defense. I list them here to help me with writing the legal consequences and outcome for Mike while providing my readers a glimpse. There's information contained herein that has not been disclosed in the stories. It's quite revealing! January 1, 2002 TUESDAY ------------------------ Ron's diary entry written in German that Mike translates into English: 1. New Year's day my head hurts. I celebrated last night alone and miss Running Water. He said that he'll see me tomorrow night. ... 3. I look back at my victories from the previous year and am satisfied. Two Chippewa skeletons were recovered for burial. A medicine woman's pouch was returned to the Blackfoot. An eagle feathered peace pipe and (???) (???) returned to the Cree from private collectors. A dispute over rights to new oil wells in the R.B. Res. resolved. I'm finalizing the details of payment percentages between the Native Nations who lay claim. 4. Quiet-before-the-dawn has given me a few more leads on whom I should issue Discovery Orders on. There is a museum in Malta where he's heard that a Blackfoot shaman Fetish is in their basement storage. A bar called the 'Injun Engine' in Flatwillow has a skull hanging from their ceiling that might be Native American. Mr. Alan Tremwall is rumored to have a Cree (healing?) pouch in his private collection. Said objects are known to have sewn in their lining the finger bones of powerful shamans to lend them Power. Montana's Native American Directive C882.03 section 01 comes into effect today that enhances our rights to search and seize ancestral belongings from collections both public and private. Even if a court (order?) frees this item for verification, said examination will violate the object. It's a catch-22 situation. ... (Mike admires Ron Earlman for how he's acted on behalf of his Blackfoot Tribe and other Native Peoples to get the bones of ancestors returned for a proper burial, return sacred belongings to them and resolve land rights.) May 10th, 2002 FRIDAY ---------------------- Ron's diary entry written in German that Mike translates into English. Only a summary was accounted in the story as follows: Ron paid a visit on Miss Thomas to ask if he could look at her Native American collection. Only after threatening to serve her with a Discovery Order (that would ruin the woman's good name in the art world) was he allowed to come into her house that served as a gallery of saleable objects. Ron was impressed by her collection though much saddened. He notes that the tribes have lost so many beautiful objects over the years. Ron discovered a feathered Blackfoot ceremonial robe in Miss Thomas' collection. It had been hidden in a cedar chest he was admiring. It is an illegal thing for her to have possession because the feathers are from a bird on the Federal Protection List. Only Native Americans may own eagle feathers. A bribe was offered Ron. He refused. Miss Thomas offered something else of value to Ron - information. If he was willing to look the other way, she'd tell him about the illegal things being kept by other collectors of her acquaintance. Ron agreed. He notes in his diary that he'll turn her in at a later date whether or not she provides him with good information. Ron's diary lists names, addresses and the Native American objects that Miss Thomas suggests Ron should check out. There are 'x' marks beside three of the names: Mr. Atherton, Eli Kie and Mrs. Plainsong. Mike calls Officer Hawk-swooping-down on April 18, 2003 to inform him of what he's found in Ron's diary. Sadly, there's no mention of the Blackfoot Power Bundle they are looking for. The officer tells Mike that two of those persons had to surrender the illegal Native objects in their collections and pay fines. Mr. Atherton had sold a Chippewa Dream Basket to another collector and was caught. It contained a little baby's skeleton that was exchanged between them for money. Both of those men are serving time in jail. Those collectors should be considered suspects in Ron's murder. Mike asks if Miss Thomas had ever been reported by Ron for having that eagle feathered robe. The officer says he hasn't heard that she'd gotten into any trouble but Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn might know. Hawk-swooping-down suggests that Mike skim through the diary pages for names since translating the bad hand writing will take longer to find what they're looking for. Mike finds a few names in entries dated in July. After translating the German words, he learns that more objects were taken for examination but most were returned to the collectors. Ron notes that he's becoming too well known amongst them and suspects illegal objects are being hidden from discovery. August 20, 2002 TUESDAY ------------------------ Ron's diary entry mentions him having dinner with Miss Thomas that evening. On the next page, there's a list of names, addresses and the Native American things in their collections that should be investigated. Of the seven names, only one is marked with an 'x'. Mike quickly scans through Ron's entries for September, October and November. A few more names are mentioned and those pages are translated into English using an on-line translator, the text copied over to MS-Word on his laptop. A long and arduous process. Mike notices that not only is Ron's handwriting getting worse, he seems to be using some sort of coding that he'd originally thought were simply abbreviations for common German words. Nothing important is found concerning those names. November 21, 2002 THURSDAY --------------------------- Eli Kie finally discovers Shaman Good-eyes' resting place in a cave in the mountains. His search had taken over ninety years but he has found the Blackfoot Power Bundle his Dark Master tasked him to find. He is Told how to Pass its spirit into a willing Native youth, the boy who loves Eli Kie and is thus ensnared into evil causes. Preparations for the ritual are made. Photos are taken of the bundle to document his possession before evil corrupts it and it becomes a dead thing. That evening, Eli Kie calls his boy to arrange a get together tomorrow. He'll pick up his 'lover' after school at the usual place to avoid being seen. They've been very careful with keeping their relationship a secret. Eli Kie has used sex to ensnare the boy who thinks it comes from love. A Trickster knows not such an endearing emotion. Their joining has made the youth vulnerable to his Dark Power and fed it. So many boys in Eli Kie's long past have done so but none were found worthy to follow in his footsteps as a Trickster. Shaman Good-eyes' Power Bundle also wasn't yet found to Pass its spirit into a boy so each in turn were sacrificed to the Dark One in the same manner Chris was raped and murdered by Eli Kie. November 22, 2002 FRIDAY ------------------------- 15:10 - Eli Kie gets a motel room in Kalispell. The Blackfoot Power Bundle is placed on the bed in preparation of a ritual he'll perform to Pass its spirit into his willing Native youth. This boy is only twelve. And not yet corrupted by evil to where he's ready to pledge his soul to the Dark One. Eli Kie learns from his Master that he needs an innocent to fulfill His great plan. The Green Guardians would not suffer their passage through the sacred wood if the Spirit Bearer felt evil to them. 15:50 - Eli Kie picks up Brian a few blocks from his school in Kalispell. This is what the Trickster has planned for their ritual. The boy will be made passive and feel little pain when their bodies join by blowing the dried residue of a red-capped mushroom into his nose. In their motel room, Eli Kie will drink the youth's weak release before giving his manly strength to the boy by fucking him for the first time. The Power Bundle will be placed under Brian's loins as if it were a pillow to prop his little butt up from the bed. Eli Kie will be laying over the boy to harness their sexual power, coaxing the bundle's spirit to Pass into Brian through a supposed 'love ritual'. 16:05 - Guided by a vision, Ron breaks into Eli Kie's motel room to retrieve the Blackfoot Power Bundle Eli Kie has taken from Shaman Good-eyes' arms in his burial cave. Instead of bringing it to his tribe's shaman, Ron rushes back to his trailer in Havre and hides it under the floor boards in his bedroom per the bundle spirit's urging. 16:10 - Eli Kie returns to his motel room with Brian to perform the Passing ritual but the Power Bundle is gone! He wants to track down the thief but is commanded by his Dark Master to satisfy the boy. Keep him virgin 'back there' until the bundle is recovered if that's still possible. (The Evil One fears that a servant of Light has thwarted him.) Brian is the grandson of a Blackfoot Tribal Elder who passes information onto them through pillow talk. Nothing must upset this youth or make him suspect that he serves Evil. 16:45 - Brian is dropped off a few blocks from his home by Eli Kie. The boy has enjoyed their get together. 17:25 - Eli Kie goes see Miss Thomas in her home in Stockett suspecting she may have been involved in the bundle's theft or at the very least, may give him leads to follow. In an angry exchange, he learns that he's been tipped off to Ron Earlman by the woman. Eli Kie storms from her house. Ron must have stolen the Power bundle! 17:40 - Miss Thomas calls Ron to tell him that Eli Kie has come to see her. That creepy man had tricked her into revealing she was the one who told Ron that he was selling illegal Native artifacts to collectors. (She doesn't know of the Blackfoot Power Bundle being sought by Eli Kie or that Ron had stolen it from him.) Ron writes in his diary in coded German: "Thomas warns me that he knows." In large German words he writes, "I have it!" Fear grows in Ron. He writes on the next page in his diary that an important Blackfoot belonging will soon be returned to them. He's about to disclose where it's being hidden (in case something happens to him) but something stops him. A strong urge to destroy this page overcomes Ron. It's torn from his little black book and burned on the stove. All night, he's torn between listening to that little voice in him to let the bundle remain where it's hidden or to hand it over to the tribe's shaman. He'll decide what to do in the morning. 11/23/02 SATURDAY ------------------ 6:15 - Ron Earlman is confronted by Eli Kie in his trailer over the Blackfoot Power Bundle he'd stolen from him. Eli Kie draws his gun. Ron swears in German, "You are an asshole!" and when reaching out for the gun, it goes off. He's shot dead. Eli Kie is driven from the trailer by Ron's ghost. He doesn't realize that Ron's spirit was Called by the Power Bundle to protect it from this evil servant. Mike knows who murdered Ron because he's Shown what happened to him in a dream. With Jessie's help, they relive the dream that plays out as follows: "Where is it!" the man shouts. "Somewhere you'll never find it. I know what you are, Eli Kie." My hands form the gesture for a Trickster. The man snarls like a wolf. If he wanted to, he could assume its shape and tear out my throat but he won't. Not until he gets what he wants from me. "Then you know of my power." I'm slowly nodding, trying to hide my fear from him. "I'd rather die than hand it over to you. Your ilk serve a Dark Master. I won't give in to evil." The man pulls out a gun. "Sie ist ein assholen!" It's pointed at me by the angry man. He won't shoot me until finding out where I've hidden the Blackfoot Power Bundle I've stolen. This is my chance. I rush towards him when it goes off to my surprise. No pain. Yet there's a weakness to my arms. My legs topple under me and I fall. He shot me? I'm losing my eyes when death nears but it comforts me to know that he won't get it now... Though Mike and Jessie have learned who shot Ron Earlman, it's not admissible evidence in court. Yet it helps them piece together (from other clues) where he'd hidden the Power Bundle and to recognize Eli Kie when he confronts them outside Mike's trailer. 11/24/02 SUNDAY ---------------- 10:30 - Running Water arrives at Ron's trailer and finds him dead. He mourns for his lover then calls the Havre police to report the murder but doesn't give his name. A ghostly whisper in Running Water's head warns him to flee! His own life is in danger if he stays in the trailer. He tells grandfather that afternoon what's happened. 11:25 - Havre policemen arrive at Ron's trailer. They find his body. Lt. Danielson gets himself assigned to the case so he can intercept any paperwork or documents that might implicate Miss Thomas or other collectors who trade in illegal Native American artifacts. He's 'on the pay' to find objects they could purchase or steal, and to tip them off if any are under investigation. Ron Earlman was known to be working on behalf of the Blackfoot Nation to recover such objects from collectors. Danielson wants to protect his employers and his own involvement with them from being discovered. 18:00 - Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains (grandfather) performs a Seeking ritual and learns that an evil man assuming the identity of a policeman had murdered Ron. Other visions are given him in the following days that he ponders over. Visions that concern his grandson Jes-ee-ah, a plea from the Blackfoot Power Bundle known as the Nahtoya Ponokah Nah-tos Kits tah kee (elk skin bound mystery-man's medicine sacrifice) and that a white man would come to return it to the People. 11/25/02 - MONDAY ----------------- 10:10 - Lt. Danielson talks with Mr. Cavallero (trailer park manager) about Ron Earlman to find leads into his death. The officer learns that Ron was renting the trailer for about six years and was visited by Indian friends. Their names weren't known to Mr. Cavallero but he remembers seeing a red pickup truck driven by an Indian guy in his mid-thirties who frequently visited Ron. 16:00 - Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains holds a tribal council where he reveals to the Elders that Ron Earlman had been killed by a policeman. Ron prevented Nahtoya Ponokah Nah-tos Kits tah kee from being taken by Evil. Grandfather's other visions concerning Jes-ee-ah and the white man who will come is kept to himself. Chinook Officer Hawk-swooping-down is tasked by the council to make careful inquires with the Havre Police Department to find out who killed Ron. A difficult task. He concentrates his investigation into officers known to be 'on the pay' by collectors of Native American artifacts. 20:30 - Lt. Danielson sells the papers he's found in Ron's trailer to Miss Thomas. They're written in English, notes concerning tribal matters and his involvement in them but nothing of consequence. Miss Thomas wonders about that. Not quite trusting Danielson, she doesn't tell him about having tipped off Ron to other collectors possessing illegal Native artifacts. She suspects that Eli Kie may have been the one who killed Ron so she wants to prevent her involvement from being known to the murder investigation. A real conflict of interests on Lt. Danielson's part because he's running it. At the very least, Miss Thomas would have to pay him off to ensure his silence. She also fears Eli Kie coming after her to permanently shut her up. 12/30/02 - Mike Yager rents the trailer that unbeknownst to him had been where Ron Earlman was murdered. 4/15/03 TUESDAY ---------------- 10:45 - Mike asks Mr. Cavallero (trailer park manager) for an Indian drum, stereo and mechanic tools that had been left in Ron Earlman's trailer after his death. He knew from Jessie that the manager had taken them. Running Water didn't want to reclaim his Indian drum and mechanic tools left at the trailer to avoid answering questions from the police as to his relationship with Ron. He feared the police, knowing that one of them had shot his lover. Only the drum was remaining 'in storage' behind Mr. Cavallero's trailer and it is given to Mike. They both notice a small black book inside the drum. Hand written notes in German. Mr. Cavallero recalls having found that inside Ron's bedroom dresser when he was cleaning out the trailer. He suggests that the police be given it as they'd removed paperwork and such from Ron's trailer that could be leads in his murder. Mike counters that by saying, "It's probably nothing important. His family will appreciate getting it back even though you can't find his stereo or mechanic tools..." They seem to come to an understanding. If Mike doesn't make a fuss about the missing stereo and mechanic tools he suspects Mr. Cavallero has kept for himself or sold, he will be allowed to keep Ron's little black book. 4/16/03 WEDNESDAY ------------------ 13:20 - Mr. Cavallero calls Lt. Danielson to let him know that Mike Yager had inquired about Ron Earlman's belongings, taking an Indian drum and a little black book written in German from him. He's worried about Ron's family going after him for keeping the other thing from the trailer. Lt. Danielson tells him not to worry about it. He won't be brought up on charges of theft. "Help me, and I'll help you. And thanks for the tip." 13:57 - Lt. Danielson goes to Mike's trailer to confront him about taking Ron Earlman's things from Mr. Cavallero. Mike quickly hands over the diary because it's in plain sight on his coffee table where the office would have found it anyway. Danielson asks Mike if he knows what's written in the book. He answers no, that he doesn't understand the language it's written in. Mike fears this officer's interest in Ron's diary, that he might have been the one who shot Ron or knew who did. Danielson calls Mike a liar. He's going to take him downtown for questioning (actually, a long drive in the wild lands to put the fear in Mike to admit what he knows but not hurt him). That's when a sound is heard coming from the bedroom. Danielson goes into the room with his gun drawn but sees something he didn't expect - a ghostly sculpture made out of chest drawers in an impossible balancing act. The officers flies out of Mike's trailer in fright. 4/17/2003 THURSDAY ------------------- Lt. Danielson shows Ron's diary to a trusted associate who can read German yet the last handful of entries are coded. They can only make out the names 'Jes', 'Running Water' and 'Thomas' is mentioned in the last dated entry of November 22, 2002 with the words "I have it!". Danielson doesn't leave Ron's diary with his friend but makes a zerox of it for him to translate so he'll learn what Ron had taken from Miss Thomas. He's expecting a bonus for this diary on top of what she's already paid him for giving her all of Ron's papers found in his trailer after his death. 4/18/2003 FRIDAY ----------------- 11:00 - Mr. Augusten goes to Mike's trailer to return the room heater he'd borrowed. The front door is found ajar. Mike isn't found inside and his motorcycle is gone. Mr. Augusten can't lock the door without a key so he asks the park manager to do so since Mike obviously forgot to lock up before he left. 11:05 - Mr. Cavallero calls Lt. Danielson asking if he'd taken Mike to jail. The officer says no, but suggests that his little talk with Mike might have spooked him. He could be charged with theft of the Indian drum and blocking a murder investigation for not having given him that little black book of Ron's (Mike DID hand it over). Mr. Cavallero says that he doesn't want to get involved in all that. Danielson suggests that Mike might be on the run from some other trouble. He asks what is known about Mike. Mr. Cavallero says it's not much. Mike had rented the trailer in late December 2002 and always paid his rent on time, by personal check drawn on a bank in Indiana. He must have learned from his Indian friends that Ron Earlman had been murdered in the trailer he was renting. Danielson asks that if Mike or any Indians are seen at the trailer, which he doubts because Mike is 'on the run now', that Mr. Cavallero should call him right away. There's $100 in it for him. 11:45 - Lt. Danielson arrives at Miss Thomas' house in Stockett. He hands over Ron Earlman's little black diary that he'd taken from Mike, pointing out the entries where her name is mentioned. She can't read the German writing either but fears that Ron was documenting how she helped him recover illegal Native American Indian objects from fellow collectors by providing him with their names and what they were hiding. If they found out that she was the one who'd rat on them, no one would do business with her again. Danielson is paid well for giving her Ron's incriminating diary. She doesn't know he's made a zerox copy of it being translated by his associate. Danielson points out to Miss Thomas the last dated entry of November 22nd in Ron's diary where her name is mentioned along with the words, "I have it!". What did she give Ron? Miss Thomas claims that she hasn't seen Ron recently or given him anything. Danielson doesn't believe her and mentions that on the following day, Ron Earlman was murdered. Miss Thomas denies that she had anything to do with that. When pressed, she reveals that Eli Kie was one of the names she'd given Ron to investigate for trading in illegal Indian artifacts. He's Native himself and could legally possess such things but he sold them to persons such as herself who couldn't. That's how she obtained an eagle feathered ceremonial robe Ron had discovered in her collection. To 'buy' Ron's silence, she told him about other collectors Eli Kie was involved with. Some have gone to jail because of Ron. Miss Thomas reluctantly tells Danielson about meeting with Eli Kie on the night before Ron Earlman was murdered. He's a spooking man. Be wary of him, she warns. Danielson already knows Eli Kie. They're both officers who sell information to collectors of Native artifacts on where they can find/steal them and to tip them off if they're under investigation. Danielson covers the Havre area while Undercover Officer Eli Kie's area is around Helena. They've passed information to each other before. 15:20 - Lt. Danielson checks airline records and to his delight discovers that Mike Yager has booked a Saturday flight to Indianapolis, Indiana. He must have spooked Mike away after taking Ron's diary from him. One less thing for him to worry about. Danielson ponders over what Miss Thomas has told him about Eli Kie earlier that afternoon. He decides that a late night search of Mike's trailer might yield something interesting. 20:45 - Mr. Augusten sees Mr. Cavallero removing items from Mike's trailer: a television set, vacuum cleaner and garbage bags filled with unknown items. When he confronts the park manager, the man claims that Mike had abandoned his residence and that he was simply cleaning it out so it could be rented. All of Mike's belongings are being put in storage. Mr. Augusten doesn't believe that. He intends on telling Mike about the theft when he returns to his trailer. 4/19/03 SATURDAY ----------------- 2:40 - Lt. Danielson enters Mike's trailer in the dead of night to search for the Indian artifact Ron Earlman must have hidden in there. He's pieced together that Ron must have taken something valuable from Eli Kie and was murdered by him because of it. He doesn't think the artifact was found. It's too well hidden in the trailer. After three hours of careful searching by poking holes in the walls, floor and lifting carpets, Danielson gives up. He's tried entering the bedroom but a terrible fear keeps him out. He thinks it's Ron's ghost. 8:10 - Mr. Augusten notices a dark faced man snooping around Mike's trailer. He's later able to identify this man as Officer Eli Kie. {See his Statement} 8:15 - Eli Kie enters Mike's trailer. It has already been torn up in a search by whom he suspects was Lt. Danielson (holes in the walls and floors) to try finding the Indian artifact he wants. Eli Kie knows it is in the bedroom where he cannot enter because Ron's ghost guards over it. Yet the bundle's power is fading. The Trickster casts a spell through the bedroom door. He waits for that moment when he can overcome its Guardian and finally take it back for his Dark Master. Then a certain boy will endure the stabs of his male spear in his butt that'll Pass the bundle's spirit into him along with the Eli Kie's lusty release. 8:35 - Mike & Jessie call Officer Hawk-swooping-down from Winna's house to tell him that they've figured out where Ron Earlman has hidden the tribe's Power Bundle. They're going to the trailer to get it. The officer asks them to wait for him outside Winna's house when he arrives in half an hour but Mike had jostled the phone at that moment and didn't hear that. 8:45 - Mr. Cavallero spots Mike and his Indian friend walking to the trailer and calls Lt. Danielson to tell him. 8:47 - Lt. Danielson receives a call from Mr. Cavallero that he's seen Mike Yager and a young Indian walking to the trailer. He promises to pay him the $100 reward when next they meet. 8:47 - Eli Kie receives a call from Danielson telling him that Mike and his Indian friend are walking through the trailer park. An idea comes to the Trickster. Those two youngsters can get the bundle for him! Eli Kie rushes outside and hides behind the trailer to wait. He calls Danielson back to suggest that he use this opportunity to search Mrs. Winnapah's house that's nearby for the zerox of Ron Earlman's diary. That's news to Danielson. Mike had made a copy and Eli Kie knew about it? Yes. He's translating the German entries for the Blackfoot Tribe. {Eli Kie knew of the diary zerox's existence because Brian told him. Mike has Seen that there is a Trickster 'in training' helping Eli Kie in the tribe but not who this person is.} 8:50 - Mr. Augusten sees Mike entering his trailer with his Indian friend from his bedroom window. He gets dressed with his intent to go over and tell Mike that Mr. Cavallero had stolen all of his stuff last night. 8:50 - Mike and Jessie enter the trailer. Ron's ghost has been guarding the bedroom from a servant of Evil (Eli Kie) from entering but the Power Bundle was much weakened by the Trickster's spell cast through the door. They enter the bedroom, and with help from Ron's spirit, find the bundle hidden in the floor boards. Jessie lifts it up and sustains it with his life's energy. He leaves the trailer and is attacked by Eli Kie. A blow lands on his face. Yet Jessie keeps the dying bundle held to his chest. Mike hears his lover's outcry and rushed out of the trailer to find a man pointing a gun at him. He recognizes him as Eli Kie, the brave who raped and murdered his former self! This evil man is going to kill him and Jessie to get the Power Bundle. Mr. Augusten comes to their aid in time. He holds a rifle to Eli Kie's head who only then reveals that he's an undercover officer. Mike pulls Jessie from the Trickster's clutches to stand by his neighbor who's having doubts. Jessie convinces the old man that Eli Kie is a bad man who's trying to steal his tribe's bundle. He murdered the former occupant of this trailer to get it! Mr. Augusten offers to cover Eli Kie with his (unloaded) rifle while they escape. Mike fears leaving his neighbor alone with the Trickster who could manage to kill the old man then go after them. He knows that the Havre Police are on their way here and Lt. Danielson might be amongst them. They'd lose the Power Bundle to him. It becomes a stand off. 9:05 - Officer Hawk-swooping-down arrives at the trailer park. He suspects that Mike & Jessie might not have waited for him at Winna's house and had gone on ahead to the trailer for the Power Bundle. He was right. He finds Mr. Augusten holding a rifle to Eli Kie's head but that man hasn't dropped his hand gun. Hawk-swooping-down orders Eli Kie to do so then arrests him admits protests that he is a police officer himself who'd come to reclaim his property: the Power Bundle. Hawk-swooping-down orders Mike and Jessie to leave the scene for their own safety (the Havre Police are on their way here) and to get the Power Bundle to grandfather (tribe's shaman). 9:15 - With the dearly-won Power Bundle held against his chest, Jessie is about to open the door to his mother's house. Mike senses something wrong. Was the curtains moving in the front window? He warns Jessie to run! Seeing that the street is too far to make an escape, Mike presses himself flat against the left side of the front door. It opens. A uniformed man races out of the house with his gun raised. He's aiming it at Jessie. Mike sticks his foot out, tripping him. Danielson falls hard to the ground. Mike rushes over him with his fists striking the officer's head again and again. Jessie shouts to have him stop. The policeman isn't moving. Jessie kicks the man's gun out of reach. It seemed like he was going to shoot them. Mike handcuffs the officer. The man's boots are pulled off. Its strings are removed and used to bind his socked feet together. Mike notices a folded piece of paper sticking out of the officer's pocket. It's a handwritten scrawl with Jessie's name and address on it. He believes that his trailer park manager had tipped Danielson off. They leave the unconscious man on the lawn and go into the house. Officer Hawk-swooping-down is called. He's told what has happened, and that he'd better call an ambulance for Danielson because Mike struck him pretty hard. The officer tells Mike to get away with Jessie and the bundle before more Havre Policemen arrive. He's in a bit of trouble himself because Eli Kie is an undercover officer. Winna is called. Jes tells his mom to pick them up by the bridge down the street where his dad used to fish with him. After passing nine houses, Mike and Jessie see where Danielson had parked his patrol car. He didn't park it in the driveway so as to not tip them off that he'd come to the house. 9:35 - The Havre Police go to Jessie's house. They find Lt. Danielson injured and he's taken to the hospital. Once there, the diary zerox and a laptop hard drive are found on him and kept with his other personal effects by the hospital staff. Winna's house is searched by the officers for Mike. He's not found inside. Nothing is removed from the house. 9:50 - Mr. Augusten is taken to the Havre police station to explain why he held a rifle on Undercover Officer Eli Kie. His statement is recorded via a tape recording and transcribed into a typed statement that he signs. In part, it reads: "I'd seen this suspicious character snooping around Mike's trailer that morning. He was a dark faced man that gave me the willies. I almost called the police right then. When I saw Mike and his In'ian friend go inside... Uhm. I'd seen them from my bedroom window. I got dressed with my intent to go over and tell him about it. I'm sure he'd also want to know who stole all of his stuff. That's when I saw Mike's In'ian friend get jumped outside the door by that man I'd seen snooping around. He punched the kid in the face. I heard the man shout something. I'd wanted to go help but my feet wouldn't budge. I was a mite scared, I admit. That's when I remembered my rifle and went to get it while having the Misses ring up the police." Mr. Augusten's statement goes on to describe the events that followed. He didn't believe Eli Kie was a police officer because of his actions in attacking that young Indian and trying to steal his bundle. It's a good statement of his that will counter Eli Kie's false statement with the police. 9:55 - Eli Kie makes his statement with the Havre Police. He claims that on the morning of April 19th, he arrested Mike Yager outside his trailer who was in possession of his stolen property, the Blackfoot Power Bundle when he was struck from behind by an 'unknown Native American' assailant. The undercover officer had to defend himself against Mr. Yager (resisting arrest) who rushed him while being attacked by his unidentified associate. Further aggravating the situation was when Mr. Augusten arrived with his rifle pointed at him. He repeatedly identified himself as a police officer but Mr. Yager's neighbor kept threatening to shoot him if he didn't drop his gun. A Chinook Officer, Hawk-swooping-down arrived on the scene and to his dismay, arrested him while allowing Mike and his Indian friend to flee with his property so that it may be given to the Blackfoot Nation. A separate document filed with the Havre Police describes the Power Bundle's particulars and includes photographs to prove Eli Kie's ownership. [Eli Kie's statement was made at the Havre Police station to explain his presence at Mr. Yager's trailer and the incident that followed. Note that Eli Kie did NOT mention calling Lt. Danielson that morning. Danielson's statement made at the hospital claims Eli Kie did call him after the suspects fled from his arrest of Mike at his trailer. IT IS A FALSE STATEMENT for the most part.] 10:20 - Officer Hawk-swooping-down returns to his station in Chinook to give an account for his actions to his superior. He's put on administrative leave for allowing suspects (Mike and Jessie) to leave the crime scene and for arresting Officer Eli Kie. A joint investigation between the Chinook and Havre Police Dept. will determine if Officer Hawk-swooping-down was justified in his actions. 11:10 - Lt. Danielson gives his statement from his hospital bed of what took place on April 16th. He claims to have arrested Mike Yager at his trailer in connection for taking items from Mr. Cavallero (put into storage) that had been found in Ron Earlman's trailer after his death. Though the items weren't specifically described, Lt. Danielson claims that they were important to the ongoing murder investigation. His statement claims that Mr. Yager refused to hand them over so he was going to take him to the station for questioning. Before he could do so, someone was heard in the bedroom so Lt. Danielson went to find out who it was. He claims having seen a young man of Native American heritage climbing out the bedroom window and he gave chase. Mr. Yager had used that distraction to escape the officer at that time. Lt. Danielson made a second statement as follows. "On April 19, 2003 I received a call from Officer Eli Kie that Mike Yager had escaped from his custody outside suspect's trailer. A known associate of suspect lived close by and matched the description of the young Native American male I saw exiting suspect's bedroom window on April 16, 2003. At approximately 9:15am, I arrived at 219 Winding Creek Road in Havre. Mike Yager was placed under arrest during which the Native American suspect was seen running from his house. I gave chase. Mike Yager struck me from behind." [Danielson's statements were made to a fellow officer at the hospital shortly after his attack via a tape recording that was later transcribed into a typed statement he signed on April 19th after he awakened from surgery to his broken hip. IT IS A FALSE STATEMENT for the most part.] 4/20/03 SUNDAY --------------- 9:10 - A judge issues a warrant for Mike Yager's arrest. It lists his trailer and Mrs. Winnapah's residence for search but not Shaman He-who-runs-up- mountains' house. 10:45 - Five Havre Policemen confront Winna at the front door to Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains' house. While one officer holds Mike Yager's arrest warrant to her face when she protests their entry, the other four search the home. Grandfather takes Mike out the back way to hide in some trees. Jessie hides himself in a closet under some tarps. He isn't found but they weren't looking for him. The policemen leave, one warning Winna that Mike should turn himself in before anyone gets hurt. These officer's search was illegal. 4/21/03 MONDAY --------------- 9:00 - Mike meets with an attorney named Ryan Talbert. He's helped other Blackfoot tribesmen with their legal troubles. A document is signed by Mike that makes him a member of the Blackfoot Nation so their financial and legal resources can be utilized by him. He tells his attorney what's happened but withholds some information such as the Power Bundle and how he knows Eli Kie murdered Ron, per his vow. 11:50 - Mike surrenders himself to the Havre Police. 12:30 - Shaman He-who-walks-up-mountains leads a group of his People in somber silence to the Havre Police station where he surrenders the tribe's Power Bundle. He unites his People behind Mike who'd acted on their behalf to keep this sacred belonging from those corrupt police officers. Jessie sports a black eye from Officer Eli Kie. 12:55 - Television reporters come to the Havre Police station to record the Indian protest. Jessie is interviewed. A lot of white folks in town who are sympathetic to their cause join the protest after seeing it on TV. 13:20 - Mr. Talbert is given copies of Danielson's and Eli Kie's statements, Lt. Danielson's daily logs (no mention of having visited Mike on April 16th) and Mr. Augusten's deposition of what he said took place on April 19th. He returns to his office to study them. 19:20 - Mike meets with his attorney in jail. He learns that Lt. Danielson is in good standing with the Havre Police force for over sixteen years. Eli Kie serves with the Helena Police Department as an undercover officer. They've given their statements of what happened Saturday morning to the police. Mostly lies to cover their butts. Then there's Mr. Augusten's long winded deposition where he refutes Eli Kie's statement. Mr. Talbert has asked Internal Affairs in Helena to investigate Officer Eli Kie from their end. Items were found on Lt. Danielson when he was taken to the hospital. Ron's diary zerox and Mikes laptop hard drive. Mr. Talbert will try getting them back to Mike as they were illegally taken from Mrs. Winnapah's home. 19:45 - Officer Weston takes Mike to a padded room instead of his regular cell. This is where troublesome inmates are taken or those exhibiting signs of suicide. Lt. John Danielson had given the order that Mike be placed in that horrible cell out of revenge for what Mike had done to his brother, Lt. Scott Danielson. While sitting miserably in that lunatic's cell, Mike cries. A guard taunts him by saying, "You're not so brave now, huh?" Mike realizes there must be a speaker somewhere. He answers, "How come I've been put in here? There were lots of empty jail cells...". The guard answers, "We like to keep an eye on monsters. No place for you to run and hide." Mike tells him to go to hell. The guard laughs at him. 4/22/03 TUESDAY ---------------- 8:10 - Dr. Milestone comes to examine Mike when he doesn't respond to the two officers fetching him for his court appearance. He finds that his patient is delirious and suffering from dehydration. Mike tells the doctor that he'd been stuck in this hell hole without anything to drink. Some guy taunted him from the speaker! Mike is given two cups of water and driven to the court house. He's suffering from his Merging with Chris, his former self. 9:45 - Mike's arraignment hearing. Prosecutor Benton tries convincing the judge to deny the defendant bail because he's a flight risk. He knows Mike had purchased an airline ticket the day after he escaped Lt. Danielson's arrest of April 16th. Mr. Talbert claims that the arrest did not in fact take place. No mention of it is in Danielson's daily logs nor subsequent action taken by that officer to issue a warrant against the defendant for his so called flight from arrest. It did not happen! Mr. Benton counters by referring to Officer Eli Kie's statement that Mike had taken flight from his arrest on April 19th with the assistance of Officer Hawk-swooping-down, a Chinook Policeman... The audience in court give angry shouts. Benton continues, saying that by allowing Mike to flee, Lt. Danielson was brutally assaulted when resisting arrest. Mike gets to his feet and shouts, "Danielson rushed out of Jessie's house with his gun pointed at him! I had to prevent my friend from getting shot!" The court explodes into angry shouts. When the judge threatens to clear the audience out, a line of six Havre policemen enter the courtroom. The judge shouts, "Out!" He meant those officers who came unbidden and with firearms in his courtroom, telling them so. Mike offers the judge his apology for his outburst. The Havre policemen leave to the audience's relief. The judge scolds Mr. Benton for enflaming the situation and denies his request. Mr. Benton then asks bail to be set at $500,00 because of Mike's brutal assault on a police officer and flight from arrest. Denied. Mike is released on $50,000 bail paid by a check his attorney hands to the bailiff. This is covered by the Blackfoot Nation. 10:05 - Admits a parade of pickup trucks honking in victory for Mike's release, he's taken home by Winna and Jessie to rest. 20:25 - Eli Kie enters the Havre Community Hospital through a locked service entrance. He doesn't realize that it's caught by the hospital's security cameras. 20:45 - Eli Kie slips into Lt. Danielson's hospital room and murders him with the flint blade he'd taken from the dead Power Bundle. He hopes that'll enflame the Havre Police to make war on the Blackfoot People and it's also his message to Jessie that he'll be going after him. He's murdered the tribe's two previous 'shamans in training' to prevent a servant of Light from becoming a threat to him and his Dark Master. 20:50 - A nurse sees Eli Kie passing her in the hall. She remembers this man because he'd given her the creeps. It was his dead looking eyes. 4/23/03 WEDNESDAY ------------------ 9:40 - Mike is brought to the Havre Police station for questioning. That's when he learns that Lt. Scott Danielson was murdered in his hospital bed last night. Mike is questioned by Danielson's older brother who is also a police lieutenant. Detective Peterson is present to take down anything Mike has to say to them. Mike won't without his attorney present. They're not putting him under arrest so Mike asks to leave. Lt. Danielson says he is free to go but 'they know where to find him'. Mike retorts, "But do you know where to find Officer Eli Kie?" Detective Peterson escorts Mike through the police station to the front door. He asks Mike what he'd meant about Eli Kie. Mike asks him to find out all he can about that man, dig deep into his past and that all this trouble began with him. Det. Peterson is given the hospital surveillance tapes later that afternoon and upon review, discovers a man who could be Officer Eli Kie entering through a service entrance twenty minutes before Lt. Danielson was murdered. He goes to the hospital to investigate. He checks on the service entrance (it's always kept locked) and shows a photo of Eli Kie around to the staff. A nurse remembers that spooky man passing her in the hall on that night. It was the man's eyes. So dead looking. Scary! Peterson prepares a statement for the nurse to sign using one of the hospital's computer stations. He won't risk bringing the nurse down to the police station (she's also too busy with patients to leave unless she must) because Eli Kie could have an informant amongst the police. Det. Peterson had just learned that the Indian bundle Eli Kie claimed was his had been stolen from their evidence room. Only an insider could have done that. 18:40 - Eli Kie murders Miss Thomas in her home in Stockett. That woman knew too much about him and needed to be silenced. He takes Ron Earlman's little black diary from her. A particular Native artifact is taken from her collection and stuffed into his backpack before setting the house ablaze. A lens flash is seen coming from a car parked across the street. Eli Kie fears that he's been discovered (the police?) and rushes back to his car. He drives back to his apartment in Helena, cleans it out and after ensuring that he's not being followed, drives to his safe house outside Kalispell. He realizes that his days as an undercover officer are done with. He's failed to make use of the Blackfoot Power Bundle (other than to quiet Lt. Scott Danielson with the flint blade he removed from inside it) but the Fire Fetish he obtained from Miss Thomas' collection will prove useful to force his passage through the sacred grove and reach what they've been protecting below their feet. That's the main goal needing to be achieved for his Dark Master. Ron's diary will be translated to see if there's anything useful to learn from it. 4/24/03 THURSDAY ----------------- Mr. Talbert's private investigator gives him photographs he took of Eli Kie at Miss Thomas' house last night right before it burned down. They're shown to Mike and Jessie. Yes. They can swear in court that the man in the photos is Eli Kie. Firemen pulled out a body this morning that the coroner will verify is Miss Thomas. P.I. Wentworth is taken to the Chinook Police Station to make his statement about his photographs of Eli Kie and what he saw. A warrant is issued for Officer Eli Kie to bring him in for questioning. Mr. Talbert calls Captain Ruston to inform his friend about the photographs taken of Eli Kie at Miss Thomas' house last night and that the Chinook Police have issued an arrest warrant for him. Capt. Ruston promises to return the items Lt. Scott Danielson had illegally taken from Mrs. Winnapah's house that belong to Mike. Detective Peterson is informed of this new development. Their investigation into Lt. Danielson's murder and the Power Bundle stolen from their evidence room now focuses on Eli Kie. 4/25/03 FRIDAY --------------- 12:05 - Marshals come to Winna's house to confirm that's where Mike is staying while out on bail. They learn he's sleeping in Jessie's bed. Mr. Talbert meets with Detective Peterson (away from the police station) to get Mike's belonging back. They share information about the investigation into Eli Kie. Det. Peterson has seen video surveillance showing that Eli Kie was in the hospital shortly before Lt. Scott Danielson was murdered and he took a statement from a duty nurse. 15:50 - Mr. Talbert returns Mike's laptop hard drive and diary zerox found on Lt. Danielson when he was brought to the hospital. They were illegally taken by that officer when he entered Winna's house on April 19th. Mike is told about Eli Kie entering the hospital twenty minutes before Lt. Danielson was murdered. Detective Peterson had informed Mr. Talbert that it'd been caught on the hospital security cameras. Also, a nurse has signed a statement that she'd seen Eli Kie passing her in the hall on that night. 4/27/03 SUNDAY --------------- 11:20 - Mr. Cavallero is brought in for questioning by Detective Peterson. This action was suggested to him by Mike's attorney to learn of that man's involvement with Lt. Danielson and Officer Eli Kie. Mr. Cavallero says he needs an attorney to speak for him. The detective plays his hand - a bluff. He claims that Mike has signed a theft complaint against him for removing belongings from his trailer: a TV set, vacuum cleaner and black garbage bags of his stuff witnessed by his neighbor, Mr. Augusten. He'll be sitting in jail unless he can explain who told him that Mike had abandoned his trailer which would counter the theft charge against him 'because you were only cleaning it out so it could be rented'. Mr. Cavallero says he'll cooperate. When Mr. Augusten reported to him that the front door to Mike's trailer was found ajar on April 17th, Mr. Cavallero called Lt. Danielson to ask if he'd taken Mike to jail. No. But the officer suggested that Mike might have been spooked by his visit the previous day. He could have charged Mike with theft of the Indian drum Mr. Cavallero had kept in storage. Lt. Danielson told him that Mike didn't return Ron Earlman's little black book which could have helped the officer's investigation into his murder (a lie). When Mr. Cavallero is asked about this little black book, he tells the detective it had been found under the chest of drawers in Ron Earlman's bedroom when he was cleaning out the trailer. He'd put it inside the Indian drum he put into storage, forgotten, until Mike comes along on the morning of April 15th to ask about Ron's drum he wanted. The black book was found inside it with hand writing in German. He suggested it should be handed over to the police since Mr. Earlman's murder was still under investigation. Mike acts like he knows Ron's family who would like to have it back so Mr. Cavallero reluctantly lets him keep it. He doesn't mention that Mike was threatening to tell Ron's family that he'd kept his stereo and mechanic tools amongst other things found in the trailer and sold. Mr. Cavallero did call Lt. Danielson the next day (April 16th) to tell him that Mike had taken Ron's drum and his little black book. Back to his conversation with Lt. Danielson on April 17th. So. That officer told you he didn't arrest Mike? Nope. He said that Mike didn't give him that little black book? Yup. That's what he said to me. Lt. Danielson thinks Mike may be on the run from some other trouble. He asked me to call him should Mike or any of his Indian friends are seen at the trailer, which he doubts because Mike is 'on the run now'. That's why I went to Mike's trailer and started cleaning it out of his stuff like Mr. Augusten told you. I told him I was putting everything into storage so I can rent the trailer. It's God's own truth! You ask Mr. Augusten! Hmm. I want to get this straight. Lt. Danielson tells you he visits Mike, didn't get Ron's little black book you gave him and the officer tells you he didn't arrest Mike but thinks he's on the run from other trouble. That's why you went to clean out his trailer? Yup. Mike can pick up his stuff anytime he wants. It's all there in my storage shed, answers Mr. Cavallero. Detective Peterson isn't ready to let the man off the hook. He tells Mr. Cavallero that Mike hadn't abandoned his trailer and that's why he made that theft complaint against him. Some other matters need to be cleared up before he'll accept that it's all just a misunderstanding. He asks Mr. Cavallero if he knows Officer Eli Kie. No. Never met the fellow. What about Lt. Danielson? Did you speak with him some more after April 17th? Yes... I did. Mr. Cavallero reluctantly reveals that he called Lt. Danielson close to nine on the morning of April 19th to tell him that he'd seen Mike walking to his trailer with his young Indian friend. Mr. Cavallero doesn't mention the $100 reward Danielson offered to pay him for that tip. Det. Peterson asks Mr. Cavallero if he knows the name of Mike's young Indian friend and where he lives. Nope. Well... He'd seen that kid on TV sporting a black eye Officer Eli Kie had given him. A Jessie Looks Mountain or something. He doesn't know where the kid lives. A statement is typed up for Mr. Cavallero to sign. He's assured that the theft charge will be dropped against him so long as the stuff he's storing for Mike is returned to him. Mr. Talbert is called. Det. Peterson says that their ploy worked and he has Mr. Cavallero's signed statement. It may help Mike prove that Lt. Danielson had only visited him on April 16th and did not arrest him as he claimed. Does Mr. Talbert know about that little black book of Ron's? Yes. It was his diary Mike was translating into English for the Blackfoot Tribe to find out who might have murdered Ron. He was working from a zerox he'd made after Lt. Danielson took the book from him on April 16th. The detective demands to know what Ron had written in his diary. He's assured that Mike will give him a copy of what he's translated to far, entries Ron made about Miss Thomas helping him track down collectors of illegal Native artifacts and Eli Kie is mentioned as one of them. Det. Peterson is satisfied with that. He wonders where the little black book is now. Captain Ruston is told of this new development in the case. He tells his detective that Ron's diary zerox and Mike's laptop hard drive were found on Lt. Danielson when he was at the hospital. He'd taken them from Jessie's home right before Mike attacked him. They've been returned to Mike because those things were illegal taken from the house. Was a copy made of that zerox or hard drive? asks Peterson. No. Yet they'll get Mike's English translation of Ron's diary that hopefully will shed light on their investigation. Having Eli Kie mentioned in Ron's diary is interesting. There's still doubt about whether or not Lt. Danielson had taken the original diary from Mike. The officer's statement said no and he told Mr. Cavallero he didn't take it from Mike yet Mike said he did hand it over to him. How did Lt. Danielson know that Mike was working on translating Ron's diary and that a zerox was in Jessie's house? He'd taken that along with Mike's laptop hard drive which were found on him at the hospital. Both of them agree that Mr. Talbert and Mike must be more forthcoming on what they know in their investigation. They've exchanged information which isn't done between the police and the defendant's attorney. Captain Ruston admits that his friendship with Mr. Talbert has him acting outside normal channels but that he's learned to trust his friend. In this matter, Mike is looking more innocent of the charges while Officer Eli Kie is looking guilty of murdering Ron Earlman, Lt. Danielson and Miss Thomas. And he's on the run after a warrant was issued for his arrest. 14:15 - Mr. Talbert goes to see Mike at Mrs. Winnapah's house but learns he's out with his parents who flew in from Indiana to see him. He does speak with Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains and Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn. They're informed of Mr. Cavallero's statement. It's a little help to Mike's case but not enough. The D.A. must be told to drop their charges in as strong a manner as they can muster. It's time to bring charges against Officer Eli Kie and those police officers who trampled on Mike's civil rights when he was taunted in jail, brought in for questioning for Lt. Danielson's murder, the raid on the shaman's home when Winna was threatened by five Havre policemen in their search for Mike and so on. A strong complaint will be made against the Havre Police Department for losing the tribe's sacred belonging entrusted to them. 16:25 - Mike and his parents arrive back at Winna's house. Mike joins the ongoing meeting with Jessie, grandfather, Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn and Mr. Talbert. Mike is informed about the statements his lawyer will draft to be signed by everyone tomorrow and presented to the D.A. Mr. Talbert fears that the Elder's action will cause trouble for his friend, Captain Ruston because he's responsible for the officers under his charge. Mike is his client and everything must be done to help him. Yet to tip their hand to the D.A. on what their defense strategy will be is not good. He reluctantly agrees to draft the necessary documents everyone will sign on Monday which includes Winna, Jessie, Mike, grandfather, Blackfoot Elders and Officer Hawk-swooping-down. Maybe the D.A. will back down with evidence of corrupt officers in their case and won't make it to trial. He's doubtful. 4/28/03 MONDAY --------------- 10:35 - Mr. Talbert calls Captain Ruston to let him know the contents of statements the Blackfoot Elders, Officer Hawk-swooping-down, Mike, Jessie and Mrs. Winnapah will be giving the D.A. this afternoon and he apologies to his friend for their necessity. Captain Ruston understands. 11:10 - Mr. Talbert comes over to see Mike and Jessie at the house. They sign statements he's prepared from yesterday. Winna signs her statement at work. Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains and all the other Tribal Elders sign their complaint statement. Officer Hawk-swooping-down has signed his statement in Chinook. Mr. Talbert has arranged a meeting with District Attorney Ralston to discuss the Blackfoot Tribe's grievances. He's accompanied by the shaman, Chief Shoots-rifle-at-moose and Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn at the D.A.'s office to present their statements but the secretary claims that her boss is real busy right now. 13:35 - The D.A. gets busy after reading through the statements. He'll try to find a pliable court clerk who'll 'correct' Mike's arrest warrant issued April 19th to include the shaman's residence to make it legal for those five Havre Police officers to enter when they'd searched for Mike Yager. 16:20 - Prosecutor Benton goes over to see Captain Ruston at the police station to serve subpoenas on those officers who had witnessed the late Lt. Danielson left unconscious on Mrs. Winnapah's front lawn after Mike's attack. They'll testify at the grand jury hearing tomorrow how brutal it was - attempted murder of their fellow officer. 4/29/03 TUESDAY ---------------- 9:20 - Captain Ruston has a meeting with Lt. John Danielson to talk about his brother. The lieutenant makes it clear that he wants Mike to go to jail for putting his brother in the hospital. That's how one of his 'Indian' friends was able to stick his flint blade into Scott's throat when he was under medication and unable to defend himself. Ruston informs John that there's evidence to suggest that it was Undercover Officer Eli Kie who murdered his brother along with murdering Miss Thomas. That bewilders John. Why would Eli Kie do that? Capt. Ruston has the sad duty to tell John that his brother was dirty. That stung. John refuses to believe it even when his captain describes the growing evidence of Scott's involvement with collectors of illegal Native artifacts such as Miss Thomas. That's why Eli Kie 'shut them up'. John asks how any of that can explain away what Mike did to his brother. Capt. Ruston tells him what Scott was really doing at Mrs. Winnapah's house; taking evidence without a search warrant because he feared what Ron's diary told about him being dirty. He'd drawn his gun on that Indian kid and that's why Mike struck him to prevent his friend from getting shot... Their meeting ends badly. 9:45 - Lt. John Danielson calls Prosecutor Benton. He informs him of his concerns about Captain Ruston, that he must be exchanging information with his friend Mr. Talbert who's representing Mike Yager. He wants to see Mike go to jail for what he's done to his brother! 11:10 - The grand jury indicts Mike Yager of one count of attempted murder of a police officer - the late Lt. Danielson based on testimony given from the police officers who found him beaten, handcuffed and his feet tied together where he lain face down in the snow. The hospital's medical report shows that Lt. Danielson suffered from a concussion from repeated head blows and a broken left hip. Mike's own testimony at his arraignment hearing is used against him when he blurted out, "Danielson rushed out of Jessie's house with his gun pointed at him! I had to prevent my friend from getting shot!" 13:50 - Mr. Talbert is served with the indictment on behalf of his client. He realizes that this is a more serious charge than assault Mike had first been accused of. The other charges of theft, resisting arrest and flight from arrest brought up by Officers Eli Kie and Lt. John Danielson can be countered in court by the conflicting statements given by Mr. Augusten, Mr. Cavallero, and Mike and Jessie themselves. This indictment will be harder to beat. A court date has been set for May 5th. Mr. Talbert is amazed that this case will come up so soon in court. He needs more time to prepare Mike's defense. 14:30 - Mr. Talbert meets with Mr. Benton at the D.A.'s office to conduct Discovery between them. The prosecutor will use the signed sworn statements of Officer Eli Kie and Lt. Scott Danielson in court as well as the doctor's report of the injuries Scott suffered at the hands of Mr. Yager. Mr. Talbert declares the signed statements he'll be using to refute them. Mr. Benton asks if he'll present Ron Earlman's diary in court. No. Mr. Talbert acts like he doesn't know what Benton is talking about. Mr. Benton offers their plea bargain. Mike will serve ten years in a minimum security prison if he agrees to plead guilty to the indictment charge. The 'attempted murder of a police officer' charge brings 8-12 years in a maximum security prison if Mike is handed a guilty verdict in court. And Mike will be found guilty, assures Mr. Benton. He went beyond simply 'defending' himself against Scott Danielson by his repeated head blows to that officer's head resulting in a concussion, giving him a broken hip and then leaving him tied up like a hog in the freezing snow where he could have died. Mr. Talbert says he will consult with his client about their 'generous' offer. 15:50 - Mr. Benton warns Captain Ruston to end any flow of information from his office to his friend, Mr. Talbert. The Blackfoot Tribal council has complained about the loss of their Power Bundle kept in the evidence room amongst other failings at his police station. His boss, Mr. Ralston is very concerned that all this is messing up the D.A.'s case against Mr. Yager. Benton asks Capt. Ruston if he's 'on the team' or not? Captain Ruston realizes that John must have told on him after their heated meeting from this morning. What Mr. Benton didn't say worries him the most. As police chief, he's responsible for the men under his command and there have been acts committed by them that reflect badly on his leadership. Mike Yager claims he was taunted by his cell guard. He was also taken in for questioning by John without an attorney present. Ruston didn't report these incidents with Internal Affairs. Mr. Talbert had assured him that Mike wouldn't bring up charges against John concerning the interrogation and there wasn't proof Mike was taunted in his cell though Ruston wonders why he was taken to lockup and who had ordered it. After some quiet inquires amongst his men, he learns that it was Officer Weston who'd put Mike in that padded cell. 16:10 - Captain Ruston has a meeting with Officer Weston. He'd been ordered by Lt. John Danielson to place Mr. Yager in lockup and furthermore, Scott saw to it that the video camera tape of Mike's taunting by his guard was 'lost'. No one at the station knows who or how that Blackfoot Power Bundle was removed from their locked evidence room. 4/30/03 WEDNESDAY ------------------ 9:20 - Capt. Ruston questions Lt. John Danielson in his office. Did he order Officer Weston to take Mike Yager to lockup? Was the videotape from that cell's surveillance camera 'lost' to prevent Mike from proving that he was being taunted by his guard? And does John know how the Blackfoot bundle was removed from their evidence room? Danielson denies everything. He in turn accuses Capt. Ruston of passing information to Mike's attorney that threatens the prosecutor's case. He's going to see to it that Mike goes to jail for what he did to his brother! 10:05 - Captain Ruston and Officer Weston go to Internal Affairs to inform them of misconduct by Lt. John Danielson: he had Mike Yager brought to the station for interrogation into his brother's death without Mike's attorney present. He ordered Officer Weston to incarcerate Mike in that padded cell without good cause. Ruston also asks Internal Affairs to investigate what happened to the video surveillance tape he believes John saw to it was 'lost' that could have proved if Mike was taunted by his guard in lockup. Ruston asks that their investigation expand to find out who removed the Blackfoot bundle from their evidence room. 11:20 - John Danielson is told by some of his buddies at the station that Ruston was seen meeting with Internal Affairs and that Weston was with him. John knows what that could mean - trouble for himself. He calls Mr. Benton with his suspicions and claims that anything he's done was to ensure that Mike Yager would go to jail for what he did to his brother. Mr. Benton presses John to tell him everything. John does, promising that he'll do anything the D.A.'s office requires of him in this matter so long as they get him out of trouble with Internal Affairs. That's an appealing offer to 'own' yet another high ranking officer at the Havre station. Mr. Benton also wants to win his case against Mike Yager very badly. 11:40 - Mr. Benton calls a man he 'owns' in Internal Affairs to learn what Capt. Ruston and Officer Weston told them about Lt. John Danielson. Hmm. It's nothing that couldn't be turned back on Bill Ruston for failing to act as a police chief should in leading the men under him. Benton faxes over a list of charges against Captain Ruston that Internal Affairs should investigate: Captain Ruston shared information with his friend, Mr. Talbert who is Mike Yager's attorney. This can be proven by interviewing Detective Peterson, Lt. John Danielson and perhaps Officer Weston. Ruston's complicity is further proven when he had returned evidence to Mike Yager's attorney that Lt. Scott Danielson was in possession of until his murder. This evidence should have been handed over to the D.A.'s office for review and they would have determined if it was 'clean' for use or returned to Mr. Yager; not a decision Capt. Ruston should have made on his own. After sending his fax, Mr. Benton speaks with his man in Internal Affairs to 'suggest' that their investigation will show that it was Captain Ruston who ordered Lt. John Danielson to have Mr. Yager placed in lockup. As to what happened to that surveillance tape in question... it wasn't 'lost' but copied over with video taken the following day of another inmate in that cell. The guard accused of having taunted Mr. Yager will deny having done so. Without proof to show otherwise... As to the Blackfoot Power Bundle, Mr. Benton strongly warns that its theft will cause serious political repercussions in this town between the Indians and the police. A war could break out over it. Therefore, it has simply been 'misplaced' and the D.A.'s office will inform the Blackfoot of this along with their promise for punitive action to be taken against those responsible. Other failings at the police department will also being addressed. Mr. Benton smiles. He's confident that his man in Internal Affairs will find that Capt. Ruston is responsible. And quickly. That leaves a vacancy for police chief to be filled and Mr. Benton has the perfect man to fill it, abet temporary while Bill is put on administrative leave that could turn into a dismissal. 12:35 - Mr. Benton finishes drafting an 'apology' letter to the Blackfoot Nation he'd been working on since yesterday. Mr. Ralston put him on this task after he reviewed the Indian Elders' statements left with his secretary on Monday. It's important that his office address some of their grievances, especially that Power Bundle lost by the Havre Police. Mr. Benton shows the letter to his boss. After Mr. Ralston approves of its vague wording, he signs it and sent to Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn by special currier. 13:40 - The 'apology' letter is received by Quiet-before-the-dawn at his home in Chinook. He dresses into a suit and asks One-white-horse to drive him to the D.A.'s office. Mr. Ralston's secretary apologies to the Elder that her boss isn't here right now... Infuriated, yet keeping his peace, he leaves. 14:50 - Internal Affairs informs the Havre City Council that they need to name an interim police chief. It's suggested that should be Lt. John Danielson because he's the most senior officer at the station with an excellent record in police enforcement. It would also meet with District Attorney Ralston approval in light of recent troubling events. The city council agrees. They ask Lt. John Danielson if he'll take the job. He sure will! 15:10 - One-white-horse drives to Roy's Motorcycles where he picks up Running Water as planned from work though earlier than four o'clock as he'd asked. The Elder tells him about the D.A.'s apology letter. The three of them drive over to Winna's house to see if their shaman has returned from his trip to Great Falls with Mike and Jessie. Nope. They head on to Chinook and the other Blackfoot Chiefs and Elders are shown the 'apology' letter. It's decided that a meeting should be called for the People to attend tomorrow evening. 15:20 - Mr. Benton calls John to give him the good news along with a warning. He's cleaned up the mess at the Havre Police station and assures John that Internal Affairs has turned their attention from him to investigate Bill. Don't do anything that will upset the Indians in this town while you're the police chief. The D.A.'s office will handle things and they'll release a statement tomorrow concerning Captain Ruston. 16:30 - Captain Ruston is informed by Internal Affairs that he's being put on administrative leave while they investigate his alleged misconduct brought to their attention by the D.A.'s office. He's being replaced by John Danielson. Bill is stunned. He calls Mr. Talbert and tells his friend about the twisted events that took place today. They're both saddened by them. 18:00 - Lt. John Danielson holds a press conference outside the Havre Police station where he announces that he's been made interim police chief while Internal Affairs investigates Captain Ruston. 18:15 - One-white-horse drives Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn and Running Water back to Havre after the tribal council meeting and find Mike and Jessie are at home. Their shaman is sleeping in the bedroom after their exhausting trip. The Elder informs Mike and Jessie about the apology letter and they tell him about Lt. John Danielson's news conference where's he's been made interim police chief. 18:45 - Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn speaks with reporters outside Winna's house who'd come to get Mr. Yager's reaction to the news conference. The Elder holds up an 'apology' letter given to the Blackfoot Nation by the D.A.'s office that he'll read at the meeting he calls to take place at the Chinook Community Center tomorrow night at seven. 19:30 - Reporters interview Lt. John Danielson at the police station. He explains away Mr. Yager's alleged taunting by his cell guard and why Mike was put in that padded cell in the first place. 21:00 - Mike and Jessie watch the news where Lt. John Danielson's conference held earlier in the day is repeated and they watch Elder Quiet-before-the- dawn's interview with that lady reporter. To Mike's dismay, it's reported that he was hallucinating on the morning after he was placed in that padded call (no evidence that Mike was taunted by his guard) and his incarceration there was to ensure his own safety. 21:40 - Bill Ruston talks with his wife about resigning from the police force. He's frustrated that the very man he reported to Internal Affairs for misconduct has assumed his job as police chief while their investigation has turned on him. They both recognize that politics are involved. The D.A.'s office (notably Mr. Benton) must have great influence over Internal Affairs and that he's being made to take the fall for problems at the police station. Bill promises to sleep on it and he'll decide what to do tomorrow. 5/1/03 THURSDAY ---------------- 10:30 - Bill Ruston tells his wife that he's made his decision. They'd talked about it all last night. She wants him to do what he thinks is right but regrets that her husband is taking the fall for the bad acts of other men. 14:15 - Mike meets with Mr. Talbert at his house in Chinook to discuss the indictment against him. He thinks that he's been found guilty and now faces going to prison. How many years will he have to serve? Mr. Talbert explains that it's not a guilty verdict. It simply means that a group of people on the grand jury heard evidence from Prosecutor Benton that convinced them that Mike was likely guilty of the attempted murder of a police officer. Mr. Talbert assures Mike that his side of the story will come out in court. Mr. Talbert informs Mike about a plea bargain the D.A. has offered him. By pleading guilty to the indictment, Mike will serve ten years in a minimum security prison whereas a guilty verdict by the court would have him facing 8-12 years at a maximum security prison where hardened criminals serve. Mike agrees with his attorney not to accept the D.A.'s plea bargain. Ten years is a bad deal. And a felony will be on his record that'll following Mike around for the rest of his life denying him the right to vote, bear arms and more importantly, to obtain good employment. They'll fight the charges in court. Even if the jury ignores all the evidence that Lt. Scott Danielson was a dirty cop and was in Mrs. Winnapah's house illegally to take things from Mike's laptop bag in the hall that Scott feared proved his association with Miss Thomas and Eli Kie and is why he stormed out of the house with his gun aimed at Jessie, the judge could reduce some of those years to be served in prison with probation because of the mitigating circumstances. What are they? There's enough evidence to show that Lt. Scott Danielson's statements that 'live' beyond him is refuted by Mr. Cavallero's statement, and Mike's and Jessie's statements. Eli Kie's association with Scott can be proven and there's evidence that suggests he murdered both Scott and Miss Thomas to keep them quiet about what they knew about his involvement with the Blackfoot Power Bundle he tried taking from Jessie by force. Eli Kie also murdered Ron Earlman though there's no hard evidence of this other than the fact that Mike and Jessie found the bundle he wanted inside that dead man's trailer. What Eli Kie had sworn in his statement is refuted by Mr. Augusten's. There's an arrest warrant out for Eli Kie. If Mike can translate all of Ron's diary, maybe a stronger link will be found between Eli Kie and Scott Danielson. That's Mr. Talbert's freverent hope. Mike avoids that subject with his attorney. He'd been translating Ron's diary so that he could learn where that man had hidden the tribe's Power Bundle. It's been found. What Mike learned about Ron having sex with Jessie could prove very damaging to the tribe let alone the anguish it would bring upon Jessie's mother. At the May 5th Hearing, Mr. Talbert will present a motion to dismiss the D.A.'s case against Mike because his civil rights were violated. He was placed in that lunatic's cell without good cause and taunted by his guard. Five Havre Police Officers entered Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains' home illegally without a search warrant and threatened Mrs. Winnapah that someone could get hurt if Mike doesn't turn himself in. Lt. Scott Danielson had Mike brought in to the station for questioning by him concerning his brother's murder without Mike's attorney present. If that motion fails, Mr. Talbert will ask the judge for a continuance so that an experienced trial lawyer can found to replace him in representing Mr. Yager. He's not defended such a serious case in some years and is in semi-retirement himself. 15:15 - Bill calls Mr. Talbert to inform his friend that he'll be coming with him to the Blackfoot meeting tonight. He'll tell his version of events from yesterday and tender his resignation as a sincere gesture of apology to them. 19:00 - Blackfoot meeting held at the Chinook Community Center. {Refer to part 7 NtTL} ========== WHAT FOLLOWS ARE EVENTS NOT YET WRITTEN IN THE SERIES =========== 5/2/03 FRIDAY ============== 10:00 - Acting as war leader for the Blackfoot, Jes-ee-ah leads a protest at the Havre Police station on behalf of Mike Yager. Chinook Police Officers Hawk-swooping-down, Corn-stalk-at-harvest and Dry-to-foot-in-grass are present to help keep the peace. Yet only a small group of the People show up. The news reporters are disappointed but interview Jessie anyway. They remember this young man at the April 21st protest where he sported a black eye given him by Eli Kie. A larger group of Blackfoot protest the release of heavy metals into the streams by mines that's been killing the fish. They hold up signs and chant to gain the attention of news reporters. 15:20 - Mr. Benton succeeds in pressuring a court clerk to 'amend' the judge's search warrant to include Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains' residence. That ties up a loose end he'd been worrying about. Mrs. Winnapah had signed a statement that accused those five Havre Officers of entering her uncle's home illegally to search for Mr. Yager there. Mr. Benton is very happy with himself. He's also 'cleaned up' the mess at that Havre Police station Mr. Yager could have used to support a civil rights violation that threatened the dropping of the D.A.'s charges against him. Lt. John Danielson is safe from charges of misconduct by Internal Affairs who now investigate Captain Ruston. When he was police chief, he'd been undermining the D.A.'s case against Mr. Yager by sharing information with his friend, Mr. Talbert and returning evidence that could have been useful to the D.A. That's been stopped. Now John is police chief and he has that grateful man in his pocket! Throughout the day, more people join into Jessie's protest. They've come off work or were shamed by the small showing that mocks the Blackfoot on T.V. By nightfall, there are hundreds of Native Americans joined by other folks in protest in front of the Havre Police station. 5/5/03 MONDAY ============== 9:30 - Mike Yager is arraigned on the recent indictment brought against him. Prosecutor Benton tries having the defendant remanded to custody without bail since 'attempted murder of a police officer' is more serious than the assault charge where the judge had previously granted $50,000 bail. Denied. Before Mr. Talbert can make his motions in court, Prosecutor Benton asks the judge for a change in venue. He claims that news reports only telling the defendant's side of the story have prejudiced potential jury members in the Havre area. Turning to the mostly Native American attendance in the courtroom audience, Mr. Benton expresses his concern about the rising tensions in this town. He cites Friday's protest in front of the Havre Police station. The trial should be moved to Great Falls. Mr. Talbert won't contest prosecution's motion so long as his motion, a continuance to find an experienced trial attorney for his client is granted. The judge announced that their motions will be taken under consideration and a ruling made at Thursday's Hearing. Mr. Talbert then presents his second motion to the judge. He asks that the charges against his client be dropped because his civil rights were violated by the Havre Police. Mr. Benton strongly objects. The judge asks what evidence he has of this. Mr. Talbert presents both the prosecutor and the judge with signed statements. Mike Yager claims that his guard taunted him during his incarceration at the Havre Police station and Mr. Talbert asks why he'd even been put in that lunatic's cell in the first place without good cause. Mr. Benton is quick to state that there's no evidence of said taunting and he's prepared to present a statement by the duty guard in question that refutes this false allegation. He suggests that Mr. Yager was hallucinating resulting from apparent dehydration according to Doctor Milestone that following morning. Lt. John Danielson had ordered the defendant put in that cell for his own protection. Mr. Talbert asks Mr. Benton who Mike was being protected from? John Danielson? The prosecutor responds by reminding him that Mike Yager had savagely beaten a police officer and that a large group of Blackfoot were protesting outside the station at the time. When the judge scolds both men for addressing each other directly, Mr. Talbert apologies and refers to his client's second statement. That same police officer who had ordered his client put in that padded cell also ordered him to be brought to the station after his release for interrogation conducted by John Danielson himself into his brother's murder without legal representation. Mr. Benton defends that Mr. Yager was quickly released after refusing to answer questions. There's no proof of any civil rights violations! Mr. Talbert is quick to claim that Officer Eli Kie's assault on Jessie Looks- from-mountain to steal the tribe's Power Bundle from him and pointing his gun at Mike Yager was a violation of their civil rights. This was witnessed by Mr. Augusten who came to those youngster's aid. He's given a sworn statement attesting to that undercover officer's misconduct. Then there's Lt. Scott Danielson's unwarranted entry into Jessie's house where he took things belonging to Mr. Yager from his laptop bag in the front hall. This officer's patrol car was parked nine houses away to hide his presence at the residence. Captain Ruston returned Mr. Yager's belongings after they were found on Lt. Scott Danielson, attesting to the police chief's determination that they'd been taken illegally from the house. Mr. Benton objects. The judge agrees that this isn't the time for defense arguments and asks Mr. Talbert to wait with them until the trial. Mr. Talbert continues to persuade the judge about his client's civil rights violations. There existed a climate of hostility directed at Mr. Yager by officers to avenge 'one of the own' when five Havre policemen entered Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains' home on April 20th without a search warrant and threatened Jessie's mother, Mrs. Winnapah. They warned her that Mr. Yager 'should turn himself in before anyone gets hurt'. The Blackfoot Tribe's sacred belonging entrusted with the Havre Police is missing from their evidence room. This proves misconduct at the very least on the part of police officers and failures at the station. Did not the D.A.'s apology letter to the Blackfoot People say as much? He asks the judge to allow a civil rights violation hearing. Otherwise, a clear message will be sent to the Blackfoot People and all citizens of Havre that the police can violate the rule of law and trod on the rights of people they're sworn to protect! Mr. Benton only shakes his head in denial. The judge asks Mr. Talbert to present the court with his brief concerning these alleged civil rights violations specifically to Mr. Yager by May 19th, Mr. Benton's opposition due by June 2nd and Mr. Talbert's response by June 16th. This Thursday, the judge will rule on prosecution's motion for a change of venue to Great Falls and Mr. Talbert's motion for a continuance so that his client can find an experienced trial attorney. 5/6/03 TUESDAY =============== Professor Klein asks to meet with Police Chief John Danielson. He was given a German diary zerox to translate by his brother. John eagerly sees him. The professor explains that Scott had come to him on April 17th with a little black book he wanted translated into English. It was Ron Earlman's. Scott was investigating that man's murder and hoped to find leads from what he'd written in his diary. The original black book was retained by Scott but this zerox represents a true copy of it. The professor also hands over his English translation of it as best as he could render. Many of the latter dated entries were in code. Scott calls up Mr. Benton on the phone asking him to come over and join into their meeting. He does so. Professor Klein signs a statement that this diary zerox was given to him by Lt. Scott Danielson and attests to the accuracy of his English translation from it. The professor was angered by the reports he's seen in the news that alleged Scott was a 'dirty' cop. The diary proves no such connection existed between that officer with Miss Thomas or Eli Kie. They thank the professor for coming forward with this evidence. Both men pour over the English translations at their respective offices. John is relieved not to find his brother's name mentioned in this diary. He knew that Bill Ruston was lying when he claimed Scott had taken Ron's diary zerox from Mike's laptop bag because he feared it implicated his association with Miss Thomas, a collector of Native artifacts who might have had illegal dealings with Eli Kie. Ron's diary only suggests their connection to each other. Mr. Benton is also relieved that Lt. Scott Danielson isn't mentioned in Ron's diary though Miss Thomas and Eli Kie are noted in it. What catches the prosecutor's eye is that there are entries Ron made about having gay sex with an Indian named 'Jes'. Could that be Jessie Looks-from-mountain?! Who is Running Water? Ahh. Aren't they cousins or something? Benton rubs his hands together with glee. He's heard about Ron Earlman's diary but hadn't any legal means to get it from Mr. Yager. Captain Ruston had returned Mike's zerox copy to him along with his laptop's hard drive (storing the English translations, likely) when found on Scott at the hospital because it'd been illegally taken from Jessie's house. Mr. Yager's attorney acted like he didn't know that a zerox of it existed when Benton mentioned it at their Discovery meeting. Now he knows why Mr. Talbert wasn't planning to use it as part of his client's defense. It would prove more embarrassing to his client's 'friend' than in helping their case to cast Scott Danielson as a dirty cop. This copy has come into Mr. Benton's hands where he can legally use it and through a means he can prove represents Mr. Earlman's diary - Mr. Cavallero finding Ron's little black book in that man's trailer's bedroom dresser after his murder and taken from him by Mike Yager when it was found in an Indian drum he wanted in his park manger's storage shed. Obviously, Scott was given this diary by Mr. Yager in contradiction of that officer's statement that it wasn't. Hmm. That could present a problem in establishing a clean chain of evidence. Yet Professor Klein has signed a statement attesting to Scott showing him the original diary and copying it for him for the purpose of translating it into English for the purpose of 'finding leads into Ron Earlman's murder'. Mr. Benton could use the diary to show that Lt. Scott Danielson was a good cop. Ron's diary doesn't say otherwise. He was investigating Mr. Earlman's murder and was hot on Eli Kie's trail. That provides the motive for Eli Kie murdering Scott. Eli Kie murdered Miss Thomas because he feared that his association with that woman he had illegal dealings with in Native artifacts would come to be known. Eli Kie had attacked Jessie in his attempt to take a Blackfoot bundle from him outside Mr. Yager's trailer. At their meeting in Chinook, the Indians said that Eli Kie took their Power Bundle from the Havre Police evidence room and used a flint blade inside it to murder Scott in his hospital bed. Eli Kie is 'on the run' further adding to his appearance of guilt which also prevents him from giving conflicting testimony at Mr. Yager's trial. Benton doesn't want to go to trial and risk Mike getting off should the jury believe he was justified in defending himself against Lt. Scott Danielson who had drawn his gun on Jessie holding that Blackfoot bundle. Jury decisions are difficult to predict - it's like betting on a dice toss. Mr. Benton smiles to himself. Maybe he can 'load' the dice in his favor. Why not go for the easy win by persuading Mr. Yager to accept his plea bargain? He suspects that Jessie is Mike's gay lover. What Ron had written in his diary describes explicit sex acts he's had with 'Jes' and his relative, Running Water that Mike surely wouldn't want to be known by his Indian tribe or his lover's mother. They're living together in that woman's house. Benton would play the 'gay' card against Mr. Yager at his trial if he won't accept the plea bargain. Mr. Benton informs Mr. Talbert that he has new Discovery evidence. Can they meet tomorrow? Mr. Talbert informs Mike about it and he insists on attending that meeting against his attorney's wishes. 5/7/03 WEDNESDAY ================= Mr. Talbert and Mike go to the D.A.'s office to learn what new evidence Mr. Benton has. By law, anything either the prosecutor or defense will present in court must first have been declared at Discovery between them. They've already shown what cards were in their hands a week ago. With a smug grin, Mr. Benton reveals the Ace that he's drawn. Mr. Talbert is given a copy of Ron Earlman's diary zerox, an English translation and the signed sworn statement by Professor Klein explaining how it had come to him by Lt. Scott Danielson. Mr. Talbert doesn't realize its significants at that moment but Mike does all too well. Even before his attorney can flip through the English translations, Mr. Benton requests that Mr. Yager should reconsider the D.A.'s plea bargain. Mike doesn't need to Glean how making this diary public would harm Jessie, his mother, Running Water and Ron Earlman in the eyes of their tribe but he does use his power to learn how Mr. Benton has manipulated people and events to his advantage that will come into play at the upcoming trial. How did Mr. Benton manage to 'correct' that arrest warrant against him to allow the shaman's home to be searched after the fact? In the car, Mike painfully explains what Ron had written in his diary about Jessie. His attorney is appalled. Not because Mike is in a gay relationship with Jessie (he suspected that himself) or that Ron had written about having sex with his Indian lover. What appalls Mr. Talbert is that the prosecutor would be so low as to blackmail Mike into consider accepting the D.A.'s plea bargain through no fault of his own. From experience, Mr. Talbert knows that if the jury hears that Ron was gay, was having sex with Jessie (a key witness in Mike's defense) and it comes out that the defendant is gay himself and having sex with Jessie, the jury could become prejudiced against him from homophobia not to mention the shock effect it would cause to the Blackfoot People that could negate all the good Ron was doing for their tribe but more seriously it would damage how they see Mike as the 'good guy' they've been supporting in protests against the police. Public support for his client would evaporate. Mike is well aware of these ramifications himself. A difficult decision now faces him. Does he willingly go to prison for ten years to prevent Ron's damning diary from coming to light or risk going to trial where even if he's absolved of the charges, Winna will be shamed in the eyes of her tribe along with Running Water and all the good Ron's done for the Blackfoot will be trodden under by this scandal? And worse of all, Jessie won't be named shaman to follow in his grandfather's footsteps! This terrible burden brings Mike to the breaking point. He asks his attorney to inform Mr. Benton that he'll accept the plea bargain. Mr. Talbert begs Mike to consider what he's doing! Nothing need be decided until his trial. That matter concerning his civil rights violations must first play out. Whether the judge grants Mr. Benton's change in venue and their own motion for continuance or not, a trial held in Havre or Great Falls couldn't start until sometime in July. Mike realizes that he'll only be delaying the inevitable. Okay. He'll wait until the very last moment to accept the D.A.'s plea bargain. That gives Jes and him at least two months to be together before... He breaks into tears. Mike's moment of weakness ends when he remembers Gleaning something from Mr. Benton that angers him. He reveals to his lawyer what the prosecutor has done behind the scenes. Mr. Talbert goes deep into though for a long moment. He offers Mike a grin and says there may be a way out of this trouble after all. ================ Trickster Eli Kie strikes out one last time before setting out for California on an evil mission for his Dark Master in the sacred grove. He had obtained Ron's original little black book diary from Miss Thomas before burning that woman's house down with her in it. He'll mail copies of certain pages from Ron's diary to Mr. Winnapah that describes that man having sex with her son and that Running Water knew about it, joining into the fun himself (though that latter part was Ron's sick fantasy he'd written as a poem in his diary). Likely, Winna has been told beforehand by Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains at Mike and Jessie's insistence to do so because they feared that it's going to come out anyway as too many people have a copy of Ron's diary. Even if Mr. Benton promises not to release this damning information should Mike agree to go to prison, others could. Jessie has foreseen that Eli Kie would strike out at them in this way. Needless to say, Mike endures the mounting pressure against him by his legal woes that won't make it to trial. Prosecutor Benton's underhanded dealings with people and his own misconduct will finally come back to bite him on the butt. I won't reveal how the charges against Mike will be dropped so my readers will just have to wait. Then we can all release a sigh of relief. Mike and Jessie will be free to lives their lives and teach others who are new to love. I welcome comments, suggestion and corrections to what I've written for these two series about Mike and Jessie. Please address your email to me at: Vince_Water@yahoo.com *** Author's Disclaimer: The stories in the "New to Love" and "New to Teaching Love" series along with this TIME LINE text are works of fiction. None of the events or persons portrayed are real, including my depiction of officers from the Havre, Chinook and Helena Police forces or any district attorney. No disrespect was intended for these fine men and women who serve and protect the public. Copyright 2004-2005 by Vince Water ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ End of file: TIMELINE.TXT Folder: NEW-TO-TEACHING-LOVE