- 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