This story is part of an ongoing series.
The chronological order of my stories is now listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Part 7 - Decisions and Rulings
"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Fox Two News!" shouted the lovely redheaded reporterette at 7:00am, Monday, June 18th, from in front of the State Office Building. "We are eagerly awaiting the State Supreme Court's rulings on several key legal actions regarding the Independent State Counsel's investigation into wrongdoings by Governor Val Jared and Police Commander Donald Troy!"
"At 9:00am the rulings will be handed down," said Bettina, "and we will bring you those rulings as soon as we get them. Meanwhile, in another shocking affront to the security of our Nation, the Guardians of Justice have released more classified and highly sensitive documents!"
Bettina continued: "The documents reveal that the U.S. Department of Agriculture intentionally used insecticides that devastated bee populations all over the Nation. This has already led to lower yields of many crops, and further bee population depletions could create potential famine in many parts of the world fed by American farms! Other documents reveal that BigRoadAndRail Corporation has worked with several U.S. Government agencies to bring all transportation in the United States to a halt in the event of an emergency, as well as use the Nation's roads and rails to transport people to FEMA camps!"
Bettina went on: "The Department of Agriculture has issued a statement saying they are investigating the breach of security by the Guardians of Justice, and that any depletion of bee populations would be purely unintentional. BigRoadAndRailCorp's CEO, Curtis Meigs, has denied any involvement with Government plans to control transportation in the Nation. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Samuel Russell is blasting the FBI for not having caught the GOJ by now. Roll tape."
Tape rolled, showing a very angry Samuel Russell giving a speech at the University, saying "The ability of the terrorist group Guardians of Justice to continue to operate in this fashion unabated shows that the FBI is full of incompetent Agents led by incompetent administrators!"
The tape then showed the current Director of National Intelligence saying "The Guardians of Justice represent a threat to national security, both within the country and around the world. They must be stopped at all costs. We believe that Russian and Israeli intelligence units are responsible for the damage being done by the GOJ, and we must act to stop these hostile actions."
Back to Bettina: "The Israeli Government bitterly protested the accusation that they are involved in any way with the GOJ's actions, but the CIA Director issued a statement saying that Israel's continued 'persecution' of Muslims in the Gaza Strip is becoming a real humanitarian problem. Republicans denounced the CIA Director's statements, saying Israel has every right to defend itself from Islamist terrorists attacking Israelis near Gaza, but with the
Intelligence Community
making statements like these, relations between the two countries are cooling rapidly."
"And finally," said Bettina happily, as if nothing she'd said before had been said, "the deadline of June 20th to enter the Town & County Team Triathlon is coming up rapidly. This year, teams will run for charities and raise money for those charities, with a small purse for the charities of first through tenth places added. Last year's winners, Teresa and Todd Burke, are running as a married couple for the first time, and running for the University Hospital Cancer Center..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"How has Captain Croyle found time to train for the race?" asked Joanne Warner as we drank coffee in MCD and watched the broadcast.
"That's how she's been relieving stress over all this b.s. that's going on with Mullen." I said. "She goes and trains for the race. She's been leaving Todd in the dust, too, so I hear."
"You're not running with your wife, sir?" asked Jerome Davis.
"No, the Slender Man screwed me up on that, too." I said. "The bicycling part of the race hurts too much. So my wife is running with the Sheriff's wife. But Laura and I
are
still working on that dance competition in November."
"Dancing with the Crowbars." Cindy said somewhat acerbically, then added: "But seriously, that does sound like fun for you and Laura."
"Who's running for the Police team for the Triathlon?" asked Teddy Parker, who was sitting at his desk, seemingly disinterested in the news.
"I think Hicks and Johnson are the Police men's team." I said. "Corporal Gunddottar was trying to get someone female to run with her, and I told her if she did we'd sponsor them as the Police women's team."
"She's running with Wanda's boyfriend Carl." Cindy said. "And Town Fitness Centers is sponsoring them."
"Town Fitness Centers is hardly a charity." I said.
"No, the charity is the Veasley Community Center." Cindy said. "Unless a couple of their members enter the race." That was not likely to happen, I knew.
"Are they really having a wheelchair race this year?" asked Theo Washington, seeing Captain Tanya Perlman drive in.
"Yes we are!" Tanya said happily. "And I'm in. I was trying to get Commander Troy to enter, but he wussed out." I grinned at that one.
"Are y'all really doing a full triathlon?" asked Theo, his voice connoting stunned amazement.
"No, just part of the course they're doing the run on. We're going to be starting early, and hopefully finish by the time the cyclists and runners get there." Tanya said.
"You will." I said. "And if there's an issue, we're going to divert the wheelchair racers into Town, while the runners and cyclists are on University Avenue and North Street."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"This is Priya Ajmani for the State News Network!" said the beautiful Indian reporterette at 8:00am, whose morning broadcast was now seen all over the State. Jenna James in Midtown was holding serve at 12:00noon, while Diane Williams at KCTY in the City did the 6:00pm broadcast. Individual stations took back over twenty minutes into each broadcast.
"SNN has learned that the State Supreme Court will hand down its rulings in an hour, at 9:00am." Priya said. "Sources tell SNN that the rulings could be wide-ranging and not favor any particular side. But Social Justice groups are lining up their spokespeople to tell us what they think about it, and no matter what happens, someone is going to be angry..."
After it was over, Cindy turned off the television set. "Well, at least it'll be over for Teresa soon." Tanya nodded vigorously in agreement, and Cindy said "By the way, where is she?"
"In Midtown." I said. "If the Court rules against her, she'll have to go to Mullen's office immediately, where she will take the Fifth and then come back home."
"Think you'll win your lawsuits?" Cindy asked me. I shook my head gravely.
"No." I said. "I knew Judge Watts would have to recuse himself, but I was hoping Folsom would show more spine than I've got left, and that he'd rule on my cases. But he passed the buck to Nance, who crushed 'em. I doubt they'll overturn them."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9:05am. "This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Fox Two News! The State Supreme Court has just handed down its rulings. Let's go to Meredith Peller, Fox Midtown! Meredith!"
"Thank you Bettina and Tim!" said Meredith, as Tim Sioban of KSB in the City had also gone to her. "The rulings are out, and here's what we have:
"First, the Court ruled that Commander Donald Troy's lawsuits against the Citizens For Police Accountability, Black Voices Raised, and Senator Maxine Watts were correctly dismissed! The Court ruled 4-3 that the
Citizens United
ruling applies here, that the donation of PAC money is a form of Free Speech. Two of the State Supreme Court Justices made a point to state in their opinions that ruling for Commander Troy would, and I quote, 'give him the power of the Police to abuse citizens and harass them with specious investigations', close quote. The Court also struck down Commander Troy's slander and defamation lawsuit against State Senator Maxine Watts as being 'alien to the concept of Free Speech'."
"Second, the Court ruled 4-3 that the State Bureau of Investigation's Office of Ethics and Review, the SBI-OER, cannot investigate the Office of the Independent State Counsel while the ISE's investigation is ongoing, that doing so would be tantamount to investigating a District Attorney for prosecuting a case in Court, and would effectively harm the Independent State Counsel's authority to use normal investigatory means to reach its conclusions."
"However," said Meredith, "it was not a total win for Robert Mullen. The Court ruled, again 4-3, that Teresa Croyle's actions in recording the ISE's interrogation of her, as well as her discussing what happened with the media, gives her 'whistleblower' status, for which she cannot be prosecuted. The SBI-OER may retain those recordings, but the subpoena for the ISE's interview tapes does not have to be fulfilled until the ISE investigation is concluded. Also, Mr. Mullen will have to re-issue a subpoena for Captain Croyle to appear before the ISE again."
"Fourth," said Meredith, "the Court ruled that the Independent State Counsel must adhere to strict guidelines regarding the scope of its investigation into Governor Jared, and must show relevance at every turn for any questions it asks. This is a severe blow to Robert Mullen, whose briefs to the Court stated that he needed to lay groundwork to achieve the relevance, and therefore he should be given broad scope. The Court did not agree."
"Fifth, and last," said Meredith, "the Court ruled that the contract between then-Detective Teresa Croyle and the Town & County, where she resigned in exchange for criminal charges against her being dropped... is valid and binding. The Court ruled that Captain Croyle cannot be criminally charged in the Dean Allen assault case again, as that contract was in effect a plea deal with the County, and bringing up criminal charges again would amount to a violation of the Double Jeopardy clause of the United States Constitution. However, the Court also ruled that Captain Croyle may face civil liabilities, as may the Town & County Police Force."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9:25am. "This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Fox Two News!" the lovely redheaded reporterette said from in front of the Courthouse complex on the east side of Courthouse Square in Town. "Fox Two News has learned that Dean Allen has filed lawsuits against Captain Teresa Croyle and against the Town & County for the assault upon him at a traffic stop several years ago, whereupon he was charged with DUI and homicide.
"Allen served four years in prison for wiping out the family of Phil Kearns, but at the time of the bust, then-Detective Teresa Croyle violently assaulted him. The criminal charges have been resolved as pled down, but she now faces a civil trial for her abusive actions..."
