Bonner Incident (18 page)

“Stanley Cater, County Prosecutor,” Stanley said not standing and grabbing a donut off of his napkin.

Shaking his head, “I need to tell them to let me come first from now on,” Moore said pulling out his chair, setting his briefcase on the table and saw the black box beside the window. He saw the wires coming out were connected to suction cups stuck to the window. “Holy shit,” he said with wide eyes.

Pointing at the box, “You really need that?” Moore asked.

“Since you and your friends came to town, it’s become a necessary precaution,” Buck said grabbing his coffee.

Sitting down, Moore looked at Buck. “Sheriff, I’m going to be honest, you’re giving them too much credit. They see you as backwater morons. They just want the use of your manpower.”

Stanley brushed sugar off his hands from the donut. “Not from what I’ve heard or read,” he said and looked down at Moore.

“Oh, I’m not saying it’s beneath them later in the operation, but right off the bat, the idiots here now don’t think you can wipe your butt alone,” Moore said opening his briefcase. “May I ask why the County Prosecutor is here?”

“To make sure I behave,” Buck said putting down his coffee.

“Not necessary for me, but a good idea with the idiots,” Moore said pulling out folders and laying them on the table. “Just an FYI, sheriff, that box you have hooked up is against federal law. It’s a felony to deter eavesdropping attempts of any department of the federal government.”

Stanley looked at Buck, “Where do I get one?”

“Oh, you can’t buy them,” Moore said arranging the folders. “They have to be made and I’ve seen the blueprints for that one and it’s the best. It oscillates at random frequencies constantly and beats all known laser microphones. That’s why they are forbidden for sale. Being a law enforcement agency, you can skirt that but if the idiots want to listen, they could invoke the security directive dealing with any attempt to interfere in a federal surveillance operation.”

“Get me the damn plans, I’ll make my own,” Stanley said looking at Moore.

Not looking up as he moved his briefcase to the side of the table, “Oh boy, did they do a number this time, pissing off the local law enforcement.”

“Agent Moore, you requested this meeting, may I ask what for?” Buck said, writing himself a note to get the plans for that box.

“Sheriff, unlike the idiots, I know without local law enforcement’s help, my job of catching fugitives is a thousand times more difficult.”

Surprised at that, Buck leaned back in his chair. “Well sir, like I told them, you want to catch Joshua Anderson, leave. I’ll pick him up in a month or two and we can proceed in state court.”

Reaching over into his briefcase, Moore pulled out an envelope. “Sheriff, this is a letter I wrote two days ago to the Attorney General of the United States and the Director of the FBI and it says the same thing,” Moore said laying the envelope down, sliding it down the table. He pulled another envelope out, holding it up. “They both replied back the same day I sent the letter,” he said and slid it down the table.

“Basically, they told me they had no faith in local law enforcement to apprehend or state courts to prosecute the fugitive. I was instructed to develop my profile and assist the team in place to apprehend the fugitive, Joshua Anderson,” Moore said as Stanley passed the letters to Buck. “By all means, counselor, you may read them. If the sheriff has you here to make sure he behaves, he must think highly of you.”

Stanley looked down the table. “You may call me Stanley,” he said as Buck pushed the letters back to him.

“Moore, have you read the crime scene report and the witness testimonies?” Buck asked.

“Of course,” he said and opened one of the folders. “But I am not a jury. My job is to apprehend the suspects, not pass judgment.”

“It was self-defense,” Buck said grabbing his donut.

Nodding, Moore picked up the top sheet of paper from the open folder and read. “A strong argument could be made that the fugitive acted in self-defense, and even with a mediocre attorney representing the fugitive, the government’s case would be difficult if not impossible to prove.” He sat the paper down and looked at Buck. “That was my assessment to the director after reviewing the case.”

“And yet, here we are,” Buck said leaning back in his chair.

“Sheriff, you and I enforce the laws. The courts are the ones that decide innocence and guilt.”

Buck nodded, “Your law degree is really standing out Moore. But,” Buck said leaning over the table. “You are expecting a man to surrender to the very departments of the federal government that tried to kill him.”

“Allegedly,” Moore corrected. “That is for a court to decide, not law enforcement.”

“Can I be frank  with you, Agent Moore?” Buck asked clasping his hands and leaning over on the table resting on his elbows.

“Yes, please do, and Albert, if you would prefer,” Moore said. “What is said here is between us.”

“I believe in my heart that Joshua would never see the inside of a courtroom if your people apprehend him. I’ve talked to ‘your people’,” Buck stressed. “They all but said it to my face that he will be killed.”

“I assure you, that’s not the case from my point of view,” Moore said.

“Then you haven’t talked to your people,” Buck said with a frown. “Do you know what this is about?”

“Yes,” Moore said opening another folder. “The suspect was in violation of federal forestry regulations, suspected tax evasion, child labor code violations, destruction of national assets, numerous EPA violations and suspected firearm violations.”

Stanley leaned over, “There’s that ‘firearm violations’ again.”

Putting the paper down, Moore looked at both of them. “Would you like to know why they brought in the BATF?” he asked and they nodded. “He’s bought several hundred pounds of gunpowder, purchased a substantial amount of ammunition over the years. Including calibers that he’s not recorded to own.”

Stanley leaned back in his chair, “I’m going to be sick.”

“A firearms registration is against the law,” Buck snapped.

“No, it’s not. A national security directive allows it,” Moore said solemnly. “They don’t use the ATF forms. They use financial transactions, tracking of media, public events, cellphone conversations and several other avenues, I’m told.”

“And you know this, and haven’t reported it?!” Buck shouted.

Holding up his hands with his palms facing Buck to get him to relax, Moore said. “It’s covered by the law.”

“What about the sheet of paper you swore an oath to? It’s called the Constitution of the United States,” Buck said lowering his voice, seeing Moore was at least talking to him, not at him.

“Legal panels have reviewed and ruled that the directives don’t violate the Constitution,” Moore said crossing his hands.

Buck looked down at the table. “Jesus, it’s not America anymore.”

“I beg to differ, sheriff,” Moore said. “You are innocent until proven guilty.”

“Everyone is guilty under your system. You’ve made up laws that go against everything it means to be American,” Buck snapped. “But let me tell you something.”

Putting the letters that he was reading down, Stanley reached over, grabbing Buck’s wrist. “What the hell are you going to tell him? Remember, be nice.”

Taking a deep breath, Buck looked down at Moore. “This is about money. Joshua was worth over two million dollars and they were going to seize it,” Buck said.

Hearing that, Moore laughed. “Sheriff, I assure you that’s not the case. Two million dollars wouldn’t mean anything in the coffers. Our country runs on billions, not millions.”

“Oh, good sir,” Buck said leaning over the table as he stood up. “Millions add up rather quickly to billions. I’ve seen it with my own eyes from ‘your’ peoples’ own records. Just in the last six months, almost two billion dollars have been seized from private citizens.”

“Buck,” Stanley said in a low voice. “You need to shut your mouth now.”

Buck turned to Stanley, “Let ’em try me,” he growled, then looked back at Moore. “You’re an ostrich with your head in the sand Moore, and you know it. You’re trying to convince yourself that you’re upholding the law when you’re walking all over it.”

“Sheriff, I assume you’re referring to data taken off the government computer. All that data only refers to legal federal enforcement of federal laws. There is no agenda.”

Dropping in his chair, Buck shook his head. “You make a good Nazi.”

Raising his eyebrows sharply, “I resent that remark,” Moore said with a straight face.

“You know, Joshua only had a small business,” Buck said crossing his hands over his stomach as he leaned back in his chair. “Only employed eight people, but those eight supported many other businesses. Now, those eight are out of work and I hope you realize, this area is very dependent on businesses like Joshua’s as are other areas of the country. You can’t keep shutting down small businesses with bullshit rules and regulations without consequences.”

“Sheriff, I’m sure you’re aware I have an associate’s degree in free market enterprise,” Moore said. “No matter what you read or heard, the government isn’t after small business or seizing money from the poor.”

“Of course you don’t seize money from the poor, they don’t have any. The government gives them money to get votes,” Buck grinned. “I answer to the citizens of this county and they expect me to protect them, and that includes their homes and businesses.”

Moore nodded with a sigh, “Sheriff, this argument could go on for weeks.”

“But it’s the root cause of why we’re here. Your boys are after one of my constituents’ assets. You want what he has, to sell off and make money off of property that isn’t yours. Your boys didn’t break into his house and take his money, you went right to his bank to take his hard earned money and lock his accounts. You know, that all really sounds illegal unless you’re the federal government.”

“Sheriff, once again I say, that’s for courts to decide, not you and me,” Moore said with a sigh.

“Very well,” Buck said sitting up. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Your help in apprehending the suspect, Joshua Anderson. Like I said, I know without your help it’s going to be much more difficult, but I assure you, we will catch him,” Moore said opening another folder.

Chuckling, Buck looked over at Stanley. “He thinks he knows enough about Joshua from reading a few reports that he can catch him.”

“Oh, I know Mr. Anderson quite well,” Moore said picking up the top page from the folder. “Joshua Anderson: noted as suspect. Male, age forty-five, six feet tall, one hundred and seventy pounds with shoulder length black hair and full facial beard to mid chest, minor gray streaks currently noted to hair and beard.

“High school graduate and worked in father’s logging company from an early age, but unknown start. Married, two months after graduating high school to Mary Lalas and bought a house south of Coolin, Idaho. Father died in a logging accident when suspect was twenty-eight. Father left business to son with a quarter of yearly profits going to his widow. See appendix A for asset value.

“Offspring: One child, William Anderson, given birth by Mary Anderson when suspect was thirty-two. Reports indicate offspring was unexpected due to Mary Anderson’s diagnosis and finding of thin uterine wall. Mary Anderson died almost instantly of cerebral aneurysm rupture when child was five and suspect was thirty-seven.

“Suspect moved in with his biological mother and with his child two weeks after the death of wife. Assumption; help to care for William Anderson. Suspect’s home was paid for and no extraneous financial burden noted. Suspect’s personal residence south of Coolin, Idaho sold along with shop on property which logging business was operated from after father’s death. Assessment of circumstance: close and extremely loyal family ties.” As Moore put the first page down and grabbed the next, Buck and Stanley looked at him with open mouths as he continued to read the next page.

“One year after death of wife, started courting Sonya Stanton. Suspect had prior contact with Stanton from high school and Stanton was known acquaintance of suspect and deceased wife. From gathered intel, Sonya Stanton was always affectionate toward the suspect.

“After marriage to Sonya Stanton, suspect moved to her residence that she attained from grandmother in community of Lamb Creek, Idaho; no mortgage noted on residence for last thirty years. Suspect bought adjoining property to residence with lump sum to continue operating logging business close to residence. Note: Sonya Anderson, forty-four, no children but noted and documented exceedingly committed to William Anderson. Well known throughout outlying community. Highly active on four social network sites. Parents deceased: car wreck, left substantial inheritance see appendix B.

“Suspect only listed owner of business but spouse Sonya Anderson has account access. Debt ratio balanced, business credit rating listed as excellent. Suspect in last sixteen months has acquired two pieces of machinery valued at $510,753 with no down payment required. See appendix C for business holdings.

“Employees: eight total. Only one employee with less than ten years with company. One employee in business longer than suspect, many others business is only known employment. No job postings for applications have been obtained. Note: suspect pays employees extremely well compared to industry standard. Employees receive weekly checks along with quarterly bonuses out of proportion with industry standard.