Poison Town (35 page)
Authors: Creston Mapes
Dennis and Travis kicked in the door as Claire looked on with her mouth and nose muffled in the crease of her arm.
“Claire, you better stay back.” The officer took a giant breath of outside air and dashed inside. Travis and Jack followed.
No one in the living room or kitchen.
“In here!” Dennis called.
Jack and Travis followed his voice to a back bedroom. Jenness’s wheelchair sat empty. Jenness and Tatum were on the floor near the bed, both unconscious.
Too late?
Jack bent down and hoisted Jenness over his shoulder and rocketed out, out, out—into the cold night air.
Dennis and Travis had Tatum and were right behind him.
Everyone outside came running toward them—Bo, Claire, Galen, LJ … and even Derrick.
“Jack!” Derrick yelled. “I got Amy! We got everything on tape …”
Jack’s vision jumped off track.
Uh oh
. Blurry.
The gas …
He couldn’t get Jenness much farther.
Blue and red lights lit up the trees.
Good.
With the last energy he could muster, Jack delivered Jenness into Claire’s outstretched arms … and everything went black.
Chapter 42
It was a damp, misty morning several days later. Jack was already at the office, and the girls were off to school. With coffee mug in one hand and the morning edition of the
Trenton City Dispatch
folded in the other, Margaret shuffled over to Pamela in her robe and slippers and handed her the paper.
“Look at that story.” Margaret pointed at the top headline. “Read right through to the end. You are going to be very proud of your husband.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Pamela set her journal aside, unfolded the paper, and began to read.
Girls attend service for father, beloved Trenton City resident Spivey Brinkman
List of Demler-Vargus Cohorts Grows,
Includes
Dispatch
Execs, EPA Officials
by Jack Crittendon
Jenness Brinkman watched from her wheelchair while her sister, Tatum, stood close, holding her hand. After an attempt on their lives five days ago, the sisters were grateful they were well enough to attend the snowy funeral service for their father, Spivey Brinkman, along with an overflow crowd at Trenton City Memorial Gardens yesterday afternoon.
Being charged for the natural gas poisoning and aggravated assault of the Brinkman girls is the CEO of the Demler-Vargus Corporation, Leonard Bendickson III. He is the alleged ringleader in crimes that have left himself and 17 others connected with Demler-Vargas behind bars and awaiting arraignment in the Cook County Detention Center.
District Attorney Edwin Hendricks says Bendickson is a suspect in the hanging death of Spivey Brinkman; the arson deaths of longtime Trenton City residents Barb and Emmett Doyle; the plane crash that killed attorney Oliver Geddy; the attempted murder of former
Dispatch
reporter Amy Sheets; and the intentional homicide poisonings of Betty Jo Randall, Merv Geddy, and a growing list of Demler-Vargus employees and eastsiders, more of whom are coming forward daily.
Bendickson is expected to plead not guilty to these and other charges—including conspiracy, bribery, money laundering, and fraud—and will then await trial, likely without bond.
Other Demler-Vargus employees to be arraigned this week on related charges include Bendickson’s son, Devon Bendickson; attorneys Harry Dorchester and Eli August; bodyguards Doug Frost and Peter Rosseti; and plant foremen John Clifton, Howard McPeek, Wanda Stark, and Seth Broschel.
The Demler-Vargus plant on Winchester Avenue has temporarily been shut down by OSHA and the Trenton City Police Department.
Regrettably, a number of
Dispatch
employees will be arraigned this week as well, on charges ranging from aiding and abetting, to accessory, obstructing justice, and accepting bribes. They include editor Cecil Barton, assistant editor Nigel Waheed, city editor Pete Forbes, and former reporter Amy Sheets.
Two unnamed officials from the EPA and local attorney Ralston Coon will be arraigned this week as well; their charges are pending.
Tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m., atop the steps of the Trenton City Courthouse,
Dispatch
reporters Jack Crittendon and Derrick Whittaker will receive Awards of Bravery from Mayor Kathryn Stepanovitch for their efforts to uncover the corruption within Demler-Vargus.
Pamela folded the paper in her lap and stared at her mom. “He didn’t tell me he was getting an award. I can’t believe it.”
“He deserves it,” Margaret said. “It’s a shame that Amy Sheets girl is going down with the ship. She did try to help, in the end.”
“Jack told me the charges against her might be mitigated because she cooperated. I hope so.”
“I think you should get the girls out of school and take them with you to see Jack get that award. It’s going to be special.”
“Absolutely,” Pamela said. “And you’re coming too.”
Margaret crossed her arms. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Mom, you’re part of the family. We want you there.”
“And you’re positive you don’t mind me sticking around a few more weeks? Sometimes I feel like a fifth wheel.”
“Mom, we insist. You’re a big help with the girls. They love having you here.”
“What about Jack?”
“Having a built-in babysitter? Are you kidding? He’s fine with it.”
“Speaking of babies, honey … you think you’ll find out what it is, so I can get busy sewing and shopping?”
Pamela smiled and shook her head. “No way. You know my policy, Mom. We don’t find out until it’s born. The surprise is what gets me through the pregnancy.”
Margaret came over and sat down next to Pamela. “Well, if this baby is anything at all like you or your husband, you’re going to be very proud parents—very proud indeed.”
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