Little Roof Jumpers

Chapter Three - The Interview

                 

A man in a dark suit was opening just my jail cell.  Willy's cell is next to mine.  We can't see each other but we have no problem hearing each other.  The front of the cells had bars all the way across just like what you would see in the movies.

As soon as Willy figured out that the guy in the suit wasn't going to open his jail cell he began screaming at me.  "Keep your mouth shut Annie.  Shut up Willy"! 

"Follow me Annie.  Do you want something to drink, said the man in the dark suit?  No I don't want anything to drink, but I would like to know why I am at the State Police Post?"  The man in the black suit ignored my question and kept walking.   I followed with a sinking feeling in my heart. 

            The man in the dark suit took me into a room with just a table and a few chairs. Another older man was already sitting down at the table.  I looked at the older man with defiance in my eyes, how dared they try to use me.   All I could think of was Brooks and Penelope.  These men didn't care about my children, but I did. Even though I was outwardly shaking, my mind was spinning out of control, I was getting mad. Handling myself correctly would be crucial. I knew I had to calm down and ignore my pounding heart and the temper about to spin out of control.  I kept thinking to myself, just calm down, listen and don't let them put words in your mouth, you can do this." 

The man in the dark suit introduced himself and the man at the table.  "My name is Robert Gee.  I am a special prosecutor and this is Manny Shirt, He is the sheriff in Lakeland."  Manny Shirt was a chubby guy with bushy light brown brows that hung over tired green eyes that were behind gold wire rimmed glasses.  His hair was starting to gray.   Robert Gee was fairly tall and lean with light brown wavy hair, dark blue eyes and a kind smile that made me feel like he knew I shouldn't be at the State Police Post or with Willy. 

Robert Gee motioned for me to sit down. Manny Shirt just stared at me.  The three of us were in a stark white room.  The silence seemed like it would last forever.   When I thought the screaming in my head would never go away, Manny Shirt asked me if there was anything I would like to tell them?  "I don't know what you want me to tell you. I haven't done anything wrong."

Robert Gee looked at me and then slid a piece of paper across the table. The paper stated I had waved all my rights and anything I said could be used against me.  "Annie if you sign the wavier it shows that you were willing to cooperate and I will see what I can do to help you get home to your children."  I did listen to everything Robert said and it sounded just like a bad scene in a police movie, no way was I going to sign anything, this I too had learned from the movies.   At some point Robert started talking again he was saying something about my children, so I began to listen again.   "Annie, if you refuse to cooperate you could lose your children.  Do you want to take that chance?   I am not signing anything!  I had nothing to do with whatever Willy has done and you guys know it.   Nothing!"

Manny Shirt decided he too would try and goad me into signing the paper, "Annie if you don't have anything to hide why won't you sign the paper?  I am not signing a legal document and I don't have anything to hide.  I would never give up any of my right's as a free person.  Why would I need too?  I didn't do anything wrong, I shouldn't be here!"

"Benny Jones is a police informant and has been working with us for over a year on this case,  "replied Manny Shirt.  Whether you were involved in the cocaine buys or not, you are still responsible. You can go to jail!  Your name is on the lease at Peters Street."   I snapped, "I left because I didn't want anything to do with whatever Willy and Benny were up too!  That doesn't matter, Manny Shirt responded."

"If Benny is an informant then he would have been wearing a wire, "Right?"  Why didn't you mention when Benny came over the first time, I believe it would have been when we lived on Trickle Court?"  Manny Shirt was looking uncomfortable and Robert Gee was no longer looking sympathetic. I went on.

"I know why, I remember what happened that day on Trickle Ct. I was sitting in the rocking chair feeding Penelope when Benny knocked on the door.  Willy opened the door and Benny followed him into our bedroom.  I quickly got up and laid Penelope down in her bed so I could see what they were up too.  As I walked into the bedroom Willy was holding a gallon size bag of cocaine, I flipped and that is why Benny didn't buy it that day, Right?  I remember saying, " take it, it's free!"  And I remember screeching, "Willy, get that stuff out of this house! Now!"  I was hysterical! "Play that part of the tape for me!"

"That means you have me on tape and the jury will know I wasn't involved.  I don't have anything to tell you because I don't know anything.  So take your paper.  I shoved it across the table to Manny Shirt.  "I have rights!"

Robert Gee and Manny Shirt just looked at each other and then got up and began to walk out as the door opened and Benny Jones walked in.  Time stood still all I could do was stare at Benny.  "Benny, what have you done?"

Benny was tall, thin and handsome with straight brown hair parted in the middle feathered behind his ears.  Benny was grinning, even now, like there was nothing wrong.  He was wearing faded jeans a camel colored thin leather jacket that just came to his waist and brown boots.  Benny walked in calm and cool and I wanted to slap him!

"Just cooperate Annie, said Benny."

Benny had a goofy smile on his face like there was something to laugh about.  At that moment I felt like I was having a bad dream, this can't be real.  I don't do the things Willy and his friends do.  I shouldn't be here!

"If you mean sign this paper you are crazy Benny.  The rights I have I am keeping."  Benny continued to push the paper to me and I again pushed it away, never taking my eyes from his.  "Benny I don't know anything. You tell me what Willy's been up too."

Benny just looked at me with the same silly grin on his face.  He was going to let me continue to ramble away. "Benny you're the Nark?  When did it all start?  Was it before the night on Trickle Ct?  How long did you guys deal cocaine?  That's why we are here, Willy and the cocaine!  What else have you guys been up too?  It must be pretty bad if the FBI are involved. "

My head was spinning wondering just what all Willy had been up too. Most of the time I didn't ask Willy about his friends because they didn't come to our home very often. God I just wanted to find a way out, I hated my life!

Now here I am sitting in a room at the state police post across from Benny Jones. "The kids Benny, Brooks and Penelope are at stake. What is wrong with you? Why did you involve me, I am innocent, I don't even smoke pot and you know it."

"Annie I didn't know they would arrest you too.  I swear!"  Benny, look at me I cried shaking uncontrollably."   As I gazed into Benny's eyes I saw the same thing I did in Willy's, fright and desperation.

My eyes began to glisten as I choked back tears.  "You stayed with us the last couple of months I was pregnant with Brooks because Willy was off his rocker after Don was murdered.  Benny you took me to the hospital when I went into labor with Brooks and waited outside the room until he was born."

    "How could you do this, Benny?"