Bonner Incident (15 page)

“Whew,” Duane said. “I was about to freak out.”

The intercom on his desk went off, “Sheriff, the county prosecutor is here to see you.”

Walking back over to the intercom, he hit the button. “Send him in please.”

Duane turned for the door. “I’ll take my leave boss.”

“Hold it,” Buck snapped. “You’re the third in the chain of command, you stay.”

“Ah shit,” Duane grumbled. “Why did you have to make me a captain?”

“You think,” Buck said sitting down and Stanley walked in carrying a briefcase. Buck looked up at Stanley and shook his head, seeing the dark circles under his eyes. “I take it you haven’t slept much either.”

“Sleep, what’s that?” Stanley said looking at Duane. “He staying?”

“Yes,” Buck said opening a drawer pulling out a notepad. “I need someone other than me who knows what’s going on.”

Stanley nodded as he opened up his briefcase and threw down three stacks of paper. “The FCC just shut down the radio stations in the county,” he said sitting down.

“What,” Buck said snatching up the stacks of paper. “They pulled their license?”

“Yep, they wouldn’t quit broadcasting that Joshua was being framed and that Mrs. Ethel died from complications from the attack by a federal agent,” Stanley said with a sigh. “Their lawyers are filing an appeal, but it’s not going to be heard til next week.”

“Holy shit,” Duane said shaking his head with wide eyes.

Turning to Duane, Stanley narrowed his eyes. “Have you read what you sent me on that flash drive?”

“Not all of it, but I’ve read some of it.”

“The Attorney General of the United States called my office at six a.m., demanding to be put in touch with me,” Stanley said. “When the feds picked up the copies of evidence you’d made for them, it seems they found out that copies were made of that computer, and they want names of who did it and all copies returned.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Duane said as sweat beaded up on his forehead.

Closing his eyes, Stanley nodded. “Yeah, I tried that, but made a copy of the drive you gave me and sent it to the feds and told them that was the only copy. Seems there is a federal law that forbids anyone from downloading information off a government computer unless you are a federal agency. No state agency has the right or privilege to even petition for a warrant to do it. It’s a felony punishable by twenty-five years in a federal pen.”

“That’s a load of shit,” Buck snapped. “They police themselves and nobody can question it? Last time I checked, that goes against the Constitution.”

“That’s why I made a copy and if more exist, I don’t want to know,” Stanley said opening his briefcase up. “Buck, you better be damn sure that Joshua’s in the right because they are coming after both of us,” he said taking out several folders and looked up at Buck. “I just hired my own legal counsel and I suggest you do the same.”

“He’s the God damn sheriff and you’re the county prosecutor!” Duane shouted.

Looking at the stuffed folders in his hands, Stanley looked over at the conference table. “Can we move there? I have too much shit I need to show you,” he said not waiting for an answer, but grabbed his briefcase and walked over to the table. “Yes we are, Duane, but unlike the feds here who seem to be untouchable, Buck and I aren’t.”

Buck grabbed his pad and hit the intercom button. “Call my wife and tell her to call her sister Karen. We may need her to defend me.”

“Yes sheriff,” a soft female voice answered as Buck and Duane joined Stanley at the table.

“Wish I would’ve thought of Karen,” Stanley said sitting down spreading out the folders. “Now, I’ve looked up the laws and executive orders and legal rulings on the executive orders they are using. We don’t have to help and can’t be held accountable, but if the feds consider our actions as conflicting with their investigation, they can hold us accountable.”

“Define ‘conflicting’,” Buck said sitting down.

Looking up at Buck with a straight face, “Not kissing their ass with tongue,” Stanley said.

“So, I take it you know something?” Buck sighed.

“Yep, they’ve petitioned the governor to remove us and set up interim people in our spots,” Stanley said.

Duane dropped into a chair, “The governor would never get re-elected if he did that.”

“Yes, but he would get a job in Washington working at a lobbying firm and making four times as much as he does now,” Stanley said leaning back in his chair.

“How do you know that?” Duane asked feeling his heart beating faster.

Looking from Duane to Buck, Stanley said. “The governor told me.” Both men looked at Stanley in horror. “Oh, he said he wasn’t, but wanted me to know just how the feds were going to play ball. The governor told them he may have a job outside of the state, but his family would still be here.”

“Okay Stanley, so you want to bug out?” Buck asked wearily.

Stanley jumped up out of his seat. “Are you fucking crazy!” he shouted. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely and this is what we are looking at! This is why I went to law school to stand up for people who couldn’t stand up for themselves!”

“Lord Acton: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Buck said reciting the quote. Feeling relieved, Buck nodded. “I just had to ask because I’m not backing down either.”

Sitting back down, Stanley stared at Buck. “If I was you, I would send my wife to the bank and withdraw all of your money because something tells me they will come after it.”

Duane gave a low whistle as Buck nodded. “She’s bringing in Sonya and William, so I’ll tell her.”

“Good, because I was going to tell you to bring them here for the feds to question them,” Stanley said pulling out his cellphone, but didn’t dial it. “Can I use your hardline?” he asked looking at the phone on the table. “I’m sure they are pulling all our cellphone signals by now.”

“They can’t do that,” Duane said.

Picking up the phone, Stanley nodded. “According to their rules, they can. I have the court rulings in my briefcase that even agree with them. But I’m also sure they have all the phones here in the building tapped because the ruling also stated under national security, they can do it. They only have to convince a panel of their own people that who they’re after, might be a threat to national security.”

Duane looked over at Buck, then back to Stanley, “Um, how can they say Joshua is a threat to national security?”

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, “Joshua had the audacity to not allow the federal government to seize a large portion of his physical assets; meaning everything,” Stanley said. “They are claiming money laundering to hide monetary gain to defraud taxable monies, and the death of federal agents who tried to stop him are in the national interest. They have a very broad view of national security.”

Buck’s mouth hung open as Stanley stared at him. “I know Buck,” Stanley said holding up a folder. “I’ve looked the other way when an officer has skirted the line of the law, but holy hell,” he said dropping the folder on the table. “The feds aren’t bending the laws; they are making them up to get what they want.”

“So you’re saying we are going to lose?” Duane mumbled covering his face with his hands.

“Huh,” Stanley scoffed. “No one could win against this playing field.”

Leaning back in his chair, Buck grunted. “So, what’s your opinion on how we should handle this?”

“Keep standing for the citizens of this county until we are arrested,” Stanley said.

Dropping his hands off his face, Duane shook his head. “You really think they are going to arrest the sheriff and the county prosecutor?”

“Sooner or later,” Stanley nodded as Buck’s secretary knocked and opened the door.

“Sheriff, Sonya and William Anderson are here,” she said and Buck nodded.

Sonya walked in with her arm on William’s shoulder. “Buck, your wife said she was running the errand you wanted and Karen said, ‘Hell yeah, she would represent you’,” Sonya said walking over to the table as the others stood up.

As Sonya and William shook everyone’s hand Stanley smiled at her. “Ralph will be here shortly, I called him for you,” he said shaking her head.

Sonya nodded and sat down beside Stanley. “So, just how much trouble is Joshua in?”

“Let’s worry about you two first,” Stanley said making her gasp. “Don’t get worked up, but the feds want to question you about Joshua.”

“They can kiss my butt,” William said lifting his chin.

Buck grinned, “William, I know you’re mad, but please don’t provoke them.”

“Dad was protecting himself,” William cried out.

“I know son,” Buck said dropping the grin. “But the feds are coming down hard after him, so don’t give them a reason to use you and Sonya against him. That’s why I told them that they could talk to you here, with us.”

“Oh, okay,” William mumbled and Sonya patted his arm.

“Sheriff, you have several federal officers and a private attorney waiting to see you,” the intercom blared.

Buck stood up and looked at Sonya. “Sonya, I don’t know what Ralph is going to tell you, but if asked about what you withdrew, tell them Joshua took it.”

Stanley sucked in a breath looking at Buck in shock. “Buck, you can’t lie to a federal officer, it’s against the law. It doesn’t matter that they can lie to you.”

Glancing at Stanley, Buck turned back to Sonya. “It’s not a lie, I’m sure Joshua would’ve taken it to prevent charges from being pressed against Sonya and William,” he said with a nod.

Taking a deep breath, Sonya nodded, “Of course he took it, and said he would hide it.”

Giving a relieved sigh, Buck hit the intercom. “Send them in.”

FBI SAC Burrows and Homeland Agent in charge Griffey walked in, followed by more people in suits. “Sheriff, this is IRS agent Laura Hughes, BATFE agent Ernie Butler, and Boyd Weber with the EPA,” he said walking to the table as Ralph moved over and pulled a chair up beside Sonya, whispering in her ear.

“What the hell is the ATF here for?” Duane asked shaking his head.

“Suspected illegal transfer of firearms to the suspect Joshua Anderson,” Agent Griffey said as the others sat down, but he sat at the end of the table and Sonya grabbed William’s arm, squeezing it to make him stay quiet. “Ah, Mrs. Sonya Anderson, so glad you could join us. We have a lot of questions for you.”

Ralph stood up, “My client is evoking spousal privilege.”

“Nice try, but under National Security directive 23145, that doesn’t work. Any person withholding information on a terrorist suspect will be detained,” Agent Griffey grinned, “Indefinite detention until cooperation.” 

“Until you produce this document, I’m advising my client not to answer anything that is privileged information between spouses,” Ralph said with a curt nod. 

“Sorry, but that directive is Top Secret and not available for public access,” Griffey said as the grin turned into a smile.

Slapping the table and scaring everyone, Stanley stood up. “You can’t enforce laws that aren’t public knowledge and furthermore, if you even attempt it, I’ll have you arrested right now, you son of a bitch,” he snapped. “Try, I dare ya. No, fuck that, I double dare ya!”

“I would watch your threats, counselor,” Griffey said narrowing his eyes.

Before Stanley could answer, Buck coughed, getting his attention. Stanley looked at Buck as Buck slowly stood up from his chair and leaned over the table looking at Agent Griffey. “Oh, that wasn’t a threat Griffey. It’s a cold hard fact,” Buck said staring holes into Griffey. “Now, knowing that Mrs. Anderson has declared spousal privilege, are there any questions you wish to ask? And I assure you, you won’t be arresting her today or any day if she refuses to answer a question she doesn’t have to, not while I’m sheriff and have armed deputies under me. My department may not be large, but I can call a lot of armed citizens to my aid.”

Griffey relaxed, getting his emotions back under control and sighed. “I was hoping you would see the light and join us in this investigation, sheriff.”

“I’m not enforcing tyranny Griffey, not for you or anyone else,” Buck growled as he sat back down.

“Seems this area is overrun with people that don’t comply with government orders,” Griffey said.

“Griffey,” Buck said, leaning back in his chair and looking at the EPA agent Weber. “Yes, we’ve had a lot of trouble with you federal boys and girls trying to come in here and tell people what they can and can’t do on their own land,” he said then glanced at the others. “The Sacketts won sir, and yet you still haul people in for the same thing. We won’t even get into Ruby Ridge.”

“Exactly,” Griffey said. “Too many people around here, even the officers of the law think they don’t have to abide by federal statutes.”

“Maybe people around here want to be left the hell alone,” Buck snapped. “Now, do you have questions that don’t fall under privileged status for Mrs. Anderson?”

Griffey nodded at the IRS agent. Laura looked down at her notes. “Where is the money you withdrew from the bank and the contents of your safe deposit box?” she asked and then looked over at Sonya.

Sonya whispered in Ralph’s ear, then he looked over at Laura. “That falls under privileged status,” Ralph said.