Ginger snaps, p.23
Ginger Snaps, page 23
cancer?”
“Don’t do it, liz. Don’t patronize me. I think you know exactly what
his research is about. You may not know what kept him awake at night,
or what his plan was, but you know.”
“Why don’t you tell me? You seem to know.”
“I think Doug was working on a cure for cancer using some chem-
ical compound found in marijuana. You told me about his grafting
and pruning—I think he was experimenting with crossing the proper-
ties of other plants like kale that are known to have cancer-limiting
effects. I think the special spice you talk about consists of ground
seeds or other parts of hybrid plants he has been developing over
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time. I think his research precisely documents every step he has taken
over the years.
“everyone knows marijuana can help with the pain and side effects
of cancer treatment, but Doug thought it might actually have cura-
tive qualities when combined with other plants. I may not have the
science right, but I bet he was improving the marijuana in ways that
nobody had thought of or tried. Most people grow different strains of
marijuana to improve the high. Doug was developing different strains
to find a cure for cancer.
“Despite the government banning this kind of research, Doug
decided to forge ahead on his own, or maybe with Angie, at NIH, and
his work here in Arkansas is just a continuation. But something got to
him recently, really scared him. He couldn’t stop because he felt sure
he was close to a breakthrough. I think the Feds finally realized what
he was up to and put the quash on it.
“He was ready to tell me, but the government wouldn’t and won’t
let me communicate with him, and is determined to get his research
and whatever else he has discovered.”
The thoughts that had been swirling in my head had finally crystal-
lized into sense. Now I really was scared.
liz smiled like a Memphis Belle. “I told Micki it was all about the
ginger snaps.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Jack, it’s time to relax. Where on earth is the maid? She’s sup-
posed to be bringing us wine. My folks are entertaining Maggie, and
now that you’ve figured it all out, I can tell you a lot more about what
he actually discovered and what his research has uncovered. It’s a lot
more complicated than marijuana, kale, and cross-breeding. Doug
truly is a genius, but because it involves growing, testing, and more
testing, the work is slow and tedious, and he needed lots of the actual
plant.
“I’m sorry I played the dumb blonde with you. I promised Doug,
but I was wrong to hold out on you and Micki. Doug wanted to protect
me from the authorities as much as he could. We had no idea they’d
go to such lengths to isolate him, not even let him talk to his lawyer.
I resorted to the only thing I could think of: the clueless wife. Sorry.”
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I was ready for a little quiet, a little time to think about what she’d
said. But she was quickly back in gear, chatting about the difficulties
of furnishing a rental house on short notice. How she could turn it
on and off on a dime was amazing. The maid finally arrived with a
chilled and uncorked bottle of wine, two glasses, and a bowl of cheese
straws. She set the tray on a table and left without a backward glance.
liz morphed back into Dr. elizabeth Stewart and for the next hour
she educated me with a lecture on cancer, biochemical research, and
“ginger snaps.”
I left her father’s house feeling overwhelmed with knowledge. My
head was spinning either with information or wine, maybe a little bit
of both.
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38
D
We buckled up for the short flight from Memphis to little Rock. I
begged off giving Maggie, Clovis, and the now wide-awake Debbie a
report. I needed time and rest to process what I’d learned, time to let
my brain—my whole body—catch its breath, so to speak. So I insisted
Debbie take the seat across from Maggie, and dozed for the short
flight in the back of the plane.
We touched down safely and were back at the hotel within a few
minutes. We were a silent, weary lot, each ready for a little solitude.
I indulged in a hot bath before easing into my very comfy bed, but
I couldn’t get to sleep, couldn’t help thinking about what liz had
told me.
I thought of Angie and those last few months–the pain, the weight
loss, Beth and I trying to put a good face on the inevitable. liz had
told me that Angie’s suffering, even more than her own, had a pro-
found effect on Doug. As a chemist, his research and experiments had
all been more or less theoretical, until he saw firsthand what Angie
was going through. Then his research became a mission. Apparently
he and Angie collaborated in experiments crossing marijuana with
other plants, but, as liz had said, his research soon became much
more complicated.
To my surprise, Doug had offered ginger snaps to Angie, as well as a
few joints for her pain and weak stomach, but she’d declined. She told
him it would upset me and set a bad example for Beth. I wish she’d
asked me. She would have been surprised.
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So now I had a good idea what Doug had been up to since Angie’s
death, but proving it would be another matter, and growing marijuana
was still illegal. As for Dub, he was a sleezeball as well as inept, but I
could hardly walk into court and accuse him of being dirty on the
word of a former prostitute and her pimp. Novak would have about as
much credibility as a snake oil salesman.
Moreover, I had no evidence of any connection between Dub’s
obsession with this case and his personal habits. How could I get
around all the plants in Doug’s backyard? The plants may have been
for medical research, but I faced proving a negative. The law pre-
sumes that if you cultivate that many plants, you are growing for the
purpose of distribution. Medical necessity and medical research are
not valid defenses, no matter how well intentioned. How could I rebut
Dub’s assertion that Doug sold to kids—call Novak to the stand to
testify? I had to assume Dub had someone ready, willing, and available
to testify against Doug.
Finally, who was behind all of this and why? Who had moved Moira
from Detroit weeks ago just in case her special skills were needed?
Who’d decided to raise the ante by trying to kill Micki and me? Who
had that kind of money and what had they to gain?
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SAtuRdAy
April 26, 2014
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39
D
The alarm on my iPhone woke me up at six-thirty. It took me a
minute to focus, but I was glad to be up. Better to be awake to face a
new day than to be plagued by memories and bizarre dreams. After a
long shower, I left the room with my day organized and my thoughts
all in their appropriate boxes.
Maggie had convinced the manager to open a private space off
the main dining room. We indulged in excellent eggs benedict, hash
browns, and fresh berries I doled out assignments ending with a con-
cern that had been nagging at me.
“Clovis, someone needs to check our hardware. I wouldn’t put it
past Dub to hack our computers in the name of ‘national security.’ I
know you’ve already checked our rooms and phones for bugs, but the
government uses more sophisticated tools than simple bugs. Debbie,
does Micki have a guy who can deal with this? Maggie, what about our
offices in DC?”
Maggie nodded, taking notes in shorthand. A lost art.
Debbie spoke up, a bit tartly. “As a matter of fact, we do, and she is
not a guy. Her name is Stella Rice. She’s a whiz, and it will really piss
her off if the FBI got through her system.”
“If she finds anything, tell her not to disconnect it, at least not until
you’ve checked with me.”
Debbie smiled. “You’re going to like Stella. She’s your type, Jack.”
“I don’t know what that means, but don’t introduce me. No more
little Rock women.”
“What about Micki?” Debbie produced a little pout.
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“Micki is different. She was never a distraction,” I lied.
Clearly irritated, Maggie interrupted, “When are you going to let us
in on what you learned from liz?”
“Plenty of time for that later. If the judge gives me access to Doug,
we’ll be on our way to oklahoma City in short order. If he doesn’t,
you, Clovis, and I are going to DC to meet with Walter.”
Debbie looked like an eager puppy.
“okay, what’s up?” I asked, smiling.
“No offense, everyone, but all this security is putting a huge cramp
in my lifestyle. Clovis, can’t you at least assign a cute, male guard to
me? You know—someone to keep me from getting lonesome.”
Remembering what we owed her, I tried not to frown—or laugh.
Clovis’s jaw dropped—first liz, now Debbie—they just didn’t fit into
any niche he was prepared for.
“Clovis, I’ll leave her request in your capable hands.”
He wasn’t amused.
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40
D
Janis Harold was waiting on a bench outside the courtroom. The
look on her face told me she had bad news.
“Jack, Maggie, you know I don’t mince words. My husband received
a call last night from one of our best clients. The client feels that my
involvement with you is a conflict of interest. If I persist, he intends to
file a complaint with the Supreme Court Committee on Professional
Responsibility.”
I asked, “Is he right?”
“No, but he’s not someone who issues idle threats. Archie and I
talked about it. We don’t think he’s bluffing, and we’re going to drop
the bastard as a client.”
“Why drop the bastard as a client? There’s no reason for that,” I
responded.
“oh, yes, there is. Archie and I don’t need any client, no matter
how rich, who’d make such a threat. We’re better off without him.
Still, dropping him doesn’t cure his perceived conflict, so I can’t help
you today or in the future. Totally pisses me off, but there it is.”
“I understand and won’t lean on our friendship to ask who he is.”
Janis grinned. “I wish I could tell you. Believe me, I do. Be careful. I
have no idea what hornet’s nest you’ve stirred up, but it’s a doozy, and
it’s clearly not about a few marijuana plants.”
“No, Janis. It’s about ginger snaps.” I enjoyed the look on her face.
lack of local counsel could be a real problem. I’m very familiar
with the ins and outs of federal court, but every state has more than a
few idiosyncrasies. A good lawyer should never venture into another
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state’s courtroom without a local lawyer who knows both the eccen-
tricities and the judge.
Maggie’s lips tightened as Dub walked through the courtroom
doors. This time he didn’t bother to shake any hands. We had just taken
our seats when a frowning Judge Houston strode in, robes flapping,
brusquely motioning us to remain seated. He didn’t waste any time.
“I’ll post my orders online in a timely fashion. However, I thought
it appropriate to advise counsel of the substance of my findings.
First, Mr. Patterson, I hope you will convey our deepest concern to
Ms. lawrence for her well-being. However, I see no reason for her
absence to delay our proceedings. My clerks have confirmed that
you are what you represent—licensed in this state and admitted to
the bar of this court. Despite these facts and without providing you
a copy, the prosecution has filed a motion under seal to have you
removed from this case.”
I couldn’t believe my ears, but before I could say a word the judge
continued, “That motion is denied.”
Dub fumed, and I relaxed.
“Mr. Blanchard, I have carefully reviewed your claim that by des-
ignating the defendant as a terrorist you have the right to hold Dr.
Stewart indefinitely without charges. The problem with your argu-
ment is that the Defense Authorization Act of 2012 may give the mili-
tary the right to do just that, but you’re not the military. So you will
either charge Dr. Stewart or release him.
“I also find that Mr. Patterson’s security clearance is valid. You’ve
not contested the documents he gave the court earlier, so I’m ordering
that all the documents filed under seal be given to him under appro-
priate procedures, and that he be granted immediate access to Dr.
Stewart.”
So far so good, I was winning on every issue, but the judge wasn’t
finished.
“I understand you plan to appeal these decisions and seek a stay of
my orders from the eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Is that correct?”
Dub jumped up quickly. “That’s right, your Honor.”
“That request will not be necessary. I will stay my orders pending a
timely appeal by your office.”
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I rose as well, trying to keep a poker face. Staying his orders pending
appeal meant nothing would happen for months.
“Your Honor, does the stay apply to access to my client?”
The judge’s face was sympathetic, but his answer was not.
“Mr. Patterson, I understand your frustration, but the government’s
filings carry enough credibility that I’m confident the Circuit Court
will grant a stay, so I’m going to save everyone the time and effort. You
won your argument, Mr. Patterson. You will just have to wait until the
government exhausts its appeal.”
Meanwhile my client rots in jail.
Dub and his associates were having a hard time holding back their
glee. I’d won the first battle, but was losing the war.
The judge continued, “As I understand it, technically no charges
have been filed against Dr. Stewart, so the only thing before the court
is the civil forfeiture case. Mr. Patterson, you have a few weeks to file
a response to the government’s complaint and seizure. As soon as you
do, I’ll set a civil hearing. I like to move my docket, so be prepared for
a quick setting.”
I had only a moment to make a decision. I’d hoped to get all my
ducks in a row, consult further with liz and Doug before I gambled
their lives on a long shot. I looked at Maggie. She had no idea what I
was thinking, but we’d worked together long enough that she had a
sixth sense about my instincts.
She shrugged her shoulders with a discreet smile, and I took the
plunge.
“Your Honor that may not be necessary.”
I could almost hear ears perking up.
“With the prosecution’s permission, I’d like to inform the Court of
the offer the government has made concerning civil forfeiture and
suggest a resolution.”
The judge transferred his gaze to Dub, who was already conferring
with Bullock. He asked the Court for a brief recess. The judge gave
us five minutes, and I watched Dub make a beeline to a well-dressed
man in the gallery who was surely not a lawyer. Bullock, who suddenly
appeared directly in front of me, interrupted my line of sight.
“okay, Jack, what’s on your mind?”
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“I’m suggesting we take your deal. You decline to prosecute liz,
you let her keep her house, furniture, artwork, etc., and you get to
auction off Doug’s cars, his lab equipment, his research, etc. I have
only one condition: I want you to hold the auction in two weeks, with
