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George Pollock State KidIssue 46
“We Fight to the End.”
“That little creep!” Mr. Stojak said, shaking his fist at the TV image of Billy Stone. “The police have Joy and are holding her somewhere? What is that all about? What's he doingon TV dressed up in a suit and spouting all that crap?”On and on it went, with Mrs. Stojak trying to calm her husband down and Frank Jr. afraidto say a word. When Mr. Stojak heard Billy say that Joy had accused him of assault, hewas so livid that it never occurred to him that such a charge would have consequences for him; and that the police would inevitably be calling at his door.His disconnection was so complete that when he saw the police cruiser pull into hisdriveway, heard the doorbell ring, and opened the door to see Officers Wynette andMancini, he was surprised -- and pleased.“Thank God,” he said. “You found Joy. Is she okay? I knew I could count on the police.Where is she? We'll go get her right now. We've been so worried about her. Why'd they letthat creep go on TV and shoot off his big mouth? Where is my daughter?” Not sure they heard right, the two officers shot looks at each other. “Put your hands onyour head and slowly turn around, Sir,” Officer Wynette said.“What? What do you mean? What for?”Officer Mancini spun Mr. Stojak around while Officer Wynette quickly cuffed his hands behind him while reading him his rights.“A lawyer? A phone call? I'm being arrested?”“Yes, sir,” Officer Wynette said.“For what? What's going on? This is my own house. You can't do this. Are you guys nuts?I don't believe this. Now the police have gone crazy. Dolores, call somebody. Don't juststand there with your hands in your face, call somebody!”The officers hustled Mr. Stojak out of the house and into the cruiser. He called back to hiswife, “Call somebody ... call somebody .... Tell them the police have gone crazy ... callsomebody....”***“He's been arrested?” Joy Stojak said in her hiding place, the storage room. “Are yousure?”“Yes, he's in custody,” said Vera. “My Dad just told me.”“Now, you're free,” Billy said. “He can't hurt you any more. You can look after your mother. She must be pretty upset. Why don't you give her a call?”“Yes. She'll be hysterical. I've got to go to her.”
 
“Of course. I understand. You won't be at the news conference. It's okay, believe me.”“I didn't say that. I'm going to be there, standing right beside you. I'll go home rightafterwards.”“Are you sure, Joy?”She nodded.Billy squeezed her hand and he and Vera left, leaving Joy in her hiding place.“You look wiped,” Vera said, taking Billy's hand. “How are you holding up?”“I'm ready to fall over. What time is it?”“A little after two.”“I have to check on the negotiations.”“I'll do it. You have to close your eyes.”“I have to see how Debra is doing with her story.”“I'll check with her --- that is, if you want me to.”“Yes, thank you.”“I have to meet with Kali, Durk and Angel.”“I'll do it. What do you want me to tell them?”“Tell them the decisive moment is here. Tell them I will never abandon them.”“I'll tell them.”“I have to talk with the Fairview students and the East Side people, too. We need to haveas many as possible stay tonight and longer if necessary. Without them, we have no cover.I need a head count.”“I'll talk to them.”“I'm worried about Joy in that hole by herself. Can you check in with her, make sure shehas food and something to drink and something to read?”“Sure.”“And I need a sense of what the cops are thinking.”“I'll take a few temperatures. My Dad and I are talking, by the way -- thanks to you.”“Great! Also, I need info on Waters, Conroy and Salera -- you know, dirt.”“Okay, rest that overheated brain of yours. I'll take care of everything.”She led Billy to the guard's room, where she took off his tie, jacket and shoes and pushedhim onto a cot.“I have to talk to Wally Witkowski about Carson's guards. He'll ...”His words trailed off as bone-deep exhaustion took him over.Vera kissed him on the forehead and left him, asking the inmate guards who had postedthemselves outside the room not to let anyone disturb him for any reason. Then shemethodically went about tying up loose ends and digging up the requested intelligence.
 
***Two hours later Vera was back, awakening Billy with a kiss and news.“There's a deal in the works. It's complicated, but Billy, it ... it gets you
out 
! You're goingto be free ...
 free
.”Billy bounced up and grabbed Vera and the two danced around the room laughing andcrying.“I'm going to be free! Free! Oh Vera, we are going to have so much fun. We're going togo everywhere, do everything. It's going to be so
wonderful 
.”“Wait a minute ... Where are you going to live?”“I don't know. Who cares? I'll live somewhere, anywhere.”He hoisted Vera in the air and twirled her around and around. “As long as a certainvampire princess will be with me.”“Into the shower with you. I've got a fresh outfit for you. You're going to make'em sit upand spit nickels.”“Yes, Ma'am,” Billy said, saluting.He jumped into the shower. He stuck his face into the heavy stream and kept it there. Itwas heavenly. His long nightmare was winding down, washing right down the drain. Never had he taken a more joyous shower.“C'mon, c'mon,” Vera said. “Get dressed.”She had laid out his clothes for him: a navy, double-breasted blazer with brass buttons to be worn with tan trousers and a light blue shirt with a white collar. She had chosen a silk turquoise tie. She tossed him clean underwear and the pants. Behind the bathroom door,Billy got into them. He came out dressed.“Turquoise? You got to be kidding. It doesn't go.”“It's different. You need a different look.”“It doesn't go. You're color-blind.”David Weatherall came in along with Kali, Angel, and Durk. With Vera fussing over hisoutfit, Billy embraced them all.“What's the deal?” Billy asked.“They say you're getting out,” David Weatherall said, “but that Judge Salera has to hold ahearing before it can be official. The hearing is supposed to be a formality.”“That goes for Emiliano and the others?”“Yes.”“Is the hearing scheduled?”“No, but they say it will be this week.”“What about amnesties?”“That's the Governor's office. Nothing yet.”
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11 / 29 / 2010<span class="translation_missing">en_US, this_document_made_it_onto_the</span>Rising List!
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