The Girl Most Likely To … - Part 59
By Barbara Lynn Terry

Chapter 1 - Court Date.

The court deputy picked up the prisoners that were going to court. Among these were Richard MacConnell and Franklin J. Dinsworthy, Richard’s attorney.There four prisoners altogether. The court deputy rold them all to stand single file.

They walked the short distance from the jail to the courthouse. The court deputy placed the prisoners in a holding cell to wait until they were called before the judge. In the holding cell, Richard was talking to Frank.

“Frank, what are you doing here?” Asked Richard MacConnell.

“They arrested me, because I wouldn’t show these Gestapo agents my identification.”

“Usually, that is just a ticket. Why didn’t they just give you one?”

“I have no idea. But, when I get before the judge, I am going to move that charges of police harassment be filed against these two cops.”

“But, Frank,” Richard MacConnell started to ask. "What was the reason they wanted to see your I.d., to begin with?”

“They had the road blocked with their piece of junk squad car. I told them to move it as I was in a hurry. They said to either go back to town or take a detour. Then I said, that since they refused to move their piece of junk, I would move it for them. That is when they asked me for my I.d. I told them to go to hell.”

“So, here you are.” Richard told Frank. "Here in Pine Meadows when they have the street or road blocked, it is for a reason. You should have just taken the detour.”

“They had no reason to block the road, without telling me the reason.”

“Frank, they don’t need to give a reason,” Richard MacConnell told his attorney Franklin J. Dinsworthy.

“They certainly do. That comes under the right of the people to be informed. In Detroit, they would …”

“Frank, this is not Detroit. This is Pine Meadows county …”

“I know, Dick, I know. But still …”

“Dinsworthy, you’re up,” said the deputy charged with watching the prisoners. The deputy took Franklin J. Dinsworthy in to the courtroom. The bailiff announced the case.

“State v. Franklin J. Dinsworthy, obstructing an officer, two counts, one count of resisting arrest and one count of attempting to flee an officer, one count of refusing to show identification upon demand by a uniformed officer. Case number M-3758-9.

“Mr. Dinsworthy, I understand that you are an attorney at law. Where is your practice located?” Judge Granger asked.

“In Detroit, Michigan, your honor.”

“Are you licensed to practice law in this state?” Judge Steven H. Granger asked Frank Dinsworthy.

“No, your honor.”

“Then you have no legal standing here, as an attorney, Mr. Dinsworthy. I suggest you confine your law practice to the state of Michigan. How do you plead to the charges in this complaint?”

“Guilty, your honor.”

“Very well. The court accepts your guilty plea and fines you $1000.00 per charge for a total of $5000.00 plus costs. Are you able to pay your fine at this time?”

“Yes, your honor.”

Very well, I will have a deputy escort you to the cashier. When you have paid your fine, you are free to go back to Detroit if you want to practice law. Bailiff, have a deputy escort the defendant to the cashier.”

The honorable Steven H. Granger did not play games when it came to defendants paying their fines, if they said they could pay their fines immediately.

“I will have the next case.”

“State v. Richard MacConnell, attempted murder of a peace officer, two counts.”

“How do you plead, sir?” Asked Judge Granger.

“Not guilty, your honor.”

Richard plead not guilty because he thought Franklin J. Dinsworthy was going to get him out of these charges. Little did Richard know that Frank, his attorney, was ordered not to practice law in this state.

“Do you have an attorney, Mr. MacConnell?”

“Yes, your honor, Franklin J. Dinsworthy from Detroit.”

“Mr. MacConnell, Franklin J. Dinsworthy is not licensed to practice law in this state. Do you have another attorney.”

“No, your honor.”

“Are you able to afford your own attorney?” Judge Granger asked Richard.

“No, your honor,” Richard MacConnell answered the judge.

“Very well, the court appoints Ms. Ginger Reinholdt to represent the defendant. Bail is set in the amount of $800,000.00 cash. The defendant is remanded until paid, or until trial. Next case.”

Richard was taken back to the holding cell. He was thinking that this attorney Ginger whatshername would probably not get him off. He thought that it was too bad that Frank wouldn’t be able to defend him at his trial. He had to somehow get a message to Della and let her know that Frank would not be her attorney neither.

Franklin J. Dinsworthy paid his fine, and started to leave the courthouse. He was stopped by two men wearing suits.

Chapter 2 - Attorney Dinsworthy finds himself in hot water.

“Sir, are you Franklin Joseph Dinsworthy, attorney at law in Detroit, Michigan?” Asked the taller of the two men.

“Yes, sir, I am.” Answered Frank Dinsworthy.

“Sir, I am special agent, Robert Adams, DEA. This is special agent, Thomas Wilde. DEA. We have a federal warrant for your arrest for income tax evasion and another warrant for your arrest for running a laboratory for producing the drug ecstacy.

“You have the right to remain silent, should you give up that right, anything you say now, or in the future, can and will be used against you in a court of law. You may have an attorney during questioning and, if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you by the judge. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”

“Yes, I understand them.”

“We will be taking you to the federal courthouse in our car. The back doors are locked so that prisoners cannot escape by opening the door from the inside. Agent Wilde’s weapon will be secured in the floor safe, and cannot be opened, except by the marshal at the federal courthouse.

“So,” Agent Adams continued. “Let’s go.”

The two agents drove Franklin Joseph Dinsworthy to jail.

Frank knew that Richard and Della would not approve of his being arrested. But then, they didn’t know about Frank’s sideline, either. If Frank was convicted of these crimes, he would be disbarred.

Richard was taken back to the jail, along with the other prisoners. They were just in time for dinner.

“Hey, Richard, what happened in court?” Asked Tony (the knife) DiCicco?”

“Franklin J. Dinsworthy is not a member of the bar here in this state. They appointed Ginger somebodyorelse. I don’t know this attorney; how good she is; if she will fight for me, or just sit in the courtroom, going through the motions of defending me.”

“I know Ginger Reinholdt. She does a very good job of defending her criminal clients. I have had her for my attorney more than once. She knows her stuff,” Big Jim told Richard.

Meanwhile, on the way to the federal courthouse, the two DEA agents are trying to get Frank Dinsworthy to confess to his crimes. But Frank remained silent all the way to federal courthouse garage.

“Last chance to confess, Dinsworthy. If you confess, you will feel a whole lot better.”

“Agent Adams, I don’t think he knows how to talk,” Agent Wilde said to his partner. He was trying to get even a wink out of Frank Dinsworthy. But, no matter what they tried, Frank Dinsworthy was doing a good impression of a mime.

Franklin Joseph Dinsworthy, after a long drive, was surprised to find himself being driven in to the U.S. District court garage, in Detroit.

“End of the line. We will be going in this side door. That leads right to the booking room. By the way, when we tell the judge where we picked you up at, I would not expect a low bail, if I were you,” Agent Wilde told Frank Dinsworthy.

Frank was taken in to the courthouse and to a room where a burly man was setting up the camera.

“Over here, pal,” the man directed Frank. “Give me your right hand.” Frank knew what was coming. He was about to be fingerprinted.

Frank was then taken to a cell to await his initial court appearance. He was recognized by several of the inmates, as they had been clients of his.

The inmates he was with, were there for similar crimes, but none of them had criminal dealings with Frank, except to be represented by him. They all wanted to know what they arrested him for, so he told them.

James Thompson Clark, or JT to his friends, was a former client of Frank’s, and they got to talking. As an attorney, Frank could make out papers for the inmates. So, this way, they could get in to court, and give the judge a reasonable doubt as to the charges against them.

Frank told JT that he would do what he could do.

Chapter 3 - Back at Pine Meadows.

Naomi Petersen and Jim O’Donnell were ready to call it a day, until they got a call.

“County 300, are you available?” The dispatcher
Asked.

“County 300 10-4, dispatch.”

“County 300, report to unknown trouble at the truck stop.”

“County 300, 10-4. I wonder what this one is about,” Naomi remarked to Jim O’Donnell.

“We’re about to find out. There’s the truck stop.”

They pulled in to the parking area, and went around the back of the building. They went through the back door. Eve Reinholdt was the first to see them.

“Naomi, Jim, there’s a guy out in the customer area, bragging that he has a gun and that he is going to kill the so-called dragon lady of Pine Meadows county.”

“Which one is he?” Inquired Naomi.

“The one in the plaid coat,” answered Eve.

“Jim, stay here with Eve. This will only take a few moments.” Naomi went out in the customer area and walked toward the man.

"I’m Pine Meadows county sheriff sergeant, Naomi Petersen; the dragon lady of Pine Meadows county. I hear you want to gun me down.”

“You have my father in jail, bitch. Either release him, or suffer the consequences.”

“What is your name?” Inquired Naomi.

“I don’t have to tell you my name.”

“How are we supposed to know if we have your father in jail, if you don’t tell us your name. Is your last name the same as your father’s?”

“You better believe it is.”

“Well, then, we need to know your name, so we can check our records.”

All the while Naomi was talking to the man, she was slowly advancing toward him.

“You know who he is, now go an get him and bring him back here. Either bring him back here, or I will shoot you dead with this gun.”

As the man reached behind him to get his weapon, Naomi had him on the floor. She handcuffed the man, and used her hand held radio to call the dispatcher.

“Dispatch, this is county 300. The trouble at the truck stop is under control, and we are bringing in one suspect.”

“10-4 county 300.”

As they got to the Pine Meadows county jail, Naomi asked the man, again, to tell her his name. He was as silent as a mime.

Naomi and Jim took the man to the sheriff captain.

“What have we here, sergeant?” Inquired the captain.

“This man demands that we turn his father loose from our jail. The problem is, this man refuses to tell is his name.”

“What is your name, sir?” The captain asked the man.

“That ls none of your business. Now get my father out here, and I mean now.”

“Naomi, is this the trouble maker from the truck stop?”

“Yes, he is captain. He was arrested for threatening to shoot me dead, if I didn’t produce his father at the truck stop.”

“Was he given his Miranda rights?”

“Yes, Captain. We are booking him for threatening a peace officer and he being charged with endangering safety by conduct regardless of life. We are going to book him on felony charges, and then call it a day. We will take him before judge Granger in the morning.”

“Alright, Naomi, Jim, have a good night.”

“Thank you, captain.”

Captain David McAdams has been a deputy sheriff in Pine Meadows county for twenty years. He is six feet, zero inches tall. His hair lost most of it’s original brown, but his mind is still as sharp as a brand new tack.

Naomi arrived at her house, tired and extremely exhausted. Renee was the first to see her.

“Sister Naomi, you look like you got dragged in by a cat. I will fix you a cup of tea. Go and get comfortable, while I fix your tea. Do you want some dinner? We are having pork chops, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans. For dessert we are having angel food cake ala mode. Milk for the children.”

That sounds good, sis. Let me get a shower and some comfortable clothes. This has been a very exhausting day.”

“How is trooper Jim?” Renee asked Naomi.

“He is doing fine. He and I were working together today.” Naomi answered Renee.

“I am helping aunt Ruth with the dinner.”

After Renee said that, Naomi went to take her shower and change out of her uniform. By the time Naomi was done with her shower and changed, dinner was ready.

Carl Richards had to be reminded, again, that it was dinner time. Ruth Watkins went out to the garage to let Carl know dinner was ready. She also reminded him to clean up before coming to the table.

When Carl was at the table, Rachel said grace and they all sat down. The food was passed around, and every one took their portions. Rachel Eileen Watkins asked Naomi about her day.

“You should know by now, Rach, that I cannot tell you about my day. But, I can tell you that it was very hectic. I am relaxing for the rest of the night. What movie do you think we should watch, Rach?”

“I really don’t know, sister Naomi. Maybe we could watch The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement.”

“That sounds great. After we have the kitchen cleaned and the dishes all put away, then we can relax and watch that movie.”

In the Petersen/Richards/Watkins household, everybody chipped in and helped with the cleanup, including Carl Richards. This way the work was done in no time at all, and everybody could relax.

After everything was done, Naomi flopped down on the sofa, exhausted. Renee put the dvd in, and they all watched The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement. They all laughed at the antics of Sir Nicholas trying to upstage the princess’ right to the throne of Genovia. Naomi thought that it was too bad they didn’t make a third movie showing the princess as queen and Sir Nicholas as her consort.

But, because Renee, her brother, and Rachel had school in the morning, and Naomi had to work. So everybody retired to their beds early. Naomi knew that tomorrow was going to be another hectic day.

Next chapter we find Richard MacConnell talking to his newly court appointed attorney. Naomi Petersen and Jim O’Donnell patrol separately.