Chapter 33: The Fugitive Felon Act

January 14, 1984, Antler, North Dakota

Violet had served as navigator, and we pulled up to the border crossing at 2:14pm on Saturday. I had no idea exactly where to go, so I simply pulled up to the crossing and asked. The officer directed me to a parking spot next to the building. I parked, and Violet and I got out of the car. We walked into the building, and I handed my ID to the officer at the desk. He called Officer Emmerson, who came to the desk and escorted us to an interview room.

"May I see your ID, Miss?"

Violet handed over her Illinois ID card.

"And your relation to Mr. Kane or Ms. Newton?"

"A mutual friend," Violet said. "Jonathan brought me along to help with Heather. Bev and Heather lived with me for about a month before she moved into her apartment."

"Do you have a car seat in your car?" Officer Emmerson asked.

"We do," I replied. "We also have diapers, formula, bottles, liners, and clothes."

"I have a fax from the FBI instructing me to release Heather to you. I'll just need you to sign a document that you've accepted custody, and you can be on your way."

He pushed a document to me, and I read through it. Everything was fine except for one thing – under relationship to Heather, it said 'Father'. I had a decision to make and felt I could take the risk, as once Heather was with her grandparents, I'd basically be out of the loop. With a small amount of trepidation, I signed and dated the form and pushed it back to Officer Emmerson.

"I'll have the female officer who has your daughter bring her to you. Miss Newton requested to speak to you, and I'm inclined to allow it."

"Given I have no idea what's happened over the last week, I'm not sure that's a good idea. I would hate to have to repeat anything she told me if I was questioned under oath."

"I can't officially say it, but I think that's wise, given she's facing federal charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive and attempting to illegally cross the border in aid of a fugitive."

He got up and returned a minute later with a female officer who handed Heather to me. Once again, I was thankful Heather cooed and smiled, and she smiled at Violet.

"She ate about thirty minutes ago and has a clean diaper," the female officer said.

"Thank you!"

Not wanting to press our luck, I thanked Officer Emmerson, then left the room with Heather. Violet followed me, and we made our way quickly to the car. We got Heather situated in her car seat, then Violet and I got into the car. I carefully navigated out of the parking area and back onto the highway for our drive to Minneapolis. As I accelerated, I let out a long sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?" Violet asked.

"The form had a blank for my relationship to Heather, and it had 'Father' written in. I took a big risk signing that document because we all know that's a lie."

"But nobody else knows that, right?"

"Nobody in the government," I replied. "I suspect Glen won't say anything because, at this point, he could only hurt himself by talking to anyone in law enforcement. I have no idea what Bev might say or do, but for right now, she won't risk losing Heather, and despite being upset with me, she sees me as her best hope."

"I'm curious — where will the Marshals take them?"

"I have no clue how it works when there are federal and state charges. I think the charges against Bev are only federal, but I'm not sure. For Glen, I'm sure there are federal charges in addition to the Ohio charges. If I had to guess, both of them would go before a federal judge in North Dakota first.

"At that point, I have no clue what will happen, because I have only a vague memory of how extradition is supposed to work. I think Ohio has to ask for Glen to be returned, and he can fight that, but I seem to recall those fights are always lost so long as the warrant and request are valid. But with federal charges, I think he could be taken to Ohio without extradition. All of that is based on vague memories. In any event, I doubt anything will happen before Monday, and by then, Heather will be in Ohio."

"What happens if they find out you lied?"

"Well, I think I have a legitimate answer in that I wanted to ensure Heather was with her grandparents, and that's where she will be. I also have copies of the documents Bev signed, of which the FBI has copies. So, I think, in the end, nothing would come of it. If it does, then I'll deal with it. I don't think the risk is that great."

"I was surprised you didn't want to talk to Bev."

"Mainly, it was what I said to the Border Patrol officer — that I would hate for Bev to say something to me and have me be called to testify against her. That might happen as it is. The other reason is I can't be involved with her. She's lied multiple times, run away multiple times, and cut off contact multiple times. She needs serious help, and until she gets it, she's a danger to herself and to Heather.

"I've tried to help her time and time again, and she swats away my extended hand unless I'm in a position to force the issue or she's at risk of losing Heather. I was ready to make a commitment to Bev before all the stuff with paternity went down. I was ready to make a commitment to Bev after that. I offered help, and instead, she ran away to St. Louis. I offered help again, and instead, she ran away to Kansas. I just can't do it any longer."

"I guess I just feel sorry for her," Violet said, "and I think you're the only person who can actually help her."

"That might be true," I replied, "but she has to actually want my help. She's acted erratically. Think about the contradictions — she runs away from me, doesn't want to talk to me, tells me to leave her alone, and then has a lawyer draw up guardianship papers and a power of attorney. Something is seriously wrong with Bev, and until she admits it and gets help, there really isn't anything more I can do.

"I mean, I basically rescued her in Overland Park, brought her to Chicago, found her a place to live, helped her get a job, and helped her avoid the private investigator. I also did all the legwork to get her child support, and more or less forced her to take it. When Glen came to Chicago, I was supportive and befriended him, though not as a close friend. Then, when all of it goes off the rails due to the accusation, rather than ask me for help right away, I find out from the Clermont County Sheriff, and once again, she runs away.

"It was at that point I realized that the one person who needed my help the most was Heather, even if it wasn't in Bev's best interest. That little girl has been dragged all over the Midwest, all because Bev couldn't deal with her parents. Fine, I get it. My mom and her parents are estranged. But a friend took my mom in and helped her, and my mom accepted that help. That's all Bev needed to do.

"And it wasn't just me — she rejected my mom and the McGills, too. We all tried to help her, and her response was to run away. I honestly think there's more to this, and I have a suspicion that Bev started lying to me before I moved to Illinois. If that's the case, then she played me the entire time."

"I don't believe that!" Violet protested.

I shrugged, "At this point, I don't know what to believe. All I know is Heather needs a stable, loving home. That's probably the most important thing my mom did for me. The only way that's going to happen at this point is if Heather is with her grandparents. If Bev gets help and gets her act together, I am positive her parents would agree to allow her to have Heather again."

"Do you know how bad the charges might be or what might happen?"

"It all depends on what Bev says and what the real circumstances are with regard to Glen."

"What do you mean?"

"That her postpartum depression could be the cause of her erratic behavior, and if so, it might be possible for it to excuse what she's done. She could also claim that Glen coerced her. I honestly don't know what happened or what she was thinking, but if I were her, that's the approach I would take. The thing is, she's told so many lies that, at this point, I'm not sure she knows what the truth actually is.

"This is a perfect example of the problem with telling lies — they pile on each other, and eventually, it becomes impossible to tell the truth. I've lied about exactly one thing — being Heather's biological dad. And I can justify doing so because, in both instances, it achieved a far better result for Heather and prevented potentially disastrous results. In this specific instance, I don't have to tell any other lies to support that lie."

"I think you were right to do what was necessary to keep Heather out of foster care, even temporarily."

"Thanks."

January 15, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

"I can take you home as soon as Heather is with her grandparents, or you can stay for dinner," I said to Violet as I turned into the alley behind my house.

"I'll stay for dinner. I would like to be home by 8:30pm, if possible."

"That works for me, too, because I'm beat after all the driving, even getting a good night's sleep last night."

I turned into the driveway and parked, deciding not to put the car in the garage, as I would be driving Violet home after dinner. I got Heather from her car seat, and Violet grabbed our bags and the supplies, and we went into the house. I was not surprised that the Newtons were there despite it only being 2:00pm.

"Heather!" Julie Newton exclaimed happily.

I handed Heather to her, then Jim Newton shook my hand.

"Thank you," he said. "Did you see Bev?"

"No. She's going to need an attorney and counseling. I'm going to guess she'll be taken before a federal judge in North Dakota, but I'm not sure. The Border Patrol officers detained them, but I infer they didn't question them about anything other than trying to cross the border. What the Marshals or FBI will do, I can't say."

"Do you have any idea who we could speak with?" Mr. Newton asked.

"I'd say the FBI agents here or the Clermont County Sheriff's Department. I can give you a business card from Agent Johnson, or you could call the Sheriff's Department and speak to Sergeant Callahan. I think the FBI is your best bet at the moment. They could at least tell you where she is. May I speak to you and Julie privately for a moment?"

"I'll take Heather," Violet offered.

Julie handed Heather to Violet, and she, Jim, and I went to the Japanese room.

"The FBI, Marshals, and Border Patrol all think I'm Heather's father. We know that's not possible, but the documents Bev signed implied that, and given the subterfuge in Overland Park, it wouldn't surprise me if Bev told them I'm Heather's dad. You need to speak to Mr. Chojnicki first thing tomorrow to begin the proceedings for you to have legal custody of Heather."

"How much trouble could you be in?" Jim Newton asked.

"I don't know, but the form I signed wasn't under oath. I never said I was Heather's father — either the FBI said I was, or they inferred it from the documents Bev had. It's also possible Bev said I was. You can safely say that Bev never told you who the baby's father is. But please don't lie. I'll handle any fallout if the government makes an issue of it. I doubt it, but you never know. The most important thing is to ensure Heather stays with you."

"Does Bev know you're giving Heather to us?" Julie asked.

"No. And I believe if she did, she might have let North Dakota take Heather into temporary care. That's why I want you to get Heather back to Ohio and have Mr. Chojnicki file whatever paperwork he needs to file as soon as possible. Honestly, you should get out of Illinois as quickly as you can."

"Good advice," Jim Newton said.

We left the Japanese room, and while they both used the restroom, I retrieved the car seat, diapers, and other supplies I'd bought.

"We'll reimburse you," Julie Newton said.

"It's not necessary," I replied. "I'm in very good financial shape."

"I always knew you would find a way to be successful," Jim Newton said. "Even if I wasn't always happy with you."

"Given the circumstances, I understand your position, even if I didn't agree."

The Newtons, Violet, Heather, and I went out to the Newtons' car. I attached the car seat, then put Heather in it. After shaking hands with Bev's dad and hugging her mom, they got into the car. Once they had driven away, heading for Ohio, Violet and I went back into the house.

"You really didn't speak to Bev even though she asked?" Bianca inquired as soon as we were inside.

"I didn't see how it could do any good, and it might have hurt Heather. I have no clue what Bev is thinking or what's going on between her and Glen. The last thing I needed was to have to testify against Bev because of something she said to me. Not to mention, I didn't want to do anything to wreck the subterfuge of them thinking I was Heather's father."

"I know this might sound strange," CeCi said, "but you told an ethical lie. It wasn't about protecting yourself; it was about protecting another person. It harmed nobody and helped an otherwise helpless and defenseless child. I know how strongly you believe in telling the truth, but in this case, you did absolutely the right thing."

"Thanks. Let's hope the government sees that the same way if it comes to light. I think it all comes down to Bev's reaction when she finds out Heather is with her grandparents rather than with me."

"She was adamant about that not happening when we were in Kansas," Violet observed. "In fact, that's the reason she accepted help from Jonathan — he threatened to turn Heather over to her grandparents unless Bev agreed to counseling and allowed him to help her."

"All true," I replied. "Then, as now, my focus was on helping Heather. Bev doesn't really want my help and hasn't since she left home. Oh, sure, she asked me to assist her with things for which there was no other solution, but if she had truly wanted my help, she'd have come here. If Mr. and Mrs. Newton had showed up, I'd have sent them packing, and given Bev was over eighteen and had full legal custody of Heather, there isn't a damned thing Mr. and Mrs. Newton could have done about it. Literally, every bad thing that has happened in the past year is the direct result of Bev refusing to come here and allow me to help her."

"That's quite the change in attitude," Deanna observed.

"When I finally quit deceiving myself, it became clear. It just took me time to accept it."

"What happens now?" Jack asked.

"That's really up to Family Services in Ohio, the US Attorney in North Dakota or wherever, and the Prosecutor in Clermont County. I'd say Glen is going to prison for a long time if he had sex with two different Freshman girls, not to mention whatever the Feds charge him with for trying to go to Canada."

"How did he think that would work?"

"I'm going to guess Glen figured that an out-of-the-way border crossing might not have received the APB, or whatever they call it. He appears to have been mistaken. Maybe a busy crossing was a better choice, but I bet you anything they all had the license plates of both his and Bev's cars on a list. That would be enough to have them stopped at the border. But all of that is speculation, really."

"She went willingly?" Kristy asked.

"I'd say so. I'm not sure if they were stopped in one car or two, but I bet they find one of the cars somewhere else. I don't know that for a fact, but I'd be surprised if they weren't traveling together. That said, I'm not exactly up on interstate flight! I'd have made a very poor Clyde to Bev's Bonnie!"

"I don't see you with a machine gun!" Bianca teased.

"I don't know that I could ever shoot a human being or even shoot at one," I replied. "Rabbits and deer were my limits."

"You registered for the draft, right?" Jack asked.

"Yes, of course, because it was required. I'd ask for conscientious objector status or ask to be assigned to something like payroll or logistics or some other thing that didn't require killing other human beings. That said, even with as much of a pacifist as I am, I would take up arms to protect all of you if our country were to be invaded. Anyway, I want to put all of this stuff with Bev in the past. What's for dinner?"

"CeCi is making fried chicken and home fries," Bianca said.

"Sounds great!"

I had a quiet afternoon, which I spent in the Japanese room with Violet, with both of us reading. Dinner was awesome, and once we finished eating, I drove Violet home.

"I don't know how to thank you enough," I said as we approached University Park.

"I'm happy to help," Violet said. "I care about you, and you've been so good to me; it's the least I can do."

"Thanks for letting me cry on Friday night."

"You needed it, and I liked cuddling with you. A lot."

"You are a wonderful young woman, and I'm very happy I got to know you."

"Even with all my problems?"

"They aren't your fault, and it's not as if I don't have my own set of problems. We're close friends, and I honestly don't know what I would have done without you when I needed help."

"Thanks," Violet said. "You're a wonderful guy."

I pulled up in front of Violet's house, double-parked, and walked her to the door. She hugged me but surprised me by giving me a quick peck on the lips before turning to unlock the door. She opened the door, turned, and smiled.

"See you on Saturday?" she asked.

"Yes! Don't forget we have tickets for the Hawks on the 25th."

"How could I ever forget a Hawks game!"

We said 'good night', and I walked back to my car. I turned off the emergency flashers, put the car in gear, and headed towards Rogers Park. As I drove, I contemplated three things — Violet helping me twice with Heather, her cuddling with me on Friday night, and the peck on the lips.