by: Marty Chrisman

   When Luke and Shelby arrived at her Lawyer’s office the next morning, Shelby was composed and under control although her eyes were red from crying. Charlie immediately ushered them into his office and closed the door.

“I’ m very sorry about your brother, Shelby.” He said sympathetically.

“What….uh…about the arrangements?” Shelby asked in a halting voice

“I can take care of all of that for you. Just let me know what you want done.”

“I need to know what happened.”

“Well, I’ve found out a lot since the last time we talked and I’ve managed to more or less piece things together.” Charlie told her. He opened the file on his desk and started reading from his notes “The feds wanted Cory to cooperate with them……to name names and to testify in court against the other people involved in the drug operation.” He paused and looked at Shelby solemnly “Unfortunately, they decided to use you to force Cory to do what they wanted.”

“What?”

“Are you trying to say this whole thing was some kind of set up?” Luke demanded

“I’m afraid so. Someone came up with the bright idea of making it look like Shelby was in danger of being charged too. Then they tried to make a deal with Cory using Shelby as the bait. They told him they would drop all charges against Shelby if he did what they wanted. If he didn’t, then they’d throw the book at Shelby and she’d go to prison for a very long time.”

“Is that legal?”

“With the feds it is.”

“So Cory killed himself instead of cooperating?”

“Not exactly…….”

“What do you mean not exactly?”

“He took the deal. He told them he would cooperate and do what they wanted but only after they dropped all the charges against you…..which they did yesterday afternoon. And Cory was smart; he insisted that they file paperwork giving you total immunity.”

“So Shelby’s in the clear?” Luke asked rephrasing the answer into a question to make sure he understood what Charlie was saying

“Yes, from any federal prosecution in connection with the drug operation or the moonshining charges.”

“But Cory still killed himself.”

“But not before he wrote out a statement for the feds naming names and giving enough detailed information about the drug operation to do some major damage. Basely on his statement alone they’ve got enough to start making arrests.”

“So the feds didn’t care if they destroyed my life as long as they got what they wanted from Cory.” Shelby said angrily

“No, they didn’t….at least not the ones in charge of this investigation….and I have filed a formal complaint on your behalf with the Bureau about the way this case was handled.”

“But that’s not going to bring back Cory, is it?”

“No, I’m sorry…it won’t.”

“So I lost everything…..my home, my land, my brother……and for what? So the feds could break this case?”

“That’s about the size of it.” Charlie said. At times like this he hated his job and he hated the system. He picked two sealed envelopes from his desk and handed them both to Shelby “One’s a check for your bail money….the other one is a letter to you from Cory.”

Shelby accepted the envelopes and stood up “I need to get out of here….” She said “I’ll be in touch about the arrangements…”

Luke took her arm and guided her from the office. Tears were glistening in her eyes but they did not fall. And Luke wasn’t sure if they were tears of anger, grief or both.

Shelby couldn’t bring herself to read the letter from Cory until later that night when she was alone in her room. With trembling fingers she tore open the envelope and took out the sheet of paper inside. Opening it slowly, she read:

Dear Shelby,

I never meant to drag you into any of this. I wish I could go back and change things, take back all the mistakes I’ve made since I got in this mess. They want me to cooperate and testify for them but I know if I do that I’m a dead man. But, I did give them a statement with enough names and information to crack this case wide open and get the people in charge…and I made sure they gave you immunity for any kind of prosecution. That was the only thing I could do to make it up to you for all the trouble I’ve caused and all the pain I’m going to cause. I’m sorry Shelby but I can’t go on this way anymore. So I’m taking the coward’s way out but at least I know you are safe now and they can’t hurt you. Maybe someday you and God will both forgive me……Love Cory