Silent Witness (14 page)

Wilson settled in a huge chair, custom made so that he kept him at the proper angle to maximize his breathing. Still the top half of him pushed down on the bottom half until, neck to groin, he was an accordion roll of flesh. His massive torso filled up the chair, his legs stuck out straight on a foot rest.

''So.'' Wilson's voice was exceedingly pleasant, his delivery smooth now that he did not have to move. ''Jude, whatcha say? Time to tell the tale? I mean you want me to tell, right? This is a lady who's interested in Pacific Park, right?''

Jude smiled at Wilson the way an old friend does, a friend who sees past the obvious, finding something inside Wilson Page to admire. Josie found that expression far more attractive than Jude's blinding grin.

''Jump in, Wilson. Josie? You all here?''

''Yeah, sorry. I was just. . .daydreaming.''

''That's all right,'' Wilson chuckled. ''We know what you were doing. You were trying to figure this out, weren't you? Jude and me. Beauty and the Beast. Jaba the Hut and Hans Solo, Orson Wells and . . . ''

''Oh, God, Wilson. Please,'' Jude groaned. ''Enough.''

Josie watched, she listened, she wondered what secrets lay buried behind Jude's pretty face and winning ways, she wondered how they matched the maze of hurt encased in Wilson's massive body. She had felt their closeness the minute she walked through the door and she felt something else too – a whiff of loving resentment. Josie just couldn't tell if it came from Wilson or Jude.

''Okay, I'm curious. I doubt you two play racquetball at the club,'' Josie said.

Wilson laughed and said 'that's a good one', before he told his story with relish.

''Jude's hard drive went down the night before a big case. Meant a ton of money to you, didn't it, Jude?''

Breathe.

''So Jude starts calling around at two in the morning trying to find someplace that will fix the thing because all his exhibits are on it. He gets me. . . ''

Breathe.

''. . . I tell him I'll fix it. He's talking, trying to cut a deal on the cost like he thinks I'm not going to be honest and I tell him it will cost what it costs. So he brings it right over here. Poor Jude thought he'd pass out when he saw me. He's holding his computer like he's afraid to give it to me. Maybe he thought I'd eat it and him, too. . .''

Breathe. Chuckle. Breathe.

''Come on, Wilson,'' Jude said affectionately. ''Everyone is surprised when they first meet you. That computer had sensitive information on it and the way you work does not exactly inspire confidence. I mean look at this place.''

Wilson's big head lolled in agreement. This time the breath was drawn through his nose.

''Point well taken, Jude. To make a long story short, he gave me the computer. I recovered the files on the hard disc, and in the process, found it had been tampered with. Someone on his staff did not hold Jude in high esteem and had tried to ruin Jude's very hard work.''

''To make a long story even shorter, that person was let go and Wilson and I became friends,'' Jude cut in. ''Now, can we please get to the matter at hand?''

''But,'' Wilson held up his hand as if to request a point of clarification, ''we didn't become real friends until Jude got the bill. He was so impressed I didn't take advantage on the back end that he put me on retainer. It's been good years with you, Jude. Nobody finer, Ms. Bates. I don't care what anyone says about this plaintiff's attorney. He's the finest man. Whenever I need anything he. . .''

Breathe.

''And if you don't stop Wilson he'll talk your ear off. Time is money, Wilson.''

Jude cut in quickly. Josie's lips twitched as she saw the color rising in Jude's cheeks. Could it be she was seeing the soft underbelly of a shark? Fascinating that most vulnerable spot should show itself for this lump of a man. The science of attraction, friendship and affection was mysterious. Josie thought of Archer and missed him and loved him. Then she forgot him. Time was short. Jude was anxious and Wilson felt it.

''Fine. Fine. Well, enough of that. On to bigger and more important things.'' Wilson licked his lips then drew three fingers over them as if adjusting his mouth so the words would come out right. Finally, he folded his hands together and rested them on his massive belly. ''Don't you worry Ms. Bates, I'm not going to let those people railroad your client.''

''Wilson has issues with Pacific Park. Little did I know that would come in handy some day,'' Jude informed her.

''It wasn't always that way, though. I loved Pacific Park at one time because it was so different from all those corporate monstrosities. Pacific Park was user friendly, or it was until they decided they didn't like me anymore. You see, I was large as a child. Then I got to be bigger and when I was eighteen - it was eighteen, right, Jude?''

''That's what you told me, my man.'' Jude nodded comfortably. ''Eighteen.''

''Yes. . . that was. . . . let's see?'' Wilson put one huge finger to the place in his face where his chin should be. ''That was, oh, now, six years and two months ago. I could tell you how many hours and minutes if you want, but I don't think it's relevant. Jude?''

Jude shook his head. That was all it took for Wilson to move on.

''Well, anyway. . .'' b
reath
, ''. . .okay. So you don't need the absolute specifics. Just generalities. You want me to get to the point. Okay.''

This time two deeps ones that sounded shallow, like they never quite made it to the bottom lobes of his lungs. Josie tried not to look worried since Jude looked concerned enough for both of them.

''I used to go to the park two, three times a week,'' he said, smiling with the memories. '' Wonderful to get out, get some fresh air, some exercise. Walking from ride to ride is good exercise for a big man like me. Even standing in line burns calories when you carry some extra weight.''

''Wilson, can you fast forward a little?'' Jude prodded gently and sidestepped the obvious understatement.

''Sure. Jude. Sure. No problem. Went to the park. To the park,'' Wilson whispered, sucking a bit of oxygen through his teeth as he tried to find his place. When he got it his small bright eyes focused on Josie. ''I was there one very nice day. I stood in line forty-seven minutes and thirty two seconds before it was my turn for the Hanging Glide. I'd been there all day and been on all the rides except the Hanging Glide.''

Deep breath.

''Well, the ride operator insisted the Hanging Glide would not hold me, but she was wrong. I knew the weight capacity of every ride in that place. The Hanging Glide handles a maximum weight of three hundred and sixty-three pounds. At the time, I was three hundred and fifty-eight and three quarters of a pound. I explained that to the operator. . .''

Breath. Breath. Breath.

''Wilson went to Cal Tech when he was fourteen. He knows whereof he speaks.''

Jude slipped that little bit of information into the conversation, covering for Wilson until he could go on.

''Thank you, Jude. I do, as you say, know my stuff.'' Wilson inclined his head graciously. ''Always have. And, I had made it my very serious hobby to catalogue and understand each and every thrill ride at the Park. I understood the engineering limitations, minimum and maximum safety parameters regarding weight, height, G-force stress. There was absolutely no danger to me or other riders if I were to be strapped into the Hanging Glide. Not to mention the fact that it was illegal for her to refuse me if she did not weigh me. There were no public warnings, no signs that indicated the ride operator had that discretion based on her unqualified assessment of my weight. There was, of course, proper and legal signage that indicated service could be refused based on height. You see, height is a completely different matter than weight as evidenced by the warnings. . .''

''Wilson,'' Jude warned.

''Yes, of course. Back on track, Jude.'' Wilson agreed. He took a moment. ''There were the natural warnings for pregnant women, people with heart trouble, etcetera, etcetera, so on and forth.''

Wilson waved that fascinating hand of his. It seemed to move independent of his arm. He was a resting Buddha, the Cheshire cat sitting lazily in a tree.

''But weight? No, no. There was no notice of that and I would have respected it if there were a sign or some such. I assured the operator – who was one of those perfectly darling little girls with blond hair who looked very cute in her uniform but had the IQ of a hot dog –''
breathe
''- that I was willing to assume the risk. I also assured her that the hydraulic harness's design was beyond compare and would hold me quite securely and I would not fall at her feet and splat like a large water balloon if she would just let me on the ride.''

Wilson's voice rose to a soprano pitch as he recounted that horrible day. There was that hand again. This time it was at his chest.

''I assume she didn't let you on,'' Josie suggested quietly, hoping to calm him. Wilson blinked. It seemed he had forgotten his guests as he relived the moment of his mortification.

''No, indeed, she did not, Ms. Bates. I was very unhappy,'' Wilson breathed deeply again. His eyes glittered. Not with malice but, rather, Josie thought, with tears. It was hard to tell since they were so deeply set in that huge, kind face. ''In fact, I was sad and true sadness is a terrible emotion. But there was more humiliation to come. That little wiener-brained girl called security.'' This time the intake of breath was punctuated with amazement. ''They were going to 'escort' me from the park but what they did was worse. They expelled me in a most degrading way. I don't know what that little cheerleader told them, but I can imagine. Her excited utterances probably ran along the lines of a really, really fat guy was giving her trouble and they better send storm troopers to get him. I doubt she had the vocabulary to go any deeper than that. I've told you, Jude, how humiliating that was, haven't I? They sent four men. Four.''

Wilson's head rotated to Jude and they shared a moment of commiseration. Wilson's nostril's flared. He reached up and touched the corner of his eyes. Wilson Page sighed and talked to the floor beneath Josie's shoes.

''I understand that I am not the norm. I understand that people might feel uncomfortable around me. But to be treated as if I was a threat when all I was trying to do was educate the young woman, to take responsibility for my own actions, was beyond shame. It was a degradation. I could not let it pass.''

This was followed by gentle breaths as if he was sucking in his sadness and somehow it would be digested by his heart, sent away as waste, forgotten. Suddenly, Wilson looked up and smiled. He tried to raise an eyebrow but only succeeded in moving the folds of his face. ''Oh, I haven't offered you refreshment. I have soda. Some cake? Would you like some soda or cake?''

''No, thanks,'' Jude said as he cocked one leg up on the couch, one arm on the back so he could talk to Josie. ''Basically, Josie, Wilson doesn't take such treatment lying down.''

''So to speak,'' Wilson added with a chuckle. ''Actually, I never lie down. I recline in this custom made chair that Jude. . .''

''I don't think you know Josie well enough to get that personal, Wilson,'' Jude laughed and the big man chuckled back, the sounds of it riding the wave of Jude's segue.

''Anyway, when Wilson feels that he's been treated unfairly he educates others through the internet. In this instance, Wilson has a website that investigates and makes public the failings of Pacific Park.''
''This is not done with spite, Ms. Bates,'' Wilson broke in with his qualification but then amended that. ''Well, there was just the smallest bit of spite in the beginning. But I will tell you that I have never fabricated any of the information that I make public. What started as a simple web page to air my grievance and explain the engineering facts to ordinary people suddenly became a much bigger project than even I had imagined. I found hundreds of people who did not find Pacific Park the joyous experience they had anticipated.''

''Wilson, you should point out that most of the problems you've uncovered are trivial,'' Jude reminded him.

''Oh, yes, to be fair, Jude.'' Wilson huffed. ''You know, the basic items: food that was cold, drinks that were warm, long waits in the lines – what did they expect? – problems with the aesthetics of the place. Those gripes were of little consequence to me. But there were other things. Bad things. Injuries. Negligence. Those things people should know about.''

Wilson raised one foot slightly as he tried to adjust his weight on the small chair.

''I monitor bloggers, I infiltrate the ranks of the employees and find those who have complaints against the company, suppliers who aren't happy and I follow up on rumors. I promise, everything I make public has been checked out in excruciating detail and back and forward again. Truly, Ms. Bates, I quite simply do not lie. I live for facts and those are the facts.''

''That's good, Wilson, because that's what I'm looking for, too,'' Josie assured him.

''Excellent.''

Wilson beamed. Jude rearranged himself so he could plant his feet on the ground and his elbows on his knees and said:

''Now, can we look at what you've got, Wilson? I know Josie is going to like it.''

Wilson grinned and even Jude's could not hold a candle to it. Josie smiled and they began in earnest.

''Well then, here it is. Pacific Park's problems have not been limited to two fatalities in recent years. Jude?''

Jude reached behind the couch and retrieved some papers from a bookshelf. He handed one to Josie.

''When Mr. Wren came to Jude for help, I began my research. What you have there is a list of every single accident over the last twenty-four months. You'll note that there were two serious accidents that resulted in broken bones and another that sent a young girl to a plastic surgeon for lacerations on the face and upper body as well as a sizable crack in her skull. She's recuperating after brain surgery.''

Breath.

''One of the accidents was the result of an outright mechanical problem. The other two are being investigated and there is a difference of opinion as to whether the rider caused the difficulty or it was caused by a mechanical failure.''