5801. still in her room

Back in her room Yuma logged in to the chat room, then found her quiz, and looked at the first question only to be glad they were going over them together. She knew that answer was right, but it had been marked as a half answer. Yet what more was there to say when the answer could only be cell division? They were half way though the quiz and more confused then ever when a chime sounded and a bar appeared at the top of the screen announcing a coming National announcement.  That quickly but an end to the chat on the test. One poster typed. “Not again, the basted link isn’t loading. Anyone got a different one. Just what is going on? There shouldn’t be any votes, and I’m in the quad so it’s not a disaster.”

Yuma quickly typed the public address into the chat box and hit enter. Then added. “That’s the open page, if you want to spared it around, likely others need it to, and it will let others see what we are going on about. I can bet this cause confusion. They wouldn’t have the alarm. I haven’t heard of any. Well there was a local one to come. However this is Nat.”

Sam typed. “Cool, thanks. Didn’t know there was an open page. That helps. Kind of hard to explain what a Nat Alert is, and why were scrambling in the pub rooms. They don’t seem to get that they are mandatory viewing, think making it up to dump them. Have to leave one to get the page up, this will help.  What the local?”

Geana typed. “There’s a local? How do you know if it’s not been made? Something big, or standard? Thanks, I thought there should be an Open one, but couldn’t find it.”

Yuma bit her lip, but well it would spread fast no matter. “No problem, it should be added to the web alerts, might help. The local is charges for some upcoming public court. Major cases, but I don’t think it would warrant a Nat.” Surely they could work out how she would know, it shouldn’t be that hard.

Joe typed. “Curd if they are going Nat, it is going to be bigger mess that expected. You need go Yuma, or they ok with you watching in your room?”

Yuma answered. “So far no one is yelling, so they must be fine. I do wonder that I’m not getting called, I am sure that Uncle Wane is going to question me about it. I have it split screen, and it s working just fine. I do hope it’s not, but if so, it is going to be a long week.”

Sam typed. “Why would? Wait Hill involved, and pub? Only thing would pos bump to Nat. Yes that is going to be a mess. And with some Ambassadors coming for Season. This could get nasty. Why are they going pub this close to season?”

Joe answered. “It is a messy case and they want to keep the rumors to the min. I never thought it would go Nat, but that is Director Archer at the podium, so it is a Justice announcement alright. Shit. That’s the Cal flag. Looks like it.”

Yuma didn’t bother answering, she didn’t need to. Her uncle’s face said it all. This was going to be bigger than her Father had expected, and it was defiantly going to be a sequestered jury, possible form the Nat pool even. Just how? Well yes the office would be informed, all major cases were turned in for review before the announcement of the charges. However it hardly seemed worthy of a federal case, but clearly it was. Then other state flags started appearing on the screen behind him, and  Yuma relaxed, this had to be something different, must be a Fed investigation, something her Father hadn’t been involved with. They didn’t always inform the state inspectors of the big investigations. Her Uncle nodded and a light blinked then he started to speak. “I am sorry I must interrupt your evening with some disturbing news. I do wish it was under better circumstances, for I fear just what will come of the news I have. As you know all major cases get sent to use for review, and any involving minors being tried as adults get flag for a closer look. No one likes to see children involved in such serious crimes and so the warrant close checks to be sure nothing was missed. As I am sure all can understand, often we are asked to check, as we were in the cases I must talk of tonight. It is seldom we see more than seven such cases in a year, so for six states to have cases involve multiple minors in the same month was alarming in and of its self. Enough so that I asked to be briefed as soon as the cases had been received and reviewed, then I asked to see the reports myself. It is troubling, and I fear there is more yet to be found. That the cases might not be closed. It is troubling, for not only was the time so close so are the charges and the evidence. Let me lay it out for you as it came to me.” With that he ran though the cases, and Yuma started to shake a bit, seeing where it was going. Just how could it be?

“The last one is a disturbing case in California. Due to a number of reports officers in the city of Stanford officers were watching a local bar that was believed to be provide accommodations for illicit affairs, used by minors and adults.  On seeing a group of people behind the bar, the offices moved in, and found more then they bargained for. The tips had not been off, it did indeed need to be stopped, but they just knew a part of what was going on. As it was presented to us eight of the suspects are being tried in the adult court system, two of them are High School juniors. There are more facing charges in the juvenile court system.  Sadly we have had to insist that two more be raised to the adult court system, as much as we hate it. The names and charges for those in the adult court are as follows.”   Just how did it get this big? It wasn’t sounding good, not that it ever did, but if he was raising the charges, that could mean a chance of a life sentence. She forced her attention back to what he was saying. “Now for the minors, I fear that two are ring leaders, and so will have to be charged as such. Yes, sadly that means that they could face death penalty, however as they are minors we have agreed that max will be a life sentence with a fixed fifty years in a facility, before a chance of parole for the remainder. That is still far harsher than any wish to ever see in a case involving a minor and yet we have mutable such.” He took a breath and looked at his papers, as he had done each time before reading the names of the minors. “These children are sixteen years old, juniors from Hill High, honor roll, no past complaints. Nothing to suggest that there was a risk. Yet here we are. It saddens me to say this, but I must. Tom Rollings and Misty Murphy you are charged with eight murders, committed with intent and malice, mutable accountants of attempted murder, discharging a fire arm during commission of a crime, illegal possession of a fire arm, carrying a weapon without a permit, purchasing illegal firearms, arming minors who were not licensed to use a fire arm, running a drug and sex trafficking business, promoting homosexual activities, corrupting minors and blackmail. Having, reading, and sharing books and tracts relating to witchcraft, and the making of fake curses and holding rites related to Wicca for the soul purpose of causing alarm and unrest. The cases will be tried separately, and will not be aired, minors will not be permitted in the court room. Arraignment for both parties will be on Monday, as with the adult ring leaders it is recommend the be held until court.”

He looked up again, and it was easy to tell he was truly troubled. “As I said the cases appear to be related, the operations have a good deal in common. There has been no link found yet, but there is every reason to think one will be. We are looking, and are watching for anything that might be related. It is troubling that so many in such vastly different areas somehow had books on the forbidden arts. The books were real, they were actual spell books, for all there is no indication that any true spells were cast. Still it was to close, as they were involving minors, trying to get them to believe that such a thing was all right, that there was no harm in it. We must find out where this came from, and see that there is no more of it. However we must not blame those not involved, that will just cause harm. There has already been too much injustice done, too much finger pointing. Just because teachings may differ it doesn’t make the minority religions guilty. All involved in every case, no matter age or location, were from wealthy Christen families, in good standing with their churches and with no ties of any type to the Minority religions or any in those neighborhoods. They were all known to go out of their way to avoid any such contact. Do not go blaming those that should not be blamed. The fault lies only on those that committed the actions, not on any community. It is temping to want to blame outsides for trouble, but that is not in keeping with any teaching followed in our great Nation. Nor should we let this stop the talks with our Friends in other lands. I am sorry to lay such dark tidings on you, but I wanted to address it before the rumors got out there and made this bigger than it is. Know that if there is any tie between the cases found you will hear of it from me. Do not give weight to rumors, but weight for facts. There is nothing that says they are a part of an organization. The only sold link is the books, and I assure you we will get to the bottom of it. We will find where they were made and see that no more will be! Let us pray, join me if you would.” He bowed his head. “Lord we all pray that Justices is served rightly not harshly, not more than is merited by the crimes. That those troubled souls get the help they need as they pay for their crimes. Thank you for your blessing and lend use wisdom as we seek to do your will in this sad undertaking. Forgive those poor souls for what they have done, and lend your hand to those that must deliver Justus in these cases. Amen” With that the feed ended.

Yuma sat there stunned a bit just staring at the computer then looked back at the chat, and clicked on it. “Joe call Alice, she isn’t going to be dialing the right numbers. Tulip should still be logged into the school chat room, so that might help.  Let me know if you think she needs to call her, I don’t want to make it worse, but I know she is going to be worse this time. She depended on Misty to much.”