Chapter 9 - Pete the Dwarf

Red returned and opened the door. "Your lawyers are multiplying like rabbits. Let's go," he ordered. I got to my feet and followed him to the second opportunity to repeat the story. My mind had been playing games, and I was hoping the story remained exactly as I told Jerry. I kept my head this time, maybe it was the food and time to reflect, but I felt like a different person than the first time I entered the green room. Too bad it wasn't the green room for the Tonight Show.

When I entered, Pete and Jerry stood; at least I thought Pete was standing. He was clearly height challenged, a little person - oh call him what he was, Pete was a dwarf. I reached down and took his stubby hand first, then Jerry's, who was making the introductions. I hadn't noticed that Red had left and sealed the room.

"Ever meet a dwarf?" asked Pete.
"Can't say that I have," I responded as I was immediately put at ease.

There was almost something magical about Pete, and his ability to diffuse tension was apparent. His uniqueness would catch people off guard, which could go either way. By him saying what the stranger had on their mind showed that he was comfortable with himself and so should his new acquaintance. I felt comfortable quickly. He clearly was non-assuming. Pete wore a JC Penney suit with some well worn lace Bostonians. His fat tie was appeared left over from the seventies, and his balding head lead me to believe he was fifty something.

"Have you said anything to the authorities?" he asked.
"No," I replied.
"Nothing at all?"
"I don't think so. I knew that the circumstance must have looked bad, so I kept my mouth shut. Is that okay?"
"All depends. Sometimes silence indicates guilt, sometimes it indicates wisdom. At this point you just spoke to uniforms, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I made some calls and these guys don't know what to do. The Sherriff likes his town peaceful and doesn't want lots of news folks around. He’s thinking about letting the FBI handle the investigation. That's probably why you haven't been interrogated yet."
"Is that a good thing?" I asked.
"Yes and no. It's good that you haven't been questioned until you and I have had a chance to talk. It's bad because the FBI will throw everything at this one."

Jerry was sitting quietly; he was clearly out of his element. I was hoping his clock stopped running when Pete started yapping.

"Why," I asked earnestly.
"You know the girl that you were found with?"
"I did."
"Do you know who she is – was?”
"Yeah, Rachel Johnston."
"You know who she was married to?"
"No."
"Carlos Encinosa from Miami Beach."
"Should that mean something to me?"
"It should now; he’s a councilman in Dade County. That's why the Flagler County Sherriff is keeping his distance. Since Carlos is a politician who is very influential in the Cuban community, the FBI wants in."
"Damn," I said, “this day is going from bad to worse.”
"The good news is the sheriff wants you out of his jail. Tell me what happened so we can try and oblige him."

"The story is bizarre. I was driving to work along the Coastal Highway when a Lexus quickly pulled up behind me....."