The Jones Files: Book Four: Jones

By A.C. Jones

If you have red any of my books before you will know that including people with various disabilities isn't unheard of. Hopefully you dear reader will understand that I believe in equality for everyone. Although I'm blind I don't think of it as a deterrent, rather a pain in the, oh well you know what I mean.

As many ch

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rushmore Press LLC
• Release date: Sep 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781953223111

Book preview

Chapter 1

Jolene is a young lawyer working for a prestigious law firm in Nebraska. She has limited vision and needs to obtain information using alternative techniques. She has an IQ that is impressive, and she uses her abilities to help others. Jolene is tall for a woman standing 5 foot 10 and she has a slim figure. Her honey brown hair is long coming down to her very narrow waste. She needs to wear glasses that are sometimes called coke bottle bottoms. The glasses make her pretty face look un-natural and she is embarrassed but needs them. Jolene attended the University Law school and ended up third in a class of 150 students. She doesn’t think of herself as being anything but ordinary, and is surprised when men actually say she is pretty. Jolene grew up in Nebraska and calls the state her home. Jolene knows Jones from when he and Jack were living there years ago, Jones and Joleen once were close and dated some. Jones was blinded in an explosion and Jolene helped him deal with that blindness. Jones had his vision restored very mysteriously and Jolene was always a little jealous. She has to admit that Jones was more than fare and shared much of his life with her. She admired his ability to bounce back after suffering events that would have destroyed anyone else. Jolene studies hard and is successful simply because she tries harder. She takes whatever time is necessary to understand the laws both local and Federal to provide her clients the best defense possible. She sometimes doesn’t ware her glasses if she knows the court room or Judges Chambers

Jolene has her own office now; she doesn’t have to share with 3 or 4 other young struggling lawyers. Jolene has made a name for herself in Civil Rights cases. She knows the ADA laws intimately as well as the civil rights acts from earlier laws. She will work until she drops to provide her clients with every benefit of every law. She is willing to pursue appeal after appeal until the case reaches the Supreme Court if necessary.

Adam Jones contacted Jolene asking her to represent an employee who was accused of a serious law violation. Mr. Meyers works for Big Lift Shipping and Lumber Company out of Seattle Washington. Jones introduced her to Rose Martin president and general manager of the shipping company retaining Jolene as Mr. Meyers attorney. After traveling to Georgia and obtaining Mr. Meyers freedom she was offered a position in the shipping company that Jones owns with Rose. Jones and Rose are very much in love and share an apartment in the headquarters building. Jolene hasn’t decided if she will work for Jones and Rose yet, she doesn’t want to give up civil rights law. Admittedly, civil rights law doesn’t pay the bills, and no Civil Rights lawyers make much of a living defending clients. Jolene isn’t dumb, she knows she needs to be practical. Jolene decides to fly to Seattle to talk with Rose and Jones and determine exactly what they need her to do. She has some vacation time coming and decides to take some extra time and spend a few days in Hawaii. She books a flight on American Airlines and calls her friend Jones at the shipping company. Jolene,

Hello Jonesy, I am coming over there to talk to you guys about working there, are you ok with that? Oh, good, that will be nice. Your welcome.

Which day are you coming here?

Jolene tells him that she will fly out there in 5 days, arriving on a Monday if that will work for all of you."

Jolene is aware of Rose, and wants to be up front and very clear to Ms. Rose Martin that Jones and her are just old friends nothing more. They never were lovers for instance, they were both blind and had a common need. Jones reassures her and gets the time she will arrive. He tells her that He and Rose will meet her at the airport and she can stay in one of the apartments in Headquarters Building. Jolene explains to Jones her concerns with Rose, and Jones says that he and Rose are ok with everything, Jolene doesn’t need to worry.

Chapter 2

Captain Murphy and his crew are demanding their cook back, he says they are starving and it’s a matter of life and death. Rose will ask Jolene about allowing Cookie to go back to work. The ship will need to travel to a variety of locations including ports in South America. Cookie has been staying in the apartment next to Carmen’s and doesn’t do much of anything. He is missing his boys from the ship and Rose wants to help him. When Jolene lands at the airport Rose and Jones are there to meet her, and Jolene can tell that Rose is no problem. She says she is so impressed with Jolene’s resourcefulness getting Cookie out of jail and free that she wants her on their side that’s for sure

Jones drives them back to the Headquarters Building and take the elevator up to the top floor. Jolene is impressed with the size of this giant company. She doesn’t see well but well enough to be able to see out the big windows over the harbor. She strolls over to the windows passing a young Hispanic girl tapping at a keyboard with headphones on. Jolene recognizes a screen reader when she hears one and stops. The young woman is concentrating intensely and she doesn’t want to disturb her. Carmen finishes a line and turns to Jolene,

Hello, you must be Jolene, I’m Carmen, I’m glad to meet you.

Joleen is surprised, she didn’t think that young woman had noticed her. Carmen steps down off a short platform that her desk and chair are on and offers her small hand to Jolene.

Rose and Jones and the biggest dog she has ever seen come out of another room. Jones walks over and gives Jolene a brief hug and to her surprise so does Rose. Jolene thinks she will like this Rose, she is kind and Jolene just knows compassionate too

Rose invites Jolene over to a group of chairs closer to the door, she invites her to sit. Carmen comes over to and Jolene can tell that Carmen is a small woman hardly weighing over a hundred pounds. Carmen offers,

Jolene, may I get you something to drink we have Soda, Juice, and our world-famous coffee?

Jolene has heard of that world-famous coffee and says yes thank you. Carmen glides off to the kitchen and brings a carafe of delicious smelling freshly brewed coffee. Carmen has a liquid level indicator that beeps when a cup is nearly full. Jolene recognizes the device, she used to have one until she dropped it and accidentally stepped on it. The cups are nice big heavy mugs not delicate China that belongs on a shelf behind glass. Rose and Jones are sitting beside one another and if her eyes are working properly holding hands. Carmen introduces the biggest dog she has ever seen; his name is Jack. Jack is standing close to Jolene; she hadn’t realized he was even there. Jack is close enough to Jolene for her to notice but not so close that he is invasive. He sits back and holds out his big paw with a grin on his noble face. Jolene is an animal lover and just has to laugh at Jack. He looks so silly sitting there like he is a real person.

Oh, I am sorry, she asks Jack, what is your name again?

Jack wolfs softly, and she has to chuckle again. Carmen says,

Oh, Jack you’re a big goofball, mind your manners.

Jack slides a little closer to Jolene and she can just reach out and touch him. She is impressed with this dogs’ good manners. It is as if Jack understands her needs and is helping her out. She reaches for his paw missing it a little and notices that the dog moves his paw to her out stretched hand. She exclaims,

"what kind of dog is this, I’ve never known a dog that was so thoughtful of others. Carmen says,

Oh, he’s Jonesy’s dog.

Jolene says,

"well that explains everything, Jack the dog has better manners than his owner. Rose,

Well at last, someone who really knows my big silly man here.

Jones, doesn’t say much, he is taking in Jolene’s action with Jack, he has been relying on Jack to indicate the character of people and so far, Jack has been right. Jack gives Jolene a very favorable review and that concurs with his own.

Rose,

Jolene, before we talk about your employment with us, I would like to ask you a question about Cookie? Cookie wants to go back to work, and his boys on the ship want him back, they are a close bunch and are excellent at what they do. Cookie has become a valued member of the crew and they say they will do anything to get him back.

Jolene holds up a very slim pretty hand and says,

you’re going to ask me if Cookie can go back to work, right.

Rose,

‘ well yes, your right, what are the chances?

I don’t think there’s any danger at all, there just isn’t any evidence, and even though the prosecution doesn’t want to let it go, the law is the law, at least with the current judge and so I’d say why not.

Jolene,

in the worst case, how long would it take for Cookie to fly to Georgia?

Jones,

"it depends ware he is, if he isn’t too far, I can fly out there and pick him up off a ship, take him to the nearest airport and in a few hours, have him there. Jolene,

what, do you mean you can fly too?

Carmen,

the mechanics told me to buy more life insurance, and they weren’t kidding I don’t think.

Rose,

"Oh, don’t listen to the peanut gallery, she’s just a trouble maker.

Carmen,

blows a raspberry?

Jones,

Jack, don’t you dare.

Jack is wanting to get in on the fun and has lifted a hind leg prior to releasing some of his deadly gas. Jolene isn’t fooled, she knows fun and is amused. She thinks they never did that in the law firm, it was always deadly serious.

Chapter 3

The crew and Captain of the Prince Albert are celebrating having their Cookie back. They hoist the old fellow on their shoulders and tramp with him up the gangplank. They carry him right to the kitchen and dance all around him, shouting,

for he’s a jolly good fellow, and.

They all show him their tighter belts, they say they are wasting away to nothing and Cookie is moved to tears. He has been doing that a lot lately, it is as if he has been saving up his feelings. for all of his life. Cookie is embarrassed and shoes everyone out of the kitchen saying,

get to work you bums I gotta find something to feed everyone with, and if you’re lucky maybe some cookies.

The Prince Albert leaves with the morning tide pushing her way through five-foot seas bound for Aruba this trip. The ship is fully provisioned and the crew are all aboard. Captain Murphy is a happy man once again, he knows that a well-fed crew is a happy one. The jobs are similar, moving ships or oil platforms, sometimes salvage. He thinks that one day ocean going tugs may be a thing of the past, the jobs aren’t as many as before. He doesn’t know why exactly, maybe it’s just this company.

Chapter 4

Joe is back in Hong Kong China meeting with Mr. Chong’s people. The headquarters aren’t at all as large as Roses company but nice enough. The ships are still missing and so are both crews. Mr. Chong is considering filing bankruptcy because of his missing ship. The three remaining ships are busy and so at least there is some cash flow, but the payments on the missing ship is using most of the moneys. Chong and Joe have been consulting with local authorities and getting nowhere. Even with Chong to talk with them in Chinese it doesn’t help. Joe is overwhelmed by the fact that two very large container ships are gone. He decides to try and use ships details such as configuration, length and width to determine if somehow the ships could have been painted different colors. He is asking Mr. Chong if he could help, and he tells Joe that he will try. Joe contacts Carmen in Seattle asking her to try and check on ships that are similar delivering cargos to U.S. ports. She gets right on it as usual, and asks Jones for some visual assistance. She knows that satellites can view ships and will provide information on tonnage and sizes. He has no idea how a ship that size could be repainted or made to look different. Joe has a model of the container ship made that is nicely detailed. Mr. Chong,

Mr. Joe, are we playing with models now?

Joe looks up in surprise and says,

Oh, well Mr. Chong, this used to be your ship but I shrank it down to a dust top model.

Joe had the model maker make the upper parts of the model removable, the pieces can be placed in different spots on the ship. He doesn’t have any idea what that may prove or what information may be gained but it’s just thinking outside the box. The model is in Mr. Chong’s ships colors and Mr. Chong is impressed with at least that much. Joe decides to hire an aircraft of some kind to fly all around the harbor and try and identify ships of the correct dimensions. He is convinced that the missing ships are still around Hong Kong or travel in and out of the port. Mr. Chung helps Joe to contact a helicopter service and they fly all around the facilities the next day. There are many ships the same dimensions as the missing ships and Joe is using a good camera to photograph each one. Mr. Chong is keeping a record of the location, direction of travel and name when possible. They search for three days, and decide that the shipping is so heavy that identifying the possibilities is hopeless. Their missing ships could be one of hundreds. The shipping of containers is a huge business, the amount of manufactured goods moving out of China is endless

Joe is getting homesick, and he must admit is missing Joni, and he is worried about his parents too. Joe calls Carmen and asks her,

hay Carmen, how’s it going

Carmen answers with her usual wise guy answer,

are we going somewhere, and where would that be?

Joe,

you’ll get yours one of these days. Could someone check on my parents soon?

Carmen loves to have fun but understands the seriousness of Joe’s question. She tells him that she will get on it. Joe notices that Carmen has been using that expression lately, he thinks she has been listening to TV shows again. Carmen provides Joe with information. She is asking,

so, Joseph are you living in China permanently now?

Joe tells her that he will fly back home tomorrow and will arrive at 3 in the afternoon. He wants to know if someone can meet him at the airport? She tells him that there is a bus, he could take that like normal people. Joe knows she is messing with him and tells her ok good thanks, just see if he remembers her birthday next year. She tells him that today is her 24th birthday thank you very much. Joe has forgotten and tells her that he knew that, and he just hasn’t got to it yet." Carmen,

yeah yeah yeah.

Joe reassures Mr. Chung that everyone will continue to look for his ship from their end and will keep in touch daily if he likes. Mr. Chung isn’t any better off, but feels a little better with that.

Chapter 5

Rose and Jolene are discussing her duties as company attorney. Rose has hired a law firm in the past not needing a lawyer in house. She likes Jolene’s education and experience; she finds her to be very intelligent and resourceful. Jolene can help with Civil Rights issues as well as corporate law too. Rose offers her a very handsome salary and Jolene excepts without thinking twice about it. She has her own office on a lower floor and accepts Joni’s offer to share her apartment in the building. The apartments all have at least two bedrooms and generous living rooms. They all have adequate kitchens and are rarely ever used. Busy people don’t always have time or energy to cook for themselves Joni is welcoming and helps Jolene get familiar with the building and services nearby that they all use. Jolene is especially fond of the Around the Corner Bakery. The two women are very different in height and are different in many other ways as well. Jolene likes music soft and low, usually classical and Joni likes hers loud and Country. They get along well, one uses earphones and they take turns. They both enjoy listening to books that are downloaded off the internet or come on cartridges from the National Library services.

Joe is met by a guy named Steve who works in shipping for Roses company. Joe knows that Rose or Jones aren’t always available but is a little disappointed that one of them isn’t there to meet him. When he arrives back at Headquarters Building, he goes with Jones up to the office. Carmen is at her desk writing something on the computer at a lightning rate and says,

well look what the cat drug in would you.

Well I just thought I’d drop in if that’s alright.

Carmen surprises him and steps down from her platform and hugging him soundly. Carmen knows that Joni and Braidy have been spending time together and pore Joe has no idea. Carmen is a very caring young woman and always wants to make things better. Carmen says,

welcome home Joe, we’ve all missed you, how’s it going over there in China?

Well thanks Carmen, you know, they still speak Chinese don’t you know.

Carmen touches his cheek with her small hand so sweetly that Joe shivers some. Joe is wondering where Rose might be? Carmen is back to her smart-aleck self and tells him that it’s not her day to watch Oh, what’s her name. Joe gives her very long pretty hair a little tug and she slaps his naughty hand playfully.

Rose comes down from her roses and has a smudge of dirt or her nose. She exclaims,

hay Joe, where did you come from?

Joe tells her,

"Oh, well, I’ve been at the North Pole communing with the Polar bears

Rose,

Oh, you nut, I mean when did you get back?

Joe tells her he just got in this afternoon, and asks her how’s she doing? Rose hugs him with a half hug and he notices that she is sweating and probably doesn’t think it’s lady like to rub her sweaty self all over his nice clean suit.

Chapter 6

Braidy flies every day in the helicopter or on one of the other planes. He misses Barbra more than he can say and tries to keep busy. He is grateful for Joni’s help; she is so kind and says she knows what it is like to lose someone you love. She hugs him often and Braidy wonders if her affections are more than sympathy. Braidy once was interested in Joni but she was still getting over Don’s death. Braidy is a good man and excepts her warmth as he thinks she means it. Joni doesn’t deny that she is attracted to Braidy, since he was involved with Barbra, he is a different guy. Joni is closer to Brady’s age than she is to Joe’s and she wonders if that’s the reason for her feelings for him. Braidy keeps on flying and keeping busy, he spends a lot of time out at the hangar with the mechanics. Ben and Mac are kidding him at first but realize that he needs to be around them for the company. Ben,

"say Mr. Braidy have you ever gotten your hands dirty removing a fuel line from one of our airplanes? Braidy,

"well no, I’ve never removed a fuel line from one of my airplanes. They’re both wrong of course, all the planes belong to Rose. Ben is a nice man and understands Brady’s needs and offers to include him in all they do. The boys often stop for a beer after work at a nearby pub and Braidy goes along. He once had a drinking problem, well actually drinking wasn’t the problem it was stopping. Now he drinks cream soda instead, but only one. Braidy doesn’t like the way the sugar gives him the jitters

Chapter 7

Jolene gets settled in her new office, and even though it doesn’t matter, she is proud of her own window overlooking the harbor. The office is twice as big as her office back at the law firm in Omaha. Jolene gets her computers connected to internet and renews her legal information accounts. The internet makes researching law much more accessible for her. Rose has asked her to research some international laws concerning their lost ship. Jolene wonders too, how can you lose