contributors are going to feel the same.”
David sat in silence and shook his head. “I’m telling you the truth. Why won’t you believe me?”
“Because the evidence says you’re lying, that’s why.” Hall took a deep breath. “By the way,” he continued, “the Justice Department is freezing all of Barringston Relief’s assets.”
“You can’t do that,” David objected. “People depend on us for food and medication. If we fall behind in delivery, many could die.”
“You should have thought of that sooner, Dr. O’Neal.” Hall stepped to the door and opened it. He turned back to David. “If people die, it will be your fault.”
David felt like he had been kicked. Nothing made sense. Nothing was real. It was as if he had been caught up in a suspense movie.
Hall turned to Calvin. “Give him good counsel, Overstreet. He’s going to need it.” Hall left the room.
“This is beyond all comprehension,” David said morosely. He was looking down at the table in the interview room, his hands clasped in front of him, fingers tightly intertwined. “I don’t understand how any of this can be.”
“David,” Calvin said quietly. “We need to talk.”
“I know what you’re thinking, Mr. Overstreet,” David said. “If I were in your shoes and I had just seen that tape, I’d be looking for a way out of here—a way to get as far from me as possible.”
“I doubt that,” Calvin said. “You’re not the type to quit on people in need.”
“What now?” David asked.
“We talk for a few minutes, and then I get to work.”
“I don’t know what I can say to convince you that I did not do any of the things with which I am charged.”
“I believe you.”
“How can you believe me?” David asked with incredulity. “Even I can see that the evidence is overwhelming.”
“That’s why I believe you,” Calvin said with a smile. “This is too perfect. There is too much evidence, and it’s too neatly wrapped. Plus, there’s something wrong with that video.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out. Something about it doesn’t seem right—doesn’t fit.”
“It’s not me,” David said with conviction. “I can assure you of that. I’ve never seen those people, I’ve never met with them, and I’ve never kissed that woman. I think I would have remembered that.”
“No doubt there,” Calvin agreed.
“What happens next?”
“You’ll be transported to the county jail where bail will be set. I’ll post the bail, and we’ll be on our way.”
“Isn’t there a court hearing or something first?” David asked.
“Usually the bail is set according to a schedule. I think you’ll be home tonight. Maybe tomorrow, depending how far along the paperwork is.”
“That’s a relief. Is it true what Hall said about freezing Barringston Relief’s assets?”
“I’m afraid so, David. They don’t want you transferring money out of the country …” David looked up sharply and Calvin read the unvoiced statement. “I know you haven’t transferred any funds, but the Department of Justice thinks you did.”
“This is a nightmare.”
“No, it’s not,” Calvin corrected. “It’s as real as it gets, and we’re going to respond accordingly. It’s time to get to work.”
David looked up at Calvin and studied him. “Mr. Overstreet, I appreciate your help, but I’ve given my life over to aiding the starving and ailing of the world. This could ruin it all. It’s not just my life we’re talking about here, it’s the lives of countless thousands of unnamed people. Children who struggle daily to hang on to life. Add to that the number of workers that Barringston Relief has around the world as well as in our various offices, and the number of affected people becomes enormous. So you’ll understand my intent when I ask, Are you good at what you do?”
Calvin Overstreet leaned forward and spoke in a measured tone. “David, I’m the best man you can have on
David sat in silence and shook his head. “I’m telling you the truth. Why won’t you believe me?”
“Because the evidence says you’re lying, that’s why.” Hall took a deep breath. “By the way,” he continued, “the Justice Department is freezing all of Barringston Relief’s assets.”
“You can’t do that,” David objected. “People depend on us for food and medication. If we fall behind in delivery, many could die.”
“You should have thought of that sooner, Dr. O’Neal.” Hall stepped to the door and opened it. He turned back to David. “If people die, it will be your fault.”
David felt like he had been kicked. Nothing made sense. Nothing was real. It was as if he had been caught up in a suspense movie.
Hall turned to Calvin. “Give him good counsel, Overstreet. He’s going to need it.” Hall left the room.
“This is beyond all comprehension,” David said morosely. He was looking down at the table in the interview room, his hands clasped in front of him, fingers tightly intertwined. “I don’t understand how any of this can be.”
“David,” Calvin said quietly. “We need to talk.”
“I know what you’re thinking, Mr. Overstreet,” David said. “If I were in your shoes and I had just seen that tape, I’d be looking for a way out of here—a way to get as far from me as possible.”
“I doubt that,” Calvin said. “You’re not the type to quit on people in need.”
“What now?” David asked.
“We talk for a few minutes, and then I get to work.”
“I don’t know what I can say to convince you that I did not do any of the things with which I am charged.”
“I believe you.”
“How can you believe me?” David asked with incredulity. “Even I can see that the evidence is overwhelming.”
“That’s why I believe you,” Calvin said with a smile. “This is too perfect. There is too much evidence, and it’s too neatly wrapped. Plus, there’s something wrong with that video.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out. Something about it doesn’t seem right—doesn’t fit.”
“It’s not me,” David said with conviction. “I can assure you of that. I’ve never seen those people, I’ve never met with them, and I’ve never kissed that woman. I think I would have remembered that.”
“No doubt there,” Calvin agreed.
“What happens next?”
“You’ll be transported to the county jail where bail will be set. I’ll post the bail, and we’ll be on our way.”
“Isn’t there a court hearing or something first?” David asked.
“Usually the bail is set according to a schedule. I think you’ll be home tonight. Maybe tomorrow, depending how far along the paperwork is.”
“That’s a relief. Is it true what Hall said about freezing Barringston Relief’s assets?”
“I’m afraid so, David. They don’t want you transferring money out of the country …” David looked up sharply and Calvin read the unvoiced statement. “I know you haven’t transferred any funds, but the Department of Justice thinks you did.”
“This is a nightmare.”
“No, it’s not,” Calvin corrected. “It’s as real as it gets, and we’re going to respond accordingly. It’s time to get to work.”
David looked up at Calvin and studied him. “Mr. Overstreet, I appreciate your help, but I’ve given my life over to aiding the starving and ailing of the world. This could ruin it all. It’s not just my life we’re talking about here, it’s the lives of countless thousands of unnamed people. Children who struggle daily to hang on to life. Add to that the number of workers that Barringston Relief has around the world as well as in our various offices, and the number of affected people becomes enormous. So you’ll understand my intent when I ask, Are you good at what you do?”
Calvin Overstreet leaned forward and spoke in a measured tone. “David, I’m the best man you can have on
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