Diamonds Underground - Chapter 5

Diamonds Underground

 

Chapter 5

 

Far From The Truth  

 

 

The wind roared like a lion across the upper deck and cut deep valleys between huge waves that tossed the sea link ferry like a paper toy up and down all the way across the Irish sea to England . Hyman sat on a seat on the deck that invited the  sea spray to wipe the smile off his face , He squinted out from his eyes and wiped away the blinding rain and sight was hard to find. The distant sound of laughter was squandered among the few passengers who braved the gale force nine outside on deck . There were other stranded sounds , that came from a group of old sea dogs , who cut a passage along the deck towards Hyman where he was sitting .

“Have you found your sea legs yet ?“ One of them asked .

“It’s a bit of a wild nigh t .” Hyman replied .

“We could get swallowed up into the lions mouth:” Another said

“How deep down is the throat .“ Hymans asked

“Deep enough to swallow the lot of us all in one gulp .“ He answered and they all laughed . They stood there for a moment looking out at the mountainous waves .

“Do you think we’ll make it across Captain ?”  One of the group asked .

“Well we have to . There’s no turning back ,“ He said and they walked away and went back inside ,’

Although it was a wild stormy night, Hyman sat there trying to keep calm as the sea continued to toss salt water over on to the deck .

The darkness was driven away by the dawn as into the morning sun the ferry run , twisting and turning around  through the waves towards Holyhead on the Welsh coast . Inside breakfast was being served in the café , before the Ferry docked

The Captain came out on deck and looked at Hyman .“

“We made it through a gale nine .“ He said and Hyman responded

“The lion wasn’t hungry enough then.”

“Sure enough. Somewhere between the devil and the deep blue sea , the lion waits for some faint hearted sailor of fools who dare to go beyond the horizon .“

“You’re an old mariner then Captain ?” Hyman asked  .

”With many tales to tell“  He replied.

“You should write them down Captain so they’re not lost” Hyman said .

“Its a sea dogs game . The pleasure and pain of life at sea , Sure it’s a dreary old story with no fame or fortune to gain . Like last nights crossing with wave after wave  throwing us about and thinking all the time will it swallow us up “

The old sailor walked away back inside and Hyman looked up at the overcast sky,  grateful to be alive . After breakfast he made his way down to the lower deck where the cars were parked . It took him a half an hour to find the Jaguar . where he opened the door and sat behind the wheel .  He waited there until it was his turn to drive off the ferry    One of the crew marshalled  the cars that disembarked from the ferry . Hyman was in a hurry to get off and was going too fast down the ramp . The cars in front of him had come to a stop . Hyman hit the brakes hard but the car skidded and crashed into the cars in front . Some of the customs officers rushed over to attend to the accident . When Hyman got out of the car he noticed one of the headlights had been damaged . Lying under the smashed headlight of the Jag  was a small bag and before Hyman could get to it, one of the customs officers saw it and picked it up

“”What have we got here then ?”’ He said as three other customs officers walked over and stood beside Hyman . The bag was opened He poured out the stones into the palm of his hand . He smashed the other headlight of the Jag that had not been damaged and another bag was revealed .

“So you’ve been doing some buying and selling then “ He said to Hyman who was being held tightly  by two other officers .

“I have no idea where they came from .“ Hyman replied .

“We’ll see about that . Take him to the office for questioning and drive the car off the ferry and impound for investigation .“’

Hyman was handcuffed and escorted from the ferry by customs officers . He was taken to a building on the dock and brought into a room . One of the customs officers sat there behind a desk and said .

‘Would you like to say anything before the police come ?”

Outside on the dock impatient drivers were tooting and honking the horns of their cars as they disembarked and furiously drove away from the dock  . Hyman looked out of the window and saw his car being driven off the ferry and parked behind a gate nearby .

Hymans ID was checked and his prison record  never helped him to convince anyine there about his innocence . He tried to explain he never know anything about the diamonds but no one was buying into that . When the police arrived they took his photo and fingerprints before dusting diamonds for fingerprints .

The police officer looked at Hyman and said .

“So you’re  saying  you don’t know anything about these diamonds . Well how do you explain your fingerprints on the bag and the valuable contents ?”

The Jaguar was given a thorough search but nothing else was found  Hyman was arrested abd charged with the robbery of one of the largest precious stone importers in Europe . The stolen diamonds were recognised as part of the haul made three years ago . Hyman was taken from Holyhead and put and into a remand prison to await a trail in court .

That night the news on TV told of the arrest of a man on the Holyhead ferry who had in his possession two bags of stolen diamonds . The next day all the morning newspapers also covered the story on their front page.

A shrewd journalist had managed to get himself inside the remand centre and found Hyman in his cell . He casually approached and handed a newspaper to Hyman saying . 

“Hi , My name is Glen . I’m a journalist for and our readers would like to hear your side of the story . I promise you full front page cover and whatever fee you would like for the story .“

“So what’s the story worth ?” Hyman replied .

“It could be worth a lot especially if the right people read what you have to say . Maybe you would get a fair hearing in court..”’

Hyman responded ,

“I’ve already told my story to the detectives Glen . Why don’t you ask them ”

The journalist smiled and said .

“Hyman , I’ve been in this business a long time and I report things as they are . There’s always another side to the story . Their side , your side and then there’s the truth .“

“:So what makes you different to the lawyers , police .  Why would you want to help me . ?”

Hyman asked .

“I’ll tell you Hyman . I was in your shoes once . Locked up in a prison for something I didn’t do . I know there’s always another version to what is said in court .“

He replied and now Hyman was interested and responded .

‘So I’ll tell you what my story has never been published . What happened to me was never brought out in court. I’ve served time for a crime I never committed “

“Go on I’m listening Hyman . I can be your voice out there . You have the freedom of the press with you . “

Hyman gave his story over to the press and after it had been said , the journalist said “ That is a great story , I’m going to have that splashed all over the front page , I’ll be back Hyman . Here’s is my card , I’ll see you later. “

After than day Hyman checked the newspapers every day from the front page to the back for his story to appear, but there was northing published ,

Three months passed and Hyman was still awaiting a court hearing  and still there was nothing in print in any of the newspapers about the events that took place that left him in the situation he was in .

Finally on the day of his hearing a solicitor spoke to Hyman outside the courtroom .

“Its an open and shut case. You really have no chance so plead guilty and things will go better for you Hyman . “

Hyman looked into the glazed eyes of the well dressed man who seemed in a hurry as he kept looking at his wrist watch .

“If that’s your best advice , Tell me , how long in your professional opinion would I get in prison , if I plead guilty ?”

“You could be out in six years.”

He replied .

Hyman sat for a moment abd then he stood up and said , 

“Six years . Well why don’t you go and put the kettle on because I’m in no hurry to follow your advice . So go and have a cup of tea or do whatever you have to do but you’re not representing me in court . I want another lawyer .“

The solicitor walked away . Another solicitor was brought on board in the case that ended up in the high court where Hyman was found guilty and send down for ten years. The judge was a hard man .

Four years passed in prison . He escaped everyday through meditation . He had found peace .  He had discovered an external energy , something he called transitional acceptance . Nobody understood where he was though he tried to  encourage others to try his mediation techniques . Many prisoners came to visit Hyman to ask his advice . They called him the Guru of the cellblocks .One day a visitor called to speak with Hyman . She said her name was Roisin and that she was a solicitor . Her  background as in human rights issues .

 Hyman was astonished by what she said .

“Lucky for you I was reading through some old newspaper articles researching for a case and I read what happened to you Hyman .”

 

“What , you mean my story was published ?.“

Hyman screamed out and Roisin nodded her head :

Hyman burst out crying and tried to talk through his tears . There was a mixture of anger and elation in his voice  .

“So what should I do. Thank God for his mercy and beg for forgiveness ?”

Roisin replied .

“Hyman , I ‘m going to help you . Don’t be upset . Justice will come but I need time to built a case for you to overturn the decision of the high court . I believe you , Trust me . I know life has been hard for you “

Hyman sat speechless , in shock for  a few moments before speaking.

“Why would you help me anyway ?.“

Roisin replied ,

“The journalist who wrote that article was my Father,  I know   He always told the truth .  He was killed in a car crash not long after he wrote that article about you . I found it by accident and realised there was a reason for that happening .“

Hyman looked into her eyes and replied

“Roisin I knew your Father was a good man and if justice comes to me , I will be grateful for the rest of my days for having met him. “

Roisin said ,

“I’ve already made contact with Con , Jim and Sean who are still locked up in prison and they have confirmed everything you told my Father . I have found some errors in the evidence given against you in court and there is reason to believe that you were stitched up for a crime you never committed .‘

“Those gangsters spoke up for me ?“ Hyman asked .
“That’s right . They said you were innocent Hyman and are willing to write that down to be used in evidence if required .”  She replied .

“They really said that?”

Hyman said and Roisin nodded her head and she said .

“They told me to tell you they fell bad about what happened to you ”

Hyman replied . ,.

“The investigation of my part in the truck hi-jack was a joke , It never happened  and information was manufactured for the case that put me away . “

“Be patient Hyman .We will get the truth out and your story will be told in court . ‘

Roisin stood up and called the prison guard to let her out of the cell and she reached out her hand to Hyman , He was shaking as he shook her hand and said .

“Thank you Roisin and God rest your Father . I never though he wrote that story I .ave him and now because of him I have some hope again.“

 

 

End Of Chapter 5

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https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/diamonds-underground-chapter-6

Link to Chapter 6

 

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