AFRAKATI CALLED UPON her mother, “Mother, I hate to ask you…”
“No, you don’t. What is it this time?”
“Two different policemen are harassing Brad.”
“What on earth did he do, kill the President?”
“That’s the problem, he was with me. I have no idea why they’re pestering him.”
“Alright, I’ll take care of it. Like I said before, he must have a big one.”
“I think he does.”
“Let me know when you finally see it.”
“I will. Thank you, Mother.”
* * * * *
JEFF ASKED BRAD, “What do you need?” He glanced at the two detectives.
Brad told him, “I need you to represent me. These gentlemen are asking the same questions as the two detectives did yesterday. I’m going to cover everything I did yesterday, leaving no question unanswered.”
“I’m your attorney of record.”
This declaration caused the detectives to frown. They liked to outnumber a suspect two to one.
Brad began right from the start, covering everything he did with the previous two detectives, leaving out nothing. This irritated both detectives.
Detective King said, “We ask questions, we don’t allow a suspect to make a speech.”
Brad replied, “The other two detectives said the exact same thing.”
Davis turned on his recorder, then asked, “Were you ever in her apartment?”
Jeff said, “He already answered that. He was never in her apartment.”
King asked, “Were you romantically involved?”
Jeff pointed out, “He already answered that.”
Both detectives hated attorneys and felt the world would be a better place without them.
Davis asked, “Did you ever go on a date with her?”
Jeff said, “He already answered that.”
King threatened, “We could continue this at our precinct.”
Jeff told him, “Only at your peril. The head of our firm would call your chief and you’d be doing crosswalk duty in Pacoima.”
Both detectives knew he was right. With their luck, the head of the firm and the chief were probably golfing buddies.
Davis said, “Rather than cause unnecessary problems, let’s concentrate on Detectives Martin and Schultz. How did the interview end?”
Brad took back the conversation. “Detective Martin was in severe pain, so much so that he couldn’t even stand. He complained that his stomach was on fire. I suggested that I call an ambulance for him.”
“What was his response?”
“He told me to go fuck myself.”
“Then what happened?”
“Schultz was trying to help him walk. Schultz said he would take him to a hospital. Before they even got to our outer office, Schultz complained that his stomach was also causing him severe pain. Once again I offered to call an ambulance.”
“What did Detective Schultz say?”
“He told me to fuck off. They stumbled toward their car and finally made it out of the parking lot.”
King asked, “Did anyone else witness this?”
Brad said, “Our receptionist, another law clerk and me. We watched through the front window.”
Davis asked, “Why didn’t you try to stop them?”
Brad pointed out, “Two hostile policemen, that were armed, and told me to go fuck myself when I offered to help; be serious.”
“Some people that might think you were responsible for letting them leave in that condition.”
Jeff said, “Only someone from the mental ward at county hospital.”
Davis said, “I can see why they felt you should be arrested. I think I’ll…”
He grabbed his head and was unable to finish.
King asked, “What’s wrong, Jim?”
“My…my head feels like it’s going to explode. Aggghhh, the pain is horrible.”
Brad said, “If it’s an aneurism, you need an ambulance.”
King said, “Shut up, asshole! Your evasive answers probably brought on a migraine.”
Davis groaned, “This…this is no migraine. God, I can’t take the pain. I…I need a doctor.”
King helped him out of the chair. “Come on, I’ll get you to an emergency room.”
He helped Davis to his feet, but had to put his arm over his shoulder because Davis was too weak to walk on his own. Beads of perspiration were forming on Davis’ brow. As they entered the outer office, trailed by Brad and Jeff, King said, “My…my head is starting to hurt.”
Davis told him, “Then get us to…to a hospital.”
The receptionist advised, “You both need an ambulance.”
“Go fuck yourself; lady!” Davis snapped as the pain overwhelmed him.
Profanity caused her eyes to widen. Jeff was amazed that both men refused help. Brad had seen the same thing the day before. The two men stumbled to their car with Davis holding his temples, actually crying, and King holding his forehead. They hit the rear fender of one of the cars in the parking lot as they sped away.
Jeff said, “I hope they have insurance.”
Brad declared, “This sounds ridiculous, but we’d better call for a policeman and file a hit and run property damage report. The insurance company will require it.”
Jeff said, “I’ll take care of it.”
