he thought to himself.
?I have a witness,? Brenda Marsh was saying, ?who can tell you that these men broke into Mr. Fortlow's domicile.?
?They were working for the owner, Ms. Marsh,? Leontine said impatiently. ?Your Mr. Fortlow was trespassing.?
A brilliant smile came across the lawyer's face. It was fierce and triumphant. ?That's not true. Mr. Fortlow is the rightful tenant of Price Landers, the original owner of this property. I have the rent agreement and the receipt for the first and last months rent that Mr. Fortlow paid over nine years ago. I also have the canceled stubs of twelve money orders that Mr. Fortlow sent to Mr. Landers in 1990. These money orders were returned with no forwarding address being given. The stubs show that Mr. Fortlow intended to pay his rent but could not locate the landlord.?
Leontine stumbled then.
?I don't know anything about that??
?No, officer,? Brenda Marsh interrupted. ?And neither do you know that my client's actions were unprovoked. I have proof that this apartment is my client's legal domicile. I also have a witness saying that she saw your Mr. Burris and Mr. Trapps illegally break into Mr. Fortlow's home. I am willing to make an appointment with your desk sergeant for Mr. Fortlow to come in and face his accusers but first I have to get an injunction against the men who sent Burris and Trapps to vandalize my client's home.?
?Do you know where Mr. Fortlow is?? Leontine asked in a last-ditch attempt to take control.
?Not at this time. But we have an appointment to speak by phone tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. I will contact your desk sergeant after that. But first I am telling you that this property is legally in the possession of my client at this moment in time and that if it is in any way molested by Trapps, Burris or some other agent of their employer it will be a crime. And because you have been informed of this situation and because you have spoken to the vandals and they have admitted their illegal activity, although presenting it as their legal right, I hold you responsible for the protection of Mr. Fortlow's property.?
?I'm just trying to uphold the law, lady,? Officer Leontine said.
?The law,? she replied, ?works for the poor man as well as the rich.?
?I didn't say it didn't,? Leontine answered. After that he left with his friends.
At seven that evening four men arrived at the gate of Socrates' apartment. The man in the overalls, Leon Burris, was armed with a baseball bat. Killer was the first to see them but soon Stony Wile, Howard Shakur, and Chip Lowe with four members of his neighborhood watch appeared out of Socrates' home.
?What you want here?? Howard said boldly to the intruders.
?What business it to you, Negro?? Burris growled.
?I could see by that swolled-up jaw that you done got yo' ass whipped once already,? Howard said. ?This time we might just have to break it up permanent.?
Socrates watched the demolition thugs back off and retreat. A feeling of power thrummed in his heart. He felt like a Cadillac cruising on a full tank of gas.
The next morning Socrates Fortlow and his lawyer, Brenda Marsh, stood before desk sergeant Tremont LaMett. Sergeant LaMett had to decide whether or not to allow Officer Leontine to execute a warrant issued for the arrest of Socrates.
?Did you hit him?? LaMett asked the burly ex-con.
?My client was protecting his property,? Ms. Marsh responded. She and Socrates had agreed that he would stay silent during the interview with the police.
?Silent is my best thing,? he had told his blond Negro lawyer.
?I was asking him,? LaMett said to Ms. Marsh.
?I am representing Mr. Fortlow, sergeant. I have here an affidavit from Mrs. Irene Melendez who says that she had warned the accusers that they were trespassing and that when Mr. Fortlow confronted them that they approached him in a threatening manner. I also have photocopies of Mr. Fortlow's lease with Price Landers and his canceled money order stubs. I have been granted an injunction against the Cherry Hill Development Company and Mr. Ira Lomax preventing them from taking any further action against Mr. Fortlow or his property until this matter can be settled in front of a judge.?
