“Here we are again,” Detective Bird said from his chair across the table. “I told you that you’d be back soon.” He grinned at Suave.
Suave kept his head down, and his mouth shut.
“Oh, you’re silent now.” Detective Bird threw his head back and laughed. “The big rich, mighty Suave is scared.”
Suave remained mute.
“Okay, let me start the conversation.” He leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Suave. “As I stated before, you are under arrest for the murder of Danny Moore. And this time, we have enough evidence to put you away for life.”
“What evidence?” Suave replied before he could stop himself.
“Now, he speaks.” The detective smirked. “For starters, we found an engraved gold watch under the seat of Danny’s car with your name on it. It broke when you were cutting his throat open.”
“You’re crazy.” But Suave was getting a little nervous. King Kong may be hurting a little financially since that robbery in Spanish Town, but his pocket was still deep. And when combined with Queen Bee’s, it was even deeper and big enough to fabricate evidence against him. “I didn’t kill Danny, so that so-called watch isn’t mine.”
“Blood samples were collected at the murder scene and are being analyzed as we speak,” Detective Bird continued as if Suave hadn’t spoken. “I have a strong feeling we’re going to find your blood as well.”
Suave felt the perspiration on his face and down his back. Things were going from bad to worse.
“No more comments?” Detective Bird asked. “Why don’t you just confess to the murder and make it easy for everyone?”
Suave glared at him. “I don’t have anything else to say until I speak with my lawyer.”
“Your lawyer? You think a lawyer can get you off this one?”
Suave shouted, “I know I don’t have to speak with you if I request my lawyer.”
Detective Bird’s chest rose and fell in fury. Things were about to get very complicated, and he was caught in the middle. He knew the chance he was taking when he accepted King Kong’s bribe so many years ago, but a brother had to live. His little meager police salary was a joke. He risked his life every day to serve and protect his country, but he could barely afford to pay his bills. On the other hand, the drug lords like Suave and King Kong broke the law every day, and they owned businesses, lived in mansions, drove luxury cars, and got richer and richer by the minute. Why shouldn’t he get a slice of the pie too?
“I want my lawyer,” Suave repeated, snapping back the detective’s attention to him. “Are you going to deny me my rights too?” His eyes challenged Detective Bird.
Detective Bird’s mind was running like a choo-choo train, Suave’s words ringing in his ears: Are you going to deny me my rights too?
What did he mean by “too”? Does Suave know more than he’s letting on? “I’m going to book you now and take you to the holding cell. We’ll get you if and when your lawyer gets here.”
Suave’s Rolex watch, diamond-studded chain, and a few hundred dollars that he had in his pockets were taken and bagged, after which he was fingerprinted, and his mug shot taken. He was then led to a holding cell where eight other men were. The small room stank from the body odors, vomit, stale urine, and other unnamed substances littering the floor.
But Suave stepped inside the cell as if he were entering a five-star hotel. He went around the room, bumping fists with all the men. “Respect, my brother,” he said to the big burly beast sitting on the floor. “How is it going, man?” he directed to the mean-looking man eyeing him with skepticism. This won over the men and before long, Suave got a space to sit on the bench and was conversing with the men like they were all old friends.
However, as the minutes ran into hours, Suave began to get impatient. What was taking his lawyer so long? He was certainly paying the overpriced man enough. “I’m going to fire his lazy behind,” he muttered angrily.
“Suave Brown,” a police officer called out, keys dangling from his hand.
Suave jumped up and hurried over to him.
“Your lawyer is here.”
Suave felt relieved. “Finally.” He waved to the other men.
“Turn around and put your hands behind your back.” The officer opened the cell, handcuffed Suave, and led him back to the depressing room where his lawyer sat in the chair vacated by Detective Bird.
“I see you took your time,” Suave said as the handcuffs were being removed, and he sat across from his lawyer.
“Hello, Suave,” Mr. Gold replied as the officer exited the room, leaving him alone with his client. “I got here as soon as I could.”
Suave breathed through his mouth. He had to remain cool so he could get out of here. “I’m being charged with murder. Do you know that?”
Mr. Gold waved his hand as if it were a minor traffic violation. “I spoke with Detective Bird. Anyone could buy a watch and engrave your name on it. That’s not enough evidence to hold you for murder.”
“What about my blood that was supposedly at the crime scene?”
“Now that may be a problem for you. But they haven’t gotten back the results on that as yet. I can get you bail until then.”
“Until then?” Suave snapped, leaning toward the lawyer. “I didn’t kill Danny, so my blood cannot be at that crime scene. Someone is trying to frame me.”
Mr. Gold gazed at him as if to say, Yeah, right.
“I didn’t do it,” Suave repeated adamantly.
“Okay, okay. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” Mr. Gold glanced down at his expensive gold watch on his left wrist. “I’m going to see if I can get a bail hearing for you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? I have to stay here until tomorrow?” Suave looked at him like he was Big Foot.
Mr. Gold nodded. “And that’s because I know the prosecutor
