Read Online THE FOURTH WATCH by Edwin Attella - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Edwin Attella
Tags: Crime, Police, Violence, attorney, guns, drugs, Prostitution, Corruption, fight, courtroom, illegal
Ads: Link
this whole thing started." His face was
kindly now as he addressed her. "I want to apologize to you on
behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for all your trouble.
One of the drawbacks to democracy is that it can empower
small-minded, vindictive people. I wish I had that silly man here
today so I could tell him what I thought of him. Unfortunately
there is nothing else for me to do except end this nonsense, clear
your record and send you home. The criminal court offers no further
justice. But the civil courts may be able to give you a measure
more. That shyster standing next to you will gladly sue that man
and his employer on any number of legal theories. If he won't, a
dozen others will. They might even win you a bunch of money. I know
that money can never heal your dignity or dull the pain of the
humiliation you must feel being dragged in here like a common
criminal, but it might stop these people from doing this to someone
else. That District Attorney over there should have thrown this
case and the police officer who filed it out of his office the day
they came in, he should be ashamed of himself for not doing so. But
sometimes they get so busy over in that office that they forget
that it is people like you who pay their salaries. That they are
the people's servants and should act accordingly. I wish I could do
more for you, but I can't, it is not within my power. Whatever you
do, however, I wish you the best."
"Thank you, Sir," Mrs. Footman said in a small
voice full of gratitude, her eyes brimming. It had been a masterful
performance by Terrible Tommy.
"Thank you, your Honor," I said and turned
from the defense table and escorted my client out.
In the stifling hallway Mrs. Footman hugged me
and thanked me massively. I chatted with her briefly and she said
she was going to call me about a will, and told me she was going to
think about what the judge said. I could tell she didn't want
anything further to do with courtrooms and judges and lawyers, and
I had to admit I often felt that way myself. When she left, I went
back into the courtroom and grabbed my briefcase. On my way out I
crouched by the DA's table and whispered my thanks to Rick Wall. He
nodded once then leaned in and said: "Tommy's lost it, he's out of
the bottle, its gonna be a long day."
I laughed softly and slapped him on the back.
"Good luck," I said and headed for
the exit.
*****
WHEN I LEFT THE COURTHOUSE I headed straight to the gym. I try to work out
at least four or five times a week. I'd like to say that it is
because I'm devoted to sculpting my body, but the fact is that,
with my life-style, I would be fat and unsightly after one month of
idleness. The weight likes to collect around my neck producing
jowls and/or multiple chins. It also likes to collect around my
middle and can easily get into runaway, producing a championship
caliber beer belly if I'm not careful. So I am. I'm a little bit
over six feet and I weigh about 210 lbs. I could shave another ten,
but what I carry is toned and hard and okay for my
frame.
My gym is the Greendale YMCA, which is located
on Shore Drive along Indian Lake. The political correctness police
have not yet forced a name change by the city to Native American
Lake. I pulled my red Jeep into the parking lot and found a spot
halfway down the left-hand row. I went in through the main
entrance, said hello to the girls at the desk and went down the
stairs into the men's locker room. Unfortunately they wouldn't let
me into the women's locker room. What happened to gender equality?
I changed into gym shorts and a Celtics T-shirt, and went out into
the weight room.
I have been a member of the Y for more than 25
years. I fought golden gloves here as a kid. I played basketball
here in the church leagues. I met the judges and lawyers here who
talked me into law school, and then became my mentors when I got
out. It seems I've always come here and it always looked the same
to me. But it had changed of course. When I
kindly now as he addressed her. "I want to apologize to you on
behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for all your trouble.
One of the drawbacks to democracy is that it can empower
small-minded, vindictive people. I wish I had that silly man here
today so I could tell him what I thought of him. Unfortunately
there is nothing else for me to do except end this nonsense, clear
your record and send you home. The criminal court offers no further
justice. But the civil courts may be able to give you a measure
more. That shyster standing next to you will gladly sue that man
and his employer on any number of legal theories. If he won't, a
dozen others will. They might even win you a bunch of money. I know
that money can never heal your dignity or dull the pain of the
humiliation you must feel being dragged in here like a common
criminal, but it might stop these people from doing this to someone
else. That District Attorney over there should have thrown this
case and the police officer who filed it out of his office the day
they came in, he should be ashamed of himself for not doing so. But
sometimes they get so busy over in that office that they forget
that it is people like you who pay their salaries. That they are
the people's servants and should act accordingly. I wish I could do
more for you, but I can't, it is not within my power. Whatever you
do, however, I wish you the best."
"Thank you, Sir," Mrs. Footman said in a small
voice full of gratitude, her eyes brimming. It had been a masterful
performance by Terrible Tommy.
"Thank you, your Honor," I said and turned
from the defense table and escorted my client out.
In the stifling hallway Mrs. Footman hugged me
and thanked me massively. I chatted with her briefly and she said
she was going to call me about a will, and told me she was going to
think about what the judge said. I could tell she didn't want
anything further to do with courtrooms and judges and lawyers, and
I had to admit I often felt that way myself. When she left, I went
back into the courtroom and grabbed my briefcase. On my way out I
crouched by the DA's table and whispered my thanks to Rick Wall. He
nodded once then leaned in and said: "Tommy's lost it, he's out of
the bottle, its gonna be a long day."
I laughed softly and slapped him on the back.
"Good luck," I said and headed for
the exit.
*****
WHEN I LEFT THE COURTHOUSE I headed straight to the gym. I try to work out
at least four or five times a week. I'd like to say that it is
because I'm devoted to sculpting my body, but the fact is that,
with my life-style, I would be fat and unsightly after one month of
idleness. The weight likes to collect around my neck producing
jowls and/or multiple chins. It also likes to collect around my
middle and can easily get into runaway, producing a championship
caliber beer belly if I'm not careful. So I am. I'm a little bit
over six feet and I weigh about 210 lbs. I could shave another ten,
but what I carry is toned and hard and okay for my
frame.
My gym is the Greendale YMCA, which is located
on Shore Drive along Indian Lake. The political correctness police
have not yet forced a name change by the city to Native American
Lake. I pulled my red Jeep into the parking lot and found a spot
halfway down the left-hand row. I went in through the main
entrance, said hello to the girls at the desk and went down the
stairs into the men's locker room. Unfortunately they wouldn't let
me into the women's locker room. What happened to gender equality?
I changed into gym shorts and a Celtics T-shirt, and went out into
the weight room.
I have been a member of the Y for more than 25
years. I fought golden gloves here as a kid. I played basketball
here in the church leagues. I met the judges and lawyers here who
talked me into law school, and then became my mentors when I got
out. It seems I've always come here and it always looked the same
to me. But it had changed of course. When I
Similar Books
