Read Online Until Proven Innocent by Gene Grossman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gene Grossman
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enough playing the part of a cop?”
“ He thought I was too authentic. He wanted me to tone it down. I tried to explain to him that after a judge makes liberal rulings like that for some shyster defense attorney, no real cop on the stand would act any different. He said he wanted realism and that’s what I gave him.”
“ Well, as long as he’s still alive, maybe there’s a chance. Did the ‘N’ word come up at all in your heated conversation with him?”
“ C’mon counselor, I’m not that bad, and you should know it by now.”
“ Okay, I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Maybe I can salvage something. Remember, Tony, this is not Court TV, this is a movie. It’s all make-believe. It’s not supposed to be too authentic. Do you think Arnold Schwarzenegger really came from the future, or that Sylvester Stallone can be a champion boxer? It’s a fantasy. That’s why they call it acting instead of reality. I’ll try to smooth things out, but if I can talk him into letting you continue as an actor, please follow the director’s instructions.”
I get his grumbling acceptance and decide to call it a night. I know that the kid will be waiting for me to report on my dinner with Myra, so I might as well get it over with. She’ll probably spend the rest of the evening on the phone with Myra, verifying everything I’m about to tell her now.
*****
The next morning Victor calls to let me know that he matched some of the prints on April’s manila envelope to the ones on Miller’s business card. No surprise there. Now that Myra’s decided not to do my heavy lifting, I’ll have to take care of Miller myself.
Jack Bibberman has been doing most of our investigation work for some time now and he’s pretty familiar with the Hall of Records, so I give him the assignment of finding out exactly who owns that apartment building where April lives. I may have to go over Miller’s head to get some satisfaction. I can’t imagine any property owners letting a jerk like that keep his job after they’ve been formally put on notice about how he’s been extorting apartments and money from present and future tenants. Once Miller’s been bounced from that job as manager, April should be in pretty good shape, figuratively speaking.
My only two loose ends now are Olive’s horny boyfriend Hershel, and trying to get Tony his job back as a movie star. No sense in stalling, so I might as well get over to the soundstage to deal with Joe Caulfield.
*****
I have to give him credit. His composure is professional, even when talking about a guy who allegedly almost ruined his film.
“ Peter, I know what you’re going to say, but I don’t think I can do it. He’s just too real, and he can’t let it go. I’m sorry to do this to a close friend of yours.”
“ First of all, he’s not a close friend of mine. Other than a certain dock in the Marina, the only thing we share is a common lack of affection for each other. But as for him being too real, I agree. It would probably be like having me in your movie, with the script calling for me to walk around in front of the counsel tables with a lit cigar in my hand. That just doesn’t happen in real life… at least not since Clarence Darrow retired. I’ve already told him that it’s make-believe, and I feel pretty sure he’ll go along with it. Whattaya say? Isn’t there some way you can give him another chance? You know, the film doesn’t even have to be rolling. You could just make it a rehearsal to see if he’ll go along with the program.”
Joe looks down at his desk. He’s thinking it over. That’s a good sign, because it’s much better than the quick ‘no’ that I got when this conversation started. He looks up at me, like he’s made a decision.
“ You know, I really do want to get him back with the company, because there’s another position we could definitely use him for. In addition to film production, we’re expanding by starting a bonded and licensed film courier
“ He thought I was too authentic. He wanted me to tone it down. I tried to explain to him that after a judge makes liberal rulings like that for some shyster defense attorney, no real cop on the stand would act any different. He said he wanted realism and that’s what I gave him.”
“ Well, as long as he’s still alive, maybe there’s a chance. Did the ‘N’ word come up at all in your heated conversation with him?”
“ C’mon counselor, I’m not that bad, and you should know it by now.”
“ Okay, I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Maybe I can salvage something. Remember, Tony, this is not Court TV, this is a movie. It’s all make-believe. It’s not supposed to be too authentic. Do you think Arnold Schwarzenegger really came from the future, or that Sylvester Stallone can be a champion boxer? It’s a fantasy. That’s why they call it acting instead of reality. I’ll try to smooth things out, but if I can talk him into letting you continue as an actor, please follow the director’s instructions.”
I get his grumbling acceptance and decide to call it a night. I know that the kid will be waiting for me to report on my dinner with Myra, so I might as well get it over with. She’ll probably spend the rest of the evening on the phone with Myra, verifying everything I’m about to tell her now.
*****
The next morning Victor calls to let me know that he matched some of the prints on April’s manila envelope to the ones on Miller’s business card. No surprise there. Now that Myra’s decided not to do my heavy lifting, I’ll have to take care of Miller myself.
Jack Bibberman has been doing most of our investigation work for some time now and he’s pretty familiar with the Hall of Records, so I give him the assignment of finding out exactly who owns that apartment building where April lives. I may have to go over Miller’s head to get some satisfaction. I can’t imagine any property owners letting a jerk like that keep his job after they’ve been formally put on notice about how he’s been extorting apartments and money from present and future tenants. Once Miller’s been bounced from that job as manager, April should be in pretty good shape, figuratively speaking.
My only two loose ends now are Olive’s horny boyfriend Hershel, and trying to get Tony his job back as a movie star. No sense in stalling, so I might as well get over to the soundstage to deal with Joe Caulfield.
*****
I have to give him credit. His composure is professional, even when talking about a guy who allegedly almost ruined his film.
“ Peter, I know what you’re going to say, but I don’t think I can do it. He’s just too real, and he can’t let it go. I’m sorry to do this to a close friend of yours.”
“ First of all, he’s not a close friend of mine. Other than a certain dock in the Marina, the only thing we share is a common lack of affection for each other. But as for him being too real, I agree. It would probably be like having me in your movie, with the script calling for me to walk around in front of the counsel tables with a lit cigar in my hand. That just doesn’t happen in real life… at least not since Clarence Darrow retired. I’ve already told him that it’s make-believe, and I feel pretty sure he’ll go along with it. Whattaya say? Isn’t there some way you can give him another chance? You know, the film doesn’t even have to be rolling. You could just make it a rehearsal to see if he’ll go along with the program.”
Joe looks down at his desk. He’s thinking it over. That’s a good sign, because it’s much better than the quick ‘no’ that I got when this conversation started. He looks up at me, like he’s made a decision.
“ You know, I really do want to get him back with the company, because there’s another position we could definitely use him for. In addition to film production, we’re expanding by starting a bonded and licensed film courier
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