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.They can advocate for David.”BeRMudA heAt 141“If they let you see him what do you do then?”“First I let the police know I am on the case and to see what, if anything, they have charged David with.”“Will you be able to get him out on bail?” Chris had visions of the courts refusing to release David since he’d be a flight risk.“I don’t know,” Aidan admitted.“It will be difficult.The Consulate may help sway them, which is why you need to involve them as early as possible.That may be a moot point,” Aidan said.“I warn you it will not be cheap.The police will also wish to confiscate his passport.”“We’re not going to run, if that’s what you think.”“The courts will only be satisfied with the strongest possible deterrent.I suggest you extend your stay at this guest house, since you may be here a while.I’m afraid you’ll only be able to stay twenty-seven days.After that only a government intersession will allow you to stay longer.” Aidan scribbled some things in a yellow legal pad.He swiveled around to access his laptop.He typed in some commands and wrote something else on his pad.He tore it off and handed it to Chris.“This is the American consulate’s number.Talk to this man.” He tapped a name.“He can help you.”Chris scanned the pad.“Randall Harding.”“I’ll warn you now, if the case drags on you may need to return overseas, then return at the trial date.”Chris felt lightheaded.“Do you really think it will come to a trial?”“It may.I won’t try to sugarcoat it.It largely depends on what the police have in the way of evidence, or whether they find a more viable suspect.”“I’ll find one for them.”Aidan looked alarmed.“Please, Christopher, don’t interfere with this investigation.The police won’t take kindly to a foreigner butting in.You might only make it harder for David.”“I’m not going to let them railroad David, either.”142 P.A.Brown“Leave the legalities to me.I assure you I won’t let David be‘railroaded’ either.”As good as the man’s intentions were Chris had no desire to leave it entirely in his hands, but rather than get into an argument neither of them could win, he nodded.Aidan seemed relieved.He stood up and extended his hand to Chris, who took it.“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr.Bellamere.I will keep you advised of my progress.”“Do you think I’ll be allowed to visit David?”“I’ll try to arrange it.Let me call you once I make the preliminary inquiries.”Chris found Imani still sitting in the reception area.She stood when he emerged from the office.He took her arm and led her toward the door.“How did it go?”“He’s going to take the case,” Chris said.“I have to call the American consulate.After that, we wait.”Imani made a face.“Let’s get you home then.”“Thanks, Imani.” He wanted to kiss her for her show of support, especially after she had so much trouble believing him.“I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”“I don’t think you would have let David down no matter what.”No, he wouldn’t have, but it was still nice to know there were others in his corner.ChAPteR sixteenWednesday, 6:50am Westgate Correctional Facility, Pender Road, Ireland Island, Sandys Parish, Bermuda David lay down, but sleep eluded him.The concrete slab was too small for his six-four frame and his feet dangled over the edge.The blanket smelled musty and started a tickle in his throat.Every sound was magnified; even his own heartbeat was like thunder in his head.His breathing was hoarse and his throat felt like sandpaper when he swallowed.He heard the guard’s footsteps echoing down the corridor as he made his rounds.David turned on his side, averting his face.Silence fell again, except for the snores and muffled grunts of nearby prisoners.David was surprised at how quiet the place was.In any American prison he’d ever been in, no one was silent.Being silent meant you were a pussy, all they knew how to be was violent.This was almost eerie.He lay on his back with his eyes closed.Even so he grew aware of the sky lightening beyond the cool walls.He wondered if Chris had any luck finding a lawyer.Would anyone even want to take the case? He was a foreigner, an American cop in a land where the local police didn’t even wear guns.He never left the house without his.They were in the same profession, but they were miles apart in sharing common ground.He slung his arm over his eyes, blocking out the dawn.After a while they slid a breakfast tray into his cell.He forced himself to eat the unpalatable food, knowing it was the best he was going to get for a while.Later, he must have dozed because he woke to new footsteps, which stopped in front of his cell.“Mr.Laine,” said a guard he hadn’t seen before.He released the door lock and slid the cell door open.“You have a visitor.”David sat up.“Chris?”144 P.A.Brown“Who? It’s your lawyer.”“My lawyer?”“That’s what he said.”Chris had worked fast.Relief flooded David.Maybe that really was a light at the end of a tunnel.He was led into a small room that was only slightly better than his original interrogation room.An urbane looking black man stood at his entry.“Mr.David Laine? I’m Aidan Pitt.Christopher has retained me as your lawyer.”David sank into the chair opposite Aidan.“How are they treating you?”“Fine.As well as I’d expect.”“I’m working on getting you out of here,” Aidan said, music to David’s ears.“It may take a few hours, possibly even a day.I’ll warn you they may very well request you surrender your passport before they will issue your bond.”“Just get me out of here.”“You’ll be out soon.But I must insist that any further conversations with the police be held in my presence.You have said far too much already.”David didn’t really need a lawyer to tell him that, but it was the cop in him that made him talk.His honor demanded he had nothing to hide.Unfortunately, the local cops didn’t share his zeal and they clearly didn’t think he was innocent.Not when it was the choice between an easy case and one they’d have to work hard to solve.“Agreed,” he said.“Good,” Aidan said.He slid a briefcase up on the table between them.“Now I want you to tell me everything that has happened since you arrived in Bermuda.”David went even further.He told Aiden about learning that his father wasn’t dead and about their visit with his family in BeRMudA heAt 145New Hampshire.He didn’t mince words, but laid out the entire fight and the stony silence that had followed.Then he talked of meeting his real father for the first time.“I’m not going to pretend it was all roses, hell, I resented him for disappearing like that, but I never hated him.He was my father.I thought for sure we’d work it out, but we never had the chance.”“How did your mother talk about your father, besides telling you he was dead? She must have said something.”David shook his head.“You don’t know my mother.She made it very clear she wouldn’t talk about him [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]