Brenda and I were up early again this morning as we had to make more statements to the DA and his cronies.
This time Bob lead us to a meeting room on the 4th floor of the police station, The large wooden table was surrounded by at least a half dozen men. None of them looked too happy. Bob made introductions all the way around.
The District Attorney was an older man, his hair just starting to turn gray around the edges. Several of the assistant DA’s, looked like they were too young to drive, much less be lawyers. And work for the city.
The hostility in the air was palpable. It was clear they didn't like me.
I pulled out the chair for Brenda to sit down and I sat next to her. Bob found a chair on my other side.
“You carrying?”
The question surprised me but I kept cool.
“Yes, I am licensed to carry in the state of California,” I answered as flatly as I could.
The little guy that asked the question turned white. I swear it looked he was going to faint.
“And so is Brenda too. She is also licensed to carry in the state of California.” I added the last sentence for effect. It worked. Several of the young Assistant DA’s looked at each other. Like they had never been around someone with a gun before.
“Let's get to the real purpose of why they’re here. Their deposition about Ben Roberts.” Bob interjected before someone fainted at the thought of a gun in the same room as them. The idea of taking my gun out and laying it on the table sounded good. But I decided against it. Shit, they’d probably drop dead at the sight of it. I laughed to myself.
“We were made aware of the involvement of Ben Roberts when Brenda recognized him as one of the two people she saw in the back room at the Junk Shop next to the movie theater.” Until that time we had no idea of his involvement in the situation.” I stated in an even bored monotone.
The rest of the day was spent answering questions and giving the same information back that we had put in our official statement to Bob.
Bob had collaborating forensic evidence to add to our findings. Showing fingerprints and the pictures that Eddie had taken from the plane.
The grand finale was the statements made by Ted Williams and others putting Ben Roberts in the middle of the whole pornography ring and collaborating his involvement with Lisa Mayer. And His confession.
It was finally agreed that I was in the clear I had done nothing wrong in regards to Ben Roberts. Then someone brought up Manny.
“Manny Who?” I asked.
“Its well-known that you have dealings with Manny Long over the last several years. You’ve beaten him and threatened him any number of times. Only this time you went too far.”
“OH that Manny. It's like this, I knew Manny back before the war. He was a schemer even back then. Always looking for a way to make a quick dollar, and if possible steal something and sell it. I always knew he’d know what was going on the wrong side of town. And He usually did. Except for this time. With Willie Black. He didn't know anything about him. So I kinda lost my temper and gave him something to remember me by. Last I heard he didn't know who broke his hands and burned his shop down. So there’s no one to charge.” I finished. Getting up a reached for my hat, and my jacket swung open for a second. Making the butt of the colt 1911 clearly visible to those at the right angle. I was right the kiddie lawyer turned white at the sight of my pistol still in its holster. I grinned to myself as I collected Brenda and we headed out. It occurred to me that one of these days they may need someone like me.
Just as we were walking out the door one of the lawyers who didn’t say much during the whole interview spoke up;
“St.James ? I seem to remember hearing that name last year.”
I turned and looked him in the eye;
“You did. I was the target of a mob hit. And in the end, I cleaned up a dirty FBI agent and the biggest spy ring that had been operating in California all during the war. Want to know more read the old newspapers, or my report, I’m sure Bob can provide you with a copy.” I took Brenda by the arm and we walked into the hall. We found a corner down the all where we could sit and wait for Bob.
A few minutes later Bob came out I watched him shake hands with the DA and come over to where we were sitting. By the time he got to us Brenda and I had stood up and was heading for the elevator. I noticed the time as I pushed the button for the main floor. 4 PM. Brenda and I had spent the better part of the day answering questions and repeating ourselves over and over.
“You did good in there Jim,” he commented. On the ride down.
“Thanks, I think I have socks older then some of those “Lawyers” I joked. “I know I do,” he replied.
Bob told us that for the most part we were done with the Ben Roberts case. Except for testifying later the, it came to trail.
“They don’t like PI’s, and especially you, You’ve made them look bad before, and they know it. But as long as you stay out of trouble and don’t kill anyone, That’s not shooting at you, they can’t touch you and they know it. And it irks them something terrible.” Bob commented.
Brenda and I stopped at a dinner on the way to the bar. Grabbing some cold drinks and a bite we went to open the bar for the evening.
The rest of the evening was pretty routine. Something I liked for a change. We closed up the bar and headed home at the usual time.
This time Bob lead us to a meeting room on the 4th floor of the police station, The large wooden table was surrounded by at least a half dozen men. None of them looked too happy. Bob made introductions all the way around.
The District Attorney was an older man, his hair just starting to turn gray around the edges. Several of the assistant DA’s, looked like they were too young to drive, much less be lawyers. And work for the city.
The hostility in the air was palpable. It was clear they didn't like me.
I pulled out the chair for Brenda to sit down and I sat next to her. Bob found a chair on my other side.
“You carrying?”
The question surprised me but I kept cool.
“Yes, I am licensed to carry in the state of California,” I answered as flatly as I could.
The little guy that asked the question turned white. I swear it looked he was going to faint.
“And so is Brenda too. She is also licensed to carry in the state of California.” I added the last sentence for effect. It worked. Several of the young Assistant DA’s looked at each other. Like they had never been around someone with a gun before.
“Let's get to the real purpose of why they’re here. Their deposition about Ben Roberts.” Bob interjected before someone fainted at the thought of a gun in the same room as them. The idea of taking my gun out and laying it on the table sounded good. But I decided against it. Shit, they’d probably drop dead at the sight of it. I laughed to myself.
“We were made aware of the involvement of Ben Roberts when Brenda recognized him as one of the two people she saw in the back room at the Junk Shop next to the movie theater.” Until that time we had no idea of his involvement in the situation.” I stated in an even bored monotone.
The rest of the day was spent answering questions and giving the same information back that we had put in our official statement to Bob.
Bob had collaborating forensic evidence to add to our findings. Showing fingerprints and the pictures that Eddie had taken from the plane.
The grand finale was the statements made by Ted Williams and others putting Ben Roberts in the middle of the whole pornography ring and collaborating his involvement with Lisa Mayer. And His confession.
It was finally agreed that I was in the clear I had done nothing wrong in regards to Ben Roberts. Then someone brought up Manny.
“Manny Who?” I asked.
“Its well-known that you have dealings with Manny Long over the last several years. You’ve beaten him and threatened him any number of times. Only this time you went too far.”
“OH that Manny. It's like this, I knew Manny back before the war. He was a schemer even back then. Always looking for a way to make a quick dollar, and if possible steal something and sell it. I always knew he’d know what was going on the wrong side of town. And He usually did. Except for this time. With Willie Black. He didn't know anything about him. So I kinda lost my temper and gave him something to remember me by. Last I heard he didn't know who broke his hands and burned his shop down. So there’s no one to charge.” I finished. Getting up a reached for my hat, and my jacket swung open for a second. Making the butt of the colt 1911 clearly visible to those at the right angle. I was right the kiddie lawyer turned white at the sight of my pistol still in its holster. I grinned to myself as I collected Brenda and we headed out. It occurred to me that one of these days they may need someone like me.
Just as we were walking out the door one of the lawyers who didn’t say much during the whole interview spoke up;
“St.James ? I seem to remember hearing that name last year.”
I turned and looked him in the eye;
“You did. I was the target of a mob hit. And in the end, I cleaned up a dirty FBI agent and the biggest spy ring that had been operating in California all during the war. Want to know more read the old newspapers, or my report, I’m sure Bob can provide you with a copy.” I took Brenda by the arm and we walked into the hall. We found a corner down the all where we could sit and wait for Bob.
A few minutes later Bob came out I watched him shake hands with the DA and come over to where we were sitting. By the time he got to us Brenda and I had stood up and was heading for the elevator. I noticed the time as I pushed the button for the main floor. 4 PM. Brenda and I had spent the better part of the day answering questions and repeating ourselves over and over.
“You did good in there Jim,” he commented. On the ride down.
“Thanks, I think I have socks older then some of those “Lawyers” I joked. “I know I do,” he replied.
Bob told us that for the most part we were done with the Ben Roberts case. Except for testifying later the, it came to trail.
“They don’t like PI’s, and especially you, You’ve made them look bad before, and they know it. But as long as you stay out of trouble and don’t kill anyone, That’s not shooting at you, they can’t touch you and they know it. And it irks them something terrible.” Bob commented.
Brenda and I stopped at a dinner on the way to the bar. Grabbing some cold drinks and a bite we went to open the bar for the evening.
The rest of the evening was pretty routine. Something I liked for a change. We closed up the bar and headed home at the usual time.