The Witness

military short, though rumor was Blake had successfully dodged the draft, when there’d been a draft to dodge.
    “Russell, I understand my son and his friends may be responsible for a little breakage at your hotel. I want to assure that if this proves to be the case, we’ll take care of it. Don’t you worry, now.”
    “Mr. Blake, I’ll apologize for being rude, though it doesn’t feel sincere at this moment, but I don’t want to talk to you. Brooks, I’m going to go sit in your office, if that’s all right.”
    “Go ahead.”
    “Now, Russell,” Blake began, but Russ kept walking. Blake’s face set hard. “A hotelier should understand that a certain percentage of overhead has to be earmarked for breakage and overuse.”
    “Mr. Blake, I don’t much want to talk to you now, either.”
    As Brooks topped him in height, Blake couldn’t look down his nose, but the sentiment was clear.
    “You’re a paid employee of this town, and you won’t last a year in this position with that attitude.”
    “I’ll take my chances. I assume you’re going to tell me Justin had permission to use your credit card for the suite at the hotel, for all the room service and miscellaneous charges.”
    “Of course.”
    “Then that’s your business. The rest is mine.”
    “I want my son released immediately. We’ll pay for any damages incurred, naturally.”
    “Then you ought to know those damages are going to approach, if not exceed, six figures. Yeah.” Brooks nodded when Blake’s eyes rounded, as his face reddened. “They did a number on those rooms.”
    “If Russell Conroy or his father, whom I have always respected, think for one short minute they can inflate this business to exploit—”
    “Two of my officers are at the hotel right now, documenting the damages. The insurance agent is also on his way to do the same. I’ve just come from there and seen it for myself. My officers will also be doing a search for illegal substances, as the place reeked of marijuana. I don’t know where your son or his friends got the red wine or the brandy, the beer and the other assorted alcohol, the containers of which were all over the damn place, but they are all under the legal drinking age. Added to it, your son assaulted Russ—don’t you bluster at me this time,” Brooks snapped. “He assaulted Russ, in front of witnesses. He also assaulted the security guard, in front of witnesses.”
    “I want to speak to my son. Now.”
    “No. I will speak with him, and his lawyer can be present and speak with him. But while he’s under the legal drinking age, he is also legally an adult. It may not make much sense, but that’s the law. You’ll speak to him when I’m done with him. And, Mr. Blake, you can’t buy the Conroys off like you have the others. They won’t be bought. This time, Justin’s going to pay for what’s he’s done.”
    “Push too hard, Gleason, you push on this and you’ll lose your job.”
    “Like I said, I’ll take my chances. Now, I assume Justin asked for alawyer, but I’m going to check. Until I know he’s engaged that right, nobody talks to him.”
    Brooks walked over to Jeff Noelle, one of his part-time deputies, who was doing his best to look invisible. “Did he ask for a lawyer, Jeff? Do you know?”
    “Yessir. He was bitching about a lawyer when Ash and Boyd brought them all in, and yelling at the other two prisoners to keep their mouths shut.”
    “All right, then.” Brooks walked back. “You’ve got a client, Harry.”
    “I’d like to speak with my client privately at this time.”
    “Sure. Jeff, you take Mr. Darnell to his client.”
    “Yessir, Chief.”
    Ignoring Blake, Brooks walked to his office, shut the door. “Justin lawyered up, as expected. They’ll have their confab, then I’ll talk to him. Want some coffee?”
    “No. I got some water. I don’t think I can stomach anything else.”
    “I’m going to take your official statement. We’re going to do this by all the steps, Russ. I’m going to warn you Blake’s going to try to pressure you and your family to take a payoff, let the kid slide.”
    Color, nearly as red as his hair, rode up on Russ’s cheeks. “There isn’t enough money in the world. My mama bought that chandelier in Waterford, Ireland, had it shipped all the way back here just for that parlor. It was her pride and joy. For that alone, Brooks.”
    “I know it. I’m going to record this.”
    “Okay.” Russ closed his eyes a moment, nodded.