He was partners with his two brothers, Al and Bernie.
I went in to talk to them about my case.
I was assigned, Bernie.
He was the youngest of the three, physically the biggest but the least intimidating.
He sat with me and listened.
He seemed to have a handle on the case and a solid plan to get me off.
I immediately hired him.
I had no other choice.
I had a hearing with the Clerk Magistrate in a week.
The day before the hearing, Bernie called and told me to pick him up at the office.
He wanted me to drive.
I thought it was strange that he wanted me to drive.
But it was reassuring he had enough faith in me to let me drive.
Once we walked in, it became very real.
I saw the cop who was driving the black Ford Galaxie, waiting.
I sat on one side, closest to the Magistrate.
Bernie was to my right and the cop was sitting directly across from me, seething.
I continued,“After I saw that she was okay, I drove away.
Then, a black Galaxie chased after me, flashing its high beams.
He did not show me a badge, or I would have immediately pulled over.
When the driver of the Galaxie wouldn’t back off, I sped up and drove away.
I thought he might’ve been a lunatic with a gun.
I saw no indication that he was a police officer…”
The Magistrate was silent.
He had heard two completely different stories.
He asked Bernie and I to leave the room and wait in the hallway.
He needed time to talk with the cop behind closed doors.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental…
