“But the police were called out there to pick you up?” I watch as he tries hard to sit still but fails miserably. And what’sthat smell? He smells like he bathed in a three-day-old fish guts that have been soaking in the sun.
“I said he called his brother. Cops like to get in on the dirty, ya know. His brother already knows the place. He’d been waiting to pick me up because I fucked his sister and sent her hoe ass back to the street after. They found her in a ditch the next day. That wasn’t nothing on me, man, that bitch was just waiting to get dealt with. Owed people money and shit.”
I see an opportunity to bring up the Rivers family, so I take it.
“Did you or the Buckit Club have anything to do with the explosion last week? The news reported one person was killed.” I sit back in my chair, pretending to take more notes.
“That was Frank Rivers’ place. Frank used to gamble with us, owed a lot of people money and made a lot of enemies, so I guess it’s possible. His daughter’s missing. I reckon someone took her for payment. Girl’s mouth was like a hoover, if you know what I mean.”
It’s almost as if the world has just tilted on its axis. What the fuck did he just say? “Excuse me?” I keep my face and demeanor relaxed, hiding my surprise. I know exactly what he’s alluding to.
“She was just like any other trick in town, willing to suck a dick for a dollar.” He grins as if remembering something.
I clutch my fist to keep from knocking his fucking teeth out and I tuck that little bit information in the corner of my mind for a later date. The girl conveniently left that out on our talk the other night.
Isn’t the new trend going around that we listen and we don’t judge or some asinine shit like that? That’s important information I need to know about her past.
“So you were acquainted with her? Were you involved or could you be implicated in the explosion?”
A smile, again, spreads across his pock-marked face, revealing his rotting teeth. “She blew me for some cash once or twice. Said she was trying to make money for school or some shit. I ain’t blown nobody up, though. Why you ask that?”
I clench the pen in my hand, ready to snap it at any second. Kaleb Cherry just signed his death warrant. It shouldn’t piss me off as bad as it does. She’s my employee, not my possession. All that happened before I met her, but then again, I’m not a very rational person all the time, am I?
“As your lawyer, I need to know any possible charges that might be brought up.” I really want to snap his filthy neck.
“Nah man, ain’t got nothin’ to do with me.” He starts chewing on his dirty fingernails.
“Have the police questioned you about it? Do they have any leads?” I’ve been so busy I haven’t looked for more news articles about it and haven’t followed up with any of my contacts to see.
“They said it was just a gas leak.” Well no shit, Sherlock.
“Is anyone looking for the missing girl?”
He squirms in his seat; I can’t tell if it’s the drugs or nerves. He hasn’t been still since he came in. “Doubt it, she ain’t got no family. If someone took her, they took her. If she ran away, oh well. Ain’t no concern of mine.” His eyes look anywhere but mine.
I wonder what he would do if I clutched his jaw and forced him to look me in the eye when he spoke. If I had a set of gloves with me, I’d make him. If I touch him skin to skin, I’d need a Rocephin shot.
I watch him pick at another place on his arm. Those are either meth sores or scabies. The thought sends a shiver through my body. I hope it’s from meth.
“So it’s just your current charges we need to worry about.” I will try to get more information about Frank Rivers during our next meeting, I don’t want him wondering why I am so focused on him.
He’s already paranoid enough, and I need his cooperation. He can possibly lead me to her abusers.
“Yes.” He shifts uncomfortably in his seat some more.
“Yes, sir. If I am going to represent you, you’re going to have to look and be respectable. No coming to court—or my office again—while you’re high. Sober up, get a haircut, shave, and find something decent to wear, understand?”
“Yes, sir.” He nods his twitching head.
“I will give you a call when your court date is scheduled and we will meet before then to discuss our plan for getting you off the hook. Until then, stay away from the gambling ring and out of trouble. I won’t represent you if you acquire more charges between now and then.”
He gulps. “Yes, sir, I understand. I will do my best. Thank you, sir.”
“Call my office if you need to speak with me beforehand. Have a nice day Mr. Cherry.”
“Aight, see ya, man. Thanks again.”
I wait until he’s out of my office before I call Sasha. “Get housekeeping in here to do a quick clean.” I need to run by the warehouse, and I can’t sit in this office another minute knowing Kaleb Cherry’s scabs and gonorrhea are everywhere.
