mother fretting with the bottom of her shirt and begin to worry.
“Everything looks good here, so the doctor will be coming to give you an update soon Ma’am.” Turning away she says ,”Johnathan, If you have any questions or need something you can just push the call button on the remote there.” With a gesture at the bed and no mention of the officer the nurse leaves.
With a step towards the bed he introduces himself, “Good afternoon ma’am, I am Detective Smith, I’ll be relieving the officer that was first on scene last night with your son. Since he is awake now I’ll be taking his statement. Before I do, I’m afraid I’m going to have to cuff Johnathan. I’m sorry for the confusion ma’am, someone in connection with what happened to your son has died and he is a suspect.”
Stunned, mouth hanging open, she just stands there. Head shaking in denial she begins to shout “Suspect?! Look at what they did to him! Whatever happened to self defense?!” Fists clenched tight by her side she stares at the policeman expectantly.
His hands raised ironically “Ma’am I’m just trying to do my job. I need his statement. Will he need a lawyer present or will you let me do my job?”
She and I know that there is no money for a lawyer. Hands to her head she retreats to the chair. Her feet tap a manic pace. Voice shaking, she says “Do what you have to do.”
18
Te cuffs are cold and his hands warm. I test my reach like a dog on a new lead. Te cuffs clang in response.
“Easy kid, those will cut you if you aren’t careful. Now fill me in on what you remember about last night?”
Mind racing, I spit out something believable, “I went for a walk in the park and then I woke up here.”
Mouth twisted in thought he replies “Alright listen kid, this will all go smoothly if you answer my questions honestly. We’ve got nowhere to go so just take your time.” Eyes roaming the room, his search ends on the doctor’s stool. “What time did you go to the park? Give me your best estimation.” He settles into the stool like he could be comfortable anywhere. Notepad and pen taken from his front pocket.
Tongue probing against a split lip fills my mouth with the taste of iron. Swallowing hard against the bile rising in the back of my throat I strain to sit up in the bed. “It’s all kind of fuzzy, I remember leaving the house when it was dark but not the time.”
“Were the streetlights on?”
“You just heard him say it was dark!” Her arms flung down to grip the sides of her chair.
“Ma’am please let him talk.” His reply ,as sudden as her interruption, quiets the room. “Were you planning on meeting someone at the park?”
19
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