For a moment, I couldn’t figure out who it was., “Excuse me, can I know the name of my client who has been detained?”
There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone. The police asked the alleged client, “Your name, mister.”
“Alexander Zimmerman.”
Zimmerman?
It was not a common last name in K City, and I was certain that he was not my client.
However, the police did not give me any chance to explain myself. “Can you hear me? Please get here as soon as possible.”
He hung up right after.
Because of Bryson’s case, our firm made its mark in K City. It was understandable for the alleged offender to contact Brooklyn to handle the assault charges. Why in the world would this Zimmerman engage an unknown and inexperienced lawyer like me to handle his case?
Besides, he was allegedly involved in criminal assault. I decided it was best to stay away from the man and dismiss the case to the back of my head. However, the police department called me up twice in the afternoon, and I could only begrudgingly head there to find out more.
As lawyers, it was imperative for us to maintain amicable relationships with the police because of the frequent need to go to the stations. I could not risk being on the law enforcers’ bad books because of some calls.
The detention cell was on the right side of the office, in plain sight at the lobby entrance. There was only one young man being detained inside. The bruises on his face, also evidence, were blows he had suffered in the fight.
Even though Alexander was a disheveled mess, it didn’t affect his youthful good looks. He was indeed worthy of his name.
We locked gaze for two seconds. I was positive I had never seen this man in my life.
“So, are you representing this man?” I recognized the voice to be the police officer who had called me earlier. “Why are you so late?”
“I was delayed by something. Can you tell me more about this young man’s offence?”
“Criminal assault,” the police replied in an irritated tone as he flipped through the records. “He attacked a man in the morning, and an onlooker reported the incident. Our investigation shows that they did not know each other. When we questioned your client, he said he did it because it pleased him to do so. Has he no regard for the law?”
I was as frustrated as the police were furious at Alexander.
It was obvious that Alexander wasn’t some worthless, simple-minded man. Resorting to violence was the only solution he had to his problems. I made it a rule to stay away from these people. Now that I was representing him, the police must have labeled me as a troublemaker alongside him.
Since I was already at the station, I decided to bail the young man out, lest I was bombarded with calls from the police station again.
I put up an amiable front and asked, “Excuse me, but could I talk to my client in private?”
Alexander might have broken the law, but he was still entitled to his rights. The police said nothing and merely nodded his head before letting me into the detention cell.
Alexander stood at the bars with a smug smile as soon as I walked through the door.
“Ms. Stovall, you’re finally here. Please quickly bail me out. It’s so boring in here.”
I stopped a few feet away from him. Crossing my arms before my chest, I eyeballed my client behind the bars.
He hit a person and spent almost one whole day in police custody, yet his eyes were still beaming with delightful youthfulness. I couldn’t decide if he was a carefree soul, or he was too ignorant to know what was about to befall himself.
“Do you know me?” I asked, raising a quizzical brow.
“Who doesn’t in K City? You handled the case for Bryson Queen and Ziegler Corporation like a pro. Your name immediately came to my mind when I was caught. I believe you are more than capable to get me out of here, no?”
My lips curled into a thin smile as I gauged him. He was right. I made the call to take on Bryson’s case, but Brooklyn handled the trial and media interviews after the court hearing. Only a shrewd mind who had analyzed the whole situation would know and appreciate the effort I had in the case.
