The Aftermath

33

Tom Blake looked up when the office door opened and found a thirty-ish black woman there. She had hard eyes. Her pant suit was tan and it fit her 5'8'' athletic body professionally. On her waist was a detective badge, and Tom could read 'Homicide' on the gold shield. Her white blouse was sharp, nearly glowing. She had her hair up in a winding braided bun. "My name is Detective Baker. Could you follow me please?" she asked once she had both his and Charlie's attention.

Tom rose from his chair.

Charlie asked, "Where is Detective Roads?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss internal matters with you Ms. Davis. I'm sure you understand." Baker told her.

"You bet I understand, and good riddance." Charlie said, smirking at Tom.

Tom nodded his head but kept his expression to himself. "Where are we going?"

"To the interrogation room, there are questions which need to be asked." Detective Baker replied.

Interrogation room 5 was like any other interrogation room Tom had ever seen. Detective Jasslynn Baker, of Homicide started the recorder, stated her name, the date and time, and who was present.

Tom noticed that Charlie was perturbed that they still had to sit through an interrogation.

Detective Baker opened up the file on the desk and picked up a pencil. Without looking up at Tom, she said "I'm familiar with your case, both the previous one you were deemed not guilty from, and the current case with your mother's death, as well as the vandalism of your home." Baker make a circle around something and then turned the page in the file. "I know you probably want to get out of here soon, but I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that whether you were innocent or not, you still have obligations to fulfill as a citizen of San Diego, and that these may not be the only questions we have for you. There will probably be more in the future as more evidence comes to light."

Tom looked at Charlie, who shrugged. Tom said, "I understand."

"Good. Was there any reason, that you can think of, for you to touch the blood stains on the walls of your home?" Baker asked without further preamble.

Tom looked at Charlie again, who was sitting up straighter, "Have you found such evidence?" Charlie asked.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss the unfolding matters of this case with you Ms. Davis. Please instruct your client to answer the question."

Charlie grimaced, but then gave Tom a nod.

"No." Tom answered.

"Is there any reason, that you can think of, for your blood to be one the broken glass of the sliding glass door." Baker asked.

Again Charlie frowned, but gave a nod.

"No." Tom answered.

"Where are your wife and child?" Baker asked, still not looking up from the file, her pencil writing notes, and circling other areas.

"We're not going to answer that." Charlie said.

Detective Baker looked up at Tom, "You are refusing to cooperate?"

Before Charlie could say anything, Tom said, "Yes."

Baker leaned back in her chair and looked steadily at Tom.

Charlie interrupted anything she might have to say, "Despite your personal views about the obligations of citizenship detective, my client is not obligated to answer any of your questions. If you wish to ask any more, then I suggest your confine yourself to the cases, rather than my client's personal life."

Baker looked calmly at Charlie, "This is a murder case Ms. Davis, and one I would think your client would be interested in solving. But if he refuses to answer our questions, then I will arrest him for obstruction."

"Then do so now or we are leaving. My client will not respond to meaningless threats. This interview is over. So arrest him now, so I can get the D.A. on the phone before he goes to lunch." Charlie said, while standing up. "Come on Tom, we are leaving."

Baker said nothing, and did nothing except to watch them walk out of the room. Her face was as good as any poker player Tom had ever seen.

He walked with Charlie down the stairs and then out of the lobby. Out in front of the building Charlie turned and looked at him, "Are your finger prints in the blood Tom?"

Tom looked around briefly and then said, "No."

"Is there anything I should know about what could be found in your house?" She asked him.

"They would have to have a warrant to search, right?" Tom asked.

"It's also a crime scene. Technically they can only search through areas which are directly associated with the crime in question. The reality however is that they'll do whatever they please and worry about the legalities later. So again, anything I need to know?" She repeated.

He shrugged, "I can't think of anything."

"If you think of anything: a gun in the attic, a box of porn in the closet, dead animals in the basement, you need to let me know so I'm not caught with my panties around my ankles." She stressed.

"I will." Tom agreed.

She studied his face for a moment and then said, "Good. This won't last much longer."

Tom looked up at the blue sky, and then back at Charlie, "You really believe that Charlie?"

Charlie stopped and then said, "No, it will never be the same." She admitted. "But this crap will cease. I'll make sure of that."

"I'm thinking of leaving the country." Tom told her.

"When?"

"Monday if I can arrange it." Tom told her, "Sooner if I can find a way."

"What about the house, and all this shit?" Charlie asked, waving her hand back at the police station.

"Let them search." Tom shrugged, "Is there any reason I can't go?"

"Legally?" Charlie considered his question, "No. The media will have a field day with it, but they've already done their worse, haven't they." She put her hand to her chin, holding it with her thumb while studying the sidewalk. "Tell you what. You come to my office tomorrow and I'll have Power of Attorney papers drawn up for you to sign which will allow me to act on your behalf while you are out of the country."

Tom nodded, "Make sure you have enough rights to sell the house. I may not be coming back. In fact, I mean not to."

Charlie nodded, "Alright. I'll draw them up."

Tom watched her head up the side walk toward her car, and then walked up Broadway to College, heading for the trolley station.