Shadows of Death

Chapter 3 (Charlie section 6)

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He stopped. Not because of anger but because he knew talking about the past make him angry. Mr. Rasoli expected this behavior of Charlie and knew he would get angry like this. So he with a calm voice said: "You didn't take anything from the museum? Is that what you were going to say? So who stole the diamond diadem? Huh?"

"I don't have anything to say."

"You know, Mr. Arman, if the judge had accepted the prosecutor's proposal and given you twelve years prison instead of seven, we would not be sitting here and talking together. And maybe you would have a better understanding of the meaning of social and civil justice."

Mr. Rasoli chose his words carefully, and while he was talking, he looked at Charlie's face. Charlie tried not to look at him. Charlie said: "I won't speak until my lawyer arrives." He didn't know how these words came to his mind but he knew it wouldn't help him so much.

Mr. Rasoli calmly said: "It's your right to speak when your lawyer is here. I don't want to ignore your legal rights. Just give us the number of your lawyer. My colleagues will call him."

And as he say this last sentence he gestured to the CCTV camera. Charlie didn't say anything. For several moments silence prevailed in the room and all this time Charlie avoided looking at Mr. Rasoli's face. It seemed Charlie realized now that he said the wrong word.

Mr. Rasoli understood this and so with a superior tone said: "You don't have a lawyer. Just like ninety percent of the families in this country. You know, most families in this country think lawyers are just crooks who don't do anything and just earn money!"

Charlie interrupted him with an unsure voice: "But I have this right to have a lawyer."

Mr. Rasoli with calmness said: "Yes. It's your legal right. But you don't have a lawyer now and if you don't have the financial ability to hire a lawyer – I mean, if your family doesn't have the financial ability – the court will choose a lawyer for you. Do you know what we call this kind of lawyer?"

Charlie didn't answer his question.

Mr. Rasoli continued: "'Public defender!' They are for the birds! Just between you and me, that is." He blinked and continued: "Just don't tell anyone. If they hear I said something like this about them, maybe they will be a little upset. To tell you the truth, some of them turn my stomach. Instead of helping the accused they just say 'accept all the charges, and we'll get some time taken off for good behavior.' If I were in their place, I'd do the same thing! With such a bad salary from the government I won't try better than that!"

He paused and took a deep breath and then continued: "But now you don't have a lawyer so we have a few days to have a friendly little chat. It will take at least a few days for a judge to choose a lawyer for you."

Charlie had a bad feeling about this. When he saw Mr. Rasoli talking very informally and use a lot of taunts in his speaking, this bad feeling was only strengthened in his mind. He cautiously said: "What about my mother? She has the right to know I'm here. I want to see her."

Mr. Rasoli nodded his head to show his agreement and said: "Your mother knows about your arrest! We are police. We are the manifestation of law in society. So we must enforce the law first, and according to the law, the arrest of people who are under eighteen years of age must have their families informed."

He stared into Charlie's dark brown eyes and continued: "Your mother is here. She is only three rooms away. When you were arrested one of our colleagues stayed behind to inform your mother when she got back home."

Charlie's bad feeling got worse and worse every second. Mr. Rasoli's voice was like a chess grandmaster, and his movements were going to win him the game any second.

Charlie after a long helpless pause said: "I want to see her. Right now."

Mr. Rasoli without any mercy on his face said: "I'm sorry, Mr. Arman, but you are under investigation and meeting your mom will depend on your behavior."

"My behavior? What do you mean? Why...why am I here? Why are you arresting me?!"

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Continue: Chapter 3 (Charlie section 7)

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