The Grill

“Ms Hope?” She turned to me, somewhat reluctantly. “You got anything to add?”
“Yeah.” I angled out from behind Archer’s shoulder. “It was about 5 pm. I was sitting at my desk and Mr Ed was inside his room. I can’t see inside his room when the door is closed like it is usually. He doesn’t like to be disturbed, you see?”
Hwang nodded which meant yeah-yeah-go-on.
“I think he was working on a case that was coming up later in the week. Marcia O’Dooley. She was caught at the kerbside soliciting a guy who turned out to be one of you. She was packing a few hits of the white stuff. They hauled her in ….”
Hwang waved a hand that meant blah-blah-blah. Okay, so she was not interested in Marcia O’Dooley. In my opinion, she better be interested in all that Mr Ed had done in the last few days. But I wasn’t going to tell a detective how to do her job, right?
“So then this guy came in and walked straight to Mr Ed’s door. I told him to wait because he didn’t have an appointment, and people who want to see Mr Ed usually call first. Generally it’s from inside the jail, so they don’t come in and see him, it’s him that goes to see them. But this man kept on like he hadn’t heard me and went straight inside and closed the door. Next thing I know is there are shots, and the man is running out.”
“Where does Mr Hamilton come in?” She let her eyes rest on Archer and her lips curved slightly. He has ‘that’ effect on women. That is why I don’t give him the benefit of my attention.
Naturally he smiled back, grooves bracketing the smile. I swear Hwang sighed and licked her lips.
That gave me time to beat him to the answer. “Yeah, well, he happened to walk in a moment before we heard the shots.” Brief and to the point, just the way she wanted it. So how come she didn’t look pleased.
“And what brought you to the office, Mr Hamilton?”
“Archer, please, Ma’am,” wide grin. “I was working on a divorce case for Mr Ed. I brought him some photos.”
“Anything in particular you noticed about the shooter? We will ask you to work out a portrait later. But any distinguishing features?”
“I just saw his back briefly,” said Archer. “Stocky guy. He was wearing a black jacket.”
“Medium blond hair tied in a ponytail, brown eyes, left-handed, about 5 feet 10 inches, 220 pounds. Scar on the back of his left hand like he had been in a knife fight. Wearing a diamond on his pinkie.” The images stood out in my mind. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forget them.
Then one thing struck me. The guy knew who I was and where I was to be found. What if he came after me? “Don’t you have a witness protection program, Detective?” I quavered. “He wouldn’t want me to identify him in the court. I am the only one who saw him. He is probably part of some major crime syndicate. They may have a hit out on me this very moment.” I stood up. The chair crashed against the wall. “I need protection!”
Hwang stood too. She was a few inches taller than me. How come they let detectives wear stilettos and short skirts? Wasn’t there a dress code? Like, no make-up and no moussed hair.
“Calm down, Ms Hope. These kinds of things happen all the time. There is nothing to panic about. If we had witness protection programs for all witnesses, we’d be babysitting the whole time.” She swiveled around, was done with me. “Archer, I need you and Ms Hope to come down to the station pronto. Get her a cup of coffee and get a ride out.”
“No problem, Ma’am. I have my car.” Archer and Hwang smiled at each other some more, then Hwang strode out, leaving behind a whiff of expensive perfume and a glimpse of never-ending legs. I swear Archer sighed and drooled.