PATSY by Kenneth L. Ehrenthal (fantasy novels to read .txt) 📕

he's back.  Is there anything else?"  "No sir, says Sid, except my client is still in jail."  Well, thinks Sid that was a bust, but at least he has presented the matter to the DA and hopefully he’ll think about it.  In the future it’s going to be the DA who is going to make the final decisions that will re-open the case. 
 
                                                                 
 
Chapter 13

 
When someone gets to Denver Airport they’d thinks that they have entered a Hollywood set for space stations.  There are soaring modern buildings, long clear runways, and wide food courts towards the mountains.  The drive to Denver takes Sid and George an hour.  If you've never been in Denver you'd be surprises to learn that the city is relatively flat, although it is a mile high from sea level.  The mountains begin just west of the city.  Even though early spring, there are still snow caps nearby, but the city, in the sunlight looks clear and clean.  The cab pulls in front of a six story hotel in the business district.  All around are green parks and walking trails.  Bicycle riders seem in more abundance than automobiles and buses.  Everyone looks fresh and clean.  Entering the lobby they go to the front desk.  A smiling clerk assists them and a bellboy sees them up to their room.  The spacious room, with two double beds, two fresh robes folded neatly on each one, almost seems to Sid the size of his loft.  The curtains had been drawn back and the panorama of the city and the magnificent mountains in the near distance in the clear air is humbling to both men.
 
Each wonders why they cling to dark, dirty, congested Manhattan.  Sitting in a large club chair Sid looks for the telephone.  The devise nearby contains the information necessary to make a local call.  It includes numbers for: room service; message; Barber and Woman's Hair Shop; Cleaning Service; menu listing for take-out ordering; Concierge; and the front desk.  Sid dials the number he was given for Percy Livingston.  He had called Percy's office several days before.  He did not tell Livingston the nature of his business, giving him a story that he was going to be in Denver and had been given his name and number by a friend.
 
New Yorkers even former New Yorkers should stick together.  Reaching his office, his secretary tells him that Percy has gone skiing and would not be back till the next day.  George looks out the window and says, "This doesn't look like my kind of town.  I'll bet all the restaurants serve that frou-frou food."  "Come on", says Sid, "I'll be this town has great steaks, but don't try the sea food.  It would start smelling before it gets here, such a long way from "sea to shining sea."

Heidi picks up the phone on the first ring.  "Oh! Sid, you got there.  Thanks for calling so promptly.  I know your an adult and can take care of yourself, but I still worry." 'How was the trip?"  "Yes, we got here, and you know I may not want to leave.  This place is so neat and clean.  The people are neat and clean.  Our room is neat and clean.  At this point I like neat and clean.  Probably I'll soon get over neat and clean and yearn for crowded, dirty, New York."  "How are things there, although I've just been gone a day."  It seems longer.  Remind me again why air travel is so great.  It took us almost two hours to get cleared to get on the plane.  I thought George would throw a fit when an agent made him take off his shoes.  George, with his disability, has enough trouble getting his shoes on in the morning."  "George doesn't look the terrorist type," says Heidi.  "Ah Ha", says Sid, "his disguise worked perfectly."  "All kidding aside, Denver seems great, I’ll be seeing Livingston tomorrow and hope one day will be enough to wrap this up here.  I miss you and will get back as soon as I can."  Do you have anything to report from your end? ” We filed the Civil Rights case in Federal Court yesterday".  "Sal agreed that we have a better chance in Federal Court than State Court, since we are suing the City and the Police Department." "Now we just wait for a response from the City."  "In my heart-of-hearts, I think that they will probably want to settle as soon as possible, since they are sure to get terrible publicity."  We decided to try to keep it out of the media, and use the threat of publicity as a bargaining chip."  We'll see.” I love you Sid.  Call me tonight, anytime”.

Percy Livingston, did not look like he was supposed to.  Although by his name Sid should have known better.  He was tall, with blond hair, piercing blue eyes and strong chin.  Just like a typical Yale and Yale person.  He leaned back in his chair and eyed Sid and George suspiciously.  "I may look young and naive but don't let my looks fool you.  I know that you don't know any of my friends, so let's cut to the chase.  "OK!" says Sid.  Here it is.  Three years ago you prosecuted a man named Mohammed Royster for the rape and murder of Sarah Alpert.  He was convicted and is now serving a sentence of from 25 to life."  'That case", says Percy.  "That's the case that got me to Denver.  That was a very strange one.  McGinty, he's the Bureau Chief was on my ass from day one.  Look, I had prosecuted at least five cases which were more difficult and certainly more high profile than that one.  He never cared before what I did.  That is as long as I brought in a conviction.  This one was different.  I had an open and shut case.  We had finger prints and in the end we got a DNA match.  It was easy.  The trial lasted only two days.  But McGinty was there from start to finish....watching".  When I graduated from Yale Law, I knew I wanted to do trial work.  I have a big enough ego to try to over match any other lawyer who opposed me.  The day I graduated I flipped a coin, prosecution or defense.  The result is obvious.  With my background and, some inside help, I got the job in New York.  I was doing well.  Then along came this Royster case.  I decided then and there to get the hell out of New York and join the real world.  I had a friend, well you know how that goes and now I'm an assistant US Attorney."    "Let me just ask you a few questions about the case", said Sid.  "First did you know about the DNA match before the trial and second how did you get the information?"  "No I didn't know about the DNA and I got the results from McGinty just that second day."   "Didn't you wonder why it took so long to get the results since Mohammed was in jail for at least two months before the trial, continues Sid.  Livingston leans back in his chair and pyramids his hands, "you know counselor when someone gives you a million dollars would you ask him where he got it, especially if it’s your boss?"  Sid smiles, "probably not."  "Then why did you leave?"  "It was about a month later and I was going through some files.  I noticed some out of place.  I called my secretary and asked her who had been through my files and she told me Mr. McGinty.  Searching around something bothered me about not being able to find the Royster file.  I immediately went to McGinty.  Oh! He said that was a National Security case and I've had it sealed."  National Security, I said, because his name was Mohammed?  You got it, he said.  I quit the next day."

George spoke up for the first time.  "Mr. Livingston were you aware of any DNA taken from Mr. Royster?"  "I suppose the police did that, I was never made aware either way".  "Suppose, said George,” I tell you that there is no record of any DNA test for Mr. Mohammed."  Livingston rises, "If that's true how did we get a DNA match?"  George again, "were you unaware that the lady was two months pregnant and that the fetus had the same DNA as "Mr. Mohammed".  Do you mean to tell me she knew him and had had an affair with him?"  "Or, says George, there's some rotten DNA donor running around loose."    Livingston just stares.  Both Sid and George rise and telling Livingston that he was very helpful leave.
 
Leaving Livingston office Sid and George return to their hotel.  They eat dinner in the hotel and before they retire for the night they pack.  They are to fly back to New York, the first thing in the morning.  George turns in and is soon snoringly asleep.  Sid sits by the window looking out over the City.  His mind begins to wander.  Believe it or not, he thinks, this is the longest he has been away from Heidi.  He misses her.  He misses her conversations.  Her usually positive attitude, allows him to relax and see the world in a more friendly way.  Just being with her makes him a better person.  Through her eyes the world seems bright, rather than the gloomy aspects of it he contemplated before he met her, even her criticisms of him always were meant to inspire rather then condemn.  He pictured her now.  Heidi was not what one would call beautiful.  But she was pretty.  She had a cute nose and deep dark brown eyes.  Her hair, which she wore shoulder length was brown with a hint of red.  She was tiny.  She stood about 5 feet 2 inches tall.  He guessed that she weight about 120 pounds.  Slightly over weight, but she wore the extra weight well.  Her legs were slim and her hips slightly broad.  Her shoulders were relatively narrow.  But she carried herself with a regal mien.  She had a slim neck and held her head high.  Her bosom was proportional maybe slightly larger than that.  She did not shave either underarm or groin which was chestnut and curly.  When they made love she did so with such abandon that at times it scared him.  And when she curled herself around him, he felt like he was a worm in a cocoon.   He would see her tomorrow.  He couldn’t wait.

 
 
 
 
 
Chapter 14
 
 
The courts around Foley Square are at the center of litigation for most of New York.  It is always crowded with people springing here and there.
Heidi and Sal walk into Federal District court.  Both sit quietly as the New York City attorney and another man, probably the Police Department attorney walk down the aisle toward the bench.  The New York City attorney introduces himself as Ben Watkins and pointing to the other he says, "Patrick Kelly, from the police department.  Heidi smiles and offers Mr. Watkins her hand.  Sal offers nothing.  Counselor says Ben, "Can't we find some way to keep this case out of court", Heidi interrupts, "and out of the press?"  "Yes" says Ben, that too.  I know the judge is busy in his chambers and we can go back to an interview room and talk.  I'll ask the clerk to call us when the court is ready."  They go to an interview room.  Ben smiles!  "We know how much you were abused by the police and the system", says Ben, and we want to make it right."  While we cannot publicly acknowledge our misfeasance, we can offer you some compensation for let's say your pain and suffering.  He slides a piece of paper