Chapter 6
Beau Lee led Nellie and Capes through the lobby.
Each man had a big smile and a jaunty, rhythmic walk that proclaimed their victory.
This case will be Beau Lee’s second largest settlement behind the eight-million-dollar lead-paint poisoning case settlement where Beau Lee exposed that Texas state didn’t remove the lead paint in the Black school districts like they did in the other school districts.
That settlement allowed him and Nellie to form a partnership where they could hire additional employees and buy their own office building in downtown Houston.
Beau Lee and Nellie understood this moment because settlements like this are few and far between.
“Beau Lee Cooper, as I live and breathe!” a voice called from behind.
Beau Lee stopped, turned around, and saw the man he’d come to know as Brother Harpo standing with an older Black woman adorned in a wool sweater, and a younger Black woman who was well into her pregnancy and cradling her bump.
“Brother? Is that you?” Beau Lee asked. “If it isn’t the best non-lawyer-lawyer community activist I know!”
“And don’t you forget it!” Harpo said as they met mid-hallway for an embrace.
Brother Al-Shaheed Harpo was a tall Black man with gray dreadlocks dressed in an elegant brown houndstooth suit, Italian loafers, and a wool scarf, and he was walking as if he were gliding on air. Even under the dim lights of the hallway, his russet wing tips shimmered.
Beau Lee hadn’t seen him in over a year.
Not since they had worked together to aid people from his hometown who were victims of “Cancer Alley,” the epicenter of Louisiana’s fossil fuel and petrochemical industry.
Like Capes, he was a returning citizen who served ten years in the joint.
When all of society had given up on him being a law-abiding member of society, Beau Lee recognized his heart for trying to better himself and the communities that he once pillaged when he was a street gang leader in his younger days.
While he was on the inside, he committed himself to self-improvement by reading books, filing legal appeals, and watching the Oprah Winfrey television show every day.
The most trouble he found would be when he got into physical altercations with other inmates about turning the TV on at 4:00 p.m. to watch Oprah.
That’s how he earned his nickname Harpo, which was Oprah spelled backward and the name of her production company.
“What are you doing in Chicago?” Beau Lee asked.
“When I got out I went home to be with my family after Hurricane Katrina. After I got them situated, I came to Chicago to be close to my daughter who graduates from high school next year,” Harpo said.
“That’s a real good thing, my brother,” Beau Lee affirms. “Harpo, you remember my managing partner, Nelson Rivers, and my investigator, Capes.”
“Yes, yes, greetings, brothers,” Harpo said. “It’s a pleasure to see you all again.”
They all shook hands.
Harpo’s demeanor changed from gleeful to somber as he nudged the women forward.
“This is Mrs. Raquel Montrose and her daughter, Jamillah,” he said.
“Her husband, Jamillah’s father, Hollis, is at Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
I’m sure you’ve seen the news of his arrest, which resulted in him being shot ten times in the back by CPD. ”
“I’m familiar,” Beau Lee said. “Caught a bit about it on TV this morning.”
To Mrs. Montrose, he said, “I offer my sincerest prayers and condolences to you and your husband.”
“Beau Lee, it must be kismet to run into you like this…”
“Why’s that?”
“We’re here to meet with Attorney Alvarez about this tragedy, but if I may be so bold, we desperately need you on the case.”
“Isn’t Attorney Alvarez already representing your family, Mrs. Montrose?”
“Attorney Alvarez goes to our church,” Raquel said. “She represented Hollis in a discrimination suit against the CPD, and now that they’ve gone and shot my husband, I’m feeling like we need people like you…people with a specialty of fighting these types of injustices.”
“Well, I’m sure that Attorney Alvarez will be able to provide exceptional legal services. Having witnessed her in action, she is a very good lawyer.”
Jamillah spoke up for the first time, removing one hand from her bump to take hold of Beau Lee’s arm. “Please, Mr. Cooper,” she said, imploring him. “We need you to reconsider. My father…our family…we need you on this case.”
“You’ve got a way of bringing national attention to matters like this, Beau Lee,” Brother Harpo said. “And without the media spotlight, this case could be swept under the rug.”
Mrs. Montrose was a spitfire, Beau Lee could tell, and her very justified anger was beginning to show. “We just can’t let them get away with this,” she said. “They tried to murder him.”
Beau Lee could feel the lump forming in his throat. He knew her pain and heartbreak all too well. “I can give you my direct number,” he offered. “Discuss your matter with Attorney Alvarez. If you don’t feel satisfied, then you call me.”
Alvarez walked into the lobby just as Beau Lee was handing Mrs. Montrose his card.
“Attorney Cooper, you’re still here? How surprising.”
“We were just leaving.”
“Were you? Because it looks like you’re in the process of talking to my clients and exchanging business cards.”
“It’s not what it looks like, Ms. Alvarez—”
She quickly corrected him. “Attorney Alvarez.”
“My apologies.”
“First you fleeced my clients into overpaying for what I still believe was a completely defensible case for the bank. And now you’re in the lobby of my office trying to solicit my clients. Tell me why I shouldn’t report you to the state bar?”
“I am not trying to steal your clients. In fact, I assured them you would do a very good job of representing them,” Beau Lee affirmed.
“Please leave, Mr. Cooper. Now.”
“Thank you again for your hospitality,” he said, then looked at Mrs. Montrose. “I will continue to pray for you and your family. Brother Harpo, it’s always good to see you. Capes, do you have our coats?”
“I have them right here, boss.” Capes handed them to Beau Lee and Nellie.
“We wish you all a good evening,” Beau Lee said as the men made their egress.