Chapter 24
Later that evening, Beau Lee arrived at the hospital.
When he entered the waiting room, Rocky, Jamillah, and the other members of the Montrose family were gathered in front of the TV, which was airing a news broadcast. On the screen, a dark-haired white man in a gray suit, red-striped tie, and overcoat stood behind a podium next to a petite Black woman dressed in a beige overcoat.
He introduced himself as Illinois State Attorney Peter DaSilva and the woman as Assistant District Attorney Miranda Dillard.
He wasted no time reading the felony charges against Hollis.
Four counts of brandishing a firearm.
Four counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Four counts of battery on a police officer.
Four counts of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
It was what Beau Lee had expected, and it was made all the more terrible by the presence of two uniformed CPD cops stationed like sentries near the nurses’ station.
He knew there’d be other officers outside Hollis’s hospital room now that formal charges had been filed, and despite Hollis’s condition, they had surely shackled him to the hospital bed, which was police procedure.
Rocky shouted at the TV. “My God, they’re really going for it! They’re trying to turn my husband into a criminal. He didn’t do this!”
Damn, Beau Lee thought. Before the clerk could even assign their civil rights excessive force lawsuit to the judge, DaSilva had filed the criminal charges.
The prosecutors weren’t wasting any time.
But, neither was Beau Lee. The city had to be held responsible for the violent, near-deadly arrest of Hollis Montrose.
Next would come Hollis’s bail hearing, and based on DaSilva’s harsh language, Beau Lee feared it could be a fight to get Hollis a reasonable bail amount.
Still, a more hopeful part of him believed that once his lawsuit was filed, a judge with enough reverence for the law would throw out the case altogether, citing the inaccuracies of the arresting officers’ report and Darian’s video.
Yet, a judge who was impartial and didn’t hold a favorable view of law enforcement would be a dream scenario, and Beau Lee had no time for dreaming.
Time was against him and his team. DaSilva and Dillard had a coalition that included the Chicago Police Department and the Fraternal Order of Police, a powerful union.
Together, they had perpetuated a damaging narrative: that Hollis Montrose wasn’t the police officer people thought he was.
He was troubled and rageful, and during a traffic stop, he took that rage out on four unsuspecting police officers.
It was a weak motive at best, but one that could be easily sold.
There didn’t need to be an explanation for Black violence, because enough people had been spoon-fed the idea that Black people had a propensity to cause harm and had attitudes and a disdain for authority.
They were aggressive and showed no respect for legality.
And as part of Hollis’s demonization, they said he thought he was above the law.
The lies of four cops were far more powerful than the truth of any Black voice.
The arresting officers said Hollis attacked them with his weapon, and their account of the incident would be presented as infallible, considering none of the officers were shot.
It would be up to Beau Lee to prove otherwise.
It had been years since he’d practiced as a criminal defense attorney, but he knew he and Alvarez stood as good a chance as any legal team if they could work effectively together.
Beau Lee hadn’t noticed Finn standing with Rocky amid the many family members.
“Counselor,” Finn said, making eye contact with Beau Lee. “Can you believe these charges?”
Beau Lee approached him. “It’s an expected chess move,” he said. “Our lawsuit put pressure on them.”
“Mr. Cooper,” Rocky said, standing with Jamillah. “This is awful. It’s like we’re living some kinda nightmare.”
Jamillah rubbed her mother’s shoulders. “It’s going to be okay, Mama.”
“It’s nuts, is what it is,” Finn said. “From what I hear, the CPD’s roundtable only took thirty-five minutes to determine Hollis’s charges. Prosecutors are out for blood.”
“What about Joey Henderson and his girlfriend?” Rocky asked. “Are they willing to take the stand? They’re the best chance we’ve got.”
“They might be persuaded,” Beau Lee said. “In the meantime, we’ll need to craft a defense that’s consistent with our lawsuit.”
“It’s time to play hardball,” Finn said. “Dig into these cops’ backgrounds.”
“Capes can assist you,” Beau Lee said. “I’ll subpoena the officers’ employee records, and then you two can start talking to people who know them.”
“Might be tough, but I’ll see if anyone close to them will talk. Ex-girlfriends or disgruntled wives, past partners willing to go on record about their conduct. There has to be someone who’d testify to the fact they hated—”
“Hated what?” Rocky asked, looking thrown by Finn’s assertion.
Finn considered what he was going to say. “It could’ve been over one thing, and I think we all know what it is.”
“What Finn’s trying to say, Rocky, is that Hollis might’ve been racially profiled,” Beau Lee said.
“Meaning, there was no reason for them to pull him over in the first place. If we can prove the officers lied and the entire traffic stop was because they saw a Black man driving at night, we might be able to get the charges against him dismissed.”
“Sounds like a long shot, but if you get a sympathetic judge, it could work,” Finn said.
“Not sympathetic,” Rocky said. “Just someone who’s honest.”
“Finn’s right, it is a long shot,” Beau Lee said.
“But we’d be foolish not to try. I’ll need to get an audience with the prosecutors.
If they know their case hinges on the testimony of questionable cops with poor credibility, they could consider dropping this entire matter rather than risking losing at trial. ”
“Fair warning, DaSilva and Dillard are real ballbusters.” And then, embarrassed by his crudeness, Finn covered his mouth. “Sorry, Rocky…Sometimes I forget I’m not joshing in the precinct.”
“It’s fine, Finn.”
“I already left my information with the prosecutors,” Beau Lee said. “I expect to hear something from DaSilva and Dillard soon. In a case like this, there’s no way to know how receptive they may be to speaking to the defense.”
“Why’s that?” Rocky asked.
“If they’re anything like the prosecutors I’ve encountered over the years, they’ll want to go to trial if they think their case is strong. A case like the one against Hollis turns people into household names, gives ’em careers.”
“And the video? What about that?” Jamillah asked. “People all over the world have seen what happened to Daddy.”
“Prosecutors will absolutely try to discredit it. The fact that we can’t see their faces or much of Hollis after the additional officers arrive won’t help our cause.”
Finn’s cellphone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, glanced at the caller ID, and silenced it.
“Everything all right?” Beau Lee asked.
“It’s Metra,” Finn said. “I’ve been ducking the calls since yesterday.”
“What’s going on?” Rocky asked.
“I think they want to discuss Hollis’s situation. Maybe assign me a new partner.”
Rocky demurred. “They don’t waste any time, do they?”
“It’s the nature of the job, Rocky. I’m not proud of it.”
“You sure you’re up to go back to work?” Beau Lee asked. “Especially since we’re in the middle of this mess?”
“Two sick days is usually my max.”
“Beau Lee’s right,” Rocky said. “Maybe you should take some time off.”
“Doing that would be like admitting something’s wrong. I need to show my face and let brass and every officer in that precinct know that nothing’s changed. Hollis is a good cop. I stand by him, and he will be vindicated.”
Rocky embraced Finn. For a moment, it looked as if he was on the verge of breaking down. Beau Lee wondered if he’d given himself any time to grieve, to process what had happened to his friend and partner.
“Maybe some distance from this is good for you,” Beau Lee said. “You’ve already put your neck out locating Joey and Darian.”
“Yes, we appreciate you helping us, but you’ve got a family, too,” Rocky said.
“My family knows where I stand on this. They have my back,” Finn said. “They love their Uncle Hollis, and I know he’d do the same for me if the situation were reversed. It’s why I can’t let up. Not for a second.”
Rocky stepped away from Finn, allowing him to collect himself. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed his eyes.
“Yes, Finn, but Hollis wouldn’t want you ending up in the unemployment line,” she said lightheartedly, the way Hollis would if he had been there to joke with them. “We’re going to be okay,” she added. “God is with us. He’s on our side.”
“I sure hope that’s true,” Finn said. “I’ve never been much for praying, but I’ve prayed hard for Hollis—harder than I thought I could, pleading with God to bring him through this.”
“And did God answer?” Rocky asked.
“Yes, but He’s not finished yet.”
Rocky took Finn’s hand. “Keep trying,” she said. “He speaks softly, so listen hardest in the quietest moments.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ooh,” Jamillah said, rubbing her belly. “This baby’s been kicking all day.”
“How about we go find you a nice place to rest,” Rocky said. “Somewhere you could put your feet up.”
“Okay, Mama.”
The two women left Beau Lee and Finn to further strategize. Though Beau Lee didn’t want to admit it, the pressure was mounting. With the charges Hollis was facing, bail could be astronomical—if the court was willing to entertain bail at all.