Chapter 28
Beau Lee and Alvarez gathered their things and prepared to leave.
“Not how I imagined this going,” Beau Lee said. “We were skating uphill the entire time.”
“I knew there was a chance we’d get shot down, but I was completely wrong about the odds.”
DaSilva and Dillard were already walking down the aisle, headed toward the exit.
It was clear they wanted to avoid Beau Lee and Alvarez, and that meant they weren’t looking to discuss Hollis’s charges or make a deal.
Not that Beau Lee would entertain any form of plea bargain.
He believed wholeheartedly in Hollis’s innocence and was dead set on getting him acquitted of all charges.
Once outside, Jamillah and Tyrone came up to Beau Lee. He’d already anticipated what she’d ask, and he was prepared for the difficult conversation.
“How can the judge just deny Daddy’s bail like that?” Jamillah asked. “It doesn’t make sense. His record is clean. He’s a cop, for goodness’ sake.”
“Not in the judge’s eyes, I’m afraid.”
“We’re very sorry, Jamillah,” Alvarez said. “We weren’t expecting the judge to take such a hard line.”
“It just isn’t right what they’re doing to him.”
“No, it isn’t, but your father is fighting for his life in that hospital right now, which means we have to fight for him out here.”
Jamillah and Tyrone held hands. Jamillah’s free hand rested on her belly. “So what happens next?”
“We’ll appeal the bond denial, which could take some time, but we likely won’t convene for trial until seven or eight months out.
During that time, we’ll undergo discovery—collect as much evidence as we can and get our witnesses in order.
Our goal will be to make our case so compelling that the prosecution will drop the charges and pivot their efforts toward the real criminals: the cops who shot your father. ”
“So we have a few months to prove Daddy’s innocent?”
“Yes, in a way, but during that time, the prosecution will also be building its case.”
“Mr. Cooper, Mama said you’ve found the girl who recorded the video, right? That alone should be enough to get them to drop the charges. It’s all on tape. Who can argue with that?”
“I’m afraid it’s not as cut and dry,” Beau Lee said.
“Video footage helps, but it’s not enough on its own.
We’ll need witness testimonies. Not just the young lady who recorded the video, but also”—he lowered his voice—“we’ve identified a police officer who was there at the time of the shooting, and he may be willing to cooperate. ”
“Wait…you have an officer who’s willing to talk?” She sounded as if someone had told her pigs could fly.
“It’s not a guarantee and I don’t want to be presumptuous, but if what he says checks out and he accepts the subpoena, it might be enough to get Hollis’s charges thrown out.”
“You’re saying this cop is actually willing to get on the stand and testify against other cops?”
“I believe so, but I’ve been having trouble getting ahold of him. He hasn’t answered his phone for a few days. Capes has been looking for him, but so far, he’s come up empty and I’m getting worried.”
“Well, you’ve got to find him,” Jamillah said. “He might be Daddy’s only shot at getting free.”
“My hope is that he’s laying low, given what he’s up against.”
Jamillah squeezed Tyrone’s hand and took a deep breath.
“Everything all right?” Beau Lee asked, glancing at her belly with concern.
“It’s fine. All this excitement has the little one doing somersaults,” she said. “I know it’s not much, but it makes me a little hopeful knowing a cop might be willing to testify. It means they aren’t all rotten, you know?”
“Hope is a good thing,” he said. “We’ve all got to hold on to that.”
“Yes, Mr. Cooper, we do.”
Beau Lee looked over at the prosecutors, who were gathered near the elevator. He caught DaSilva’s eyes, which were ice cold and peered like daggers.
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment,” he said, leaving Jamillah and Tyrone with Alvarez. He walked in DaSilva and Dillard’s direction.
“It’s Cooper, right?” DaSilva asked with a slimy grin.
“That’s right, Attorney Beau Lee Cooper.”
“Thought you had a setup in Houston?”
“I go where I’m needed.”
“I had no clue you practiced criminal defense.”
“Well, I’ve had what you might call a storied career. Worn lots of hats.”
“And now you’re here in a Chicago courtroom. What are the odds?”
“Sadly, pretty high, from what I’ve seen. So high that maybe I should open a branch of our firm right here in the city.”
“Chicago’s got enough lawyers looking to make a buck.”
“Well, I tend to set up in places that are in desperate need of justice and equality.”
Dillard scoffed; she held what looked to be a Von Baer briefcase.
Beau Lee had seen a few. It was a luxury item in the legal profession that some saw as a statement of success—a subtle way of announcing they’d made it.
He couldn’t help but wonder how many wrongfully convicted people Dillard had locked up to afford such an indulgence.
“A little hyperbolic, don’t you think?” she asked, tightening her grip on the case’s leather handle.
“I wish it were, but Hollis Montrose’s case is just one of the many injustices dating back decades.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Cooper, our state has locked up a significant number of people who have shown their contempt for society through murder, narcotics, sex trafficking, and rape. Should I go on?”
“Chicago’s reputation isn’t lost on me,” Beau Lee said. “However, not recognizing that there’s a criminal element, not only on the streets but in the police departments, is one-sided.”
Dillard looked as if she were about to combust. “Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you ever grieve fallen officers?” she asked. “I mean, when it’s a clear-cut case of murder, do you take the time to pray for the officer’s family? Or are your prayers only reserved for those who are, as you say, victims of injustice?”
“I don’t want to see anyone lose their lives, and I cast my prayers far and wide, Ms. Dillard.
But one dead officer doesn’t excuse the killing of an unarmed person.
Let’s not forget about Hollis Montrose. He’s a police officer, too, or did you forget?
Does the notion of Back the Blue not apply to Mr. Montrose? ”
“I’m only interested in justice.”
“That makes two of us,” Beau Lee said. “But when faced with insurmountable evidence, will you be courageous enough to do the right thing? Or are you blinded by your desire to see another Black man locked away, cop or not?”
Beau Lee had known since the day he was old enough to understand his place in the world that police across America existed in a protected and rarefied space that made them, for the most part, untouchable.
Harming one was met with severe repercussions.
Murdering or attempting to murder a cop, in the eyes of those in law enforcement, meant crossing a Rubicon of criminality from which there was no escape or redemption.
In Illinois, killing a police officer was considered a capital crime that was punishable by the death penalty or life without parole, and there was no telling which the prosecutors would pursue.
DaSilva said, “It looks like we have differing opinions about the ‘right thing,’ Attorney Cooper, but I will say this: From where I’m standing, a cop killer is no longer on the streets, and that’s a win for the entire city.”
“Cop killer? Do you really believe a veteran police officer would attempt to open fire on fellow officers?”
“Most officers wouldn’t, but Hollis Montrose isn’t most officers, is he?”
“That’s ludicrous.”
“How well do you know your client?” DaSilva asked. “Before you start questioning our case’s validity, you might want to look at his history. And I mean take a long, hard look, because Hollis Montrose might be a police officer, but I’d submit to you: What type of police officer is he?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If your client decides to come clean about what happened that night, give me a call. If Hollis changes his plea to no contest, it’ll save us all a lot of time and paperwork. Might even save him some years.”
“He’s innocent, and I’m going to prove it.”
“There’s no need to litigate this in the hallway, Mr. Cooper,” Dillard said. “We’ll have plenty of time for that in court.”
Alvarez slowly approached, probing everyone’s body language—Dillard’s defensive posture was evident from across the hall. “Attorney Cooper. Everything all right?”
“Yes. I was just introducing myself to prosecutors DaSilva and Dillard. Since we’ll be seeing a lot of them, I thought it best for us to be on speaking terms.”
“And we didn’t properly meet?” Dillard said, giving Alvarez the once-over.
Alvarez had done her homework. Maybe her suit and shoes didn’t carry the same price tag as Miranda Dillard’s, who’d seen her share of success over the years, but Alvarez still had her conscience. She could sleep at night knowing she was fighting to make a difference.
She didn’t doubt that Dillard thought she was working for the people.
Having emerged as an outspoken advocate for harsher mandated sentencing, it was clear that she wasn’t content with being a prosecutor.
She had political aspirations and, in time, would surely take the hard-red path of ultra-conservatism to achieve them.
“I’m Princess Alvarez. Co-counsel.”
“Princess? That’s your legal name?”
“Since day one.”
“Cute.”
DaSilva looked at his watch. “We better go,” he said. “We’ve got that meeting.” He gave Dillard a slight nod before directing his attention to Beau Lee. “Nice hat, by the way. Very retro.”
The elevator doors opened, and DaSilva and Dillard entered.
They stood silently as the doors shut. Beau Lee stewed.
He was a civil man, not one to raise a fist or throw stones.
Instead, he used the law as his weapon. But it was time to go on the attack—get in front of the cameras like Brother Harpo had suggested and tell the story Hollis couldn’t tell.
“Aren’t they a charming duo,” Alvarez said disdainfully. “Can’t believe that woman said cute. I never imagined that word could sound so demeaning.”
“Sorry you were on the receiving end of that, but remember, it’s all part of the game. They want to get in our heads. Make us doubt our case.”
“Well, that’s not happening.”
“Good,” Beau Lee said, taking out his phone. “Give me a moment. I need to make a call.”
“All right.”
He stepped away and dialed Capes. “It’s me,” he said. “You got a minute?”
“Sure, boss. What’s up?”
“The judge denied bail. The moment Hollis is deemed well enough, he’s going to be locked up. We can’t let that happen, so I need you to do whatever you can to find Rory Caruthers so we can subpoena him like he asked, and maybe we can spare the Montroses more pain.”
“I’m doing my best, but he’s probably staying at an address that’s not in the database if he means to get away from Dunham and Rossi.”
“Give Finn a call and see what you two can figure out.”
“He said it was risky, boss. Didn’t sound like he wanted to assist with this particular mission.”
“Give it another shot,” Beau Lee said. “Let him know about Hollis’s bail denial. It might light a fire under him.”
“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you, Capes.”