Chapter 55: Marital Dispute
*You are one decision away from a completely different life. – Mel Robbins*
Gina watched her brother drive away before approaching the Morgan City police officer. She could see the smoke coming out of his ears and hear the wheels turning. She wondered what the excuse that he came up with would be.
Stress from the job.
Kink got out of control.
Holidays.
Pick a pile of bullshit and that would be the line that he would try to feed her.
“Sheriff Gina Dawson.” Gina said extending a hand as she stopped in front of the local cop.
“Sergeant David Wells. One of my officers lives there.”
“I’m aware. He’s currently in custody.”
“I want to speak to him.”
“No.” Gina said flatly resting one hand on her gun and the other on her cuffs.
“Professional courtesy.”
“No.” She shook her head slightly.
“Come on. I’m his boss.”
“If you arrested someone off the street and their boss showed up, would you let them talk to their employee?”
“No.”
“Good. You know my answer.”
“He’s entitled to legal representation.”
“Are you his lawyer?” She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“No, but-.”
“Still no.”
“He’s a police officer!”
“I’m aware. That’s why I’m not allowing any of my deputies to ask him any questions. Once he is booked at the station, they will interview him with the DA and his union lawyer. I am going to be impartial and unbiased. If I cannot, I will turn it over to the state police.”
The sergeant started to object again.
“Speaking of the investigator.” Gina said as a pickup pulled to a stop. The man started to get out and Gina waved at him. “Excuse me, sergeant, I need to speak with my investigator.”
On her way over, she requested additional deputies to secure the scene and for the deputies inside to locate the victim’s phone. They moved off the sidewalk as the paramedics rushed back out with the gurney. A female medic was straddling Jolene on the gurney performing CPR.
“What hospital?” Gina called.
“Mercy.” One of the medics called back as they loaded Jolene up. Gina quickly texted Reese the hospital name.
Just before the ambulance pulled away, a black Harley Davidson pulled into a reserved parking spot next to the Morgan City patrol car. Neither Gina nor Investigator Shepard thought much of it until the leather clad man approached them removing his helmet.
“Sheriff.” The Asian man offered a hand with an open-mouthed snake tattoo. “I’m Charles Neosho. Are you finally doing something about him?”
“Finally?” Gina asked shaking his hand.
“I’ve called the cops several times since I moved in. I marked it on my calendar and kept my security footage.”
“Security footage?” Shepard asked.
Neo pointed towards the door next to the open door. “I own IGYS Security. I have a camera aimed at my bike, one on my stoop and one for my door. Video and audio. Last time I called 911 the cop that showed up,” he pointed at the sergeant leaning against his patrol car on the phone, “came by himself, never went to the apartment and told me to quit harassing them.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Gina asked.
“No, ma’am. I also have two cameras inside that are motion activated. After he threw her into the wall so hard that he knocked pictures off my wall, I added more aimed at adjoining walls.”
“Can you get me copies of those?” Shepard asked.
“Absolutely. I’ll get them on a drive for you. I can get you my call log also.” He offered.
“No wonder my brother contracts with you. You’re very thorough.” Gina said with a smirk.
“You do know what IGYS stands for, right?” Neo asked. “I Got Your Six. That brought my ass home from Iraq.”
“Appreciate your service and your assistance.”
“Boss!” Jenson called from the doorway. “Found the phone.”
“I’ll go get that stuff for you.” Neo said before heading to his own apartment.
“What’s up with the phone?” Shepard asked as they started up the walk.
“She has the first alert emergency app. It should still be recording.” She stopped at the sound of sirens. Turning she saw the police captain pulling into the full parking lot. “Go on. Start your investigation. I’ll deal with Graham.”
“Boss, I’ll investigate. But if this is who I think it is, it’s the chief’s nephew. Might want to call in state.” Shepard advised.
“I plan to. And I’m holding him until the judge can see him on Monday.” She replied as a second ambulance arrived to remove the prongs of the tazers. “I’m putting him in isolation for his own safety.”
“Visitors?”
“Immediate family and lawyers only. No PD reps.” She said as the police captain stormed towards her. Shepard quietly wished her luck before going into the apartment. “Graham. How can I help you?”
“You arrested one of my officers.”
“Yes. He’s going to my jail. You can see him after he speaks with the judge.”
“You’re going to hold him until Monday?”
“Right now, yes. If you’d like to speak to him, I’ll be more than happy to walk you over-.”
“I see where he is.”
“I don’t think you understand what I’m saying.” Gina replied stopping him in his tracks. “If you want to speak with my prisoner, I’m going to be present, and it will be filmed. I was elected to this office because I promised transparency and to get rid of the good ol’ boy system.”
“Fine.” Graham huffed and they both walked over to the patrol car that Hank was now standing outside of as the probes were removed.
“It was just an argument that out of hand.” Hank told his captain.
Pawlowski started to say something, but Gina shook her head.
“See? Just a misunderstanding.”
“Captain, when was the last time that you and your wife had a ‘misunderstanding,’ as you called it?” Gina asked.
“Just the other night.” Graham gave a small chuckle. “I brought home the wrong soup. I got cream of chicken instead of mushroom.”
“And did your wife go to the hospital, unconscious, in the back of an ambulance, with paramedics performing CPR?” Gina asked. “Did deputies have to start CPR before the ambulance arrived during this misunderstanding of yours?”
“No.” he answered quietly, and Hank looked down, not wanting to meet his captain’s eyes.
“I didn’t think so. If the paramedics are done, take him down and book him.” Gina ordered and Pawlowski nodded. “If there’s nothing else that I can do for you, Captain, I’d like for you to leave my crime scene.”
“I would like to see this crime scene, as you called it.” Graham said throwing her words back at her.
And there’s that blue wall, Gina thought as she nodded. “Once it has been processed.” It was not an unusual request nor was her request of waiting until it was processed. But she had a feeling that the locals were not willing to wait.
Walking back to the apartment, she pulled out her phone and called the state police officer in this area.
“Happy Thanksgiving. Please tell me that’s why you’re calling.”
“Sorry, Douggie.” She really was sorry to be pulling him away from his family. “I have a domestic involving a local. Apparently, they’ve been here before and nothing was ever done.”
“Text me the address.”
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