An online novel by Gillette Edmunds

“Say, Michael,” Hardwood said pushing his plate to the middle of the table, “you know any Italian lawyers? Jerome got himself arrested last night and we need to find him a good lawyer. It’s not a Navy matter or I could find someone to handle it myself.”

Hardwood recounted the story of Jerome’s arrest. The bathroom at the Hilton was full of Italians. Jerome wasn’t going to wait for a bunch of Italians to finish combing their hair. He had to go. He stepped outside and into an alley. The police officer shouldn’t have tapped him on the shoulder. He should have waited until Jerome was through. Otherwise, Jerome wouldn’t have turned around and the officer’s leg wouldn’t have gotten wet.

After breakfast, Hardwood and Michael went to the desk.
“Goddamn it’s bright in here,” Michael said.

“Sunglasses,” Hardwood said. “Always carry sunglasses.”

“I don’t have any. These are prescription.”

“You’re not much of a drinker,” Hardwood said.

“Thanks.”

Michael called an attorney in New York. In New York it was the middle of the night. The attorney had a trial the next morning. Michael would owe him. The attorney called back a few minutes latter with the name of the right person to contact in Rome.

They went up to Jerome’s room and knocked on the door. He answered the door in his bathrobe. Standing in the doorway, he told them he had a tremendous headache. Polly came up behind him. She would not have him drinking with Hardwood again, she scolded. Hardwood had suggested that Jerome go outside to piss and she would under no circumstances forgive him.