Stand By Me Read Online Free Page B

the four men. Not me cousin,” Jonathan corrected before Jamie got pulled in any farther. He needed Jamie to go back to his family and take care of them while he waited on his lawyer, Hines.
    The Sergeant turned his attention to Jamie, “Mr. Blakemore, is this true?”
    “Me cousin was protecting his wife,” Jamie said stepping in beside Jonathan.
    “Are you willing to sign a statement that you did not shoot one of the four victims?”
    “He is,” Jonathan jumped in before Jamie had a chance to answer and Jamie shot him a look. “Do nae be a hero, cousin by taking me medicine. You did nae shoot either of those men?” The men shared a look and Jonathan knew his cousin would lie to keep Jonathan out of prison. “I need you to be with me family while I'm here.”
    Both men stood facing the other, their arms handcuffed behind their backs. In that moment, that split second in time, Jonathan knew he'd turned his wife and child over into his cousin's protection. Protection he could no longer provide for the very blood that pumped through his veins, his family, Kenya, and his child. There was no other man on earth he’d give such an honor. After a few seconds, Jonathan gave a quick nod to Jamie. “Yer like a brother to me, have been all me life. Protect Kenya and me bairn, they’re family now.”
    The faces in the lobby all watched the passing of the baton between the two men. Jonathan stepped back.
    Jamie said, “No, Sgt. I did nae shoot either of the men. I was there, though.”
    The Sergeant slid a piece of paper under the Plexiglas panel. “Then step over to this door and an officer will be out to take your statement. Sign here, then empty your pockets.” He handed him a manila envelope. “Slip any personal belongings including watch in there and wait for the officer to take you back. You'll get this back when you leave.” He nodded to Jonathan. “I'll need you to empty your pockets as well Jonathan,” indicating a separate door to the right. “Your lawyer will meet you over in there.” Jamie took a step back. A second door opened and he was taken into a separate room to give his statement. Jonathan crossed into the other room to stand just inside the door. A mechanical sound came from the door seconds before it swung open automatically. Inside were a metal table in the center of the room and two gray chairs.
    In the interrogation room, he met with his personal lawyer. Hines went over every option he had to clear his name and the biggest suggestion was a character witness. First, they would retrieve the security camera footage from the hospital. If they could show Jonathan's reaction was in an effort to protect Kenya, the possibility of the charges to become defense as opposed to the extreme manslaughter gave Jonathan hope.
    Jonathan couldn't get past the picture his mind formed of those men touching Kenya in that car. What his wife had gone through while he stood in the hospital checking his email would haunt him forever. He raised his eyes hearing his lawyer’s voice. “Right now the police are going off the callers report of what transpired in the parking lot. Once we have the full report we'll see what sort of bail they're talking about, if a bail is set at all.”
    “Do we know who called the authorities at the hospital?” He asked clasping his fingers over the metal table in the cold room. It gave his hands something to do, when anger continued to drip from his heart down to his fists. Those men had touched his wife.
    “Anonymous,” his lawyer said pulling up a chair. “They tracked the call back to a cell with a blocked number. A computer tech's retrieving the records now. If it's one of Brian's men we'll know soon.”
    “I shot those men, Hines. I want names.”
    “Let me handle this,” Hines said holding up a hand waving it over the papers. “I won't shit you Jonathan. The cards are not only stacked against you, but they're wet and curling fast.”
    “What are my options at this point?”